Mt Kilimanjaro
Climbing - Marangu Route, Hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro, Climbing
Mt Kilimanjaro |
The Popular Marangu Route
DAY 1:
ARUSHA -MARANGU
Transfer to Marangu. Dinner and overnight at a Hotel.
DAY 2:
MARANGU - MANDARA HUT (2,744 M)
Distance: 9 kms. Estimated duration: 4 hours.
Depart from your hotel, drive straight to Marangu National Park
gate, where the climb begins (1860m) on the edge of the mountain
forest. Walk through the semi tropical dense rain forest, with
camphor, cedar, juniper, wild olive and pillar trees festooned
with lianas, lichens and Spanish moss. Flowers of various species
delight the eyes, while monkeys shake trees and terraccos and
other colourful forest birds sing in the forest profusion. The
walking takes 4 hours covering 9 km to Mandara Hut, at 2744 m
near Maundi Crater. Dinner and overnight at Mandara Hut.
DAY 3:
MANDARA HUT - HOROMBO HUT (3,761 M)
Distance: 11kms. Estimated duration: 5 hours.
Starting early in the morning towards Horombo Hut you walk 5 hours,
to cover the first 4 km or so, the dense rain forest now gives
way to the rolling moorland, clothed in knee-high grass tussocks
dotted here and there with giant heather trees, some standing
upto 9 m high. Here is perhaps the most pleasant point, where
the landscape is decorated with tropical flowers and the sun is
refreshingly warm. From here, both Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks are
magnificently viewed. Some animal species are found here, i.e.
bush duikers etc. The landscape becomes more rugged and rocky,
as you continue to Horombo Hut at 3761 m above sea level. Dinner
and overnight at the Horombo Hut. You should have warm clothes
due to strong winds here.
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DAY 4:
HOROMBO HUT - KIBO HUT (4,700 M)
Distance: 10kms. Estimated duration: 5 hours.
After breakfast, continue to Kibo Hut through the euphorbia trees
and here high altitude causes difficulty in breathing and tiredness
is felt. The path leading you to Kibo Hut passes the water streams
and skirts MAWENZI before opening out into the lunar landscape
of the saddle. It forms a "U" between MAWENZI and KIBO
Peaks. You will experience the winter nights as cold and icy winds
encircle the huts accompanied by frost and snow. Dinner and overnight
at KIBO Hut.
DAY 5:
UHURU PEAK - HOROMBO HUT (3,761 M)
Distance: 24kms. Estimated duration: 12-13 hours
Wake up soon after midnight for the final attempt to the summit.
Walk for about 5 hours, the steepest and most difficult part of
the route, to GILMAN'S POINT at 5681 m above sea level, on the
Crater rim. Try again if your stamina allows, for UHURU Peak,
reached in about 2 hours. This is the highest point in Africa.
After signing the visitors book, descend to Horombo Hut, for dinner
and overnight.
DAY 6:
HOROMBO HUT - MARANGU HOTEL
Descend to Marangu Gate then transfer to Marangu or Kibo Hotel
for dinner and overnight.
DAY 7:
MARANGU - ARUSHA
After breakfast, return to Arusha by company transport.
