A dormant volcano and the tallest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro in the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania is a popular trekking destination for mountain climbers and active travelers wishing to check its summit off their travel bucket list.
Itinerary
From Kilimanjaro airport, transfer to Marangu Hotel, situated at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Participants of a fully equipped expedition require no climbing skills. The expeditions are organised and accompanied by experienced guides. Kilimanjaro can be climbed by any physically fit person. Dinner and overnight at Marangu Hotel / Kibo Hotel.
After breakfast drive to the national park gate at 6,000 ft where the climb starts. It is a 3-4 hour walk through the fascinating rain forest to the Mandara Hut at 9,000 ft close to Maundi Crater.
You leave the last glades of the forest and follow the ascending path through the open alpine meadow. The altitude begins to be felt cautioning you to tread slowly “pole pole” and just enjoy the flora and the distant views. Horombo Hut at 12,000 ft is reached in some 5 hours. Meals and overnight at Horombo Hut.
After a good night’s rest you continue past giant groundsels and Lobelia’s and move on to the lunar landscape of the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi. The Kibo hut is reached at 15,450 ft in 5-6 hours. Overnight at Kibo Hut.
The start of the summit is made in the early hours of the morning. For some 5 hours you climb the steepest and the most demanding part of the route to Gilman/s Point at 18, 640 ft on the crater rim. The remaining 45 minutes climb to the highest point - Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft) is comparatively easy. Some climbers even feel strong enough to descend into the inner crater where vents emit sulphurous gases that leave no doubt that one stands on a volcano! The descent is far less tiring and the night is spent in Horomb Hut.
