HIGHLIGHTS:
- Marangu route is the ‘easier’ and more popular route up the mountain.
- Least expensive route offering the relative ‘luxury’ of sleeping in huts along the way
- Conquering Africa’s highest mountain (Uhuru peak) with little more than a walking stick, proper clothing and sheer determination through various climatic zones; from the tropics to the arctic!
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 – Mandara Hut
7km, 4-5 hours, 700m climb.
Pick up from your hotel and transfer from Moshi to Marangu Gate with porters and guides where you start your climb with a picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight stay at Mandara Hut – 9,000ft / 2,700m. From Mandara hut, you can visit the nearby Maundi Crater, which is about an hour each way and provides views of the summit if you feel up to it.
Day 2 – Horombo Hut
11km, 5-7 hours, 1000m climb.
After breakfast, we climb through open moorlands of stunning beauty to Horombo Hut – 12,000ft / 3,700m. Dinner and overnight stay at the hut.
Day 3 – Kibo Hut
10km, 5-7 hours, 1000m climb.
After breakfast, continue up the mountain to Kibo Hut – 15,450ft / 4,700m for dinner and overnight stay.
After Horombo Hut, the path splits again with the western path being more popular; steadily gaining in height passing the landmark Last Water point and crossing The Saddle for Kibo hut.
Day 4 – Uhuru Peak
4km, 7-8 hours, 1200m climb plus 14km, 4-7 hours, 2200m descent.
Early in the morning we climb to Gilman’s Point (18,640ft / 5680m) then onwards to the summit – Uhuru Peak (5896m /19,340ft). Then descend down to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight. A very early start to the morning (between midnight and 1am) as this stage can involve up to 16 hours of very strenuous walking. The walk to Uhuru peak along the crater rim with the vertical fall into the crater on one side and the smooth snow covered outer slopes of the dome on the other is one of the most amazing in Africa. At Uhuru peak – 5896m / 19,340ft you will have reached the highest point in Africa and if the weather is good you will certainly want to celebrate your triumph and take in the breathtaking views!
The return from Uhuru to Gillman’s takes about an hour or more and from here to Kibo hut is an easy walk down. If you have strong knees and nerves then you can run down the scree to be back at Kibo hut in less than an hour and then down to Horombo hut for dinner and a well-deserved sleep.
Day 5 – Moshi
After breakfast, we descend to Marangu Gate in about 6 hours. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. At Marangu gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m), receive gold certificates. You now drive back to your Moshi hotel for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!
Departs any day with a minimum of 2 travelers!
Prices vary according to group size
What you need to bring:
Quilted sleeping bag and liner, Anorak or windbreaker, hiking boots, trainers for the rain forest and moorlands, light raincoat, warm sweaters, hat, gloves, thermal underwear, gaiters, balaclava, tracksuits, down vest, cotton shirts, thin and thick socks, sun block and lip balm, trekking poles, good sunglasses or snow glasses, water bottle, water purification tablets, plastic bags and stuff bags, torch with spare batteries and spare bulbs, small rucksack to carry yourself, rucksack – possibly with lock in which to pack your belongings to be carried by porters. Maximum luggage 15 kgs otherwise there will be a surcharge on the excess.
