Marangu Route, KilimanjaroFor those who cannot bear sleeping in a tent or who are planning to climb during the wettest months, the Marangu route remains a good choice. It is, however, very busy, and does not see as much of the mountain as western routes; it is the shortest route up the mountain which also makes it the route with the least chance of summiting A possible Marangu Route Itinerary
DAY 1 - KILIMANJARO – MANDARA
In the morning you are met by your guides and transfer to Marangu gate to complete formalities before setting off on your Kilimanjaro hike. A picnic lunch is taken on route and in the afternoon you arrive at Mandara Hut. A short walk can be taken to Maundi crater in the afternoon. Overnight Mandara Hut DAY 2 - KILIMANJARO – HOROMBO After breakfast you set out to Horombo hut. The altitude gain today is significant and so a gentle pace is ideal to slowly gain altitude. By mid afternoon you reach camp and can relax. You have another night here to adjust to the altitude. Overnight Horombo Hut DAY 3 - KILIMANJARO – HOROMBO Today is a essentially an acclimatization day. To improve your acclimatization you head out for the day on a hike to higher altitude which takes you towards the Mawenzi volcano. If the weather is fine the views once at the half way point of the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo are spectacular. Behinf you the depply eroded Mawenzi peak is linked forever by the glacially smoothed saddle saddle to Kibo, the main peak. The younger Mawenzi has been continually eroded for at least 400,000 years whilst Kibo has continued to grow and remains dormant to this day. In the afternoon you return to Horombo hut to relax. Overnight Horombo hut DAY 4 - KILIMANJARO – KIBO You start off early to the final hut before the summit attempt. Your crew ensure that water is collected at the last water point whilst you progress slowly up onto the saddle. Here desolate alpine zone stretches out towards the base of Kibo. Progress is slow in this hypoxic (low oxygen) environment but by mid afternoon you reach Kibo hut to relax before the evening ascent. A relatively early dinner is taken and then you climb into your sleeping bags for some rest before your night time departure for the summit. Overnight Kibo Hut DAY 5 - KILIMANJARO – SUMMIT / HOROMBO Rising early normally before midnight you start out from Kibo hut towards the peak. At night time the scree sections are normally much firmer and the night time start enables the best chance of a clear summits attempt. It takes around 6 hours to reach Gilman’s point and then a further 11/2 to 2 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, the highest free standing point in the world and the highest point in Africa. You then descend the same route before a short stop at Kibo hut for a food refuel and rest. By the evening you descend back down to Horombo hut for dinner and overnight. Overnight Horombo Hut DAY 6 - KILIMANJARO – END The final descent takes you back through the heath zone and forest to the Marangu gate. Here you are met by drivers and transferred back to your hotel for a well deserved shower and celebratory dinner. |
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