MARANGU ROUTE 5 DAYS | |||||
Participants | 1 | 2-4 | 5-7 | 8-10 | 11+ |
Price (USD per person) | $ 1910 | $ 1550 | $ 1440 | $ 1430 | $1425 |
Day 1 To Mandara Hut 2720m:
The way from the Marangu Gate 1879m to Mandara Hut is 8km long and will take 3-4 hours including a lunch break. After registration at the park gate, we hike in a lovely rainforest. In the forest, you might see blue monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys. If we arrive at the evening’scamp in a timely manner we can take a 15-minute side trip to Maundi Crater, a volcanic crater that did not erupt due to the lack of magma pressure and collapsed instead. You will have a nice view Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks. If the weather permits you will see part of Kenya and Lake Chala (Tanzania) in the distance.
Day 2 to Horombo Hut 3720m:
It will take 5-6 hours to walk for 11km from Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut, including lunch. You will be in the moorland zone. At Horombo there are 120 beds (extra space for people walking down). You will be supplied with mattresses and pillows, also here are dining halls, toilets, and solar-powered lights.
Day 3 to Kibo Hut 4720m:
The walk of 9km to Kibo Hut will take 4-5 hours including a lunch break. You will cross the Alpine desert, which is characterized by strong winds, especially at the saddle area between Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks. Kibo Hut is a dry camp, but the porters will carry water from Horombo Hut. There are 60 beds with mattresses and pillows. There are no dedicated dining halls, so you will eat dinner in your room. There are toilets and solar-powered lights.
Summit Attempt!
The climb to the summit starts around midnight. The trail is 6 kilometers, but steep. It would not be difficult, but the lesser available oxygen at this altitude turns this into a giant test of will-power. It will take 6 to 8 hours. The early starting time allows you to see the sunrise on the top of the mountain. The route is a steep zigzag route. The first point you will reach Gilman’s Point at 5685m, which is located at the crater rim. Then you walk about one kilometer along the crater to Stella Point (5756m), where you will meet people climbing up all the other routes. The way from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa, is a slow ascend that takes about 45 minutes. We recommend staying only for 10 minutes at Uhuru Peak to take in the view and pictures. We then begin the descent via the same route to Kibo Hut. Here we will pause for a rest before continuing another 9 km (4 – 5 hours hike) to Horombo Hut where we will spend the night.
Day 5: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate and drive to Moshi:
The way from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate is 19km. The first part is the 11km walk from Horombo to Mandara Hut where you will stop for lunch. After lunch, you will walk the remaining 8km to Marangu Gate. The total walking time will be 6 – 8 hours. After you reach at the gate you will sign out and receive a certificate confirming your successful climb to Gilman’s, Stella and Uhuru Peak. Afterwards we will drive you about 45m from the gate to your hotel in Moshi.
