Mt. KILIMANJARO, MARANGU ROUTE a 6 Days & 5 Nights Summit to Uhuru Peak.
The trek begins in the southeast area of the mountain at Marangu Gate. The route takes five days minimum to complete, although six days is more practical and recommended. The Marangu Route is highly frequented and it is the oldest route travelled.
After breakfast, get ready to start your climb, leave Moshi at 9 am, drive for 45 minutes to the Marangu Gate for registration. It is recommended that you start this route in the morning, because this allows a leisurely walk to Mandara, avoiding the rain showers that sometimes fall in the afternoon. You will probably have lunch at the Kisambioni picnic area which marks halfway. It should take about an hour and a half to get there. Soon you will arrive at the Mandara Huts, a group of wooden huts in a forest clearing. In the evening Overnight dinner & breakfast will be served at public dining. Remember Bathrooms with running water are available.๐ป
Wake up with bed tea, before parking for the next trekking. From Mandara hut, the trail passes through a short stretch of forest and skirts the base of Maundi Crater, crosses a meadow and a wooded stream, then emerges into grassland. If weather permitting you should get good views of Kibo and Mawezi. This is a long day, you will cover quite some distance and attitude. Remember to drink plenty, and try to eat well, even if you don't feel like it. From your lunch stop, it is about another hour and a half to the Horombo huts where you will have Overnight dinner & breakfast at 7 Pm. In Horombo Bathroom, running water is available.
Horombo Acclimatization Day
After breakfast, as usual, today you will have a short break before continuing to trek. Horombo hut is a village of huts perched on a small plateau, with buildings similar to Mandara. You will meet both ascending and descending hikers here. This extra day and night at Horombo are for additional acclimatization. A hike towards the Mawenzi hut, passing the Zebra Rocks on the way is strongly recommended. This hike will further assist with the process of acclimatization. All meals for the day are provided at the hut. Retire to bed early and get a last good night's rest.
Wake to breakfast as usual, but if you wake early you can get some great photos of the sunrise. As you keep trudging uphill the vegetation is gradually thinning out. You will be passing through several water streams and they do not necessarily look inviting. Nevertheless, soon you'll reach the signposted "Last Water Point. After having crossed a ridge and another to get here the path leads uphill onto the "Saddle". After lunch it's an easy two-hour stroll for some, others it's a long trudge across this boulder-strewn plain to the Kibo Huts, which do not seem to come any closer. You will be looking at Kibo the whole time, and you will be having a good view of the challenge that lies ahead for you tonight.
Remember today is the summit day wake at mid to light breakfast, then prepare for your summit ascent. It will take you about 5 hours to reach Gilman's Point at 5681 above sea level. From Gilman's, it takes 1 hour to summit Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5895 m above sea level. After reaching Uhuru Peak spend some time taking photos and watching as the African sunrises from the horizon.
Horombo - Mandara - Marangu Gate
After breakfast, descend further down to the Marangu Park Gate through Mandara hut. Have lunch there then continue down through the lush forest to the park gate where you will be issued with certificates. You now drive back to Hotel in Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations!! & overnight.
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