Day 0: Arrive at KIA and transfer to Arusha City
After you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be met by Maasai Wanderlust representative and be transferred to Arusha City. In the evening there will be a briefing with our chief guide, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.
Please Note
Day 1: Marangu Gate- Mandara Hut (1879m- 2720m)
This morning after breakfast, pack your climbing gear into the Land Rovers and drive for 45 minutes to the Marangu Gate on the eastern side of Kilimanjaro, register with the national park. Begin hiking head through dense rainforest to the trailhead. Be on the lookout for rare black and white Collobus monkeys swinging in the canopy. During heavy rainy season, lower elevations tend to be wet and muddy, we recommend you to bring your gaiters and trekking poles. After a hearty lunch, and reach the Mandara Huts at late afternoon. If you may start to feel the effects of altitude here, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:-
At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.
Day 2: Mandara Huts- Horombo Huts (2,720m- 3,720m)
Out of the Mandara hut, you’ll hike up through the heather and heath-like shrubs grow in this area as well as gorse-like bushes, attractive grasses and flowers. Stop half way for lunch and you will arrive at Horombo hut at late afternoon. Several hours after lunch you will have to complete an acclimatization hike in the direction of Kibo Hut with a 200-meter gain in altitude, and then hike back down to Horombo Hut where dinner will be prepared for you. The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.
Acclimatization hike:-
Day 3: Horombo Huts- Kibo Huts (3,720 m- 4,720 m)
After breakfast, trek to your next Hut. Cross the alpine desert with intense radiation, high evaporation, and daily fluctuations in temperature; nights can be below 0˚C and in the day time as high as 40˚C in direct sun. Under these harsh conditions only the hardiest lichens, moss, tussock grass and bright yellow daisy-like flowers alongside the trail can exist. After a little lunch break cross the large saddle on the way to Kibo Hut. You’ll explore the volcanic towers, rocky overhangs, and large boulder formations as you acclimatize. Rest up in preparation for tomorrow’s thrilling summit bid.
Day 4: Kibo Hut- Uhuru Peak- Horombo Hut (4,720- 5,895 m- 3,720 m)
Wake up around midnight and have breakfast before you start hiking up Pole, Pole (Slowly, slowly) with headlamps or flashlights into the night on the steepest and demanding part of the Kilimanjaro. If you are lucky enough, the moonlight will light your steps up on the northwest through the most challenging heavy loose scree and boulders trails all the way to Stella point. At this point, you will have a short rest and welcome a new dawn with amazing and stunning sunrise. Begin your focused trek to the summit, reaching Uhuru Peak- the highest point in Africa and the world’s highest freestanding peak where you create memories of lifetime. Enjoy free time to celebrate your success with your fellow trekkers, and snap stunning once in a lifetime photos before descending to Kibo Hut. At the camp, have lunch and a little rest. Then, pack your belongings then descend to Horombo Hut by crossing saddle.
Day 5: Horombo Hut- Marangu Gate(3,720m- 1,879m) – Arusha City
Wake up and have an early breakfast as usual, then pack your belonging and descent to Mandara hut. At Mandara, you will have lunch before you continue descending through the most beautiful cloudy, foggy and lush moorland forests to Marangu Gate. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates. After tipping and saying welfare to your mountain crew, you will be transferred back to Arusha City.
END OF TOUR
