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You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Arusha town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.
Depending on your arrival time, visit Arusha (not included but can be arranged)
Spend some time in Arusha, both the gateway city for most safaris in northern Tanzania and a fascinating place to explore. Enjoy good restaurants, streets filled with energy and so many snapshots of vibrant Tanzanian city life. It’s everything you look for in an urban pit stop.
Dinner and Overnight at Green Mountain Hotel or similar.
Distance: 8.3 km
Hiking Time: Approximately 5 hours
Habitat: Mountain Rain Forest
Elevation Change: 950m
After an early breakfast from your lodge, your guide will brief you on the day.
You will drive two hours from Arusha (1400m) to the Marangu Gate.
At the gate, the porters will organize and pack the belongings for the hike while you and your guide register with the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA).
Once the necessary paper work has been completed, your trek can begin and you will soon be hiking through the dense rainforest.
During this section of the hike, you should expect rain, mud, and fog. Also, alongside the impressive vegetation, be on the lookout for wildlife, including Colobus monkeys!
After 3-4 hours of ascending, you will reach the Mandara Hut (2700m above sea level).
Each hut has 6-8 sleeping bunks (sleeps 60 hikers total) with solar generated lighting.
After a well-earned rest, your guide can take you to the Maundi Crater where you can enjoy the wonderful view of the Kenyan interior.
Next to the central hut there are flush toilets. The porters, who arrive at the campsite before the clients, will boil water for drinking and washing.
The chef will prepare a snack then dinner.
At nighttime, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared!
Distance: Approximately 12.5 km
Hiking time: 9 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Elevation Change: 1.0202m
The day begins with an early breakfast. Shortly after you have left Mandara Hut, you will reach the timberline and then enter the heath and moor zone. This day you will hike along the last patches of the mountain forest past the other side of Maundi crater and soon you will reach the moorland vegetation zone.
The area is more dominated by heather, Lobelia Deckenii and lovely Dendrosenecio Kilimanjari.
Later you will arrive at Horombo huts. From the hut, you will have fantastic views overlooking Mawenzi, Kibo and the wide plain of the Masai steppe. With good weather conditions, you can have a stunning view of both Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.
If you wish you can bath with hot water before dinner followed by sleeping in a luxurious bed.
Horombo huts can accommodate 120 people all sleeping in beds and it is like a small village and the only huts on Kilimanjaro with beds.
You have one day here for relaxing and acclimatization.
Be prepared as nights here tends to be crazy cold.
Distance covered: 5km
Hiking time: 4 hours
Habitat: moorland
Elevation Change: 280m or 730m
Today serves as an acclimatization day. This should not be underestimated and greatly improves your chance of success in reaching the summit. After a relaxing breakfast, a 4-hour trek follows to the Zebra Rocks (4020m). The distinctive black and white stripes give the rock formation its name.
On your return to Horombo Hut, a warm lunch will be waiting for you. You can relax in the afternoon and regain your strength for the hike the following day.
If you wish, you can have a day hike to Mawenzi Hut (4600m) for further acclimatization with your guide. Your preference for this day will decide on where to have lunch if you will hike to Mawezi then you will take packed lunch.
Overnight at Horombo Hut.
Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 9.5 km
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Elevation Change: 1000m
Today’s stage is long and tough. The well-built trail passes the “Last Water point” which is followed by the so-called “saddle”.
Saddle, the area in-between Mawenzi and Kibo, can be reached in two different routes. Through the upper route which is eroded and stormy or by taking the lower route which is easier and most recommended where you can pass near the water point at (4200 m).
We will fill your bottles with enough drinking water as this will be the last water point before reaching Horombo huts again, otherwise you can buy mineral water or soft drinks at Kibo huts.
This nearly vegetation-less plateau joins the main summit Kibo with Mawenzi.
You will reach Kibo huts at (4700 m) after 2 walking hours. Kibo hut is at the barren Alpine desert with only grasses and everlasting flowers. Kibo huts are built with stone blocks and have 60 bunk beds and platform toilets.
Reaching the camp same procedures will follow as per previous days. Overnight at Kibo Hut Here, you will enjoy an early evening meal followed by an early night, as the night will be short.
At Kibo Hut, you’ll be sleeping at an altitude of 4703m above sea level, which is higher than most mountain summits in Africa. Accommodation is simple, with bunk beds, and you can see the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro across the alpine desert that surrounds the hut. Very little grows up there, but the travellers who make it this far have a very strong sense of achievement.
Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Horombo
Distance: Approximately 5.4km ascent and 15 km descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Elevation Change: 1195m to Uhuru, -2195 to Horombo
Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. Today is “The Big Day” – the summit stage You will then begin your summit attempt. The route heads northwest and you will ascend over stone scree. During the ascent, many hikers feel that this is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the climb.
The trail is rocky up to Hans Meyer Cave (5150m). You continue your ascent to Gillman’s point (5681m) reaching it at sunrise if all goes well. Reaching this section is an impressive achievement as the trail is steep, rocky, and at high altitude. Gillman’s is located on the crater rim.
From this point, you will usually experience a snow-covered trail until you reach the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m).
You will be able to spend a short time on the summit taking photographs and drinking tea before the descent to Barafu begins. The hike down to Kibo Hut takes about 3 hours.
At Kibo Hut, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun.
After eating, you will continue descending down to Horombo Hut (3,700m).
You will have a dinner, wash, and rest soundly at the hut after a strenuous day.
Hiking time: 8 hours
Distance: Approximately 20.8 km
Habitat: Moorland to mountain forest
Elevation Change: -1800m
Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips, you may start with porters, cook and lastly the guides.
After celebrating, you will descend After celebrating, you will descend back to Marangu Gate.
The last stage passes through the heath and moor zone to the Mandara Hut (2700m) where a warm lunch is waiting for you. Soon, you will once again pass the tropical rainforest and after a total time of 6 hours trekking, you will be back at the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860m).
The National Park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion receive green certificates and hikers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
After saying goodbye to your mountain guides, we meet the driver at the gate and drive back to Arusha or drop off at the airport. Overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to Arusha airport for your flight home leaving with your heart full of amazing memories.
Unless, you plan an extension to Zanzibar or a Camping Safari…
END
Register here for the trip and further details will be sent:
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Group minimum 06
Rates:
Solo Traveller – on request
01-02 pax EUR2155 per person
03-04 pax EUR1825 per person
05-06 pax EUR1688 per person
07-10 pax EUR1595 per person
11-15 pax EUR1485 per person
30% payment required on booking
Remaining payments can be done in 2 instalments with the final payment, 2 weeks before departure.
Cancellation fees apply – for further details see:
https://hodophileexperience.com/index.php/about-our-trips/
Will be sent with full itinerary when confirmed
Will be sent with full itinerary when confirmed
Click here to check the visa requirements
Kilimanjaro
The temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro range from hot to bitter cold. Climbing Kilimanjaro is unique for many reasons, and one of these is that from origin to summit, climbers find themselves weaving through several distinct climate zones. It is said that the journey from the gate to the peak is like traveling from the equator to Antarctica in a matter of days!
We generally advise that the best time to climb Kilimanjaro is during the warmest and driest times of year, from December to mid-March and mid-June to the end of October
From July until the end of October, conditions are generally colder, but much drier than the previous months. Whilst there is a chance of getting rained on throughout the year, particularly as you trek through the rainforest and moorlands, typically precipitation is low and infrequent.
If you remain dry, you’ll be more comfortable and the trek will be a more enjoyable experience overall. Another advantage of climbing during these months is that you’ll have clear and sunny skies, and spectacular views.
At the summit, Uhuru Point, the night time temperatures can range between -7 to -29 degrees Celsius. Due to Mount Kilimanjaro’s great height, the mountain creates its own weather. It is extremely variable and impossible to predict. Therefore, regardless of when you climb, you should always be prepared for wet days and cold nights.
Bring USD US Dollars and in small notes.
If you opt for the visa on arrival, have a $50 note ready. On departure, $25 for airport tax.
Most meals are included on Kilimanjaro hike but some on Zanzibar are not. Expect $50 per person for tips given to crew.
Kilimanjaro
Before you begin your climb you will meet your guide and porters. Typically guides can speak good English, porters less so.
Porters carry all your gear (excluding your daypack) and all the equipment you need on your climb (tents, cooking equipment, food, water etc.). Each porter carries up to 20kg on their back or head! Yes, 20kg.
Some tour operators limit the weight that porters carry to 15kg.
Porters race ahead of you and your guide to make sure they get to each Kilimanjaro campsite before you and have everything setup for your arrival (tent assembled, food ready etc.).
Guides are responsible for managing the porter team and ensuring you have a safe and enjoyable hike. Most are fully trained in mountain first aid, and have many Kilimanjaro summits under their belt.
What is the ratio of support staff to trekkers?
The average ratio of support staff is 3 porters for every climber, 2 guides for every 4 climbers, cook and assistant guides vary depending on numbers.
Here are some typical ration numbers:
1 climber: 1 guide / 2-3 porters / 1 cook
2-3 climbers: 1 guide / 5-6 porters / 1 cook / 1 assistant guide
4-5 climbers: 2 guides / 8-9 porters / 2 cooks / 1 assistant guide
5-6 climbers: 2 guides / 11-12 porters / 2 cooks / 2 assistant guides
7-8 climbers: 3 guides / 14-15 porters / 2-3 cooks / 2-3 assistant guides
9-10 climbers: 3-4 guides / 17-18 porters / 2-3 cook / 2-3 assistant guides
How much should I tip on a climb?
We’ve provided a guideline and worked example for calculating how much you should set aside for tips. Please use this as a guideline only.
We suggest 10-12% of your climb cost (approximately $300-500) per climber.
Tipping amounts are as follows.
Per main guide – US$20-25 per day
Per assistant guide – US$15-20 per day
Per cook – US$15 per day
Per porter – US$10 per day
Tips are usually paid at the end of your Kilimanjaro hike after you have reached your final checkpoint and signed out with the authorities.
It is customary to pay tips individually in separate envelopes unless advised otherwise (some tour companies suggest you pay your lead guide who then re-distributes the money).
Travellers should be up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended. These vaccinations include for example measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine.
Country specific diphtheria recommendations are not provided here. Diphtheria tetanus and polio are combined in a single vaccine in some countries. Therefore, when a tetanus booster is recommended for travellers, diphtheria vaccine is also given. Should there be an outbreak of diphtheria in a country, diphtheria vaccination guidance will be provided.
Those who may be at increased risk of an infectious disease due to their work, lifestyle choice, or certain underlying health problems should be up to date with additional recommended vaccines.
The vaccines which are recommended for most travellers visiting this country:
Hepatitis A
Tetanus
Typhoid
The vaccines which are recommended for some travellers visiting this country:
Cholera
Rabies
Hepatitis B
Tuberculosis (TB)
Meningococcal Disease
Yellow Fever
Certificate requirements
Please read the information below carefully, as certificate requirements may be relevant to certain travellers only. For travellers’ further details, if required, should be sought from their healthcare professional.
Malaria
Travellers should follow an ABCD guide to preventing malaria:
Awareness of the risk – Risk depends on the specific location, season of travel, length of stay, activities and type of accommodation.
Bite prevention – Travellers should take mosquito bite avoidance measures.
Chemoprophylaxis – Travellers should take antimalarials (malaria prevention tablets) if appropriate for the area (see below). No antimalarials are 100% effective but taking them in combination with mosquito bite avoidance measures will give substantial protection against malaria.
Diagnosis – Travellers who develop a fever of 38°C [100°F] or higher more than one week after being in a malaria risk area, or who develop any symptoms suggestive of malaria within a year of return should seek immediate medical care. Emergency standby treatment may be considered for those going to remote areas with limited access to medical attention.
Altitude illness in Tanzania
There is a point of elevation in this country higher than 2,500 metres. An example place of interest: Mt Kilimanjaro 5,895m.
Prevention
Travellers should spend a few days at an altitude below 3,000m. Where possible travellers should avoid travel from altitudes less than 1,200m to altitudes greater than 3,500m in a single day. Ascent above 3,000m should be gradual. Travellers should avoid increasing sleeping elevation by more than 500m per day and ensure a rest day (at the same altitude) every three or four days. Acetazolamide can be used to assist with acclimatization, but should not replace gradual ascent. Travellers who develop symptoms of AMS (headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and sleep disturbance) should avoid further ascent. In the absence of improvement or with progression of symptoms the first response should be to descend.
Arusha
Full Moon view Summit on day!
Reaching the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment!
“Africa changes you forever, like nowhere on earth. Once you have been there, you will never be the same”
Brian Jackman
