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Day 1
Arrive at the hotel in time for an evening
meal and to meet your guide to discuss the
trip, especially any queries you may have
about kit. |
Day 2
Drive to Marangu Gate (6,500 feet) and then
start the five hour walk to Mandara Hut at
8,800 feet. Most of the walk is through
forest on a good path. A small path branches
off left after a short way. This is a
longer, more scenic and muddier way which
your guide will probably not want to take.
Mandara Hut is a small number of new huts in
a forest clearing. If you have the time and
energy a short walk to Maundi Crater is
worthwhile. From its low rim you can see
above the trees and should be able to see
the main summit, although in the afternoon
it will almost certainly be cloud-capped
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Day 3
From Mandara the path continues through the
forest. After a couple of hours you will
suddenly emerge from the forest to hopefully
amazing views of the summit, suddenly much
nearer. The path follows the rolling
moorland to reach Horombo Hut at 12,000 feet
after a total of about six hours.
Horombo is really a small village and is
usually busy. Many people spend two nights
here and you will stay again on the way
down.
Once you reach Horombo it is noticeably
colder and you will need to have a fleece
jacket or sweater with you. About now you
will also start to feel the effects of
altitude, so drink and walk slowly.
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Day 4
Extra Day
(This may not be in your itinerary)
A leisurely walk to The Saddle by the right
hand path takes you close to Mawenzi. This
is an extra day of acclimatisation and it's
an ideal day to rest as well as walk high
and sleep low. You then return to Horombo
for the night. |
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Day 4
Continue on the moorland path, past the
'Last Water Point' where you should fill
your bottles. The slope eases as you reach
the desert like expanse of The Saddle and
the group of huge rocks.
It's an easy couple of hours to Kibo Hut,
but you'll be troubled by the view of the
path you'll take tomorrow. Kibo Hut is at
15,300 feet and so it will be very cold at
night.
You'll probably have a head-ache and not eat
much. You must drink as much as possible. If
you have had an extra night at Horombo
you'll be feeling much better and smugger
than the others. The good news is that
you'll be leaving soon after midnight.
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Day 5
The path soon steepens as you start up the
huge screen slope of the actual rim. The
main difficulties are psychological as you
walk slowly and rhythmically uphill for
about five hours, possibly the longest five
hours of your life.
Two good things happen - the sky lightening
tells you that you are getting nearer, and
rocks appear around you. You are now very
near Gillman's Point, 18,500 feet, the
lowest point on the rim. Most people stop
here, and you should only continue if you
are feeling well and the weather is settled.
The highest point, Uhuru Peak, 19,340 feet,
is much further than it looks. If you have
timed the climb well, Mawenzi, behind you,
will be glowing red in the dawn sun. The
walk round the rim to Uhuru is fairly level
but takes about two hours there and two
back, so only continue if you are feeling
strong. Take the advice of your guide at
this point. The walk is well worth it, not
just because of the sense of achievement,
but for the amazing ice scenery you'll pass
on the way. Do not linger too long at the
summit as you have a long way to go.
The descent commences with the walk around
the crater rim to Gillmans Point. From
Gilmans, if you are brave and have good
knees, you can scree-run down the scree
slopes almost all the way to Kibo Hut. This
can take less than an hour but more likely
two. Here you will get tea and biscuits and
a chance to take a short rest.
Then you walk back across The Saddle towards
Mawenzi, the third of Kilimanjaro's peaks.
The views are great and you reach Horombo in
about two hours. This means that this day
you will be on the move for more than
fourteen hours with one hour's rest at Kibo.
It's a tough day, but from Uhuru Point it is
all downhill, and at Horombo you will get
the chance to wash, eat well, and buy a
drink or three. |
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Day 6
The home run! It's about 7 hours walk from
Horombo Hut to the Marangu Gate, passing
Mandara Hut en route. At the hut there will
be a chance to buy drinks.
The final stage is through the rain forest
and it is worth asking your guide to take
the less crowded route via the waterfalls.
At Marangu Gate you can collect your
certificates as you sign out, have lunch and
meet your vehicle for the drive back to the
hotel for dinner and a good sleep.
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Day 7
After breakfast you are free to relax, rush
to the airport or start your next safari.
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