Safari Overview

The 8 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro hiking safari will follow the Marangu route. Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, this route is a classic trek Mount Kilimanjaro trek trail and it comes highly recommended given its well established accommodations which are fairly more comfortable given they are dormitory style. This 8-day hiking safari has an extra day embedded in it for acclimatization on the mountain which is highly recommended when climbing Kilimanjaro.

Hiking highlights

Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro airport, meet and greet and transfer to a hotel in Moshi

Day 2: Hike from the Marangu gate at 1860m/6138ft to Mandara hut 2700m/8910ft

Day 3: Hike to Holombo hut 3720m/12276ft

Day 4: This day is for acclimatization and you will relax with a short hike to Zebra rocks 4020m/13266ft

Day 5: Hike further up to Kibo hut 4740m/15642ft

Day 6: Summit to the top of Uhuru peak 5895m/19454ft then trek down to Horombo hut 3720m/12276ft.

Day 7: Descend further down to Marangu gate at 1860m/6138ft. then transfer back to Mosh

Day 8: Day 8 transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your outbound flight.

Itinerary

 Day 1: Arrive in Tanzania 

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi 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. The missing gear can be rented on this day.

Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Day 2: Hike from Marangu Gate (1860 m/6138 ft.) to Mandara Hut (2700 m/8910 ft.)

After breakfast, you will be collected from your lodge/hotel in Moshi and taken to the Marangu gate. Once the necessary paperwork has been completed, your trek can begin and you will soon be hiking through the dense rainforest. Alongside the impressive vegetation, you will have the chance to catch a glimpse of some primates as you head that reside in the montane rain forest that are found at this elevation to the Mandara Hut. After a well-earned rest, your guide can take you to the Maundy Crater where you can enjoy the wonderful view of the Kenyan interior. 

Elevation gain: 840 m/2772 ft

Distance covered: 8.3km / 5.2mi 

Approx. time taken: 5 hours

Vegetation zone: Montane Rainforest

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 3: Extend to Horombo Hut (3720 m/12276 ft.) from Mandara Hut  

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. Approximately 4 – 6 hours later, the Horombo Hut will come into sight, standing at an altitude of 3720 metres. From the hut, you will have fantastic views overlooking Mawenzi, Kibo and the wide plain of the Masai steppe. 

Elevation gain: 1020 m/3366 ft.

Distance covered: 12.5km / 7.8mi 

Approx. time taken: 9 hours

Vegetation zone: Moorland

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Visit the Zebra Rocks (4020 m/13266 ft.) then come back to Horombo hut as you acclimatize.

Today is a relaxation day and it also doubles as an acclimatization day. This day  greatly improves your chances of success in reaching the summit as it helps your body to slowly cope with the rather hush high altitude weather. After a relaxing breakfast, a 4 hour trek follows to the Zebra Rocks (4020 metres/13266 ft). 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. 

Distance covered: 5 km / 3.1mi 

Approx. time taken: 4 hours

Vegetation zone: Moorland and Alpine Desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Hike from Horombo Hut (3720 m/12276 ft) to Kibo Hut (4740 m/15642 ft)

Today’s stage is long and tough. The well-built trail passes the “Last Water point” which is followed by the so-called “saddle”. This nearly vegetation less plateau joins the main summit Kibo with Mawenzi. Today’s destination is the Kibo Hut that is usually reached in about 5 – 6 hours. Here, you will enjoy an early evening meal followed by an early night, as the night will be short. 

Elevation gain: 1020 m/3366 ft.

Distance covered: 9.5km / 5.9mi 

Approx. time taken: 7 hours

Vegetation zone: Moorland and Alpine desert

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 6: Kibo Hut (4740 m/15642 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5895m/19454 ft) & trek down to Horombo Hut (3720m/12276 ft) 

Today is “The Big Day” – the summit stage. You will begin your final ascent around midnight which will be long and strenuous. Passing the Hans Meyer Cave at 5220 metres/17226, the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gillman’s Point (5681 m/18747.3 ft) – the crater rim of Kilimanjaro – where the sun will slowly start to warm up the land. You will have soon forgotten the cold of the night and after a further hike of 1 – 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895 metres/19454 ft. On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits you followed by a 1 – 2 hour break before proceeding trek back down to Horombo Hut where you will stay for the night. 

Elevation gain: 1155 metres/3812 ft from kibo Hut camp to Uhuru peak

Elevation lost: 2175 metres/7178 ft (from Uhuru peak to Horombo hut camp)

Distance covered: 22 km / 13.7mi 

Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours

Vegetation zone: Moorland, Alpine desert and Artic/Summit 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 

Day 7: Horombo Hut (3720 m/12276 ft) to Marangu Gate (1860 m/6138 ft) 

The last stage passes through the heath and moorland zone to the Mandara Hut (2700 m/8910 ft) 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 (1860 m/6138 ft). After saying goodbye to your mountain guides, a short transfer follows to take you back to your hotel in Moshi. Once there, you can take a warm and relaxing shower and celebrate your success in reaching the summit of the Kilimanjaro. 

Elevation lost: 1860 metres/6138 ft

Distance covered: 20.8km / 12.9mi 

Approx. time taken: 8 hours

Vegetation zone: Moorland and Rainforest

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 8: Depart Tanzania

The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some gift shops before heading to the airport.  

 Tour Includes the following;

• All transfers upon arrival.

• One night Hotel accommodation before and after climb at a mid-range Hotel 

• All meals during the expeditions (breakfast, lunch & dinner). Professional chefs available so the clients foods prepared will be very good and recommended for the Mountain expeditions.

• Wages to the crew team, Porters, Chef and Guide

• All Kilimanjaro national park entrance fee, rescue fee, camping fee and Government taxes.

• First aid medications such as oxygen cylinder and others. All of our local guides are certified paramedics and wilderness first Aid responders.

Tour excludes the following;

• Tipping to the crew team. Normally for porters from $9 – $15 per day per person, chef from $15 – $25 per day and guide from $25 – $50 per day.

• Personal climbing gears, if some climbing gears misses rental shops are available here.

• Personal item such as souvenir, visa fee upon arrival ($50 for non US and $100 for US citizens)

• Additional services such as Portable Toilets (available for rent upon request (1 pcs for 2 people)), personal porters, and special events such as birthday and so on.

• Travelling Insurance and Helicopter evacuation from the base camp ($3000 per person). Here we have local rescue team which is included in the Kilimanjaro national park fees.