7 Days Climbing Safari in Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

According to annual research and report journals, the average summit successful rate across all climbers using the Marangu route is 65%. The summit success rate depends heavily upon climate like rainfall and snow, and the person's fitness. The climate, however, in the Marangu route is not that much troublesome.

You can only expect acclimatization at Kibo and Horombo camp where there is low oxygen as altitude increases. This is a unique safari for the venturesome. The hike via Marangu route can be done in six days and the points on the trail are at Marangu Gate which is your starting point, Mandara Hut, Horombo Hut, and Kibo Hut.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival day

On the day of arrival, you will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to the hotel in Moshi town where you will be staying for dinner and overnight. At the hotel, you will meet a mountain guide who will briefly explain to you the itinerary for the next day and all the essential information about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro including the route, hiking equipment, and other important information.

Day 2: Hiking from Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

After breakfast in your hotel, a car with driver and guide will be waiting for you outside. You will have an hour of private drive from Moshi town to Kilimanjaro Mountain at Marangu Gate. At the gate, the registration and payment process will be done while porters are organizing luggage, ready to start a tour. It takes a four-hour hike to the first hut.

Through an elevation of 6,100 feet to 8,875 feet and through the verdant scenery of a mountain forest, you will see that the forest stems with bird life, Colobus monkey, as well as other monkeys teeming the jungle.

Day 3: Hiking from Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

After breakfast at Mandara Hut, you will be ascending to Horombo Hut. The altitude begins to change and will slow down your pace while you enjoy the flora and the view of Mawenzi and Kibo Peak. This will take six hours with an elevation of 3,780 meters. Arrive at the Horombo Hut, 11 kilometers from Mandara, and your lunch box will be provided on the way. At Horombo Hut, you will have rest, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Day 4: Acclimatization day

You will spend three hours walking to zebra rock for acclimatization and after that, you will hike down to Horombo Hut for lunch, rest, dinner, and your overnight accommodation.

Day 5: From Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut (Summit night)

After breakfast at Horombo Hut, the hike to Kibo Hut begins. You will ascend further, passing the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heath land but then disappears into moonscape.

Your lunch box will be provided on the way. At Kibo Hut, you will have rest, dinner, and an overnight lodging while preparing yourself for Uhuru Peak summit at night around 12:00 a.m. On the way to the summit, you will pass through Gillman’s point, Stella point, and finally end up at the Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa.

Day 6: Descend from summit to Kibo and Horombo Hut

The beginning of day five might still catch you at the Uhuru Peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. You can take a beautiful picture while the sun is rising and as you slowly start to hike down to Kibo Hut for breakfast. Rest and later on, you will start to descend again to Horombo Hut where you will have lunch, rest, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Day 7: Descend from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate (Final day of the tour)

You will descend from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate exit. The driver will drop you off from the gate to the hotel in Moshi for lunch and then you can rest but if your flight is on the same day, then the driver will drop you off to the airport for your departure.

Vegatation

Rain forest 6000 to 9200ft (800 to 1800m)

The rain forest represents the most abundant opportunities for viewing unique types of African flora and fauna. Various se, fig trees, olive tree, palm dripping with hanging mosses, species of orchids, sycamore are found here. Blue colobus monkey and different species of birds’ lives here. Climbers using Rongai, Shira and Lemosho route may be lucky to spot elephants, buffalo, antelope and occasionally hyenas.

Moorland Zone 9200 to 13200ft (2800 to 4000m)

As we move higher, the humidity and dense forest surrounding begin to give way to drier air and cooler temperatures. The flora thins into smaller shrubs like heather, and the presence of fauna becomes increasingly scarce. The most common flora is groundsels and Giant Lobelias. The most common bird seen is easily recognizable black and white crows which forage around camp.

Alpine Desert zone 13200 to 16500ft (4000 to 5000m)

The alpine desert receives little rainfall and correspondingly light vegetation exists here. The temperature can reach over 34 degree Celsius during a day. The thin air and proximity to the equator results in very high levels of solar radiation. This zone is in the very high altitude region of mountain medicine. For ideal acclimatization, climbers should spend a few days here, we always insist our guides to make sure that they climb high and sleep low to reduce the ill effects of altitude.

Arctic zone16500+ft (5000m+)

The final region of the climb is the arctic zone. Finding a region like this in Africa’s equatorial belt is like finding a swath of rainforest in the middle of an Arctic glacier. Characterized by ice and rock, there is virtually no plant or animal life at this altitude. Glacial silt covers the slopes that were once concealed by the now receding glaciers visible from Kilimanjaro crater rim. Nights are extremely cold and windy.

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During this safari, all meals will be provided for you by Nyayo Tours & Safaris. Vegetarian and other special diets can be accommodated. Please let Nyayo Tours & Safaris know ahead of time. Protein options may be minimal on a vegetarian diet, so you may want to bring protein supplements.

Spa treatments are also available with some additional payment.

Kikuletwa hot spring for swimming

Materuni coffee tour

Wildlife safari game drive (1-5 days) depending on the time available for the client.

Town trip in Moshi and sight seeing.

This is the optional services and its charge not included in the price mentioned.

• 6 nights accommodation
• All activities mentioned in the itinerary
• Transfers to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
• All park entrance fee, accommodation fee, rescue fee, and 18% VAT
• Daily meals
• Payments to Guide, porters, and cook services
• Transfer from and to the mountain starting point or gate

• Hiking equipment and gears
• Personal items
• Tipping
• Any extra additional activities not mentioned
• Any additional night

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.