Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route + 4 day Safari.
Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route + 4 day Safari.
Pick up from the airport and transfer to a hotel in the vicinity of Arusha/Moshi. Supper.
After breakfast we drive to Marangu Gate from where our expedition commences. Introductory meeting with guides, porters and the chef, who will keep us company throughout the journey. The day's climb from Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut takes us 4 to 5 hours. The route leads through a coffee plantation and through a rainforest. Along the we way we can observe different kinds of animals such as the mantled guereza. Mandara Hut is our destination – a place where there are several simple cottages and where we spend the night.
The second day begins with a steep approach through remaining part of the rainforest. After about an hour we leave the rainforest behind and start travelling through moors with a picturesque view of Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Throughout the day we make an ascent of about 1000 meters which should take us from 5 to 7 hours. Unfortunately some of us might start experiencing the hardships of the high altitude, which is why the following day is meant to be an acclimatization day, allowing us to reach our final destination more swiftly. The final destination of this day's hike is Horombo Hut – our accommodation for the night.
This day is what we call an acclimatization day and, according to statistics, it increases the chances of reaching the peak twofold. After breakfast we start a slow climb to the altitude of 4200 meters above sea level – to so called Zebra Rocks. After reaching our destination we rest and we start to descent back towards Horombo Hut where we spend another night.
Today's climb takes about 6 to 8 hours and the route becomes more and more rocky. On our way up we go past the last drinking water supply point and, after leaving the remaining moors behind, we enter the mountain pass situated between Kibo and Mawezi peaks. After we cross the mountain pass the route leads slightly downwards and through a desert-like landscape of a slightly sloping plain. In the end we reach Kibo Hut and after dinner we rest as we start the final approach at midnight.
The longest and the most difficult day of the journey. Right after midnight we start a very steep climb in the dark. The temperature can fall below 0 at times. After about 2 hours we reach Hans Meyer Cave – named after the first European to ever climb Kilimanjaro. Afterwards the route leads steeply upwards, to Gilmans Point (5681m), from where we enjoy a beautiful sunrise over the Mawenzi peak. After about 2 hours' hike along the edge of a crater we reach Uhuru Peak (5895m), After a quick rest combined with a photo-shoot we start the descent to Horombo Hut, where we camp for the night.
On this day we continue the descent through rainforest to Marangu from where we are driven to the hotel for a deserved rest and a supper.
After an early breakfast we pick you up from the hotel and we go for a 2 hours drive to the Tarangire National Park. This park has an area of 2850 square kilometres and its name is derived from the Tarangire River which runs trough the park. Many animal species inhabit the park, just to mention a few: lions, panthers, African elephants, buffaloes, zebras, impala, and gazelles. Among the plants which grow in the park, worth mentioning is the African baobab. The park is also a paradise for bird enthusiasts as about 550 different species of birds live here. There is a planned break during which we eat our packed lunches. We also carry a supply of bottled water with us throughout the day. In the evening we leave the park and travel to the camping site where we spend the night.
After breakfast we travel to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with its most distinctive attraction - the Ngorngoro Crater – the largest unflooded and unbroken caldera in the world. An estimated 25,000 animals live in the crater, including: lions, hyenas, black and white rhinos, buffaloes, hippos, Grant's zebras, gnus, and gazelles. During our safari we try to find as many as possible. There is a planned break during which we eat our packed lunches. We also carry a supply of bottled water with us throughout the day. After the safari we transfer to a hotel in the vicinity of Arusha/Moshi where we have supper.