The Roof of Africa - The Marangu Route to Kilimanjaro

Get your first taste of Tanzanian air when you get off the plane and enter the airport at Kilimanjaro. Were you able to spot the roof of Africa from the plane? Look forward to the next few days as you take in the scenery and breathtaking panoramic landscapes. After picking up your luggage, you will receive a warm welcome from your driver and our representatives. You will then be transferred to your first hotel. At the end of the day, a Kilimanjaro expert will prepare you for the next days and clarify any doubts you may have - this way you can start your exciting adventure the next day on the right foot. In the evening, enjoy a fortifying dinner and recover from the strenuous journey in order to set off the next morning.

Trip duration: approx. 50 - 80 km / 60 - 90 minutes

1 night in Marangu Hotel with half board in standard room, Marangu, Tanzania

Or, depending on your arrival time,

1 night at KIA Lodge with half board in a standard room, Arusha, Tanzania

After a restful day yesterday, you will leave early this morning. At Marangu Gate, formalities, payments and final preparations should take around two hours. We know you can’t wait to get started, especially when you can already see the first trails. Then, we’re off. The first section leads up a slightly ascending and well-maintained hiking trail through the dense, green rainforest with a varied flora and fauna. You will be surrounded by hot and humid air, and the various sounds of the exotic forest dwellers will accompany you as you make your way up approx. 1,000 meters in altitude.

You will reach your first destination, the Mandara Hut, in the early afternoon - after almost four hours at 2,720 meters. Use the rest of the day to make yourself comfortable in the sleeping quarters and enjoy the view of the landscape around you.

At the Mandara Hut, you will enjoy a communal dinner, well deserved after the first stage.

1 night full board in shared room at Mandara Hut, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

After waking up at sunrise and replenishing your energy reserves with breakfast, you will set off for the next stage of your journey. Do you notice how the landscape transforms during your climb? The tropical forest soon thins out, losing space to the heath and moorland zones. Make the most of your camera in these perfect alpine surroundings - depending on the season, the grasslands are also dotted with colorful flowers. After some time, you will finally get the sight you have been waiting for so long, as the snow-covered peak of the 5895-meter-high mountain appears in front of you after a few bends in the trail. If visibility conditions allow, the snow-covered neighboring mountains Mazwenzi and Kibo will also come into view again and again, giving you fresh momentum for the last meters of altitude. The temperature will also go down as you go up.

In the late afternoon, you will reach your accommodation for the next two nights. At 3,720 meters, the Horombo Hut is particularly important to acclimatize and prevent altitude sickness. At dinner with your group, gather your strength and get your well-deserved sleep.

2 nights including full board in a shared room at the Horombo Hut, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

The Horombo Hut is a hub where those going up and coming down take a rest day at the hut to recover from the high altitude air. After breakfast, you too can enjoy a relaxing day and go on easy hikes around Horombo. If you would like to use the time to marvel at the natural phenomenon of the Zebra Rocks, the black and white striped rock formation at 4,000 meters above sea level is a rarity - understandably popular among photography lovers. If you don't feel the effects of the high altitude on your body, you can also take a trip to East Lava Hill, located at the foot of Mawenzi.

Whatever you choose, this day holds numerous surprises and wonderful memories. In the evening, you will have dinner together again before getting enough sleep to recharge your batteries for the next day.

Today you will have to get up early again. After breakfast, you have another stage to go. You don't have to go far from the hut to notice that the landscape is changing again. You cross the vegetation line which in this case means that the landscape becomes more and more barren and rocky. The snowy peak of Kilimanjaro is always in view, rising from the desolate landscape. The path is lined with giant lobelia and large cacti. At an altitude of around 4,150 meters, the vegetation becomes even more sparse and sporadic tufts of grass grow only at knee height. A little further, the landscape mutates into a dusty and dry stone desert. The roofs of the two big huts of Kibo Hut, glistening in the sun, are already visible as you tackle the last meters of altitude slowly.

After a well-deserved dinner, you will fall into a deep and restful sleep due to the altitude and the effort of the day.

1 night at Kibo Hut with full board in shared room, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

The night is short, as you must be up at midnight. The reward, however, will more than make up for your sacrifice. After changing into appropriate clothing and putting your gear on, as well as eating a quick snack, it's time to move. From the hut you can already see the first chains of lamps of other groups shining on the slope. The cold wind, whistling here at almost 5,000 meters of altitude, will follow you on this climb. Little steps will slowly take you through the long and gravelly scree paths uphill. Enjoy the unique view of the black of the night, peppered by the scattered lights of the groups behind you. After about five to six hours and numerous rocks to overcome, you will reach Gillmans Point at 5,681 meters. Once you make it here, you can finally proudly claim to have climbed Kilimanjaro. Numerous climbers fall into each other's arms here in sheer joy, relief and euphoria.

However, if conditions allow it, you can climb further. up to Uhuru Peak - at a fabulous 5,895 meters. Just in time for sunrise, you will reach the plateau within approx. two hours, where you will probably experience the most breathtaking sunrise. Enjoy the view of the small world below you and the feeling of standing high up where the clouds usually are. From up here, everything seems very far away. Let the pride over your achievements swell inside you and take the moment to capture the landscape in breathtaking photos. As proof that you made it up here, you'll receive a certificate that you can display when you are back home.

The descent will be more carefree and much faster than the ascent. At the Kibo hut, you will make a short rest stop before returning to the Horombo hut for the night. You will also get a well-deserved meal there, of course.

1 night including full board in a shared room at Horombo Hut, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Despite yesterday’s many excitements, we hope you have slept well and largely forgotten about the exertions from the last few days. The last descent is pleasant and gentle so you can enjoy the nature around you to the fullest. At the Marangu Gate, a driver will already be waiting for you to take you back to Arusha or Moshi for a relaxing extension at the hotel.

1 night in Marangu Hotel with half board in standard room, Marangu, Tanzania

or

1 night at KIA Lodge with half board in a standard room, Arusha, Tanzania

After a relaxing last day at the hotel, take some time to think about all that you have experienced over the past few days. It’s time to say goodbye and pack your bags to start your journey home. However, if you can’t bring yourself to say goodbye to Tanzania just yet, talk to us about an extension.

itravel - for that moment.

Marangu Hotel, Marangu, Tanzania (2 nights)

Set on some four acres of grounds with a beautiful garden, the Marangu Hotel on Kilimanjaro is a tranquil oasis. In the colonial country house, the lovely decor reflects the passion of the family that has run the house for several generations. Enjoy relaxing afternoons in the hotel's pool, a few drinks at the bar, or browse the boutique. The fine cuisine in the restaurant is widely known and emphasizes the preparation of its own dishes. The 25 rooms are located in cottages on the grounds and have en suite bathrooms with toilets and showers.

or

KIA Lodge, Arusha, Tanzania (2 nights)

KIA Lodge is located on a secluded hillside, just a five-minute drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Enjoy unforgettable panoramic views of the famous Kilimanjaro and the surrounding savannah. Each room has a mountain view and is equipped with everything you need for a comfortable stay: A safe, mosquito nets over the beds and private bathrooms with a bathtub or shower. KIA Lodge's tropical restaurant, where breakfast is served, is decorated with famous Tinga Tinga paintings, and the open bar offers views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Take a refreshing dip in the hilltop pool with views of Mount Meru, the blue mountains and the Maasai plains.

Mandara, Kibo and Horombo Hut, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (5 nights)

The huts on Kilimanjaro are purpose-built and magnetically attract numerous hikers. You can spread out your sleeping bags and store your backpacks in communal rooms. In the evening, it will be sociable at the communal dinner and you can take the opportunity to talk about what you have experienced.

Duration of the trip: 8 days / 7 nights

Included

• 7 nights in the described accommodations (or similar)
• Private transfer upon your arrival
• Half board during your stay at Marangu Hotel/KIA Lodge
• 6-day-long private Kilimanjaro tour along the Marangu Route
• Full board during the climb including drinking water
• Professional, experienced team with English-speaking mountain guide, porter and cook
• All entrance fees and rescue costs
• A certificate upon successful ascent
• Flying doctors insurance

Not included

• International flights
• Personal expenses
• Tips
• Travel insurance
• Visa fees (USD 50 must be paid on arrival)
• Drinks in the lodges, which are not included in the service package

Services & Notes

• Please note that you must bring your own sleeping bag.
• Effective as of 01/06/2019, the use of single-use plastic bags is banned in Tanzania and will be punishable by law. The ban will also apply to arriving passengers at airports and land borders, both for common duty-free bags and plastic bags in carry-on or checked baggage.
• Strict controls on hand and checked baggage entering the country must be expected. Also the so-called Ziplock bags, which are used primarily for carried cosmetics, are subject to this ban. We recommend ransparent bags, e.g. with zipper, which are clearly not 'disposable items', but are designed for longer use. The use of plastic bags for shopping in the country is also prohibited.