Zurura Africa Safaris

  After breakfast drive to Marangu Gate (1800m). Meet porters and complete registration formalities at the ranger’s office. The hike starts in lush rainforest leading upwards into increasingly thinning forest, eventually turning into long grasses and giant heathers intermingled with camphorwood trees, both draped by masses of bearded lichen. From here it is not far to Mandara Hut (2700m), the first campsite on the Marangu Route. En route you will enjoy a picnic lunch.

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  After breakfast drive to Marangu Gate (1800m). Meet porters and complete registration formalities at the ranger’s office. The hike starts in lush rainforest leading upwards into increasingly thinning forest, eventually turning into long grasses and giant heathers intermingled with camphorwood trees, both draped by masses of bearded lichen. From here it is not far to Mandara Hut (2700m), the first campsite on the Marangu Route. En route you will enjoy a picnic lunch.

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 Elevation: 3690m/12,100ft to 4695m/15,400ft

After breakfast, we continue on through the dwindling heathland that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. Here while we stop for lunch, and later when you cross this surprisingly large saddle, you can examine the summit climb up Kibo that you will be starting in just a few hours.

Elevation: 4695m/15,400ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Descent to 3690m/12,100ft

Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

We continue our way to the summit in a switchback formation through trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion, we ascend through heavy scree and possibly snow towards Gillman’s Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here on your remaining 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way.

Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!

After photos, celebrations and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight Mweka Camp.

 Elevation: 3690m/12,100 to 1830m/6000ft

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down stopping at the Mandara Huts for lunch. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. You return back to the Marangu Park Gate and receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles. From the gate, a vehicle will meet you to drive you back to your hotel