Compare 5 Days Kilimanjaro trekking via Marangu route by Eastland Adventures vs 7 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro Climbing Summit – Machame Route by Lappet Faced Safaris
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 1,880 | $ 1,876 |
| Price Per Day | $ 269 | $ 268 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Camping |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities | N/A |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Marangu Route is also known as the “Coca Cola” or “tourist” route. It is the easiest and shortest route to the summit. This is also the only route with the comforts of sleeping huts at every camp site with solar lights and comfortable beds. The huts are communal, and the huts have a sponge mattress, pillow and solar power. There are 60 beds at both Mandara and Kibo Huts and 120 beds at Horombo Hut. Bathrooms and running water are available at the two lower huts, but at Kibo hut running water is not available because its dry camp. |
Machame, known as the “Whiskey” route, is a popular route to the mountain. Compared with Marangu, the days on Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. It is considered a difficult route, better suited for more adventurous folks, and those with some hiking or backpacking experience. Machame approaches from the southwest and descends using Mweka, rewarding climbers with views of the expansive Shira Plateau. The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, beginning with a short drive from Moshi to Machame Gate. The path leads hikers through the rain forest to Shira Plateau. Here, many of Kilimanjaro’s routes converge. Then the route turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route. |
Day 1
You will meet your driver at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and drive to your hotel. Have a few minutes rest and meet your guide for gears checking and briefing about the mountain. Also, your guide will go through your equipment and demonstrate the use and operation of all equipment, especially emergency oxygen cylinder and pulse ox meter, and explain signs and symptoms of various mountain sickness which might happen while trekking.
Day 2: Hike to Mandara Hut, 2227 meters
You will start by driving from your hotel in Moshi and cross cultivation zone, Marangu village, heading to Marangu Gate, 1890 meters for about 1 hour’s drive. You will do registrations and meet your crew and you will start hiking to cover 8 kilometers about 3 - 4 hours crossing rainforest. Picnic lunch and drinking water will be provided on the way.
Day 3: Hike from Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut, 3727 meters
This is a bit long day, about 10 kilometers’ walk and estimated time will be 5 - 6 hours. Lunch and drinking water will be provided on the way. Also, you will get to the moorland zone and you will be able to view Kibo and Mawenzi peak from far.
Day 4: Hike from Mandara Hut Kibo Hut, 4727 meters
Today you will be in the alpine desert and cross the saddle area between Kibo and Mawenzi. You will cover the distance of 9 kilometers for 4 - 6 hours. Lunch and water will be provided. Also, from this day is when some hikers start to experience some mountain sickness.
Day 5: Hike from Kibo Hut to Uhuru peak and descend to Horombo Hut, 5895 meters
Around midnight, you will be provided with some tea and snacks. Dress warm and starting hiking heading to the summit. It will take 6 - 8 hours’, about 6 kilometers to get to Uhuru peak. The first peak will get at Gilman's point at 5685 meters which located at the crater rim and then Stella point at 5756 meters. Then, you will join other hikers from other routes heading together to Uhuru peak and you will be able to see the sunrise on your way or at the summit. You are recommended to stay at the peak for 10 - 15 minutes for view and pictures after you descend via the same trail to Kibo Hut for resting. After resting for 1 - 2 hours, you pack your stuff. Have brunch and start to descend down to Horombo Hut.
Day 6: Marangu gate
Soon after breakfast, you will meet your Kilimanjaro Eastland Adventures crew for group pictures and Kilimanjaro songs. After, you will keep descending down to Mandara Hut where you will stop for hot lunch and then descend to Marangu gate. The total distance to cover will be 18 kilometers and estimated time will be 6 - 8 hours. At Marangu gate, you will sing out to the Kilimanjaro National Park log book. Your guide will collect your certificate for those who manage successful summit then drive you back to your hotel in Moshi for a long hot shower and Kilimanjaro beer.
Day 7
Drive you back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for departures or join for safaris
Day 1: Airport pick-up- Drop off at Hotel
Meet and greet our transfer driver guide whereby who will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and driven to your Hotel in Arusha/Moshi. Participants will be given a short briefing for the climb on the same day. Kits and the necessary equipment will be checked as well.
Meals: Half Board
Day 2: Arusha- Machame Hut Camp (2850m)
After breakfast, we will pick you up from your hotel and drive for 1 hour to Machame gate (10,000 ft) for registration. Here you will meet the rest of the crew (Cooks and Porters) and we shall all prepare for the climb. We will start the climb through the rain forest and the giant heathers for 6 hrs. until we reach our first overnight camp.
Meals: Full Board
Day 3: Machame Camp- Shira Cave (3750m)
On this, it will be a short day but rather a steep rocky, and dusty trail. It’s a slow hike with plenty of breaks and enough time to acclimatize. Most of the route is rather bare of vegetation providing little shade from heat. You will cross many ridges and see the first of many Senecios.
Meals: Full board
Day 4: Shira Camp-Barranco Camp (3900m)
After Breakfast We will start climbing over boulders and very few rocks, then make our way to a steady uphill climb to Lava Tower and there we stop for lunch around noon. For those interested, we may climb up the Lava tower, which is 14850ft (you may start to get a mild headache due to the altitude change). From Lava Tower, we will go down for about 2 hrs through dusty and rocky trails to the Barranco Camp at 13000ft.
Meals: Full Board
Day 5: Baranko- Karanga (3995m)-Barafu Camp{4667m}
After Breakfast, we will start scrambling up the Barranco wall for an hour and a half. As this is steep, you will be using your hands to reach and steady yourself like rock climbing, although not as challenging. At the top of the wall, you can see the Barranco Valley and the campsite you spent at the night before. You will walk up and down the greener valley, which is the last water point of the mountain.
Meals: Full Board
DAY 6: SUMMIT ATTEMPT, BARAFU CAMP (4667M) – UHURU PEAK (5895M) – MWEKA (3100M)
On this day it will be a summit day We will start the climb at around midnight. We will start with very steep rocks for 1 hour, and enter a snow-covered area where you can see glaciers above. If it’s a moonlit night, you may turn off your headlamp and continue a moonlit guided walk; indeed, a wonderful experience. The next 2 hours are headed towards Stella Point and we will take a break every 15 minutes as the climb gets more mentally and physically challenging.
Afterward, we will make our way to Stella Point where the Lava fields are like loose sand. It’s a rather enjoyable and frustrating experience because you will take a step up and slide back gainin’
g0 distance and if you’re not careful, you will slide back 2 steps and gain negative 2 steps.
After breakfast, we will climb to Uhuru Peak for 1 hr just as the sun appears over the Mawenzi peaks. We will be at Uhuru Peak (19370ft) around 6-7 am. We will start our descent, which is steep and rigorous via Stella Point to Barafu Hut Camp.
Meals: Full Board
DAY 7: MWEKA CAMP (3100M) – MWEKA GATE (1980M)
Today’s hike will take us about 4 to 5 hours to make the 4,500 feet descent to the park gate. We will check out and receive the Kilimanjaro climbing certificate at the park gate office, then eat our lunch and say goodbye to our mountain staff. After lunch, we will drive through very beautiful coffee plantations and small villages of the Chaga people back to Arusha. There you will be dropped off and is the perfect time for you to take a nice swim, a hot shower, and a well-deserved celebration!
Meals: Half Board
