Compare 6 days Marangu route by Tanzania Joy Tours vs 7 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro Climbing Summit – Machame Route by Lappet Faced Safaris
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| Trip |
0 | Poor
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 6 days | 7 days |
| Price From | $ 1,584 | $ 1,876 |
| Price Per Day | $ 264 | $ 268 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Basic | Camping |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included |
5 Breakfast, 5 Lunches and 5 Dinners |
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| Description |
It is the oldest, most well established route. Many favour the Marangu route because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, due to its more gradual slope. It is also the only route which offers sleeping huts with dormitory style accommodation. There are 60 bunk beds at both Mandara and Kibo Huts, and 120 bunk beds at Horombo Hut. Guests are supplied with mattresses and pillows, but sleeping bags are still required. The huts have communal dining halls and basic washrooms, ranging from flushing toilets and running water at the lower huts to long drop toilets and buckets of water at Kibo Hut. |
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: Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Marangu Gate, Hike to Mandara Hut
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Mandara Hut
Elevation: 1860m/6100ft to 2700m/8875ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (about 1 hour), register and commence the trek. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara Huts. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colobus monkeys.
Day 2: Hike Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Horombo Hut
Elevation: 2700m/8875ft to 3700m/12,200ft
Distance: 12km/7.5mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Heathland
You leave the glades of the rain-forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo Huts. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and grounsels. You may begin to feel the affects of the altitude.
Day 3: Rest Day at Horombo Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Budget Lodging: Horombo Hut
Rest day at Horombo Hut with optional hike by Mawenzi Peak.
Day 4: Hike Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Budget Lodging: Kibo Hut
Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 4700m/15,500ft
Distance: 9km/5.5mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Ascending, we now pass 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”. Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit climb.
Day 5: Hike Kibo Hut to Summit, and down to Horombo Hut
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Budget Lodging: Horombo Hut
Elevation: 4700m/15,500ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3700m/12,200ft
Distance: 6km/4mi up / 15km/9mi down
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours up / 15km/9mi down
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s point located on the crater rim. Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo Huts.
The beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is by far the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks. Going slowly “pole pole” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
Day 6: Hike Horombo Hut to trail head, drive to Moshi
Meals: Breakfast
Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 1700m/5500ft
Distance: 20km/12.5mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Forest
After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
Tanzania Joy Tours vehicle will meet you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour).
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
