Oxon Tours (UK based company) is booking agent for Mount Kilimanjaro hiking, our guides are one of the best and highly trained to ensure hikers maximum comfort and safety MARANGU ROUTE Five (5) DAYS
DAY 1:
Marangu Gate (1920m) – Mandara Hut (2720)
Hiking time: 5 hours
Distance: 10km
Habitat: Montane forest
After breakfast in morning, the guide will take you from lodge to Park gate where all hik
ers are required to do necessary registration formalities. The hiking from Park gate (6000 ft) to Mandara huts (9000 ft) would take about 5 hours. Upon arrival hot drinks would be served followed by hot water for clean-up. The dinner would be early evening 7 pm and you could retire to bed around 8 pm. There are flush toilets behind huts with piped water from the springs above. DAY 2:
Mandara Hut (2720m) – Horombo Huts (3720)
Hiking time: 6 hours/Distance about 12km
Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast at Mandara the hiking starts to Horombo huts. The rain forest starts thinning and trail starts into moorlands. On a clear day you could see the Kibo crater. On the way you would get chance to see plants like the endemic giant lobelia (grows up to 3 m in height) and the giant groundsel (which can reach heights of 6m). After 6 hours you would Horombo huts., where you would be served with hot drinks, hot water for washing and then early dinner. DAY 3:
Horombo Huts (3720m) – Kibo Huts (4700m)
Hiking time: 6 hours/ Distance about 10km
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast you would start towards Kibo huts. You would walk through Alpine desert and saddle between Kibo and Mawanzi peak. The Kibo huts have fewer huts and no water point nearby. The platform toilets are behind the huts. The walking would become bit difficult due to lack of oxygen and higher altitude. The summit is 1195M up and the final ascent would start on same night. Make sure all the camera battery is charged, head lights battery replaced with one spare available as well. The water needs to be carried in thermal flask to prevent freezing. Retire to bed around 18:00 after dinner and try to catch some sleep. DAY 4:
SUMMIT ATTEMPT (Kibo hut (4700m)- Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Horombo hut (3720m)
Hiking time: 7-8 hours to Uhuru Peak- 4 hours to descend to Horombo/ Distance 6km ascend and 9km descend. Habitat: Stone Scree and Ice-capped summit
You will wake up around 11 pm, after tea you shall prepare for summit attempt. This is going to be the toughest night. The first section is rocky path to Hans Meyer cave (5150m). After short break start for Gillman’s point (5681m). This section is steepest, toughest and require great mental and physical efforts. Once you reach Gillman’s point the Uruhu peak (5895m) is not far away, you have almost made it. From here you would walk in snow and make sure to put on snow spikes. ON the way you would see one of the most beautiful sunrise on the planet. From Uruhu peak it would take 3 hours to decent back to Kibo huts and after short break another 4 hours walk to Horombo huts. The total walking time would be 13- 15 hours so be prepared for tough day.On Arrival to Horombo, enjoy the dinner wand have last sleep on the mountain. DAY 5:
Descend from Horombo (3720m) to the Marangu Gate (1920m)
Hiking time 5-6 hours/ Distance: About 18 km
After breakfast you continue your descent (6 hours), down to the Marangu gate (passing Mandara huts). At Marangu gate you would sign off in register Your guide would get certificate of climb green colur for Gillman’s point and Gold certificate for Uruhu Peak. Drive back to lodge for hot shower, dinner and celebrations with Guides. MACHAME ROUTE SIX (6) Days
DAY 1: MACHAME GATE (1,800M/5,900FT) TO MACHAME CAMP (3,000M/9,800FT)
Elevation Gain: 1,200 metres / 3,900 feet
Hiking Time: Approximately 6 to 7 hours
Habitat: tropical Rainforest
After breakfast, you’ll get picked up from your hostel/hotel in Moshi and driven to the starting point at Machame Gate (approximately 45 mins). After registration, you will begin your journey to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro using a well-maintained trail through Montane Forest. On the way, you’ll walk through dense rainforest as your guide talks you through some of the local flora and fauna. Here you will also get a very good chance of witnessing Black and White Colobus monkeys, as well as many different species of beautiful birds. The climb is steady and gradual incline to Machame Camp which is located on the edge of the rainforest and giant heather zones. DAY 2: MACHAME CAMP (3,000M/9,800FT) TO SHIRA CAMP (3,840M/12,600FT)
Elevation Gain: 840 metres / 2,800 feet
Hiking Time: Approximately 5 to 6 hours
Habitat: Moorland
On the second day, you’ll rise early for breakfast and begin climbing a slightly steeper gradient through the moorland vegetation zone. Here you will start to get fantastic views of Kibo, the summit cone of Mt. Kilimanjaro while continuing along a rocky ridge to Shira Plateau. Shira is actually a collapsed volcanic crater and was the first of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanic cones to expire. Once on the plateau, the trail becomes a little easier as you make your way to Shira Camp. If it’s a clear day, you’ll also get to enjoy superb panoramic views. Shira Camp is very exposed and will feel much colder with temperatures dropping below freezing point. DAY 3: SHIRA CAMP (3,840M/12,600FT) TO BARRANCO CAMP (3,850M/12,650FT) VIA LAVA TOWER (4,550M/14,900FT)
Elevation Gain: 710 metres / 2,300 feet
Elevation Loss: 700 metres / 2,250 feet
Hiking Time: Approximately 6 to 7 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
The route now takes you into semi-desert and rocky landscapes surrounding Lava Tower, a 300ft high volcanic rock formation. You’ll then ascend the rocky scree path to Lava Tower for great panoramic views, before a steep descent into the Barranco Valley. You may find this trek a little tougher than the previous days as some hikers usually start to experience symptoms of altitude sickness. Although you will finish today’s climb at almost the same elevation as you started, this is a very good practice for acclimatization and will help prepare your body for summit day. Barranco Camp lies below the imposing Barranco Wall in a beautiful, sheltered valley. Day 4: BARRANCO CAMP (3,850M/12,650FT) TO BARAFU CAMP (4,600M /15,100FT) VIA KARANGA
Elevation Gain: 705 meters / 2450 feet
Hiking Time: Approximately 7 to 9 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
This will be a shorter day of hiking to allow for acclimatization. After breakfast, you will begin to ascend the Barranco Wall and hike glacial valleys – but don’t worry, it is easier than it looks! From the top of the wall, you will then cross a series of hills and valleys before descending into Karanga Valley. After one steeper climb, you’ll reach Karanga Camp where you will relax for a while. You will then continue along the rocky ridge for 1 to 2 hours before reaching Barafu Camp, which offers stunning views of Mt. Kilimanjaro’s summit from various angles. Your tents will be pitched along a narrow and rocky ridge with high winds. It’s therefore worth taking some time to familiarize yourself with your surroundings before it gets dark. Rest for the night at Barafu Camp and prepare for the upcoming hike to the summit. DAY 5 : BARAFU CAMP (4,600M/15,100FT) TO UHURU PEAK
(5,895M/19,300FT) THEN DESCENDING TO MWEKA CAMP (3,110M/10,200FT)
Elevation Gain: 1,295 metres / 4,200 feet
Elevation Loss: 2,785 metres / 9,100 feet
Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours to Uhuru Peak; 7 to 8 hours to Mweka Camp
Habitat: Arctic conditions
This is where the going gets really tough! Just before midnight, you will venture into the night and begin your final ascent to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. Head northwest through the heavy stone scree following multiple switchbacks between Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers until you reach Stella Point (5,685m). This section is probably the most challenging part of the route and will require great physical and mental effort. Continue to move slowly, always listening to your guide. After a short rest at Stella Point, you will hike along the crater rim for another hour before reaching your ultimate goal – Uhuru Peak! Congratulations! You have now made it to the “Roof of Africa”. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend there, but it is important to start your descent within good time to ensure you get enough rest back at Barafu Camp. After your rest, you’ll gather the rest of your belongings and descend to Mweka Hut (3,100m) where you’ll enjoy dinner and a well-earned sleep! DAY 6: MWEKA HUT (3,100M) TO MWEKA GATE (1,980M)
Elevation Loss: 1,280 metres / 4,220 feet
Hiking time: Approximately 3 to 4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
