Kilimanjaro National Park

Meet your guide and embark on your transfer to the Marangu gate, which takes about 45 minutes. Once you reach the park gate, all hikers are required to register at the Park office. After registering at the Marangu gate, we drive to the Kilema gate. Upon arrival you will ensure that you have all your daypack items (containing at least drinking water, your lunch pack and extra clothing) and do a final check on your mountain bike. You will then start the first route section of 16km, (with your guide also on a mountain bike) from the Kilema gate (1 950m) to the Horombo hut (3 705m). Bikers with good fitness levels, mountain biking skills and subject to road conditions, will be able to cycle all the way to Horombo hut. Remember that the biggest cause of altitude sickness is ascending too high too quickly. We will be stopping regularly and to give your body the maximum time to adjust to the higher altitudes. We will reach Horombo around 15:00pm.

Kilimanjaro National Park

After breakfast you start your cycling, riding through Alpine desert, some of the areas you will be riding on a small stone up to Mawenzi hut and back to Horombo hut. Today is 90% riding on “Alpine desert vegetation, cycling distance is 10 kilometers.

Kilimanjaro National Park

After an early breakfast, meet your guide and start your ascent into the Alpine desert habitat. The first 3 km of the trail is very rocky and cycling will be very difficult as this section is very stony and eroded. After about 3km the trail improves and cycling will once again be possible. The “Saddle” (which refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo) is relatively flat and cycling is much easier. However high altitudes, low oxygen levels, and cold conditions make the 7km section towards Kibo hut strenuous and challenging. The final km before reaching Kibo hut is especially strenuous. You will once again be reminded to slow down and drink enough water! Upon arrival at Kibo hut lunch will be served. After lunch we will embark on an awesome Kilimanjaro downhill, descending nearly 800m over 7km. The final 3km descend down to Horombo hut is very technical and challenging.

Kilimanjaro National Park

Early wake and make sure your duffel bags are packed and ready to go. After breakfast, meet your guide and we head back up to Kibo hut. The final 7km to Kibo hut offering a good biking trail. We will enjoy lunch and then aim to rest. At around 16h00 depending on how you feel it is possible to hike partially up the summit path to orientate yourself for the summit attempt later that night. The summit (Uhuru Peak) is now a further 1195m up and you will make your final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, thermal clothing, etc for your summit bid. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise for you Summit Potters or Guide to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at around 19h00 and try to get as much rest and sleep as possible, until 22h00.

Kilimanjaro National Park

At four am, you will be awakened by your guides to start the zigzag trek up long screen slop. After roughly two hours you should reach Hans Meyer’s Cave and from here the gradient gets steeper. Continue your climb for approximately another three hours to Gilman’s Point, you will take your bike from Porters and start riding to Uhuru peak, arriving at Uhuru peak spends some few minutes or take photos and then riding down to Stella Point. After lunch ride down to Horombo. Today cycling from Kibo to Uhuru and then Kibo 15% to 20% vegetation is alpine desert and from Kibo to Horombo 100% “Alpine desert vegetation /Icecap.

Kilimanjaro National Park

After breakfast, make your final riding down to the Kilema gate across the alpine and the rainforest to the Kilema gate, then you will be transferred to the Marangu gate for check out and then to the hotel in Moshi.