Mountain Climbing in Tanzania

Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, known to the local people as the "mountain of the buffalo," is Africa's highest peak towering at 4, 895 metres with a permanent all-year-round cover of snow at its summit. There are several routes up the mountain the most popular being the Marangu Route while the most scenic is

VTTM 33 - The Marangu Trek - 5 Days

The Imposing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

DAY 1: ARUSHA - MANDARA HUT
Leave Arusha after breakfast and drive to Marangu Gate where you will start the ascent to Mandara Hut.  Dinner and overnight at Mandara Hut.

DAY 2: MANDARA HUT - HOROMBO HUT
After breakfast trek to Horombo Hut.  Dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut.

DAY 3: HOROMBO HUT - KIBO HUT
Leave Horombo after breakfast and trek to Kibo Hut.  Lunch, dinner and overnight at Kibo Hut.

DAY 4: KIBO HUT - UHURU PEAK - HOROMBO HUT
Early start to the summit, Uhuru Peak, then descend slowly to Horombo Hut.  Lunch, dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut.

DAY 5: HOROMBO HUT - MARANGU GATE - ARUSHA
Trek further down from Horombo Hut to Marangu gate then proceed to Arusha.

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VTTM 35 - The Machame/Mweka Trek - 7 Days

DAY ONE: 6 HOURS WALK
Leave Arusha after breakfast and drive to Machame Gate.  Walk through the forest to Machame Hut (3,000 m) in about 6 hours.

DAY TWO:  4 HOURS WALK
Trek after breakfast across the valley and continue along the steep ridge, past the Giant Heather and into a river gorge to reach the Shira Hut at 3,800m.

DAY THREE:  ACCLIMATISATION
A full day is spent at Shira Hut acclimatizing for the higher altitude.

Herdsmen at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro

DAY FOUR: 6 HOURS WALK
We proceed east towards Kibo, then continue towards the Lava Tower.  After the tower we go up to Arrow glacier at 4876 m before descending to Barranco Hut at 3,860 m for dinner and overnight.

DAY FIVE: 8 HOURS WALK
After breakfast we continue on a steep ridge past the Barranco Wall, through the Karanga Valley to Barafu Hut at 4,600m.  The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can clearly be seen from this position.  Dinner and overnight.

DAY SIX: 11 HOURS WALK
Early morning ascent to Stella Point (5,745) on our way to the Summit (Uhuru peak, 5,895 m) which we reach after about 6 hours pre-sunrise trek.  We watch the sun rise from the highest point on Mt. Kilimanjaro.  We then begin our descent which takes about 5 hours.  The route is steep but picturesque.  Dinner and a well-earned sleep at Mweka Hut (3,100 m).

DAY SEVEN:
After breakfast leave Mweka Hut and descend to Mweka Gate for transfer back to Arusha.

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VTTM 39 - The Roof of Africa - 7 Days

DAY 1:  ARUSHA -MARANGU
Transfer to Marangu.  Dinner and overnight at a Hotel.

Giraffes with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop

DAY 2:  MARANGU - MANDARA HUT (2,744 M)
Distance: 9 kms.  Estimated duration:  4 hours.

Depart from your hotel, drive straight to Marangu National Park gate, where the climb begins (1860m) on the edge of the mountain forest.  Walk through the semi tropical dense rain forest, with camphor, cedar, juniper, wild olive and pillar trees festooned with lianas, lichens and Spanish moss.  Flowers of various species delight the eyes, while monkeys shake trees and terraccos and other colourful forest birds sing in the forest profusion.  The walking takes 4 hours covering 9 km to Mandara Hut, at 2744 m near Maundi Crater.  Dinner and overnight at Mandara Hut.

DAY 3:  MANDARA HUT - HOROMBO HUT (3,761 M)
Distance: 11kms.  Estimated duration:  5 hours.

Starting early in the morning towards Horombo Hut you walk 5 hours, to cover the first 4 km or so, the dense rain forest now gives way to the rolling moorland, clothed in knee-high grass tussocks dotted here and there with giant heather trees, some standing upto 9 m high.  Here is perhaps the most pleasant point, where the landscape is decorated with tropical flowers and the sun is refreshingly warm.  From here, both Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks are magnificently viewed.  Some animal species are found here, i.e. bush duikers etc. The landscape becomes more rugged and rocky, as you continue to Horombo Hut at 3761 m above sea level.  Dinner and overnight at the Horombo Hut.  You should have warm clothes due to strong winds here.

DAY 4: HOROMBO HUT - KIBO HUT (4,700 M)
Distance: 10kms.  Estimated duration:  5 hours.

After breakfast, continue to Kibo Hut through the euphorbia trees and here high altitude causes difficulty in breathing and tiredness is felt.  The path leading you to Kibo Hut passes the water streams and skirts MAWENZI before opening out into the lunar landscape of the saddle.  It forms a "U" between MAWENZI and KIBO Peaks.  You will experience the winter nights as cold and icy winds encircle the huts accompanied by frost and snow.  Dinner and overnight at KIBO Hut.

DAY 5:  UHURU PEAK - HOROMBO HUT (3,761 M)
Distance: 24kms.  Estimated duration: 12-13 hours

Wake up soon after midnight for the final attempt to the summit.  Walk for about 5 hours, the steepest and most difficult part of the route, to GILMAN'S POINT at 5681 m above sea level, on the Crater rim.  Try again if your stamina allows, for UHURU Peak, reached in about 2 hours.  This is the highest point in Africa.  After signing the visitors book, descend to Horombo Hut, for dinner and overnight.

DAY 6:  HOROMBO HUT - MARANGU HOTEL
Descend to Marangu Gate then transfer to Marangu or Kibo Hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7: MARANGU - ARUSHA
After breakfast, return to Arusha by company transport.

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