KILIMANJARO: the highest freestanding mountain in the world
10-20 JANUARY 2022 FULLY BOOKED
ENQUIRE NOW FOR JULY 2022
THE MOUNTAIN ON THE EQUATOR
The equator is an imaginary line that divides the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. It passes through the exact center of the Earth and divides it in half.
The equator is distinct from the rest of the globe due to the high amount of solar radiation it receives. The equatorial climate stays nearly the same year-round. The dominant patterns here are either warm and wet or warm and dry. Mount Kilimanjaro lies just 205 miles from the equator, in the country of Tanzania. When early explorers reported seeing glaciers on the top of Kilimanjaro, people did not believe them as they thought it was impossible for ice to form so close to the hot, equatorial sun.
THE CLIMB FROM EQUATOR TO ANTARCTICA
While climbing Kilimanjaro, trekkers will experience five distinct ecological zones on their way to the top. These include:
Bushland/Cultivated Zone: 2,600′-6,000’/800m-1,800m
Rainforest Zone: 6,000′-9,200’/1,800m-2,800m
Heath/Moorland Zone: 9,200′-13,200’/2,800m-4,000m
Alpine Desert Zone: 13,200′-16,500’/4,000m-5,000m
Arctic Zone:16,500’+/5,000m+
THE MOUNTAIN CREATED BY THREE VOLCANOES
As mentioned above, Kilimanjaro was formed from volcanic activity. However, the mountain once had three volcanic cones – Kibo, Shira and Mawenzi.
Kibo (19,340’/5,895m)
Mawenzi (16,893’/5,149m)
Shira (13,000’/3,962m)
Kibo is the tallest cone and also the central cone. This is where Kilimanjaro’s summit lies. It was formed 460,000 years ago.
Mawenzi is a craggy peak that ranks as the third highest peak in Africa, after Kibo and Mount Kenya (12,549’/3825m). You will have good views of Mawenzi on the Rongai and Northern Circuit routes. Shira is no longer a peak. It is estimated to have been about 16,000 feet high before it collapsed, creating the Shira Plateau on the western side of the mountain. The Machame, Lemosho and Shira routes trek across this feature.
THE FREEDOM MOUNTAIN
European explorers had adopted the name by 1860 and reported that “Kilimanjaro” was the mountain’s Swahili name. But according to the 1907 edition of The Nuttall Encyclopædia, the name of the mountain was “Kilima-Njaro,” comprised of the Swahili word “Kilima” meaning “mountain” and the Chagga word “Njaro” meaning “whiteness.”
German missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf wrote in his Missionary Labours (1860), “The Swahili of the coast call the snow-mountain Kilimanjaro, “mountain of greatness.” It may also mean “mountain of caravans” (kilima – mountain; jaro caravans), a landmark for caravans seen everywhere from afar, but the inhabitants of Jagga call it Kibo, `snow.”
Another possibility is that Kilimanjaro is the European pronunciation of a KiChagga phrase meaning “we failed to climb it.”
But the real name of the highest mountain in Africa is Uhuru, which means “freedom” in Swahili, name that has been given by the Tanzanian after the liberation from the British in 1961.
50 % OF CLIMBERS FAIL THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT. WITH US YOU’LL BE IN THE OTHER 50%.
Now approximately 30,000 people climb Kilimanjaro every year. Though not substantiated, it is often reported that 50% of climbers fail. This comes as a surprise as Kilimanjaro is not regarded as a particularly difficult peak when compared to other mountains. After all, it is not a technical peak and does not require superhuman abilities to scale it.
Why do so many people fail? Mostly due to altitude sickness. People make the mistake of selecting the wrong route. However, the best way to climb is to use a longer route to aid in acclimatization. Additionally, many people climbing Kilimanjaro are first time backpackers. They do not adequately prepare for their climb in terms of having the right gear, doing enough training, and hiring a reputable guide service.
With the right training, following our input, good nutrition and with the “ green light “ from the mountain, we guarantee that you will summit this mountain and you’ll have a lot of fun.
IT’S SLEEPING, IT’S NOT DEAD
Mount Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano – a term for a very large volcano made of ash, lava, and rock. Shira and Mawenzi are extinct volcanoes, meaning that there is no activity underneath these cones. In short, they are cut off from their supply of lava.
However, Kibo is considered a dormant volcano; it can erupt again! If a volcano hasn’t erupted in the last 10,000 years, but scientists think it will erupt again, it’s considered dormant.
The last major eruption was 360,000 years ago. The most recent activity was 200,000 years ago. The ash pit is a two hour round trip hike from the highest campsite, Crater Camp. Those who visit the ash pit will be greeted by the smell of sulfur from the volcano’s lava.
THE PLAN
Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport
You will arrive in Tanzania, and then take a 50-minute transfer to the hotel in Arusha. The 5 stars’ hotel provides the great facilities needed for a few nights and hours. Our staff will be waiting for you outside the terminal with the sign “LEONKILI”.
Day 2: Arusha rest day and Gear Check.
If you like to do a full day Safari and a visit to the Masaya Village, we can arrange that for you. Otherwise, you can chill out at the pool.
Day 3: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut (8,858ft / 2,700m)
Elevation Gain: 943 meters (3,000 feet) Walking Time: 4-5 hours Distance:7km
We will have breakfast at 7 am and leave the hotel and civilization by 8 am. You will begin your journey to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro after completing the gate registration. A great length of the hike is spent venturing on a narrow trail that is enclosed by the evergreen rainforest. Reaching Kisambioni is a milestone as it signifies that we are at the halfway point of the trek. We will sit down and enjoy a picnic lunch. We will continue walking through the rainforests of Kilimanjaro after lunch. Our final destination is the Mandara Hut. Once we arrive you can decide whether you want to relax for the rest of the day or take a leisurely stroll to the Maundi Crater. If you face the northwest you will see the striking Mawenzi Peak which resembles a crown in the sky with its prickly edges. Turn to the east and you will see the picturesque landscapes of Taveta. Visiting on a day with clear skies will ensure that you get maximum viewing pleasure. You will spend the night in the A-frame Mandara Huts which accommodate up to seventy people and feature beds with mattresses. There are several sleeping huts and a dining area, each two people will share one hut. (Breakfast - lunch - dinner)
Day 4: Mnadara Hut (8,858ft / 2,700m) - Acclimatization day / Rest
Elevation Gain: 700 meters (2,200 feet) Walking Time:3-4 hours Distance: 5km
After breakfast, we start the climb through the rainforest towards the giant moorland zone 3,200m. Today is an acclimatization day. (Breakfast - lunch - dinner)
Day 5: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut (12,140ft / 3700m)
Elevation Gain: 977 meters (3,200 feet) Walking Time:6-7 hours Distance:11km
We will start heading towards Horombo Hut after breakfast. The environment will shift drastically as the 7 Days Marangu Route requires us to travel through Mount Kilimanjaro's moorland, a rock- strewn desert plain with succulent plants. There will be a picnic lunch at Kambi ya Taabu during the hike. If the skies are clear you will have a chance to witness the scenic views of the Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. We will arrive at the Horombo Huts at approximately 3:00pm and the afternoon can be spent relaxing. The Horombo Huts are exceptionally busy but they’re considered to be the finest huts on Mount Kilimanjaro. The little, A-frame huts can house a maximum of eight people and provide suitable lodging for hikers ascending, descending and acclimatising. They can accommodate a maximum of 120 hikers with additional room for porters, chiefs and guides.
(Breakfast - lunch - dinner)
Day 6: Horombo Hut (12,140ft / 3700m) - Acclimatization day / Rest
Elevation Gain: 700 meters (2,200 feet) Walking Time:3-4 hours Distance: 5km (Breakfast - lunch - dinner)
Day 7: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut (15420ft / 4700m)
Elevation Gain: 1,030 meters (3,380 feet) Walking Time:6-8hours Distance:10km
After breakfast we will hike through the moorland and the alpine desert region of Mount Kilimanjaro. After hiking for about an hour we will encounter a small mountain stream called the Maua River. Once you pass Maua you will notice that the terrain gets smoother and the vegetation starts to diminish. We will have an appetising lunch at the Middle Red Hill. We will continue our trek shortly after lunch and spend the next tour hours traveling to Kibo on a steady incline through Mount Kilimanjaro's Saddle.
The silver lining to traveling through a baron dessert is the breathtakinglystunning vista of the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. You will reach the Kibo hut in the afternoon. It is recommended that you rest and prepare for your
midnight climb. (Breakfast - lunch - dinner)
Day 8: Kibo Hut to Summit to Horombo Hut Elevation Gain: 1,145 meters (3,760 feet) Elevation Loss: 2,175 meters (7,140 feet) Walking Time:11-13hours Distance:18km
The final leg of your journey is the ascent to Uhuru Peak which has been awarded the title ‘The Roof of Africa’. We will leave shortly after midnight and begin with the strenuous five-hour hike to Gillman's Point on the crater rim. This is considered to be the least challenging of the three crater ascent paths but it is still an arduous hike. William’s Point is the first major rest stop and it usually takes two hours from the Kibo Hut to arrive at the five thousand meter mark. After thirty minutes of hiking, you will reach the rocky bends and twists that continue for over six hundred meters or until you reach Gillman’s Point. The incline from Gilman's Point to Uhuru Peak increases gradually consequently it is not a difficult hike. You will feel tired and this part will take longer due to the high altitude. The crater rim hike will last about two hours. Once you reach the summit, we have allocated time for you to take some photographs and celebrate your triumph. We will start descending to Horombo Hut – our final stop on the route. The route down the summit has magnificent views that you could not see when you were climbing the mountain. You will have a chance to stop at the Kibo Hut to recollect yourself and enjoy some energy-dense snacks. We will reach the Horombo Huts in the afternoon and you can spend the time enjoying your last
moments on the mountain. (Breakfast - lunch - dinner)
Day 9: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate to Arusha
Elevation Loss: 1,920 meters (6,295 feet) Walking Time:5-6hours Distance:19km
We will finish the trek by descending to the Marangu Gate after breakfast. The final hike is simply magical. You will hike amid the gods in Mount Kilimanjaro's tranquil cloud forest. We advise that you watch your step as the trail can be fairly slippery. Our vehicles will be waiting at Marangu Gate to drive you back to Arusha. You will have an opportunity to buy sodas and souvenirs to prove that the 7 Days Marangu Route was conquered. After a welcome lunch, it's time to say "kwaheri" to the porters. We then get a lift back to the hotel and a well-deserved shower and a celebratory drink. (Breakfast - lunch)
Day 10: Leave Africa
See you in another climb!!!
JOIN US ON THE ROOF OF Africa.
An adventure ON THE ROOF OF Africa and one of the seven HIGHEST peaks ON THE PLANET, the mighty Kilimanjaro. supported by expert guides and a team of locals to deliver an authentic yet comfortable experience. We will sleep in HUTS, we will taste the excellent food prepared by our chef, helped by the porters, so that you can enjoy the climb and focus on your emotions.
Between climbs, we will also share adventure stories, how to mentally and physically prepare for the challenges, and, for photography lovers, great tips for capturing the moment.
