A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick
briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's eastern entrance: Marangu Gate (1,860
m). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering
with the search and rescue service, the
group will start trekking up to Mandara Hut (2,700 m). The trekking route includes passage through the rainforest
(where tropical showers are highly probable), so we recommend you take not only spare clothes, but also your
raincoats.
When you reach the camp, our mountain support crew will take care of the necessities, pitch the tents, and
prepare lunch.
Throughout the entire Marangu route, you will be spending your nights in special huts. They offer a great
alternatives to those who do not want to sleep in tents.
This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions
from this point on:
Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine
Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently)
Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness. Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the
morning, before they start their ascent, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We
recommend you consult your doctor prior to the trip in case of potential allergies.
At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a
reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into
account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your
guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.
Change in Elevation: Marangu Gate (1,860 m) — Mandara Hut (2,700 m)
Hiking distance: 11 km
Hiking time: 5–7 hours
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Mandara, 1 nIght