Mawenzi Peak 7 Days Itinerary

Day 1: Marangu Gate (1860m) to Mandara Hut (2700m)

• Distance: 8.3km
• Duration: 5 hours

After breakfast, you will be collected from your lodge in Moshi and taken to the Marangu gate. Once the necessary paper work has been completed, your trek can begin and you will soon be hiking through the dense rainforest. Alongside the impressive vegetation, you will have the chance to catch a glimpse of some primates as you head to the Mandara Hut. After a well-earned rest, your guide can take you to the Maundi Crater where you can enjoy the wonderful view of the Kenyan interior.

Day 2: Mandara Hut (2700m) to Horombo Hut (3700m)

• Distance: 12.5km             
• ​Duration: 9 hours

The day begins with an early breakfast. Shortly after you have left Mandara Hut, you will reach the timberline and then enter the heath and moor zone. Approximately 4 – 6 hours later, the Horombo Hut will come into sight, standing at an altitude of 3700m. From the hut, you will have fantastic views overlooking Mawenzi, Kibo and the wide plain of the Masai steppe.
 
Day 3: Horombo Hut (2700m) to Mawenzi Camp (4480m)

• Distance: 4 km                  
  
• Duration: 2 – 3 hours

Today we will embark on a short hike to Mawenzi Camp which will serve as the base camp for the Mawenzi summit. This short hike gives us ample time to rest and prepare for the challenging ascent up Mawenzi peak.

 
Day 4: Mawenzi Camp (4,480m) to Mawenzi Peak (5,148m) to Mawenzi Camp (4,480m)

• Distance: 4 km                  
• ​Duration: 10 – 11 hours

Mawenzi is a wonderful full day (up and down) ascent of Hans Meyer peak. From your base camp at Mawenzi Hut do you get onto this peak from a western side of the Hans Meyer peak. You need to get yourself into the North West quarry or one over into the Oehler buttress and upwards into Oehler gully. Climbing gear is required with regular slings placed around rocks for safe traversing, there might be ice or snow depending on the weather and a helmet is required due to the lose scree and rocks that come down due to your lead climber or rope friction. You need to be aware of your climbing partner’s position in gullies to ensure that he/she is safe! Once up Oehler gully you have a short traverse to go around a steep slope and then a scramble to the summit. The summit itself as a fairly small rock with a steep cliff towards the east, you would have yourself secured on the summit of Hans Meyer peak due to the instability and small size of the peak itself! Mawenzi can be done in 6 – 7 hours up and a fairly quick 4-hour descent, weather might have an impact so starting early is advisable. Mawenzi is not an overly technical climb but care should be taken for falling rocks and “clean” climbing is required for a risk-free ascent, you should be competent in general rock climbing and belaying. It is quiet and beautiful and your views of Kilimanjaro from Mawenzi is spectacular!
 
Day 5: Mawenzi Camp (4480m) to Kibo Hut (4700m)

• Distance: 6.5 km                              
• Duration: 3 – 4 hours

We leave our campsite and cross the lunar desert of the ‘saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo After a couple hours trekking, reach this spectacular place, with the summit of Kilimanjaro in the background and our trail to the high camp stretched out before our eyes. Upon reaching our camp the remainder of the day will be spent resting in preparation of the final ascent after a very early night!
 
Day 6: Kibo Hut (4700m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Horombo Hut (3700m)

• Distance: 6.5 km (Ascend)                             
• Duration: 3 – 4 hours (Ascend)
• Distance: 22 km (Descend)                              
• Duration: 12 – 15 hours (Descend)

Today is “The Big Day” – the summit stage. You will begin your final ascent around midnight which will be long and strenuous. Passing the Hans Meyer Cave at 5220m, the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gillman’s Point (5681m) – the crater rim of Kilimanjaro – where the sun will slowly start to warm up the land. You will have soon forgotten the cold of the night and after a further hike of 1 – 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895m. Spend a few hours in summit depends on our body reaction after summit (for Reusch crater, ashpit and the glacier etc.) On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits you followed by a 1 – 2 hour break before proceeding back down to Horombo Hut.
 
Day 7: Horombo Hut (3700m) to Marangu Gate (1860m)

• Distance: 20.8 km                           
• Duration: 8 hours

The last stage passes through the heath and moor zone to the Mandara Hut (2700m) where a warm lunch is waiting for you. Soon, you will once again pass the tropical rainforest and after a total time of 6 hours trekking, you will be back at the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860m). After saying goodbye to your mountain guides, a short transfer follows to take you back to your hotel in Moshi. Once there, you can take a warm and relaxing shower and celebrate your success in reaching the summit of the Kilimanjaro.