5 Days Cycling Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Marangu Route
5 Days Cycling Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Marangu Route
Kilimanjaro Cycling Tour is our special product of Climbing the Kilimanjaro Mountain, Kilema route is the only route that Bike trek to Kilimanjaro Mountain can reach to the top of the Mount Kilimanjaro by mountain bike. With our experienced guides the whole trip to summit Mt Kilimanjaro 5,895M, took 5 or 6 days with right acclimatization.
This activity provides physical exercise and recreational use of the natural environment with minimum impact while enhancing visitors’ experience. Summit bound visitors will use Kilema route (19km) and cyclists will meet their porters at Horombo and continue to the summit. For non-summit bound visitors, Cycling on Mount Kilimanjaro starts from Londorosi gate or from Moramu Picnic Site then back to Moramu (44km ride).
Detailed Itinerary
Welcome to Tanzania: Meet and greet at arrival point(usually at Kilimanjaro International Airport ,JRO) by our transfer and representative driver from Nduwa Tours who will escort you to the waiting vehicle for loading your luggage then drive you to the Hotel in Arusha town. You will meet our representative who will show up at the Airport with a sign board with your name and a warm smile on his/her face when welcoming you to Tanzania. After checking in at the hotel you will get a briefing about your next day’s 9 Days Lemosho Route without Crater Camping then your mountain guide will check/inspect your climbing gears. The rest of the day can be spent relaxing at the pool or exploring the town of Arusha.
Accommodation: Mid-Range Hotel in Arusha on Bed & Breakfast Basis
Meet your guide and embark on your transfer to the Marangu gate, which takes about 120 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Marangu, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Once you reach the park gate, all hikers are required to register at the Park office. After signing-in and 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) on a 4×4 track. Bikers with good fitness levels, mountain biking skills and subject to road conditions, will be able to cycle all the way to Horombo hut.
It is important to 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 aim to reach Horombo hut at around 15:00pm.
We will stop at Horombo Hut for a short break, before commencing on a downhill cycle to Kilema camp. Descending approximately 800m over 7km, the track has a lot of loose rocks and it is important to control your speed and avoid unnecessary risks!
Upon arrival your porters will have your tent set up at camp and in the evening bring a small bowl of washing water to your tent. The cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night rest after tireness Cycling On Mount Kilimanjaro. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this camp.
Kilema Gate (1950m) – Horombo hut (3705m)
Cycling time: Approximately 5 to 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 16 km
Habitat: Montane forest
Horombo hut (3705m) – Kilema camp (2950m)
Cycling time: 30 minutes
Distance: Approximately 7 km
Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, make sure your duffel bag are packed and we cycle from the Kilema camp to Horombo hut. The trail is steep and has a lots of loose rocks at certain areas. Horombo hut is a village of huts perched on a small plateau, with a total capacity of 120 climbers! Normally bustling with hikers, guides, porters and with an atmosphere of adventure and excitement. You will meet both ascending and descending hikers here.
We arrive in time for a late lunch at Horombo hut. After lunch collect our bikes and go for an 1,5 hour acclimatization cycle up to Zebra rocks (4 040m) and back.Enjoy dinner and overnight at Horombo hut.
Kilema camp (2950m) – Horombo hut (3705m)
Cycling time: 2 to 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 7 km
Habitat: Moorland
Horombo hut (3705m) – Zebra Rocks (4 040m) – Horombo hut
Cycling time: 1 hour up and 20 minutes down
Distance: Approximately 2 km up and 2 km down
Habitat: Moorland
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. You will be forced to push and carry your bike for some sections, but 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 to at Kibo hut lunch will be served.
After lunch we will embark on an awesome Kilimanjaro Mtb downhill, descending nearly 800m over 7km. The final 3km descend down to Horombo hut is very technical and challenging.Dinner and overnight at Horombo hut.
(Acclimatization day – cycle high and sleep low)
Horombo hut (3 705m) – Kibo hut (4 730m) – Horombo hut (3 705m)
Cycling time: 4 to 5 hours up and 1 hour down
Distance: 9.6 km up and 9.6km down
Habitat: Alpine desert
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. Again the first 3km would require you pushing and carrying your bike a lot, with 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.
Situated in the barren Alpine desert is Kibo hut, a stone build block house which has bunk beds for 60 climbers, but no streams with water nearby. There are platform toilets behind the hut.
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 to carry your water in a thermal flask.
Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get as much rest and sleep as possible, until 22h00.
Horombo hut (3705m) – Kibo hut (4730m)
Cycling time: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: Approximately 9.6 km
Habitat: Alpine desert
You will rise around 22h00, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night, and this is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5 681m), which is located on the crater rim. The section just before Gillman’s point known as “Jamaica rocks” is very steep with a lot of stone scree, boulders requiring a great physical and mental effort.From Horombo hut up to Gillmans point the trail cannot be cycled and you will have to push your bike (Cycling On Mount Kilimanjaro )up to the Jamaica rocks, however from Jamaica rocks to Gillmans point, you will have to carry your bike (or if you are not up to it – arrange for a porter to carry your bike). With oxygen levels close to 9.5%, this is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. You will be doing the Kilimanjaro shuffle and move very slowly.
From Gillman’s Point the trail can be cycled again and you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Depending on snowfall, mountain bikers with high fitness levels and expert technical mountain biking skills, will be able to cycle most of the trail from Gillman’s Point to Uhuru peak.
Total exhilaration and satisfaction – you made it. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend, taking photographs, before the 3 hour descent back to Kibo hut.
Again, mountain bikers with expert technical cycling skills, should be able to cycle from Uhuru peak to Gillmans’ point. It is impossible to ride the first section from Gillman’s point down to Kibo hut. Cycling will only be possible for the final 1 to 2 km before reaching Kibo hut.
Kibo hut (4730m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Kibo hut (4730m)
Cycling time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 3 to 4 hours to descend to Kibo hut,
Distance: Approximately 5.4km ascent and 31 km descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Kibo hut (4730m) – Kilema gate (1950m)
Cycling time: 3 hours
Distance: 25 km
You will then embarked on the world’s ultimate downhill mountain bike roller-coaster ride:Starting at Kibo hut at 4730m you will descend down to the Kilema gate 1 950m – distance approximately 31km, descend approximately 3 000m in only 4 or less hours!
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Arusha town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
Price includes:
- All transfers to the mountain and back to your Arusha hotel
- Airport Transfer x2 (On Arrival & on Departure)
- Accommodation before and after Mountain Climbing
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides, potters & cooks
- Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
- All meals while on the Mountain ( Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
- Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking bottled water
- Conservation fees
- Hut fees
- Mountain Bike & Helmet
- Rescue fees (part of park fees)
- VAT (18% charged by the Government)
- Climbing Certificate after reaching the summit
Price include
- Tanzania Visa
- Tips and gratuities (Guides, Potter & Cooks)
- Travel insurance
- Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Liquors, beers and bottled beverages
- Safari after Climbing
Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Frequently Asked Questions
Kilimanjaro is climbable all year round. The best months to clim, however, are July to October and December to February, as these are the warmest and driest months respectively.
July, August and September tend to be the busiest months on the mountain.
This is an outdoor adventure trip in the African wild. There are no showers on the mountain. Warm water will be supplied in a bowl and you will be able to wash your face and hands. For the rest you can bring wet wipes.
At each campsite, we set up a private toilet tent which contains a plastic toilet. There are also simple, hole-in-the-ground public toilets (usually very dirty and not recommended).
If you need to use the bathroom on the trail, you’ll find a spot behind a tree or rock. But you’ll need to have a little baggie for putting used toilet paper in that you then carry to camp and dispose of in a bin.
Due to the great elevation gain on a Kilimanjaro climb, you will experience all kinds of weather, from 30° C (86° F) on the plains surrounding Kilimanjaro all the way down to -7 to -29° C (20° to -20° F) at the summit. So ensure you are prepared and bring the right clothing! You can learn more in Mount Kilimanjaro climate.
On the day before the Climb (arrival day) and the day after the climb (departure day), we stay in a comfortable lodge in Arusha or Moshi. It has lovely views as well as lovely rooms and facilities to match.
For the climbers who prefer Huts accommodation than camping then the Marangu route is perfect choice,the Marangu Route has three cabin lodging: Mandara Huts, Kibo Huts, and Horombo Hut. These cottage housings give cots. There are 60 bunks beds each at Mandara, Kibo.Also 120 bunk beds at Horombo Hut.
During the climb on other routes , you sleep in three-person, four-season dome-style mountain tents, two people per tent or a tent of your own, you’ll need to pay a single-person supplement.
Our tents are modern and have an outer flysheet and large vestibules where you can store your equipment during the night.
Don’t underestimate how tough Kilimanjaro is. Too many people do, and don’t make it to the top!
Depending on your current fitness, we suggest that you start your physical training at least two or three months prior to the climb. Please ask our expert to give you a guide on how should you train for Kilimanjaro? to learn more.
Remember, the fitter you are, the more enjoyable the whole experience will be for you.
We can measure each day in walking hours rather than kilometers. Most days, other than the summit day, will begin with breakfast around 6:30 AM and departure at 7 AM. You will walk four to five hours with a break for lunch followed by another hour or two of hiking in the afternoon. These days are not long or difficult and you will be advised to walk slowly.
We always have a first aid kit with us and guides are well trained on first aid. Serious injuries are very rare and Kilimanjaro National Park has a rescue team in case of emergency.
