5 DAYS KILIMANJARO BIKE TREKKING TOUR RIDE UP – RIDE DOWN

Upon arrival at Arusha /Kilimanjaro Airport you will meet your Burigi Chato Safaris guide who will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi Tanzania (for budget hotels we recommend KILIMANJARO WHITE HOUSE HOTEL). Settle into your accommodation, relax and get used to the African atmosphere. Ready to start your 5 DAYS KILIMANJARO BIKE TREKKING TOUR (RIDE UP - RIDE DOWN) the next day.

Meet your guide and embark on your transfer to the Marangu gate, which takes about 2:30 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 (1950m) to the Horombo hut (3705m) . 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.

• Altitude: 1,950 m to 3,700 m
• Distance Covered: 16km
• Time to be used: 6-8 hours
• Meals: Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Horombo Hut

Day two is a day to acclimatize. It is highly recommended to hike all the way to Mawenzi Hut so that you allow your body to acclimatize. This hiking increases your chances to reach the Uhuru Peak. With this comes a reward which is the magnificent views of Kibo.This should not be underestimated and greatly improves your chance of success in reaching the summit. After a relaxing breakfast, a 4-hour trek follows to the Zebra Rocks (4020m).

The distinctive black and white stripes give the rock formation its name. On your return to Horombo Hut, a warm lunch will be waiting for you. You can relax in the afternoon and regain your strength for the hike the following day.

• Altitude: 3,700 m to 4,020 m
• Distance Covered: 5km
• Time to be used: 3 - 4 hrs.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, meet your guide and we head back up to Kibo hut. Again the first 3km would require porters 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.

• Altitude: 3,700 m to 4,700 m
• Distance Covered: 10km
• Time to be used: 6 - 8 hrs.
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Kibo Hut

At four am, you will be awakened by your guides to start the zigzag trek up long screen slop. After roughly two hours you should reach Hans Meyer’s Cave and from here the gradient gets steeper.Continue your climb for approximately another three hours to Gilman’s Point, you will take your bike from Porters and start riding to Uhuru peak, arriving at Uhuru peak spends some few minutes, have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.

The beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is by far the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks. Going slowly “pole pole” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
Today cycling from Kibo to Uhuru and then Kibo 15% to 20% vegetation is alpine desert and from Kibo to Horombo 100% “Alpine desert vegetation /Icecap.

• Altitude: 4,700 m to 5,895 m (hiking + Riding up)
• Altitude: 5,895 m to 3,700 m (Riding Down)
• Distance Covered: 4 km up / 14 km down
• Time to be used: 10 - 12 hrs (up & Down)
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Horombo Hut

After breakfast, make your final riding down to Kilema gate across the alpine and the rainforest to Kilema gate, then you will be transferred to Marangu gate for check out. A vehicle will meet you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi. Don’t forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!

• Altitude: 3,700 m to 1,700 m
• Distance Covered: 18km km down to kilema Gate
• Time to be used: 3 hrs
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch