Kilimanjaro - Marangu Route & Zanzibar Adventure

Arrive at any time.
Arrive in Moshi and head to the hotel. Attend a pre-departure meeting with the local guide to go over last minute details of the trip.

Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Hike through the forested, lower slopes to Mandara escarpment.
Most days the hiking will begin early in the morning, with hikes of around 5 to 6 hours. The guides will set a moderate pace, so as to allow for time to acclimatize to the altitude changes. Guides will continually repeat the words, “pole pole” (po-ly, po-ly), which means “go slowly” in Swahili.

Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut: Walk 4 hours to the Mandara Hut (2743m, 8999 ft) after registering at the gate. The slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro are classified as rainforest zone so there will likely be rain in the afternoon while travelling under the lush canopy. Enjoy the view while hiking through the lower terrain and possibly spot some of the exotic wildlife in the area. The Mandra Hut has sleeping bunks, running water and flushable toilets.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER

Hike through the heather and moorland zone to Horombo Hut.

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut: Continue up through the upper rainforest zone and reach the moorland zone at 3000m (9842 ft). In this zone plants grow to outrageous heights like the giant lobelia and giant groundsel that can reach up to 5m (16 ft). Enjoy the view of the semi-alpine zone's plants and ravines. Reach Horombo hut (3720m, 12205 ft) and get some rest.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER

Proceed onto the Kilimanjaro Saddle, through a desertlike alpine zone, to Kibo Hut.

Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut: Start the slow trek through the heathland and enter the alpine desert zone. Because of the increase in altitude, hike a slow pace today to allow time to get acclimatized but pay attention to any signs of altitude sickness. The ascent to the saddle of Mt Kilimanjaro is between the peaks of Kibo and Mwenzi, get a great view of Kibo after crossing the saddle. Rest for the night at Kibo Hut (4703m, 15430 ft) and prepare for the upcoming hike to the summit.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER

Night hike to the summit via Stella Point. Appreciate the beautiful sunrise from the roof of Africa, then descend back to Horombo Hut.

Kibo Hut to Summit: Wake up just after midnight to start climbing to the summit. Gillman’s Point (5861m, 19229 ft) on the crater rim is easier to reach when the scree slope is frozen so the climb is best done before daylight. The view of the sunrise from the summit is also worth the early start. From Gilman’s Point, continue on to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER

Descend the mountain, passing through villages and plantations on the slopes en route to Moshi. Meet the mamas of the Moshi Women’s Cooperative, a G supported project, for a climbing ceremony.
Transfer by shuttle bus to Moshi. Time to relax, take a shower, and celebrate with a drink. Cheers to climbing Mt Kilimanjaro! Before dinner, you will be welcomed and congratulated on your climb by the mamas of the Moshi Women’s Cooperative, a project supported by G Adventures. They will present you with a gift and a certificate to remember all your efforts on the mountain. Opt to pre-book the Lala Salama Spa & Beauty Aromatherapy Massage, which partners with Moshi Women's Cooperative, by adding it to your checkout page, or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.

Horombo Huts Camp to Marangu Gate: Continue the descent to the Marangu Gate, passing by the Mandara escarpment on the way. Enjoy the easier descent and hikers who successfully reached Uhuru Peak will receive a summit certificate.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST, LUNCH

Fly to the beautiful island of Zanzibar and transfer to the hotel. Enjoy an orientation walk with your CEO in historic Stone Town, and opt to continue on for a longer walking tour, or explore on your own.
Transfer to the airport for a short, but scenic flight to this island paradise. Arrive in Stone Town in time for lunch and an orientation walk. If you opt to continue on for a longer tour of Stone Town, you will be visiting the Old Slave Market and Palace Museum; entrance to these sites are optional and are to be purchased on site.

Stone Town Orientation Walk: This orientation walk is just a brief introduction. If you'd like to learn more in depth information about Stone Town, we recommended going on a guided city tour.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Visit a local spice plantation for a guided tour. Continue to the white-sand beaches and turquoise waters of Zanzibar's beautiful coast.

Spice Plantation Guided Tour: Delight your senses with a guided tour and learn about an assortment of spices, such as cloves, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, breadfruit, jackfruit, vanilla, and lemongrass, and their various uses. It was the spice plantations that brought the beginnings of Zanzibar’s infamous slave trade dating back to the 1840s.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Free Time: Settle into island life and explore during some free time.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Enjoy free time to lounge on the beach, snorkel, or tour the island.

Free Time: Do as much or as little as you'd like on this island slice of paradise.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Enjoy free time to lounge on the beach, snorkel, or tour the island.

Free Time: Do as much or as little as you'd like on this island slice of paradise.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST

Morning group transfer from the beach. Depart Stone Town upon arrival in the late morning.
Onward travel should be booked no earlier than 2:30pm.

Departure Day: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with any onward travel arrangements you require.

: Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Meal plan: BREAKFAST