Marangu Gate (1,800m/5,905ft) to Mandara Hut (2,743m/9,000ft) Elevation Gain: 915 meters, 3,000 feet
Leave lively, colourful Moshi early in the morning for the trip to Marangu Gate, the gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro. It's only an hour away, but the scenery will capture you - coffee and banana fields, past charming Marangu hamlet, with Kilimanjaro rising magnificently before you. We'll register you at the Marangu Gate (we don't want you to go lost!) Your adventure will soon begin. The ridged route is first narrow as it winds through the rainforest. It's lush and gloomy, with moss adorning the trees. The canopy above is alive with songs and weird rustlings - might it be a colobus? Mongoose may scurry ahead of you. You'll also encounter fatigued hikers on their way down from the peak. Give them a thumbs up for their efforts. The journey to Mandara Hut takes around three hours, so take a break and eat a wonderful lunch at the Hut before continuing to the short but strenuous walk to the Maundi Crater. The views to the east across Taveta and the northwest to Mawenzi Peak are spectacular on a clear day. Don't forget to bring your camera! After taking in the scenery, you'll climb back down to the Marangu Gate, where our van will be ready to take you back to Moshi, exhausted but delighted. This Kilimanjaro day walk is acceptable for most individuals, even if they are physically challenged.
