You want to experience the mountain up close but you don’t have enough time to climb it? Then a day tour to this park is perfect you. This trip will take you to the hike of up to 2700m high to feel the mountain through thick rain forest. No special mountain climbing gears required. All that will be needed is comfortable clothing, comfortable walking shoes, and a raincoat in case it rains on your way up.
The day will start early after breakfast as you will be picked from your place whether in Arusha or Moshi. Later you will drive toward Marangu gate. Marangu gate is headquarter and the main administrations for Kilimanjaro. Being here you will see a lot of boards with interesting stories and backgrounds of people like German Hans Meyer and his Chagga guide Yohani Kinyala Lauwo who ascent this high mountain for the first time in 1889.
After all park formalities you will start your day hike through rain forest up to Mandara Hut. Experience incredible scenery, breathtaking landscapes, and keep your eyes peeled for monkeys including black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and native bird species. For about 3-4 hours hike, you will reach Mandara Hut (2700m), where you will have a well-earned rest and lunch. Later you will proceed with a short walk to Maundi Crater, a collapsed side volcano of the Kibo, which is scenic and beautiful because of its various grasses and wild flowers. From here you have a great view of the surroundings, with clear view down to the valley and the town of Taveta, the Jipe Lake and the mountain ranges of the Pare and Usambara Mountains. Once you have thoroughly enjoyed the views, you will return to the Marangu Gate (2-3 hours walking distance), where your vehicle will be waiting for your transfer back to your place to proceed with your next schedule.
This tour can be combined with other days for full mountain hike to the summit, Safari to the best of Tanzania destinations of Serengeti National Park, Tarangire Park or Ngorongoro Crater.
