Mountain Kilimanjaro Biking Hiking

You will meet your guide who will drive you to Marangu gate which takes about 45 minutes to reach at the park entry. The gate is located at lower slopes of the mountain passing through Marangu villages to the main entrance. All people who are going to hike are requested to register at the park offices before hiking. After registration, you will head to Kilema gate where you will start your biking tour of mountain Kilimanjaro. Make sure that you check your mountain bike very well and also having a water bottle. You will then start your first route which will take about 16km (you will be with your guide also on a mountain bike hiking together). From Kilema gate it is (1950m) to reach Horombo hut which is at (3705m). Those people with mountain biking skills, good fitness, will be able to reach to Horombo hut while cycling. Because of the altitude sickness which is brought by ascending too high or too quick, you will be stopping regularly to give your body the maximum time and energy to adjust to the higher altitudes. You will be aiming to reach to Horombo hut at 3:00pm. You will stop at Horombo hut to relax for a while and then after you will start on a downhill cycle to Kilema camp. When descending, its approximately 800m over 7km and the trek has got a lot of loose rocks whereby it is important to control or reduce your speed to avoid risks and accidents.

• Habitat: Moorland
• Distance Ascending: Approximately 16km
• Habitat: Montane forest
• Distance descending: Approximately 7km

After taking your morning breakfast, you will pack all your things in the bag and start cycling from Kilema camp to Horombo huts. This trail is very steep with a lot of loose rocks at certain areas and get to know that Horombo hut is a village of huts perched on a small plateau with a total capacity of 120 climbers. This place is full of hikers, climbers, porters and guides which makes it an interesting place because you get to meet new people, create friendship and learning stories from different individuals. You will meet both ascending and descending hikers and climbers here. After resting, you will get your bike again for another 2 hours’ acclimatization cycle up to zebra rocks (4040m) and come back. You get to enjoy your dinner with other hikers and climbers. After dinner, you will get to sleep to prepare yourself for tomorrows journey.

• Habitat: Moorland
• Distance Ascending: Approximately 16km
• Habitat: Montane forest
• Distance descending: Approximately 7km

Today, you will wake up early in the morning to prepare yourself for another exciting day. You will meet your guide and start cycling while ascending into the Alpine desert habitat. Your first 3km of the trail are fully of rocks which makes cycling difficult since this part of the mountain is very stony and eroded. This means that you will have to carry your bikes for about 3km of the trail and after that, you will again be able to get on your bike to ride again.
The saddle is relatively flat and cycling is easier and get to know that higher the altitude, the lower the oxygen levels so get prepared for the conditions. When you are almost reaching at Kibo hut, it’s very cold and a bite challenging. The final kilometer before reaching at Kibo hut is strenuous so you will be remained to slow down and drink enough water. After arriving at Kibo hut, your lunch will be served to you and then rest for a while.
After your lunch, you will embark on an awesome Kilimanjaro downhill descending nearly 800m over 7km. Finally, the remaining 3km you will be descending down to Horombo hut which is a little bite challenging. After reaching at Horobo hut, dinner will have to be served and then sleep.

• Habitat: Alpine desert
• Distance: Approximately 9.6km

Today’s trail will be a little bit tough because you shall ride your bikes back to Kibo hut so remember that the first 3km requires you pushing and carrying your bike a lot and then the remaining 7km will offer a good biking trail which makes it more adventurous. Your lunch will be taken at the same while resting and then at 4:00pm depending how you feel; you can hike up to the summit path. After passing a barren Alpine desert in front is Kibo hut which is a stone built block house having bunk beds for 60 climbers but no streams with water nearby and there are platform toilets behind the hut.
The summit is about 1195m up and during the night is when you will make your final ascend to the top so, you will need to prepare your equipment’s. Make sure to come with your thermal clothes for your summit bid. This should include replacing your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure that you have spare sets of batteries available as well to avoid freezing and also make sure to carry your hot water in a thermal flask. You will go to bed at 7:00pm so make sure you get enough sleep as possible until 10:00pm.

• Habitat: Alpine desert
• Distance: Approximately 9.6km

You will wake up at 10:00pm and take a hot tea with some biscuits to remove the sleep into your eyes. This is the trail which is the toughest so get ready for it with the first section consisting of a rocky path to Han Meyer cave which is about (5150m) with a good resting spot. The path is then zigzag up to Gilman’s point about (5681m) located on the crater rim. The section before Gilman’s point is known as “Jamaica rocks” which is very steep with a lot of stony scree, boulders requiring a great physical and mental effort.

You cannot cycle from Horombo hut to Gilman’s point so you will have to push your bike up to Jamaica rocks or you can carry it on your shoulders and if you can’t manage it, you can arrange a porter to carry it for you. The oxygen levels are close to 9.5% so this is the most demanding section on the entire route. From Gilman’s point trail you can cycle again and you will normally encounter snow on your way up to Uhuru peak which is the highest peak in Africa. Only those bikers with mountain biking experiences or skills, with high fitness levels and expert technical skills will be able to cycle to Uhuru peak.

After reaching the summit, you will bike downward to Kibo hut which is more exciting up to the hut. Then bike from Kilema camp to the base of the mountain which is about 31km descending normally and it takes about 3 hours to reach at the parks get. At the gate, you will meet our guide who will drive you back to Moshi at your hotel to rest and then later in the evening, you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight back home.

• Distance ascending: Approximately 5.4km
• Habitat: Snow cape
• Distance descending: 31km
• Habitat: Alpine desert.