Cycling on Mount Kilimanjaro

Arrived in Tanzania and transferred to the Lodge Operation Kilimanjaro team member will be waiting for you at your arrival time. You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transferred to your Lodge in Moshi town situated on the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Today you will meet your tour guides, who will brief you about your upcoming tour and guide you through the bike fitting.

Meet your guide and embark on your transfer to the Marangu Gate, which takes about 45 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 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) on a 4×4 track. Bikers with good fitness levels, mountain biking skills, and versatility will be able to cycle 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 3:00 pm. We will stop at Horombo Hut for a short break, before commencing on a downhill cycle to Kilema camp. Descending approximately 800m over 7km, the track has a lot of loose rocks and it is important to control your speed and avoid unnecessary risks! Upon arrival, your porters will have your tent set up at camp and in the evening bring a small bowl of washing water to your tent. The cook will prepare dinner before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can drop to freezing points at this camp, so it will be important to pack accordingly.

• Kilema Gate (1950m) – Homboro Hut (3705m)
• Cycling time: Approximately 5 to 6 hours
• Distance: Approximately 16 km
• Habitat: Montane forest
• Horombo Hut (3705m) – Kilema Camp (2950m)
• Cycling time: 30 minutes
• Distance: Approximately 7 km
• Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, make sure your duffel bag is packed and we cycle from the Kilema Camp to Horombo Hut. The trail is steep and has a lot of loose rocks in certain areas. Horombo hut is a village of huts perched on a small plateau, with a total capacity of 120 climbers! Normally bustling with hikers, guides, porters and with an atmosphere of adventure and excitement. You will meet both ascending and descending hikers here. We arrive in time for a late lunch at Horombo hut. After lunch collect our bikes and go for a 1.5 hour acclimatization cycle up to Zebra rocks (4040m) and back. Enjoy dinner and overnight at Horombo hut.

• Kilema Camp (2905m) – Horombo Hut (3705m)
• Cycling time: 2 to 3 hours
• Distance: Approximately 7 km
• Habitat: Moorland
• Horombo Hut (3705m) – Zebra Rocks (4040m) – Horombo Hut
• Cycling time: 1 hour up and 20 minutes down
• Distance: Approximately 2 km up and 2 km down
• Habitat: Moorland

After an early breakfast, meet your guide and start your ascent into the Alpine desert habitat. The first 3 km of the trail is very rocky and cycling will be very difficult as this section is very stony and eroded. You will be forced to push and carry your bike for some sections, but after about 3km the trail improves and cycling will once again be possible. The “Saddle” (which refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo) is relatively flat and cycling is much easier. However high altitudes, low oxygen levels, and cold conditions make the 7km section towards Kibo Hut strenuous and challenging. The final km before reaching Kibo hut is especially challenging. You will once again be reminded to slow down and drink enough water! Upon arrival at Kibo Hut lunch will be served. After lunch we will embark on an awesome Kilimanjaro Mtb downhill, descending nearly 800m over 7km. The final 3km descent to Horombo Hut is very technical and challenging, followed by dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut.

• Horombo Hut  (3705m) – Kibo Hut (4730m) – Horombo Hut (3705m)
• Cycling time: 4 to 5 hours up and 1 hour down
• Distance: 9.6 km up and 9.6km down
• Habitat: Alpine desert

We’ll wake early and make sure our duffel bags are packed and ready to go. After breakfast, you’ll meet your guide and we’ll head back up to Kibo Hut. Again the first 3km will require you pushing and carrying your bike a lot, with the final 7km to Kibo hut offering a better 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-built block house that 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 1195m farther 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 about 19h00 and try to get as much rest and sleep as possible, until 22h00.

• Horombo Hut (3705m) – Kibo Hut (4730m)
• Cycling time: 4 to 5 hours
• Distance: Approximately 9.6 km
• Habitat: Alpine desert

You will rise around 22h00, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night, and this is where the going gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5 681m), which is located on the crater rim. The section just before Gillman’s point known as “Jamaica rocks’ ‘ is very steep with a lot of stone, and boulders requiring a great physical and mental effort. From Horombo hut up to Gillmans point the trail cannot be cycled and you will have to push your bike up to the Jamaica rocks, however from Jamaica rocks to Gillmans point, you will have to carry your bike (or if you are not up to it – arrange for a porter to carry your bike). With oxygen levels close to 9.5%, this is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. You will be doing the Kilimanjaro shuffle and move very slowly. From Gillman’s Point, the trail can be cycled again and you will normally encounter snow up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Depending on snowfall, mountain bikers with high fitness levels and expert technical Mountain biking skills will be able to cycle most of the trail from Gillman’s Point to Uhuru Peak. Total exhilaration and satisfaction – you made it. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend, taking photographs, before the 3-hour descent back to Kibo hut. Again, mountain bikers with expert technical cycling skills should be able to cycle from Uhuru peak to Gillmans’ point. It is impossible to ride the first section from Gillman’s point down to Kibo hut. Cycling will only be possible for the final 1 to 2 km before reaching Kibo hut. Upon arrival at Kibo Hut, enjoy a late breakfast and then pack your gear in your duffel bag for the porter to carry down.

• Kibo Hut (4730m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Kibo Hut (4730m)
• Cycling time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 3 to 4 hours to descend to Kibo hut,
• Distance: Approximately 5.4km ascent and 31 km descent
• Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

You will embark on the world’s ultimate downhill mountain bike rollercoaster ride: Starting at Kibo hut at 4730m you will descend to the Kilema gate 1950m – distance approximately 31km, descend approximately 3000m in only 3 hours!

• Kilema Gate (1950m)
• Cycling time: 3 hours
• Distance: 25 km.
• Riding Level: Challenging
• Path: Gravel road
• Highlights: Cycling on Mt Kilimanjaro