Bike Tour to Summit
6 DAYS
A very special way to conquer majestic Mount Kilimanjaro is to summit by mountain bike. We offer this tour as a 6 day trip for proper acclimatization, but it can also be done in 5 days for those who are very fit or have little time. This activity provides physical exercise and recreational use of the natural environment with minimum impact while improving visitors’ experience.
This mountain bike tour to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m / 19,340 ft) is done on Kilema Route, which joins Marangu Trekking Route on second day and leads all the way to the top. Our experienced guides will cycle with you the whole trip up to Uhuru Peak, our porters will carry your luggage and set up a camp for the first night. The rest of the trip you will sleep in clean mountain huts (see accommodation).
Itinerary
DAY 1:
Marangu Gate / Kilema Gate (1,950 m / 6,400 ft) to 1st camp (3,100 m / 10,170 ft)
After breakfast we will pick you up from your hotel. You will meet our team and drive to Marango Gate. The journey (1-2 hours) passes through the village of Marangu on the lower slopes of the mountain. At the gate we will register you at the Park office and the luggage will be weighed. After signing-in we drive another 30min to the Kilema gate. Upon arrival you will ensure that you have all your daypack items (containing at least drinking water, your lunch pack and extra clothing) and do a final check on your mountain bike. You will then start cycling the first route section with your guide through the lush rainforest spotting some Colobos and blue monkeys and enjoying the fascinating flora with beautiful flowers until we reach the camp. Here your tent and a hot dinner will already be waiting for you. This is the only night you will spend camping, the other nights you will sleep in huts.
- riding distance: 8 km / 5 miles
- riding time: 4 hours
- altitude gained: 1,150 m / 3,773 ft
- habitat: rainforest, heather / moorland zone
- meals included: lunch box, hot dinner
DAY 2:
1st Camp (3,100 m / 10,170 ft) to Horombo hut (3.720 m / 12,200 ft)
After breakfast you will get on your bike again. Today´s trail is steeper, on some parts we will have to get off the bike and walk, on others we can cycle until we reach the huts for hot lunch. The afternoon you can spend relaxing, enjoing the stunning views or exploring nature until your hot dinner.
- riding distance: 8 km / 5 miles
- riding /hiking time: 4 hours
- altitude gained: 620 m / 2,030 ft
- habitat: heather / moorland zone
- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch, hot dinner
DAY 3:
Acclimatization day
(If you choose the 5 day tour this day will be omitted)
This day is very important for your acclimatization. Today we will hike (or cycle) up to 4000 m / 13,150 ft and return back to Horombo hut for a hot lunch and relax the rest of the day enjoying the magnificant views. Your body will be busy with acclimatization to the height. The trail is quite rocky, so most people prefer to hike and leave their bicycle at the hut. We recommend that, but want to give you the option. Those you like to mountain bike usually carry their bikes up and then ride down.
- riding / hiking distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
- riding / hiking time: 2-3 hours
- altitude gained: 280 m / 920 ft (up and down)
- habitat: heather / moorland zone
- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch, hot dinner
DAY 4:
Horombo hut (3.720 m / 12,200 ft) to Kibo hut (4,700m / 15,430 ft)
We will start the day carrying our bicycles and hike with it because of some rocks. After a while you will continue cycling, the trail becomes flat and sandy, leads across the heath and then reaches the alpine desert with its vulcanic rocks and unforgetable views on Mount Mawenzi and Kibo. It will be quite windy, so you will need to be prepared and have your wind jacket. Today you will have some breaks for drinking and eating some energy bars, giving you energy to this challenging tour. The last bit up to Kibo Huts is going to be physically challenging, but going "pole pole" as we say (= slowly and steady) you will make it and be rewarded with a hot dinner at Kibo hut. You better go to bed early, as the exiting summit day lays ahead of you tomorrow.
- hiking / riding distance: 10 km /6 miles
- hiking / riding time: 6-7 hours
- altitude gained: 1,000 m / 3,200 ft
- habitat: alpine desert zone
- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch, hot dinner
DAY 5:
Kibo hut (4,700m / 15,430 ft) to UHURU PEAK (5,895 m / 19,340 ft) to Horombo hut (3,720 m / 12,200 ft)
Summit day! We will wake you up around midnight for summit push. We usually hike to Uhuru Peak, but you can take your bike, our summit porters will help you carrying. We will aim to reach Gilman’s Point (5,756 meters /18,885 ft) by dawn, the first of three official summit points of Mount Kilimanjaro. Finally after following the edge of the crater, you will stand at Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Kibo. After taking memorable pictures and enjoying the precious moment on the roof top of Africa we will start descending. Below 5.000 m / 16,400 ft you can get on your bike as it is not as sandy anymore. Still you need to be very careful. Because you will need some energy to make it to the summit, we recommend to leave your bike at the hut or to hire an extra summit porter for that. From Kibu hut, where you will celebrate with our team and get a well deserved hot lunch, we will be cycling down to Horombo hut.
- hiking / riding distance: 21 km / 13 miles
- hiking /riding time: 8-12 hours
- altitude gained: 1,200 m / 3,900 ft
- descent: 2,175 m / 7,135 ft
- habitat: arctic zone / alpine desert zone
- meals included: breakfast, hot lunch, hot dinner
DAY 6:
Horombo hut (3,720 m / 12,200 ft) to Marangu gate (1,840 m / 6,030 ft)
On your last day we will descent only downhill, so this will be an easy day for you. After breakfast we will be back from moorland to rain forest then to cultivation zone where Chagga people live. At the Main Gate you will have the chance to get your muddy boots cleaned, take pictures with your team, have a last hot lunch and receive your summit certificate from your guide. We will pick you up with our vehicle and drive you back to your hotel.
- biking distance: 18 km / 11 miles
- biking time: 5-7 hours
- descent: 1,880 m / 6,050 ft
- habitat: alpine desert, moorland, rainforest
- meals included: breakfast, lunch.
