Kilema Mountain biking 5 Day via Gilman’s
K5G-MTB
WHY THIS ITINERARY?
Mountain bike the highest freestanding mountain in the world..
DESCRIPTION
This route uses the rescue road to ascend onto the mountain, where it joins the Marangu route trail (the “normal” route) and then involves a bike carry to the summit and a very long downhill from the Summit of Kilimanjaro. Note there are short carry sections on the down too over the very rocky sections. Bikers must be very confident mountain bikers to attempt this trip.
HIGHLIGHTS
Kilimanjaro: afromontane forest, Mawenzi, glacial valleys and alpine desert, ascent of Kibo and possible views of Kibo caldera and ash pit. Glaciers and the roof of Africa! Mountain bikers will love the downhill in particular..
ITINERARY
In Brief
Hike Distance – 47miles / 68 km
Vertical Gain – 12,878ft / 3925m
Drop – 13,176ft / 4016m
Trekking Time – 35 hours
In Detail
DAY 1 – HOROMBO HUTS
START – 6,464FT / 1970M
END – 12,205FT / 3720M
DISTANCE – 12 MILES / 19KM
TIME – 5 - 8 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. At Marangu gate your crew finalise packing and after finishing with formalities and then you transfer to the Kilema gate where you start biking. It is a very long and strenuous uphill getting in to altitude and so we really encourage riders to rider gently and rest often. Lunch is taken on route. Once in camp, time to relax!
DAY 2 – HOROMBO HUTS
START – 8,924FT / 2720M
END – 12,205FT / 3720M
DISTANCE – 7 MILES / 11KM
TIME – 3-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
Today is essentially an acclimatization day, which can be as long or as short as you want it to be. To improve your acclimatization, we walk or ride to higher altitude towards Mawenzi Volcano. If the weather is good, the views once at the half way point of the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo are spectacular. Behind you the deeply eroded Mawenzi peak is linked forever by the glacially smoothed saddle to Kibo, the main peak. The younger Mawenzi has been continually eroded for at least 400,000 years whilst Kibo has continued to grow and remains dormant to this day. In the afternoon you return to Horombo Huts to relax.
DAY 3 – KIBO HUT
START – 12,205FT / 3720M
END – 15,486FT / 4720M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 9KM
TIME – 4-6HRS\
CLIMATE ZONES – HEATH / ALPINE DESERT
You start off early to the final hut before the summit attempt. Note depending on trail conditions you may like to take the Mawenzi route / acclimatisation route instead of the trekking route. Your crew ensure that water is collected at the last water point whilst you progress slowly up onto the saddle. Here desolate alpine zone stretches out towards the base of Kibo. Progress is slow in this hypoxic (low oxygen) environment but by mid-afternoon you reach Kibo Hut to relax before the evening ascent. A relatively early dinner is taken and then you climb into your sleeping bags for some rest before your night time departure for the summit.
DAY 4 – SUMMIT BID / HOROMBO HUTS
START – 15,486FT / 4720M
END – 12,205FT / 3720M
DISTANCE – 13 MILES / 21KM
TIME – 13-17 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ALPINE DESERT / ARCTIC / HEATH
Rising early (normally before midnight) you start out from Kibo Hut towards the peak. Most sections it is easier to carry your bike (and or request a summit porter to assist). At night time the scree sections are normally much firmer and the night time start enables the best chance of a clear summit attempt. It takes around 6 hours to reach Gilman’s Point and then a further 1.5 to 2 hours to reach Uhuru Peak (Alt 19,341ft, 5985m) the top of the highest free standing mountain in the world and the roof of Africa! You then descend the same route and most people are able to bike all the way from Uhuru Peak to Stella Point, then some carrying until below Gilman’s point, and for the brave, biking down the scree is possible before a short stop at Kibo Hut for food and rest. By the evening you descend back down to Horombo Huts for dinner and one last sleep.
DAY 5 – END
START – 12,205FT / 3720M
END – 6,164FT / 1879M
DISTANCE – 12 MILES / 19KM
TIME – 5-7 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH / AFROMONTANE FOREST
The final descent takes you back through the heath zone and forest to Kilema gate and then most like the option of a transfer to Marangu gate to collect certificates. After saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by a representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.