On this Kilimanjaro day trip to Mandara/Maundi crater via Marangu route:

Early morning after breakfast, you will be transferred straight to Kilimanjaro National Park’s gate. At Marangu gate, you have to do some registrations and start the hike. Marangu gate is 1879m above sea level and the distance to Mandara hut is 8km which will take 3 to 4 hours. The first leg of the hike is along narrow ridge that winds through the lush and dense rain forest vegetation. It gives mysterious and hushed feeling walking through the mists, with the trees adorned with moss. The canopy overhead is alive with birdsong and strange rustlings that could be anything from a Colobous monkey to Mongoose scuttling ahead of you.

After 3-hour hike, stop to rest your legs and have lunch at the Hut and once you have replenished yourself, take the short but challenging walk to the Maundi Crater.

On a clear day, the views to the east over Taveta and to the northwest to Mawenzi Peak are stunning. Don’t forget your camera! After basking in the beauty of it, you’ll hike back down to the Marangu Gate where our vehicle will be waiting for you to drive you back to Arusha.