It’s just an hour’s drive from Moshi Town to Kilimanjaro National Park’s Marangu Gate (starting point) and a three-hour walk from the gate to Mandara Hut (2700 m).

A Hike to Mandala Hut, the first hut along Mt. Kilimanjaro’s Marangu Route (“Coca-Cola Route”).

Walking starts from the gate at (1970m). Enjoy walking in the Montane forest where Mandara Hut is situated on the forest belt border just below the Maundi Crater. Walking in the montane forest and shortly in the heath and moorland vegetation with beautiful endemic flora to Maundi Crater you will enjoy the breathtaking view of magnificent Mt. Kilimanjaro, also you can get the chance to see varieties of birds, primates i.e. Black and White Colobus Monkey and varieties of trees and beautiful flowers.

An abundance of colorful birds can be found in the area. The startling major, the red and yellow barbet, the masked weaver, the silver bill, and the secretary birds are some of the species to be seen. Longido is further well known for the presence of rare mammals that cannot be seen in any of the national parks. The plains and the slopes of the mountain form the refuge for the gerenuk, the lesser kudu, and the klipspringer. Among other mammals living around Longido are giraffes, zebras, gazelles, buffaloes, mongooses, and some silver jackals.
Longido is situated about 80 km north of Arusha on the way to Nairobi, just at the foot of Longido mountain, which rises up steeply from the plains and forms an important orientation point for people in the wide surroundings.
On the mountain and the surrounding plains, the Maasai warriors wander about with their cattle, looking for pasture and water. Once a week, on Wednesdays, the cattle are herded to a cattle market in Longido town. Maasai families live in traditional bomas scattered over the area. In the early morning, women leave the Boma to fetch water and collect firewood. Young children play around the mud houses and start at a very early age to take care of kids and lambs.