5-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route 2024-2025

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Marangu Gate (1860m) – Mandara Hut (2715m)

Elevation: 1,700 m to 2,740 m
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 7-8 km
Habitat: Montane forest

After breakfast and a briefing, we drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate (approx 1 hr 45 minutes), register and commence with the climb. We walk through the rainforest to the Mandara Hut, located at 9,000 ft / 2,740 m. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings, including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering eucalyptus trees, birdlife, and colobus monkeys.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Mandara Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

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Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mandara Hut (2715m) – Horombo Hut (3705m)

Elevation: 2,700 m to 3,700 m
Distance: 11 km
Walking time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Moorland

From Mandara Hut, the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, skirts the base of the Maundi Crater and then emerges into the transition from rainforest to moorland. It is well worth a short tour to scramble up the rim of the Maundi Crater for your first really impressive view of the Kibo Crater. On a clear day, Kibo will be seen in the distance, showing off her majestic glaciers in the morning sun.

Once you are in the open moorland, you will get the chance to see some of Kilimanjaro’s most spectacular plants. The endemic giant lobelia which grows up to 3 m in height, and the giant groundsel (Senecia kilimanjari), which can reach heights of 5 m! After about 6 hours' trek from here, you reach the Horombo Hut where you can rest, have an evening meal and overnight.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

+5 Photos

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Horombo Hut (3705m) – Kibo Hut (4730m)

Elevation: 3,700 m to 4,700 m
Distance: 9-10 km
Walking time: 6-7 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert

After breakfast, you continue the ascent into the alpine desert habitat. From Horombo, there are two trails to the “Saddle”, (which refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo). There is an upper route (right-hand fork) and a lower route (left-hand fork) to choose from. The upper route (right-hand fork) should be very familiar, as you climbed most of it the previous day on your acclimatisation hike toward Mawenzi Hut. This section is very stony and eroded. Situated in the barren alpine desert is Kibo Hut, a stone build block house that has bunk beds for 60 climbers, but no streams with water nearby. However, it is possible to buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp office. There are platform toilets behind the hut. The summit is now a further 1,195m up, and you will make your final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Kibo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kibo Hut (4730m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Horombo Hut (3705m)

Elevation: 4,700 m to 5,895 m to 3,700 m
Distance: 4 km up / 14 km down
Walking time: 7-8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6-8 hours to descend to Horombo
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Wake up at around 23:30, take a cup of tea and biscuits and set off for the summit. This section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5,150 m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s Point (5,681 m), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone scree, requiring a great physical and mental effort. This is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. Do the Kili shuffle and move slowly.

From Gillman's Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (summit 5,895 m), the highest point in Africa. After 3 hours, we descend to Kibo Hut for breakfast. After a short rest, you head down to Horombo Hut (3 hours) for your overnight.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Horombo Hut (3705m) – Marangu Gate (1860m)

Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 19.7 km

After breakfast, you will pack and depart from the mountain (6 hours), passing the Mandara Hut. At the Marangu gate, you sign your summit certificate of achievements accordingly. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s Point (5,685 m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), receive gold certificates. You will be picked up from Marangu village and be driven back to Arusha for overnight.

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.