5 Days Marangu Route

Day 01 : Marangu Gate (1980m) – Mandara Hut (2700m)

Marangu Route

Distance: 8km

Environment: Montane forest

Time: 4 to 5 hours

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Moshi (900m) and driven to the Marangu Gate (1980m). At the park gate, all your equipments and belongings will be both organized and packed by the porters while you spend the majority of the time on the registration process with TANAPA. After completion, the journey will begin through the rainforest. During this phase, you should expect and encounter mild rain, fog, and mud. Game viewing opportunities also exist with possible sightings of Colobus monkeys. You’ll get to reach Mandara Hut at 2700 meters after ascending for 3 to 4 hours. Each hut has 6 to 8 sleeping bunks which accommodate a total of 60 hikers. Solar generated lightings are in place inside the huts. Flush toilets are there in central hut. Porters will arrive at the camp early to arranging drinking and washing water and chef will prepare all the dishes from scratch for the hikers. During night hours, the temperature drops below freezing point and trekkers are advised to be prepared for that.

 Day 02 : Mandara Hut (2700m) – Horombo Hut (3720m)

Marangu Route

Distance: 11km

Environment: Moorland

Time: 5 to 6 hours

After having your breakfast, hikers will enter into the heather moorland, leaving the rainforest zone behind. You’ll pass through the Maundi Crater and climb up to its rim where you’ll enjoy spectacular view of the Kibo Crater. In the moorland zone, expect to spot exotic plants like giant lobelia and groundsel. After 6 hours of hiking, you will reach Horombo Hut (3720m). Horombo Hut sleeps 120 hikers and is located on a small plateau. Similar to the first night, the porters will prepare drinking and washing water for you. You will enjoy evening snacks then dinner prepared by our chef. Be prepared for a cold night as temperatures drop below freezing at this site.

 Day 03 : Horombo Hut (3720m) – Kibo Hut (4700m)

Marangu Route

Distance: 10km

Environment: Alpine desert

Time: 5 to 6 hours

After the morning meal, you’ll resume your ascent into the alpine desert environment. Hikers get to choose from two trails both of which lead to Kibo Hut at 4700 meters. The upper route (on the right side of the fork) is the one which was used for hiking to Mawenzi Hut the previous day, while the lower route (on the left side of the fork) is more popular as it offers a shorter hiking distance (1 hour shorter).

Kibo Hut is located in between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo and the area is referred to as the “Saddle.” The area is characterized by alpine desert and there is no water at this campsite. Mineral water, soda, and soft drinks are available options at the office camp. An early dinner will be served which will allow hikers to rest before they summit the mountain the same night. After dinner and a briefing about the summit night from your guide, you’ll get to sleep by 1900 hours!

 Day 04 : Summit Attempt: Kibo hut (4700m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Horombo Hut

Marangu Route

Distance: 22km

Environment: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Time: 7 hours to Uhuru /3 hours back to Kibo/ 3 hours to Horombo

Your guide will wake you around 23:30 for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. The trail is rocky up to Hans Meyer Cave (5150m). You continue your ascent to Gillman’s point (5681m). Reaching this section is an impressive achievement as the trail is steep, rocky, and at high altitude. Gillman’s is located on the crater rim. From this point, you will usually experience a snow covered trail until you reach the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). Once you reach to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, you’d have achieved a lifetime accomplishment. You’ll get to spend short amount of time at the summit and take photographs and sip some tea admiring the scenery. Then you’ll start hiking to Kibo and get to Kibo Hut by trekking for about 3 hours.

At Kibo Hut, you’ll be served with a hot lunch under the sky after which you’ll rest for some time. Then descend down to Horombo Hut at 3720 meters. You’ll have dinner at the hut and rest soundly for the rest of the day.

 Day 05 : Horombo Hut (3720m) – Marangu Gate (1980m)

Marangu Route

Distance: 19km

Environment: Montane Forest

Time: 6 to 8 hours

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. You can present your tips or gifts to the guide, assistant guides, porters, and chefs individually or hand it to their chief. Leaving them behind, you can descend back to Mweka Gate by hiking for three hours with your guide. It is required by the national park to sign individually on required documents to receive certificate of completion. Hikers who make it to Stella Point at 5685 meters are given green certificates, whereas hikers reaching the Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters are presented with a gold certificate. After receiving certificates, you will drive back to Moshi for long overdue showers and more celebrations.