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Kilimanjaro Trek: Marangu Route

Overview

Popularly referred to as the ‘Tourist’ route, the Marangu route is one of the most well-established routes to trek up Mt Kilimanjaro – offering comfortable pathways with steady, gradual slopes and the added benefit of dormitory-style sleeping huts along the way.

Tour Information

Duration

Availability

Year round

Tour Highlights

Intermediate Difficulty Hike

Price

Starting from USD 2,098 per person sharing

Duration

5 Days

Day 1

Elevation (ft): 6,046 to 8,858
Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitation: Rainforest

Arusha – Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut

  • After breakfast at your hotel in Arusha, you are greeted by our guide and transferred to Marangu Gate in the Kilimanjaro National Park.
  • On arrival at Marangu Gate, you have time to check in and register with the park guides and porters, before we begin the trek up to Mandara Hut
  • We start our ascent on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest – where most of Kilimanjaro’s wildlife is found, including troops of monkeys hiding in the jungle canopy
  • Once through the misty rainforest, the trail widens out to expose the beautiful lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mandara Hut
  • We spend our first night here at Mandara Hut, a group of wooden A-framed huts set in a forest clearing

Day 2

Elevation (ft): 8,858 to 12,205
Distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitation: Forest and Moorland

Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut

  • After breakfast, we begin the steep but not technical ascent through the forest, skirting the base of the Maundi Crater before reaching the high moorland
  • Weather permitting, we may be able to get our first sighting of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks – two of the three volcanic peaks that make up the summit of Kilimanjaro
  • After about six hours, we arrive at Horombo Hut

Day 3

Elevation (ft): 12,205 to 15,430
Distance: 10km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitation: Alpine Desert

Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut

  • Today, we begin the gradual climb – crossing the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo in order to reach our next campsite at the base of the Kibo crater wall
  • It’s early to bed this evening as we make our summit ascent in the early hours of the morning

Day 4

Elevation (ft): 15,430 to 19,341 to 12,205
Distance: 22km
Hiking Time: 10-13 hours
Habitation: Arctic

Kibo Hut – Summit – Horombo Hut

  • We wake around midnight and begin our ascent
  • The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hand Meyer Cave where we take a short rest
  • The path then zigzags up to Gilman’s Point, located on the crater rim. Here, the trail is at its most challenging – it is very steep with lots of stone scree
  • From Gilman’s Point onwards we usually encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru Peak – the highest point in Africa and the final stop on our ascent
  • You’ve reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro – the world’s highest free-standing mountain – and have the splendours of Africa at your feet
  • Weather conditions on the summit determine how long we are able to spend here taking photographs and admiring the incredible vistas before we begin our descent
  • After a challenging yet rewarding day, we arrive back to Horombe Hut in the evening to enjoy a well-earned rest and a hot dinner with fellow hikers

Day 5

Elevation (ft): 12,205 to 6,046
Distance: 20 km
Hiking time: 5-7 hours
Habitation: Rainforest

Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate

  • A long trek is in store today as we descend through the rainforest towards Marangu Gate – and experience once again the incredible wildlife and flora and fauna that flourish here
  • Once you’ve had a chance to revel in the glory of completing your trek, we proceed to take you back to your chosen hotel in Arusha, where you can enjoy a hot shower and a well-earned rest
Day 1

Elevation (ft): 6,046 to 8,858
Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitation: Rainforest

Arusha – Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut

  • After breakfast at your hotel in Arusha, you are greeted by our guide and transferred to Marangu Gate in the Kilimanjaro National Park.
  • On arrival at Marangu Gate, you have time to check in and register with the park guides and porters, before we begin the trek up to Mandara Hut
  • We start our ascent on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest – where most of Kilimanjaro’s wildlife is found, including troops of monkeys hiding in the jungle canopy
  • Once through the misty rainforest, the trail widens out to expose the beautiful lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mandara Hut
  • We spend our first night here at Mandara Hut, a group of wooden A-framed huts set in a forest clearing
Day 2

Elevation (ft): 8,858 to 12,205
Distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitation: Forest and Moorland

Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut

  • After breakfast, we begin the steep but not technical ascent through the forest, skirting the base of the Maundi Crater before reaching the high moorland
  • Weather permitting, we may be able to get our first sighting of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks – two of the three volcanic peaks that make up the summit of Kilimanjaro
  • After about six hours, we arrive at Horombo Hut
Day 3

Elevation (ft): 12,205 to 15,430
Distance: 10km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitation: Alpine Desert

Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut

  • Today, we begin the gradual climb – crossing the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo in order to reach our next campsite at the base of the Kibo crater wall
  • It’s early to bed this evening as we make our summit ascent in the early hours of the morning
Day 4

Elevation (ft): 15,430 to 19,341 to 12,205
Distance: 22km
Hiking Time: 10-13 hours
Habitation: Arctic

Kibo Hut – Summit – Horombo Hut

  • We wake around midnight and begin our ascent
  • The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hand Meyer Cave where we take a short rest
  • The path then zigzags up to Gilman’s Point, located on the crater rim. Here, the trail is at its most challenging – it is very steep with lots of stone scree
  • From Gilman’s Point onwards we usually encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru Peak – the highest point in Africa and the final stop on our ascent
  • You’ve reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro – the world’s highest free-standing mountain – and have the splendours of Africa at your feet
  • Weather conditions on the summit determine how long we are able to spend here taking photographs and admiring the incredible vistas before we begin our descent
  • After a challenging yet rewarding day, we arrive back to Horombe Hut in the evening to enjoy a well-earned rest and a hot dinner with fellow hikers
Day 5

Elevation (ft): 12,205 to 6,046
Distance: 20 km
Hiking time: 5-7 hours
Habitation: Rainforest

Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate

  • A long trek is in store today as we descend through the rainforest towards Marangu Gate – and experience once again the incredible wildlife and flora and fauna that flourish here
  • Once you’ve had a chance to revel in the glory of completing your trek, we proceed to take you back to your chosen hotel in Arusha, where you can enjoy a hot shower and a well-earned rest
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Whats included
  • Return transfers from your hotel in Arusha/Moshi to the park gates
  • All park entry fees
  • All camping and rescue fees
  •  Guide and porters’ fees
  • All accommodation on the mountain, including three meals a day
  • All cooking and kitchen utensils
Whats excluded
  • International and domestic flights
  •  Airport transfers
  • Accommodation in Arusha before and after the climb
  • Any items of a personal nature such as: telephone calls, drinks, tips for drivers and guides etc
  • Sleeping bags and mountain gear – although we can arrange for you to hire these on request

Accommodation

No recommended accommodation for this itinerary

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