5 Days 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
Availability
All Year Round
Price
Starting from USD 1,678
per person sharing
Tour Highlights
Mount Kilimanjaro
Hike Difficulty: Intermediate
Duration
5 Days
Day 1
Arusha – Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut
Elevation (ft): 6,046 to 8,858
Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitation: Rainforest
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
Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut
Elevation (ft): 8,858 to 12,205
Distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitation: Forest and Moorland
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
Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut
Elevation (ft): 12,205 to 15,430
Distance: 10km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitation: Alpine Desert
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
Kibo Hut – Summit – Horombo Hut
Elevation (ft): 15,430 to 19,341 to 12,205
Distance: 22km
Hiking Time: 10-13 hours
Habitation: Arctic
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
Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate
Elevation (ft): 12,205 to 6,046
Distance: 20 km
Hiking time: 5-7 hours
Habitation: Rainforest
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.
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
