6-Day Climb Kilimanjaro via the Marangu Route

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

Marangu gate to mandara hut

Your Kilimanjaro adventure begins with a convenient pickup from your accommodation in Arusha or near Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will be transferred to Marangu Gate, where you complete registration, meet your experienced guides and porters, and receive a short briefing before starting the trek.

The hike begins through a lush rainforest, home to blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, and a variety of colorful bird species. The trail is steady and shaded, offering fresh mountain air and numerous opportunities to enjoy and photograph the forest’s natural beauty.

After approximately 4–5 hours of hiking, you will reach Mandara Hut (2,700m), a comfortable mountain lodge featuring bunk beds, solar lighting, and nearby toilet facilities. In the evening, you can take a short walk to the Maundi Crater, enjoying panoramic views of the Moshi plains and the Kenya border, before returning to the hut for dinner and overnight rest, allowing your body to begin acclimatizing for the days ahead.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Mandara Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Mandara to horombo camp

After breakfast at Mandara Hut, you continue your ascent on the Marangu Route, leaving the dense rainforest behind and entering the heath and moorland zone. The landscape transforms, offering wide-open views of Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks, surrounded by heather, wildflowers, and towering giant lobelias.

The hike takes approximately 5–6 hours at a moderate pace, with regular stops for rest, acclimatization, and photo opportunities of the breathtaking scenery. As you gain altitude, the trail becomes more open, giving you a sense of the mountain’s vastness and the dramatic landscapes that lie ahead.

You will reach Horombo Hut (3,720m) in the afternoon, a spacious lodge-style campsite featuring wooden huts, dining areas, and spectacular views of Kilimanjaro’s twin peaks. Here, you can relax, enjoy a warm meal, and acclimatize in preparation for the more challenging sections of the climb.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Horombo to zebra rock

To help your body adjust to the higher altitude, you’ll spend a rest and acclimatization day hiking from Horombo Hut (3,720m) to Zebra Rocks (approximately 4,050m) and then descending back to Horombo Hut.

The hike begins with a gradual ascent through open moorland and rocky terrain, where you’ll encounter giant lobelias, heath vegetation, and occasional sightings of high-altitude wildlife. Zebra Rocks is named for its distinctive striped rock formations, which make for an excellent photo opportunity and a scenic spot to rest.

The hike to Zebra Rocks typically takes 2–3 hours, allowing time for short breaks to catch your breath, drink water, and enjoy the panoramic views of Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks.
Back at Horombo Hut, you can relax, enjoy a warm meal, and rest, giving your body the chance to acclimatize before the more demanding sections of the climb. This day is critical for improving your summit success rate and preventing altitude sickness.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Horombo to kibo base camp

After an early breakfast at Horombo Hut (3,720m), you leave the moorland behind and continue your ascent toward Kibo Hut (4,700m). The trail gradually transitions into alpine desert, with sparse vegetation, rocky terrain, and increasingly dramatic views of Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks.

The hike to Kibo Hut usually takes 5–6 hours at a moderate pace, with frequent rest stops to acclimatize, drink water, and enjoy the unique high-altitude landscape. At Kibo Hut, you’ll have time to rest, enjoy a warm meal, and prepare for the summit attempt later in the night.

After a short rest, you’ll begin your summit push around midnight, trekking by headlamp in the cold, quiet alpine desert. The ascent is steep and challenging, requiring determination, trekking poles, and layered clothing to combat the low temperatures and altitude. Along the way, you’ll pass iconic features such as Gillman’s Point, with stunning views of the crater rim and glaciers.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Kibo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Summit to horombo hut

After the exhilaration of reaching Uhuru Peak (5,895m) and witnessing a breathtaking sunrise over the African plains, you begin your descent back toward Kibo Hut. The descent is steep in sections, requiring careful footing, trekking poles, and attention to altitude-related fatigue. You’ll pass Gillman’s Point and continue through the alpine desert zone, enjoying the stark, rugged beauty of Kilimanjaro’s high-altitude terrain.

From Kibo Hut, the trail continues down through the heath and moorland zones, gradually descending to Horombo Hut (3,720m). The hike is long but less strenuous than the summit push, and provides ample opportunities to rest, hydrate, and reflect on your achievement.
Upon arrival at Horombo Hut, you can relax, enjoy a hearty meal, and rest in preparation for the final descent to Marangu Gate. This stop also allows your body to recover from the high-altitude exertion, making the remaining trek to the gate more comfortable.

Main Destination:

Mt Kilimanjaro Summit

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Horombo to marangu gate

On your final day, you will descend from Horombo or Kibo Hut (depending on your itinerary) toward Marangu Gate. The trail is mostly downhill, offering views of the surrounding forests, moorlands, and distant plains. Take your time to enjoy the scenery, capture photos, and appreciate the unique high-altitude landscapes as you make your way down.

Upon arrival at Marangu Gate, complete your descent registration and receive your Kilimanjaro summit certificate, a lasting reminder of your achievement. From the gate, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Moshi or Arusha, with time for a warm shower, celebratory meal, and well-earned rest, concluding your unforgettable Kilimanjaro adventure.

Main Destination:

Marangu Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro)

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.