6-Day Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro-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

Departing from Arusha or Moshi, you will drive through the village of Marangu to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead. Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and winding trails as your guide tells you about the local flora, fauna, and wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery, so proper rain gear and trekking poles are highly recommended. We will spend our first night at Mandara Hut, a group of wooden A-frame huts set in a forest clearing.

• Transport: Private transfer (1 hour, 40 km)
• Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours (7 km)
• Ascent: 720 m
• Max. altitude: 2,700 m
• Accommodation: Hut
• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Main Destination:

Marangu Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro)

Accommodation:

Mandara Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rainforest and continue on an ascending path through heathland, looking for giant lobelias and groundsels. We then continue up into open moorlands, where small shrubs become the main vegetation. We’ll stop halfway for lunch and enjoy amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive at the Horombo Huts in the late afternoon, beneath the spectacular Kibo Summit viewpoint. Temperatures begin to drop here.

• Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours (11 km)
• Ascent: 1,020 m
• Max. altitude: 3,720 m
• Accommodation: Hut
• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Acclimatization Trek to Zebra Rocks Then Back to Horombo Hut

You can spend a full day and a second night at Horombo. On this day, you may choose to rest at the huts or take a stroll up to the Mawenzi base camp before returning to the Horombo Huts. This extra day will help with your acclimatization and deepen your understanding of the mountain’s weather and altitude. A hike toward Mawenzi, passing the Zebra Rocks along the way, is strongly recommended for better acclimatization.

• Hiking time: 2 – 3 hours (2 km)
• Ascent: 300 m
• Descent: 300 m
• Max. altitude: 4,020 m
• Accommodation: Hut
• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

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 to Kibo Hut

After breakfast, we continue through the dwindling heathland that gradually blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. Here, while we stop for lunch, and later as you cross this surprisingly large saddle, you can study the summit climb up Kibo that you will begin in just a few hours. The last place where water is available is at 4,130 m. From Kibo Hut, the summit is a further 1,195 m of ascent. We will start our summit attempt tonight, so we’ll go to bed early to get as much rest as possible.

• Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours (10 km)
• Ascent: 980 m
• Max. altitude: 4,700 m
• Accommodation: Hut
• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Kibo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak then down to Horombo Hut

Excitement builds as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. We continue our way to the summit in a switchback formation, trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a zigzag motion, we ascend through heavy scree and possibly snow toward Gillman’s Point on the crater rim. Here, you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during a short rest. Faster hikers may even view the sunrise from the summit.

From Gillman’s Point, your remaining one-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak will likely be through snow all the way. Congratulations — one step at a time, you have now reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa! Later, we will descend back to Kibo for breakfast and then continue on to Horombo.

• Hiking time: 12 – 14 hours (17 km)
• Ascent: 1,195 m
• Descent: 2,175 m
• Max. altitude: 5,895 m
• Accommodation: Hut.

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 to Marangu Gate

The last stage passes through the heath and moor zone to the Mandara Hut (2700 m) where a warm lunch is waiting for you. Soon, you will once again pass the tropical rain forest and after a total time of 6 hours trekking, you will be back at the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860 m). After saying goodbye to your mountain guides, a short transfer follows to take you back to your hotel in Arusha/Moshi. Once there, you can take a warm and relaxing shower and celebrate your success in reaching the summit of the Kilimanjaro.

Distance covered: 20.8 km / 12.9 miles
Approx. time taken: 8 hours.

Main Destination:

Marangu Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

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

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