7-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking Marangu Route

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

Arrival in Arusha

After your arrival at the airport (Kilimanjaro / Arusha), your private driver guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation.
At the accommodation, your professional mountain guide will go through your gear and make sure that all the required mountain climbing equipment is there and give you a briefing before your trekking adventure starts on the following day.

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

Accommodation:

Arusha Planet Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located in Arusha (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Marangu Gate (1870 meters) to Mandara Hut (2700 meters)

The Marangu Route starts at Marangu Gate (1,870 meters) on the Southeast side of Mount Kilimanjaro. You will be driven to the gate from Arusha, which takes approximately two hours passing through the village of Marangu.

At the gate, you will meet your trekking team and proceed with the registration at the National Park Authorities and witness porters assembling and weighing packs of gear that they will be carrying up the mountain. Day one is a gradual trek through the Kilimanjaro rainforest and it takes 5-7 hours to complete.

You will spend your first night at the Mandara Frame Huts (2,700 meters) which are equipped with solar-generated lighting, flush toilets and water piped in from a nearby mountain stream. Each hut has 6-8 bunk beds. If you are a light sleeper we suggest bringing earplugs.

Main Destination:

Marangu Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro)

Accommodation:

Mandara Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

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

Mandara Hut (2700 meters) to Horombo Hut (3720 meters)

On this day early after breakfast, you will start your trekking at around 8:00 am.

The trek continues through the rainforest, around the base of the Maundi Crater and then transitions rather rapidly into the low alpine moorland zone.

If the weather is clear, you should definitely take the opportunity to scramble up the Maundi Crater to get your first full view of Kibo. During the trek, you will also see giant lobelias which are scattered throughout the landscape at this altitude. The trek takes approximately 6 to 8 hours to complete and covers a distance of (11.5km / 7miles).

At Horombo Hut at an altitude of (3,720 meters), you will be served dinner and shown to your sleeping quarters for the night.

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)

Acclimatisation at Horombo Hut

This is an important acclimatisation day at Horombo.
We will take you on a hike towards Mawenzi which is a 3-hour hike up and about 1.5 hours back to Horombo Hut. We highly recommend this as it will assist with acclimatisation and success towards the summit.

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 (3720 meters) to Kibo Hut (4700 meters)

Early in the morning after breakfast at Horombo Hut, you will begin a 1,000-meter ascent to Kibo Hut which covers a distance of approximately 10km.

Make sure to fill up your water reserves here as you will not find another watering point until you get back to Horombo Hut from the summit. It is also possible to buy bottled mineral water at Kibo Hut.

At Kibo Hut, you will be served an early dinner and should try to get to bed before 7:00 pm as you will be awoken around 11:30 pm to start your 1,150-meter ascent to Uhuru Peak. Make sure that you have all your gear ready for a prompt departure, including insulated water, snacks, your headlamp and a camera.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Kibo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

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

Kibo Hut (4700 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5895 meters) and Then Horombo Hut (3720 meters)

This day begins with summit night. After being awoken, you will be served some hot tea and biscuits and then begin your summit ascent.

This route follows a rocky path to the first checkpoint, Hans Meyer Cave at 5,150 meters. Then continue to zigzag for a good 2-3 hours until you get to Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters) on Kibo’s crater rim. You will most likely be very tired at this point.

Take some time to rest and refuel with a snack. The final push is tough and requires mental stamina. Focus on moving slowly and deliberately for the final 200-meter ascent.

Main Destination:

Uhuru Peak (Mt Kilimanjaro)

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

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

Horombo Hut (3720 meters) to Marangu Gate (1870 meters)

The last day is from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate which is nearly 20km but usually only takes 7 hours to complete. You will be exhausted at this stage and spend most of the hike imagining the hot shower you will be having that evening.

At Marangu Gate, you will be presented with your certificate.

It is customary to present your trekking team with their hard-earned tips at this point. You will then be driven back to your hotel or to your next destination where celebrations can begin!

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

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.