5-Day Trekking Kilimanjaro via 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

You will be picked up from your hotel by our driver as well as our guide who will give you a briefing of your journey up Kilimanjaro before the driver takes you all the way to the Marangu gate.
Once you reach the park gate, all hikers are requested to sign in at the park office and make their final preparations for the climb. You then leave the park gate and ascend on a cleared ridge trail through the rain forest. The forest, suffused with mist and dripping with beards of moss, is also where most of Kilimanjaro’s animals are found.
Your first night stop, Mandara hut, consists of a group of wooden A-framed huts in a forest clearing. Each hut features 6–8 sleeping bunks with solar generated lighting. The total capacity of the camp is 60 climbers. Water is piped into the camp from springs above and there are flush toilets behind the main hut.
Elevation: 1860m - 2715m
Distance: 7km
Hours: 4-5 hours
Habitat: montane forest.

Main Destination:

Foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Mandara Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

From Mandara hut, the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, skirts the base of the Maundi Crater and then emerges into the transition from rain forest to moorland. It is well worth a short detour to scramble up the rim of the Maundi Crater for the first really impressive view of the Kibo Crater. On a clear day, Kibo will glimmer in the distance, showing off her majestic glaciers in the morning sun.
Once you are in the open moorland, you will get the chance to see some of Kilimanjaro’s most spectacular plants – the endemic giant lobelia which grows up to 3 m in height and the giant groundsel (Senecia Kilimanjari), which can reach heights of 5m.
Elevation: 2715m - 3705m
Distance: 11km
Hours: 6 - 7 hours
Habitat: moorland.

Main Destination:

Foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

From Horombo there are two trails to the “Saddle”, which refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. There is an upper route and lower route to choose from. The upper route is very stony and eroded.
Situated in the barren Alpine desert is Kibo hut, a stone build block house which has bunk beds for 60 climbers but no streams with water nearby. It is however possible to buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp office.
The summit is now a further 1195m up and you will make your final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski-stick and thermal clothing for your summit bid.
To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed early and try to get as much rest and sleep as possible.
Elevation: 3705m - 4730m
Distance: 9.6km
Hours: 5 - 6 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert.

Main Destination:

Mt Kilimanjaro Summit

Accommodation:

Kibo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

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Meals & Drinks:

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

Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut

This is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5 681m), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone scree, requiring a great physical and mental effort. This is probably the most demanding section of the entire route.
From Gillman's Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa.
Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend taking photographs, before the 3-hour descent back to Kibo hut. The return to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent.
Elevation: 4703m - 5895m - 3705m
Distance: 5.4km Ascending - 15km Descending
Hours: total of 10-13 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert-Summit-Moorland.

Main Destination:

Mt Kilimanjaro Summit

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

After breakfast, you continue your descent (6-hours), passing the Mandara hut and down to the Marangu gate.
At Marangu gate, you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m), receive gold certificates.
After you receive your certificates you will be driven back to your hotels.
Elevation: 3705m-1860m
Distance: 10km
Hours: 6-7 hours
Habitat: Montane forest.

Main Destination:

Foothills of 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.