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Home » Itineraries » Kilimanjaro Trek: Marangu Route

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

Duration

Availability

Year round

Tour Highlights

Intermediate Difficulty Hike

Price

Starting from USD 2,098 per person sharing

Duration

5 Days

Day 1

Elevation (ft): 6,046 to 8,858
Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitation: Rainforest

Arusha – Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut

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

Elevation (ft): 8,858 to 12,205
Distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitation: Forest and Moorland

Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut

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

Elevation (ft): 12,205 to 15,430
Distance: 10km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitation: Alpine Desert

Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut

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

Elevation (ft): 15,430 to 19,341 to 12,205
Distance: 22km
Hiking Time: 10-13 hours
Habitation: Arctic

Kibo Hut – Summit – Horombo Hut

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

Elevation (ft): 12,205 to 6,046
Distance: 20 km
Hiking time: 5-7 hours
Habitation: Rainforest

Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate

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