Marangu Route

Kilimanjaro trekking Marangu Route 5 days itinerary is fairly easy despite of its difficult at the final part to the summit. Termed easier route, the route has encounter a highest failure rate due to bad preparation and untimely attempt. The above situations have moved KINAPA officials to put more emphasis and serious measures for those who climbing Mt Kilimanjaro on Marangu Route. All camps along this route have a good radio communication to the park office. Some goods like mineral water, soft drinks, beer and chocolates are available in these camps.

Marangu Route can be trekked in 5 days however, one additional day is advisable for acclimatization at Horombo  camp. Marangu is the only route on this Mountain that offers hut accommodation in beds and mattresses. The route can also be trekked in 6 days & more. Taking 6 days that means 1 day will be for acclimatization at Horombo hut which covers almost 96 km long. Short Tanzania safari or beach holidays in Zanzibar can be combined with your Kilimanjaro trekking on request.

Kilimanjaro Trekking Tours

Climbing Kilimanjaro Marangu Route 5 Days

Our affordable Kilimanjaro climbing Marangu Route 5 days starts when we meet you at your entry point Kilimanjaro/Arusha airport and transfer you to Planet lodge in Arusha or similar hotel in Moshi. Afterward our manager & your guide for Kilimanjaro climbing will come for briefing and gear check up then leave you to relax and get prepared for your climbing on the following day.

Kilimanjaro trekking Marangu Route 5 days  Itinerary

Duration: 5 Days / 4 nights

Best Time to Climb: All year around

Day 1: Arrival Day

Meet and transfer from point of arrival Kilimanjaro/Arusha airport to the Planet Lodge in Arusha or similar in Moshi. Briefing and gear checking before dinner & overnight.

Overnight at Planet Lodge in Arusha. Breakfast included.

Day 2: Arusha (1400 m) – Marangu gate at (1,980 m) – Mandara Hut (2,700 m)

Walking approx. 12 km in 5 hours over montane forest and low alpine zone (moorland).

After breakfast at your lodge in Arusha, we will pick you up and drive to Marangu gate via Moshi town & along villages, local farms of cassava, potatoes, maize, coffee & banana plantation. On arrival at the gate you will sign in at the park office and your guide will work on other park formalities. The actual number of porters who will accompany you will depend on things to be carried and each porter normally carry not more than 20 kg, you will carry your lunch box, drinking water, clothes and other personal stuff. Porters are hiking first so once they carry any of your things you will meet them at the camp.

Today, your Mount Kilimanjaro climbing Marangu Route 5 days starts by hiking up to Mandara hut at (2,700 m) your hiking will be through beautiful landscape of the mountain forest, little streams and water falls Kisamboni picnic area the place for lunch can be reached after 1.5 hour of walking from the park gate. From Kisamboni you will possibly need 1.5 hour to reach Mandara hut (2,700 m). Vegetation type at this campsite is of low alpine zone and moorland, accompanied with shrub and trees with lots of lichens.

Mandara area is located in a clear forest with wooden A-shaped framed huts and here is where you will spend your first night in Kilimanjaro Mountain. Mandara huts can accommodate 60 people sleeping in bunks; each hut has 6-8 sleeping bunks. Water around this area is from the spring and can be used for drinking, cooking and flushing toilets.

You can have a short walk to the Maundi crater where you can enjoy a good weather and possibly see Mawenzi peak. Blue Monkeys, black and white colobus Monkeys can be spotted around this place.

Each day when arriving at the huts you will have tea/coffee & some bites then hot water to wash before changing clothes you have been hiking with. On mountain we say: stay warm all the time. Dinner will be served before going to bed.

Overnight at Mandara Hut (2,700 m). All meals included.

Day 3: Mandara Hut (2,700 m) – Horombo Hut (3,720 m)

Walking approx. 15 km. hiking hours 6 (moorland zone).

After light breakfast, your second hiking day on Kilimanjaro Marangu Route starts, this day you will hike along the last patches of the forest past the other side of Maundi crater and soon you will reach the moorland vegetation zone.

This area is dominated by heather, Lobelia Deckenii and lovely Dendrosenecio kilimanjari. With a good weather condition you can have a great view of both Kibo and Mawenzi. Reach Horombo huts and if you wish you can bath with hot water before dinner and sleep in a luxurious bed.

Horombo huts have a capacity of 120 people all sleeping in beds and it is small village and the only huts at Kilimanjaro with beds. At this camp nights tends to be very cold please be prepared. Arriving at the camp same procedures will follow just as much as the previous day.

Overnight at Horombo Hut (3,720 m). All meals included.

Day 4: Horombo Hut (3,720 m) – Kibo Hut (4,700 m)

Walking approx. 15 km. in 6 hours (Alpine desert).

Your Hiking day will start after breakfast. Saddle the area in-between Mawenzi and Kibo can be reached in two different routes, through the upper route which is eroded and stormy or by taking the lower route which is easier and most recommended where you can pass near the water point at (4,200 m) which is the last in this route.

Fill your bottles with enough drinking water as this will be the last water point before reaching Horombo huts again, otherwise you can buy mineral water or soft drinks at Kibo huts. If you wish you can take a short break at this last waterpoint and perhaps sit at the picnic site for lunch.

You will reach Kibo huts at (4,700 m) after 2 walking hours. Kibo hut is at the barren alpine desert with only grasses and everlasting flowers. Kibo huts are built with stone blocks and have 60 bunk beds and platform toilets. Arriving at the camp same procedures will follow as previous day.

Overnight at Kibo Hut (4,700 m). All meals included.

Day 5: Summit attempt: Kibo Hut (4,700 m) – Uhuru peak (5,895 m) & back to Horombo Hut (3,720 m)

Walking approx. 6 km ascent and 21 km descent for in 8 hrs on rocky, ice-capped summit.

The final part of your Mount Kilimanjaro climbing Marangu Route 5 days will be at night. After dinner you guide will give you a detailed briefing on how it will be, so you will prepare all needed equipment before going to sleep as the trekking will start around mid-night time will depend on your pace. Things to be prepared for this attempt are thermal clothing, ski-stick, and thermal flask for water, hand warmers, batteries and headlamp among others. (We will brief you here in Arusha & go through your gears).

Depending on your pace you can possibly wake up at 23:00 or 23:30 and have some tea and biscuits before starting. You will face a challenging part of your Mount Kilimanjaro climbing at the beginning which is rough and rocky path.

On the way you will pass Williams Point at (5,000 m), Hans Meyer Cave at (5,150 m) and Gillman’s point at (5,681 m) positioned on the crater rim. To reach Hans Meyer Cave from Kibo hut you will spend almost two and a half hours. Gilman’s point is placed just a short distance from Hans Meyer Cave, it is about an hour to get there.

From Gilman’s point you will possibly need not less than 1 hour and a half to reach the summit. The rest of your climbing all the way up to Uhuru Peak will be covered with snow and the walking will be along the crater rim. Stella point at (5,752 m) will be passed on the way and this is the point where other Kilimanjaro routes reach the rim.

Marangu Route 5 days tours continue and at this point you are about to reach the summit but it can be of a great challenge. Woow! You have reach the Uhuru Peak the highest point in Africa, Kilimanjaro Mountain, (Congratulation!)

Spend some minutes at the summit taking pictures but not much longer at this altitude before starting your way down and back to Kibo hut at (4,700 m) where lunch will be served, proceed further down to Horombo hut at (3,720 m), you will need almost 3 hours. Reaching the Camp same procedures will follow washing, coffee/tea etc.  Dinner will be served there and you will spend a night at the luxurious beds.

Overnight at Horombo Hut (3,720 m). All meals included.

Day 6: Horombo Hut (3,720 M) – Marangu gate  (1,980 m) – Arusha

Walking approx. 27 km for 6 hrs across low alpine zone, moorland and montane forest.

Breakfast at Horombo hut before starting your last day downwards from Kilimanjaro.

Have lunch and some rest at Mandara hut (2,700) on your way down, hopeful the path is familiar as you have passed here on your first day.

Reaching Marangu gate, you will provide some details to the register and you will be given a summit certificate, if reached Gilmann’s Point you will have a green certificate & for Uhuru Peak the actual summit is a gold certificate. Tips for porters and guides are recommended & this can be done at Horombo gate in the morning when celebrating before descending to Marangu hut.

Meet your driver at the gate who will transfer you back to Arusha/Moshi for overnight or drop off to the airport (Accommodation in Arusha/Moshi can be arranged upon request at extra cost).

Breakfast & lunch included.

Congratulation you are among the heroes who have successfully Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route in 5 days.

Mount Kilimanjaro climbing Marangu Route 5 days can be extended to more days on Kilimanjaro and can as well combined with our short Tanzania safari package or Zanzibar beach vacation or both. Let us know your wishes. Karibu Sana!

Return transfer to & from the Mountain

5 Overnight stays in mountain Huts

Professional & well experienced Mountain guides chef & porters

All Park fees

Rescue fees

All meals while on the Mountain

Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees

Quality Mess tents with table and chairs

Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food

Clean, purified drinking water

Crisis management and safety procedures

Fair and ethical treatment of porters

Arrival transfer

Accommodation in Arusha

Flight tickets

Tanzania Visa

Sleeping bag, please bring your own sleeping bag or can be rent in Arusha at reasonable price

Gratuity for Kilimanjaro climbing Crew (please tip separately)

Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages  etc)

Meals not listed above

Travel insurance if applicable