Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking – 6 Days Marangu Route

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Moshi - Marangu Gate (1,800m/5,905ft) to Mandara Hut (2,743m/9,000ft)⌄

   Elevation Gain: 915 meters, 3,000 feet Leave Moshi at 8 am for Marangu Gate. After completing gate registration, begin your Kilimanjaro trek. Walk along a narrow trail through the rainforest of Kilimanjaro for most of the hike. Eat a picnic lunch at Kisambioni, day one’s halfway point. After lunch continues walking through the rainforest until reaching Mandara Hut. Relax for the rest of the day or take a short walk to Maundi Crater. The views to the east over Taveta and to the northwest to Mawenzi Peak are stunning on a clear day, making the short hike well worth the effort. The A-frame Mandara Huts can accommodate up to seventy people and consist of several sleeping huts and a dining area. All of Marangu’s huts have beds with mattresses.

   Meals: Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Mandara Hut

2. 2Mandara Hut (2,743m/9,000ft) to Horombo Hut (3,720m/12,200ft)⌄

   Elevation Gain: 977 meters, 3,200 feet After breakfast, leave Mandara Hut and Kilimanjaro’s forests for Horombo Hut. Most of the day’s hike will be through Kilimanjaro’s moorland, a rocky landscape with desert-like plants. Eat a picnic lunch at KambiyaTaabu before continuing to Horombo Hut. If the weather is clear, enjoy beautiful views of Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Arrive at Horombo Hut at around 3 pm and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing. Although extremely busy, the Horombo Huts are considered to be the nicest on Kilimanjaro. The small, A-frame buildings can accommodate up to eight people each and provide lodging for hikers ascending, descending, and acclimatizing. Horombo can accommodate up to one hundred hikers and many more porters, cooks, and guides.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Horombo Hut

3. 3Acclimatization trek to Zebra Rocks (4020m) then back to Horombo Hut (3700m)⌄

   Today serves as an acclimatization day. This should not be underestimated and greatly improves your chance of success in reaching the summit. After a relaxing breakfast, a 4 hour trek follows to the Zebra Rocks (4020m). The distinctive black and white stripes give the rock formation its name. On your return to Horombo Hut, a warm lunch will be waiting for you. You can relax in the afternoon and regain your strength for the hike the following day.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Horombo Hut

4. 4Horombo Hut (3700m) to Kibo Hut (4700m)⌄

   Today’s stage is long and tough. The well-built trail passes the “Last Water point” which is followed by the so-called “saddle”. This nearly vegetation less plateau joins the main summit Kibo with Mawenzi. Today’s destination is the Kibo Hut that is usually reached in about 5 – 6 hours. Here, you will enjoy an early evening meal followed by an early night, as the night will be short.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Kibo Hut

5. 5Kibo Hut (4700m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Horombo Hut (3700m)⌄

   Today is “The Big Day” – the summit stage. You will begin your final ascent around midnight which will be long and strenuous. Passing the Hans Meyer Cave at 5220m, the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gillman’s Point (5681m) – the crater rim of Kilimanjaro – where the sun will slowly start to warm up the land. You will have soon forgotten the cold of the night and after a further hike of 1 – 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5895m. On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits you followed by a 1 – 2 hour break before proceeding back down to Horombo Hut.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: Horombo Hut

6. 6Horombo Hut (3700m) to Marangu Gate (1860m)⌄

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

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch