7 days Kilimanjaro Hike Marangu Route

Hiking time: 5hrs •Distance: Approximately 8.1 km • Habitat: Montane Forest

The drive from Moshi to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Marangu, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Once you reach the park gate, all hikers are requested to sign in at the Park’s office and make their final preparations for the climb. Porters will be seen arranging and loading their packs, containing the food, water, cooking gas as well as most of your equipment.

From the park gate, we ascend on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest where you will see most of Kilimanjaro’s animals. An alternative and more scenic parallel forest trail branches off to the left a few minutes after the gate. This trail follows the edge of a stream through the undergrowth and offers you the option to rejoin the main trail either after 1 ½ hours hiking, or 1 hour before Mandara hut where you will spend the night.

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.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mandara hut

Hiking time: 6hours •Distance: Approximately 11.6 km •Habitat: Moorland

From Mandara hut, the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, skirts the base of the Maundi Crater, and then emerges into a transition from rainforest to moorland. It is well worth a short detour to scramble up the rim of the Maundi Crater for your first impressive view of the Kibo Crater. On a clear day, Kibo will glimmer in the distance, with sightings of 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 3m in height, and the giant groundsel (Seneca Kilimanjaro), which can reach heights of 5m. After about 6-hour trek from here, you reach the Horombo hut for your accommodation.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Horombo Hut

Horombo hut is a village of huts perched on a small plateau, with buildings similar to Mandara with a capacity of 120 climbers. Horombo is normally bustling with hikers, guides, and porters, with an atmosphere of adventure and excitement. You will meet both ascending and descending hikers here. This extra day and night at Horombo is for additional acclimatization. A hike towards the Mawenzi hut, passing the Zebra Rocks on the way (about 3 hours up and 1 ½ hours down) is strongly recommended.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Horombo Hut

Hiking time: 6hours •Distance: Approximately 9.6 km •Habitat: Alpine desert

After breakfast, we continue our ascent into the Alpine desert habitat. 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 (right-hand fork) and a lower route (left-hand fork) to choose from. The upper route should be very familiar, as you will have climbed most of it the previous day towards Mawenzi hut. This section is very stony and eroded.

The recommended lower route (left-hand fork) is much easier and nearly an hour shorter and it also passes the last watering point at 4130m.

Situated in the barren Alpine desert is Kibo hut, a stone-built block house that 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. There are platform toilets behind the hut.

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. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing, it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kibo Hut

Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak | 6 to 8 hours to descend to Horombo

Distance: Approximately 5.4km ascent and 15 km descent •Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

You will rise around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night, and this is where the going gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m) and also offers 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 great physical and mental effort. This is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. Do the Kili shuffle and move slowly.

From Gillmans Point, you will normally encounter snow up to Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you can spend, taking photographs, before the 3-hour descent back to Kibo hut. After a short rest, you gather all the gear you left behind for the ascent and head down to Horombo hut (3 hours) for your overnight. The return to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is around 14 hours, so be prepared for a very tough day. Later in the evening, you will have your last dinner on the mountain and have your well-earned sleep.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Horombo Hut

Hiking time: 6 hours •Distance: Approximately 19.7 km

After breakfast, you continue your descent (6 hours), passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu Gate. At Marangu Gate, you will receive your summit certificates. Those climbers who reach Gillman’s Point (5685m) will be issued green certificates and those who reach Uhuru Peak (5895m), to receive gold certificates. You now drive back to Moshi/ Arusha for a long overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebration.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Keys Hotel Moshi