Kilimanjaro 6-day Marangu route

You will be picked up from the Airport (JRO) and transferred to your hotel in Moshi, where you will meet your mountain guide and office representative for meet & greetings followed by your pre trek briefing and kit check. This day, our team will be answering any question about your upcoming adventure to make sure everyone is ready to go!

After breakfast at your hotel, we transfer to Marangu gate where we register and complete the National Park formalities. It will take an hour of drive from Moshi and 2hr 30 min from Arusha to get to Marangu gate. We then start trekking; steadily ascending through stunning dense rainforest which can be quite muddy and wet underfoot, but it’s a magnificent way to start our challenge! Night Camp: Mandara Huts (2,720m/ 8,924 ft).

Altitude Change: ↑835 m/ 2,740 ft
Trekking Distance/ Time:7 km/ 4.4 miles (4-5 hr)

After breakfast at the Mandara, we proceed with our ascent to our next destination via lighter ‘monkey’ forest. Maundi Crater (at 2,775 m) is located just after 20 minutes of walk from Mandara Huts and one can opt to pay it a visit by walking another 15 minutes away. We will have our lunch at around 3,500 m/ 11,500 ft elevation. On a clear day, we will enjoy an amazing view of Mawenzi peak (5,149 m/ 16,893 ft) and some villages in the lower plains of Kenya (Taveta). We proceed on a stony trail to the final bridge which crosses over a wide stream and swampy meadow of the Horombo Plateau where we will be spending the night.  Night Camp: Horombo Huts (3,720m/ 12,205 ft).

Altitude Change: ↑1,000m/ 3,280 ft
Trekking Distance/ Time: 11 km/ 6.8 miles (5-6 hrs)

Our day will be spent on the moorland and alpine desert by hiking from Horombo Huts uphill to the black cliff formations standing about 20 meters high, namely Zebra Rocks (3,980 m/ 13,058 ft). It is a good idea to trek further up to about 4,200 m/ 13,780 ft elevation where we will have once in-a-life time view of Kibo peak and the entire route of the next day! The descent is is quick and would take about an hour, so that we can be back at the Camp for hot lunch. The rest of the day can be spent either catching some sleep or playing some games to pass time … J Night Camp: Horombo Huts (3,720m/ 12,205 ft).

Altitude Change:↑↓480 m/ 1,574 ft
Trekking Distance/ Time: 5-7 km/ 3-4 miles (4-5 hr)

We leave early at 7:30 am towards Kibo Huts with the unique view of the summit. At around 4,000 m the trail passes the final water source where porters fill up their containers last time. We will be keeping our pace to a slow rhythm as we need to conserve as much energy as we can for the summit attempt later this evening. We reach our Base Camp at 2 pm for a good rest followed by an early dinner (at 5 pm) before getting our heads down, as we will be woken at 11 pm for our summit attempt! Night Camp: Kibo Huts (4,703 m/ 15,430 ft)

Altitude Change:↑983 m/ 3,225 ft
Trekking Distance/ Time:12 km/ 7.5 miles (5-6 hr)

We leave the Camp at 11:30 pm or a bit early after having a little snack/ porridge or soup/ tea or coffee – most of our mountain gears stays at Kibo Huts till our return late in the morning. We shouldn’t forget head torch, our filled up water bottles & few snacks. You will be accompanied by Guides, Assistant Guide and some dedicated summit crew and the rest of the porters will remain at the Camp. The next 5 hours are spent trekking to Stella Point (5,750m) over scree and rock, where we will be rewarded with magnificent and spectacular views of the ice cliffs which surround us, and the majestic views to the Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks – trekking just does not get any better than this! We now make regular rest stops every 15 minutes or so, to aid our chances of reaching to the Peak at 5,895 m/ 19,341 ft. We push on to the summit with an amazing sun rise and aim to reach the top by about 6:30 or 7 am. We start our long descent via Gilman’s Point and back to Kibo Huts, where we will enjoy some lunch and a good rest. Our descent then continues down to Horombo Huts (4,703 m/ 15,430 ft) – today is a very long, emotional day, but at the same time, so memorable and exhilarating. Night Camp: Horombo Huts (3,720m/ 12,205 ft).

Altitude Change:↓↑↓1,192 m/ 3,910 ft & Then , ↓ 2,175 m/ 7,136 ft
Trekking Distance/ Time: 21 km/ 13 miles (12-14 hr)

Our final descent start with a nice breakfast followed by tipping ceremony; then we continue trekking for about 6 hours to make the 1,880 meters descent back to Marangu gate. Lunch will be served either at Mandara Huts or at Marangu gate. We take the vehicle transfer back to our Lodge in Moshi for a well-deserved hot shower or cool soak in the pool! This evening, we meet as a group to contemplate our achievements with a Great Dinner at your Lodge.

Altitude Change:↓1,880m/ 6,168 ft
Trekking Distance/ Time: 18 km/ 11 miles (5-6 hr)

After breakfast there may be some free time to relax at the lodge or go shopping in Moshi and then leave your hotel in Moshi for your transfer to the airport to catch your departure flight

Safari and Zanzibar add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.