Detailed Itinerary Marangu – 5 days Marangu Route

Day 0: Arrival

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met with our ground handling team and after greetings and introduction you will be transferred to your delightful accommodation in Arusha/Moshi for evening rest and overnight.

Day 1: Transfer to Marangu gate + Trek from Marangu gate to Mandara huts

Wake up early and after breakfast and briefings board a transfer car to the start point of your hike which will take us around 4hrs.    After completing the entrance formalities at the National Park gate (1,830 m.) we climb up through attractive and unspoilt forest to reach the clearing containing (2,700 m.). The volcanic remains of Maundi Crater are nearby, and make a good afternoon excursion. An alternative is to simply rest and enjoy the beautiful forest around you. Camp at Mandara Hut [3-5 hours walking]  

Day 2: Mandara huts to Horombo huts  

The first part of the walk is a steep ascent through forest, but the path soon opens out into grassy moorland and, in clear weather, there are good views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. We climb steadily through the moorland zone, containing giant heather and occasional stands of groundsel, to eventually reach the hut complex at Horombo (3,720 m.). Sunrises and sunsets here are often very spectacular, the site is close to the glaciated dome of Kibo, and there is a real sense of being above the clouds. [4-6 hours walking]   

Day 3: Horombo huts to Kibo huts          

We climb very gradually towards the lunar desert of the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. The terrain changes to scree and there is a palpable sense of high altitude wilderness. We usually reach Kibo Hut (4,700 m.) at the bottom of the crater wall by midday and the afternoon is free (to contemplate the summit ascent!!). The remainder of the day is spent resting and eating in preparation for the final climb before a very early night! [4-6 hours]                   

Day 4: Uhuru peak summit + Descend to Horombo huts

We will start our ascent by torchlight at about 1 a.m. so that we can be up at Gillman’s Point by sunrise. The initial climb is steep over loose volcanic scree, but there are some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will have us up to Gillman’s (5,685 m.) in about five or six hours. We will rest there and spend some time taking in the sunrise. Those who are still feeling strong can make the 3-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m.), passing close to the spectacular glaciers that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent is surprisingly fast and we return to Horombo Hut for the night. [11-15 hours walking]

Day 5: Descend from Horombo huts to Marangu gate + Transfer back to hotel    

A steady descent takes us down through moorland to Mandara Hut (2,700m), the first stopping place at the Marangu route. We then continue descending through lovely lush forest on a good path to the National Park gate at Marangu (1,830 m). [5-6 hours walking]. A car will be waiting for us at the gate ready to transfer us to our hotel.