7 Days Marangu Route

You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and driven to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. Once signed in at the park and final preparations are complete, we start ascending on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest. Our first night is at Mandara Hut camp set in a forest clearing. This camp consists of a group of wooden A-framed huts and flush toilets behind the main hut.

Overview

• Distance: 7km
• Hiking Time: 3 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

In the morning we leave camp and trek through a short stretch of the forest through to moorland, circumventing the base of the Maundi Crater. In the afternoon we will reach the Horombo Hut where will we stay overnight.

Highlights:

• Distance: 12km
• Hiking Time: 6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

A day here provides an opportunity for you to acclimatize gradually to the altitude. There are a few walks you can make in the vicinity of the hut – the most popular of which is to the base of Mawenzi Peak, the dramatic eastern summit of Kili. This walk takes four to five hours (round trip), and will get you to an altitude of 4048m before you return to the hut – this will stand you in good stead later on. Overnight stay at Horombo Hut (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

Today we continue our ascent into the Alpine desert zone to Kibo Hut. This afternoon we will have an early dinner, prepare your personal gear for the summit and then get some sleep. Our summit trek starts around midnight.

Highlights:

• Distance: 10km
• Hiking Time: 5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

Stone screed and ice-capped summit and Moorland

You will be woken around 23:30pm, and after a hot breakfast, we will start our final summit. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to Hans Meyer point (5250m). The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5681m) on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of scree. From Gillman’s Point, we could encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. After taking photos at the summit we start the 3 hours descent back to Kibo Hut. After a short rest, we pack up all your personal gear and trek down to Horombo Hut (3 hours). Tonight is our last night on the mountain.

Overview

• Distance: 21km
• Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
• Habitat
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

This morning we make our final descent down to Marangu Gate where we started. You will be taken for lunch and here you will receive your summit certificate to commemorate your great achievement. We will then drive you back to your hotel where we will say our farewell.

Overview

• Distance: 18km
• Hiking Time: 6 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

Today is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight back home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town before heading to the airport. In add-ons,  you can combine your trek with wildlife safaris or a beach vacation in Zanzibar at additional costs.

Meals: Breakfast Included.