Tanzania · Private · Comfort

Kilimanjaro: 6-Day Marangu Route

The only route with huts all the way, and an extra day at Horombo to let your body adjust before the summit.

5 nights: 6 days

A six-day Kilimanjaro climb on the Marangu route, sleeping in shared mountain huts, with an acclimatisation day at Horombo.

The journey at a glance

Day 01

Marangu Gate (1,860 m) to Mandara Hut (2,715 m)

Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 02

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut (3,705 m)

Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 03

Acclimatisation day at Horombo

Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 04

Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut (4,730 m)

Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 05

Summit day: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak and down to Horombo

Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 06

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

Mount Kilimanjaro

Day by day

Day 01 · Mount Kilimanjaro

Marangu Gate (1,860 m) to Mandara Hut (2,715 m)

About 50 minutes by road from Moshi through Marangu village to the park gate. Sign in while the porters load food, water and gas; keep your daypack with water, lunch and a warm layer. A few minutes past the gate a quieter forest trail follows a stream and rejoins the main path later. Mandara is a group of wooden A-frame huts in a forest clearing, six to eight bunks each, with solar lighting, piped spring water and flush toilets. Dinner is served in the dining hall.

Good to know: About 5 hours · about 8.1 km · montane forest.

Day 02 · Mount Kilimanjaro

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut (3,705 m)

A short stretch of forest, then out into moorland. It is worth a short detour to the rim of Maundi Crater for your first full view of Kibo. In the moorland look for the giant lobelia, which grows up to 3 metres tall.

Good to know: About 6 hours · about 11.6 km · moorland.

Day 03 · Mount Kilimanjaro

Acclimatisation day at Horombo

Horombo is a busy village of huts on a small plateau, with climbers going up and coming down. Spend the day walking towards Mawenzi Hut (4,310 m) past the Zebra Rocks, about three hours up and one and a half down, then rest. Drink plenty, move slowly and go to bed early.

Good to know: About 4½ hours · about 7 km up and 7 km down · alpine desert.

Day 04 · Mount Kilimanjaro

Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut (4,730 m)

Into the alpine desert of the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. Take the lower trail: it is easier, nearly an hour shorter and passes the last water point at 4,130 m, where you fill your bottles for the next two days. Kibo Hut is a stone block house with bunks and no water nearby. The summit is 1,195 metres above you and you leave tonight, so prepare your kit and warm layers, fit fresh batteries and be in bed by about 19:00.

Good to know: About 6 hours · about 9.6 km · alpine desert.

Day 05 · Mount Kilimanjaro

Summit day: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak and down to Horombo

Up at about 23:20 for tea and biscuits, then a rocky path to Hans Meyer Cave (5,150 m) and steep zigzags through scree to Gillman's Point (5,681 m) on the crater rim, the hardest part of the route. From Gillman's Point the path to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa, is usually snow. About three hours back to Kibo Hut, a short rest, then three more down to Horombo. Around 14 hours of walking in all.

Good to know: 7 to 8 hours up, 6 to 8 hours down · about 5.4 km up and 15 km down · scree and ice.

Day 06 · Mount Kilimanjaro

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

Down past Mandara Hut to the gate. Please wait to give tips to the crew until you and all your gear are safely at the gate. Sign out and collect your certificate: green for Gillman's Point, gold for Uhuru Peak. Then back to Moshi for a hot shower.

Good to know: About 6 hours · about 19.7 km.

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