6 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro Climbing: Marangu Route

Drive from your hotel in Moshi passing the Marangu villages to the gate in about 50 minutes. Meet your rest of hiking team [porters], Check in the park gate and start trekking for about 8 km in 4 – 5 hours to Mandara Hut.

Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Altitude gain from Moshi town; 1,750m.

From Mandara Hut, the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, skirts the base of Maundi Crater. On a clear day, Kibo peak will glimmer in the distance. Continue with the trekking in the open moorland reaching Horombo Hut.

Hiking distance; 15 km in 6 hours.
Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Altitude gain; 990m.

Horombo hut is a village of huts pierced on a small plateau with approx 120 beds. A short hike towards the Mawenzi peak in about 3 hours up and 1½ hours down, is strongly recommended to for acclimatization.
Lunch, dinner and overnight at the camp

After breakfast, start trekking into the alpine desert habitat. Kibo hut is situated in the barren, a stone build blockhouse which has bunk beds. Once at the camp, prepare yourself ahead of the summit the same night.

Hiking distance ;9.6 km in 6 hours.
Altitude gain; 1,025m.

Wake up at around 2300 hours and have a simple breakfast and start trekking towards the summit. This is the most mentally and physical challenging part of the hike. The first portion of the trail is rocky to the Hans Meyer caves at 5,150 m. The path zig zags up to Gillman’s point at the crater rim [5,681m]. Continue on the Snowy path leading to Uhuru peak at 5,895 m. Once at the summit, you are now on the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro and highest point in African continent. Spend a short time taking some photos and start descending down to Kibo Hut for lunch and some rest. Afterwards continue down to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight.

Hiking ascent distance; 5.4 km in 7-8 hours.
Hiking descent distance; 15 km in 6- 8 hours.
Altitude gain; 1,165m, altitude drop; 2,190m.

After having breakfast and a little celebration, start descending down passing Mandara Hut for 19.7 km in about 6 hours to the gate. At the gate, you’ll be given certificates of achievement. Board a vehicle on your onward destination or hotel in Moshi.

Altitude drop; 2,755m.

END OF THE TRIP.