Kilimanjaro Trekking Marangu Route 6 Days

DAY 1: ARUSHA TO MANDARA HUT

• Elevation (ft): 6,046 ft to 8,858 ft
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

Drive from your Hotel in Arusha town at 8:00am, drive to Marangu gate and spend around two hours for registration, payments of fees and final parking. Start climbing through dense semi-tropical to the first hut- Mandara hut (9,000ft). Dinner and an overnight at Mandara hut.

DAY 2: MANDARA HUT TO HOROMBO HUT

• Elevation (ft): 8,858 ft to 12,205 ft
• Distance: 12 km
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Heath

Early morning breakfast and later ascend through the alpine meadow and grassland and moorland to Horombo hut (12,000ft). Both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks can be viewed easily on the way. Dinner and an overnight at Horombo Hut.

DAY 3: HOROMBO HUT TO MAWENZI RIDGE

• Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 14,400 ft
• Distance: 5 km
• Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
• Habitat: Heath

Mawenzi Ridge to Horombo Hut

• Elevation (ft): 14,400 ft to 12,205
• Distance: 5 km
• Hiking Time: 1-2 hours
• Habitat: Heath

This is an extra day meant for acclimatization and can be spent the day hiking on Mawenzi Ridge. The unique landscape offers motivating views of Kibo and Mawenzi. After spending a few moments exploring the area we head back to Horombo Hut.

DAY 4: HOROMBO HUT TO KIBO HUT

• Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 15,430 ft
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Have breakfast and further ascend to Kibo hut (15,000ft). The landscape becomes very stony and eroded. Spectacular mountain vegetation like giant cactus, groundswell, and lobelia appear on the way. Dinner and an overnight at Kibo hut.

DAY 5: KIBO HUT TO UHURU PEAK

• Elevation (ft): 15,430 ft to 19,341 ft
• Distance: 6 km
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut

• Elevation (ft): 19,341 ft to 12,250 ft
• Distance: 16 km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Heath

Wake up at midnight, and after a snack, proceed to the summit through Gilman’s point (18,640ft). It is about 5-6 hours and 1-2 hours from Kibo hut to Gilman’s point and from Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak (19,340ft) respectively. You will reach the Mountain peak on the morning of the 5th day and start descending after picture taking on the top to Horombo hut for dinner and an overnight after a short break at Kibo hut.

DAY 6: HOROMBO HUT TO MARANGU GATE TO ARUSHA

• Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 6,046 ft
• Distance: 20 km
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

After breakfast, descend from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate. The waiting car will take you to Arusha.