Marangu Route
DURATION
5-8 days (avg. 5)
MAXIMUM HIKERS
15
TREK OVERVIEW
Day 1 — Marangu Gate (1,870 meters) to Mandara Hut (2,700 meters)
Day 2 — Mandara Hut (2,700 meters) to Horombo Hut (3,720 meters)
Day 3 — Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) to Kibo Hut (4,700 meters)
Day 4 — Kibo Hut (4,700 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) and then Horombo Hut (3,720 meters)
Day 5 — Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) to Marangu Gate (1,870 meters)
ITINERARY
Marangu Gate (1,870 Meters) → Mandara Hut (2,700 Meters)
The Marangu Route begins at Marangu Gate (1,870 meters) on the South-East side of Mount Kilimanjaro. At the gate you will meet your trekking team, register with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities and witness porters assembling and weighing packs of gear that they will be carrying up the mountain. Day one is a gradual trek through the Kilimanjaro rainforest and takes 5-7 hours to complete. Your first night is spent in the Mandara A-frame Huts (2,700 meters) which come equipped with solar generated lighting, flush toilets and water piped in from a nearby mountain stream. Each hut has 6-8 bunk beds. If you are a light sleeper we suggest bringing ear plugs!
Mandara Hut (2,700 Meters) → Horombo Hut (3,720 Meters)
Day two on the Marangu Route begins with an early start. You will be served breakfast and should be on your way. The trek continues through the rainforest, around the base of the Maundi Crater and then transitions rather rapidly into the low alpine moorland zone. If the weather is clear you should definitely take the opportunity to scramble up the Maundi Crater to get your first full view of Kibo. During the trek you will also see giant lobelias which are scattered throughout the landscape at this altitude. Day two takes approximately 6-8 hours to complete and covers a significant distance (11.5km / 7 miles). At Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) you will be served dinner and shown to your sleeping quarters for the night.
Horombo Hut (3,720 Meters) → Kibo Hut (4,700 Meters)
Day three on the Marangu Route is an acclimatization day for 6 day trekkers. Most six day trekkers venture on a 4-5 hour hike to Mawenzi Hut and back, which is good for acclimatization!
For 5 day trekkers you will depart from Horombo Hut early and begin a 1,000 meter ascent to Kibo Hut which covers a distance of approximately 10km. There are two routes to Kibo. The first, or upper route, forks to the right. Six day trekkers would have trekked this route on their acclimatization day to Mawenzi Hut. You will most likely take the lower left hand route as it is easier and nearly an hour shorter. At Kibo Hut you will be served an early dinner and should try get to bed before 7:00 PM as you will be awoken around 11:30 PM to start your 1,150 meter ascent to Uhuru Peak. Make sure that you have all your gear ready for a prompt departure, including insulated water, snacks, your headlamp and camera.
Kibo Hut (4,700 Meters) → Uhuru Peak (5,895 Meters) → Horombo Hut (3,720 Meters)
Day four begins with summit night. After being awoken you will be served some hot tea and biscuits and will then begin your summit ascent. The route follows a rocky path to the first check point, Hans Meyer Cave at 5,150 meters. It then continues to zigzag for a good 2-3 hours until you get to Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters) on Kibo’s crater rim. You will most likely be very tired at this point. Take some time to rest and refuel with a snack. The final push is tough and requires mental stamina. Focus on moving slowly and deliberately for the final 200 meter ascent. At Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) you will not be able to stay too long so make sure to get all the pictures you want to take and then begin your descent back to Kibo Hut, and onto Horombo Hut. In total you will be trekking upwards of 12-16 hours. It will be one of the longest days of your life but well worth it! Here’s the good news, beers can be bought at Horombo!
Horombo Hut (3,720 Meters) → Marangu Gate (1,870 Meters)
Day five from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate is nearly 20km but usually only takes 7 hours to complete. You will be exhausted at this stage and spend most of the hike imagining the hot shower you will be having that evening. At Marangu Gate you will be presented with your certificate, either for Gilman’s Point or Uhuru Peak (depending on how far you managed to get). It is customary to present your trekking team with their hard-earned tips at this point. You will then be driven back to your hotel where celebrations can begin!
MARANGU ROUTE — ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE PROFILE
CLIMB PRICES
TALK TO OUR KILI EXPERT
If you want to know more about the mountain and what to expect, then you’ve found the right person to talk too.
It’s fair to say that I’m a little obsessed with mountains. I’ve trekked through the majestic Sierra Nevada and basked under the behemoths of the Himalayas, but journeying up Mount Kilimanjaro will always hold a special place in my heart. Let me help you plan out your epic adventure.
E-mail me anytime with your questions. On average I respond within 6 hours during business hours and the next day during off business hours. Privately guided trips allow you to be in control of all the details of your trip – departure times, accommodations, extra nights, extra activities, extra experiences – what you want and how you want it.
CODY NGUYEN
Director of Operations
Phone
619-800-1808
cody@jambotreks.com
