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The Marangu route is a popular route and also the cheapest. It is the only route that offers mountain huts instead of tents for the overnight stays. The route leads straight up to the summit and down again via the same route. Altitude changes per day are significant, which is why this route is only suitable for experienced climbers.
The ascent via the Marangu route takes a total of five days. However, it is recommended to add an extra day to give your body time to adjust to the high altitude. If you choose to do so, you can stay an extra night in Horombo huts on the fourth day and make an acclimatization hike. This extra day significantly increases your chances of reaching the summit.
You provide professional guides, porters and a cook to accompany you on your ascent via Marangu route. They will check your physical and mental wellbeing every morning and evening with special equipment. Our chefs will prepare delicious mountain food for you, as this also increases your chance to summit. Feel free to ask us for the menu – we happily send it to you. When you request a quote from us for climbing Kilimanjaro via Marangu route, you will also receive a number of informative documents to help you prepare.
Arrival Kilmanjaro airport
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our driver will transfer you to the hotel. Settle in and take time to relax and to get used to the African atmosphere. It is possible to book an extra day of rest prior to start of the climb, to give you ample time to acclimatise and recover from the flight. This extra day increases your chances of reaching the summit.
NOTE: The hotel below is suggestion for the first and last night. Depending on your preference we can offer you various options, from basic to luxurious accommodations. The choice is yours!
You will stay in hotel:
Weru Weru River Lodge
Marangu Gate (1830 m/ 6,000 ft) – Mandara Huts (2700 m/ 8,858 ft)
Elevation gain: 870 m/ 2,854 ft | Distance: 11 km | Walking time: 5-7 hours| Difficulty: medium | Environment: rainforest
Our guide will bring you from the hotel to Marangu Gate in the morning, where your climb starts! The first part leads you through coffee and banana plantations and then through untouched rainforest. It can be humid here, therefore it is advisable to wear rain gear. Today’s hike takes a total of five to seven hours. If you want to take time to enjoy the beautiful forests and pretty mountain slopes, you can do so. Then you will reach the first camp: the Mandara huts.
Those who wish can hike in the afternoon to the Maundi crater, a volcanic crater near the Mandara Huts. Of course you can also rest at the hut and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
This is your first day at this altitude. It is therefore strongly recommended to follow the instructions below from here:
Mandara Huts (2700 m/ 8,858 ft) – Horombo Huts (3720 m/ 12,204 ft)
Elevation gain: 1020 m/ 3,346 ft | Distance: 10 km | Walking time: 5-6 hours | Difficulty: medium | Environment: heather
From Mandara Huts, the landscape slowly changes from cloud forest to grass plains with some heather and other vegetation. On a clear day you have a beautiful view of Kibo, the highest peak of Kilimanjaro. A little further you can also see Mawenzi, the second summit of Kilimanjaro. The higher you go, the less vegetation can be seen and the more it starts to look like a lunar landscape. The air is also becoming thinner now. A few hours after lunch you can make an acclimatization hike with an ascent of 200 meters and then return to Horombo Huts for dinner and overnight.
Note: The acclimatization walk is an easy hike with a slight rise in altitude. This will accelerate the acclimatization process. The acclimatization hikes are highly recommended as they increase your chances to summit Kilimanjaro by reducing the risk of altitude sickness.
If you take the recommended extra acclimatization day, doing the Marangu route in 6 instead of 5 days: the only difference is that you will stay one more night in the Horombo Huts. After breakfast you will go for another acclimatization hike towards Kibo huts and back. After lunch you have the opportunity to take some pictures of the Mawenzi Vulcano, discover the area or take a rest to be ready for the next day.
Horombo Huts (3720 m/ 12,204 ft) – Kibo Huts (4700 m/ 15,419 ft)
Elevation gain: 980 m/ 3,215 ft | Distance: 10 km | Walking time: 4-8 hours | Difficulty: difficult | Environment: alpine desert
Today your hike leads through a kind of Alpine desert to a point between the two famous mountain peaks Kibo and Mawenzi. The landscape here is more open and bare and offers less shelter. The hike is quite heavy, but you should try to maintain an appropriate pace to preserve your strength for the summit tomorrow. Our experienced guides will help you with this. You will arrive at Kibo camp for lunch, after which you can relax in preparation for the big day ahead! It is advisable to rest well and drink plenty of water.
Kibo Huts (4700 m/ 15,419 ft) – Uhuru Peak (5895 m/ 19,340 ft) – Hurombo Huts (3720 m/ 12,204 ft)
Elevation gain: 1195 m/ 3,920 ft | Elevation loss: 2175 m/ 7,135 ft | Distance: 16 km | Walking time: 9-12 hours | Difficulty: difficult | Environment: arctic
At night you start your ascent to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa! Until sunrise you will use your flashlight. The biggest challenge lies in the first part of this climb. There will be one personal guide per two climbers, in order to closely monitor and evaluate the climbers’ physical and mental state. After a steep path you will reach Gilman’s Point. From here, Uhuru Peak is not far away, and relatively easy to climb. Once you reach the summit you can enjoy a beautiful sunrise, which is quite impressive at this height!
After a small party at the top, you return to the Kibo Huts before decending further for dinner and overnight at Horombo huts. In total you will be on your feet for about twelve hours today, so prepare yourself for a hard day! When descending, pay close attention to where you put your feet to prevent any injury.
Horombo Huts (3720 m/ 12,139 ft) – Marangu Gate (1830 m/ 6,003 ft)
Elevation loss: 1890 m/ 6,200 ft | Distance: 18 km | Walking time: 5-6 hours | Difficulty: medium | Environment: rainforest
Today you descend to Marangu gate, the exit of Kilimanjaro National Park. This is a wonderful five to six hour walk through the beautiful forests of Kilimanjaro.
After the descent, the whole group comes together to congratulate each other.
Today you can relax at the lodge or explore the surrounding area. You can choose to extend your journey with a beautiful Tanzania Safari. Another option is to unwind on the tropical Zanzibar Island or one of the other exotic beach destinations. If you choose to fly home after your Kilimanjaro trek, you will arrive back home on day 8.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a real challenge due to the altitude, rate of ascent and different temperatures. During an average climbing day you will walk 6-7 hours. If you are healthy and fit it is absolutely within reach. There are many things you can do to increase your chances to reach the summit and to make sure you enjoy the trek. It’s important you take your time. Don’t hike too fast so your body has time to adapt and acclimatize. Being in good shape also makes the climb much easier. Go hiking a few months before the climb, especially multiple day hikes are excellent training. But also running and aerobic exercise are a good preparation. It is always difficult to predict who will be affected by altitude sickness. What you can do to prevent altitude sickness is to take an extra day to adjust (between day 3 and day 4). If you stay an extra day in the Horombo Hut you give your body more time to acclimatize. This will increase the chance of reaching the summit successfully. The price for an extra day are $ 329 per person.
If you like advice on how to prepare yourself for climbing Kilimanjaro, you can always contact us or read our blog
How to book this Kilimanjaro adventure?
Price information
8 Days Climbing Kilimanjaro expedition, Marangu route in 5 days! | 2 persons | 4 persons | 6 persons |
Low season | $2,090.00 | $1,897.00 | $1,900.00 |
Mid season | $2,291.00 | $1,988.00 | $1,991.00 |
High season | $2,377.00 | $2,061.00 | $2,064.00 |
* Above prices are per person