Route Overview
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | |
Route | Marangu Gate to Mandara | Mandara to Horombo | Acclimatization Day at Horomobo | Horombo to Kibo | Summit Uhuru Peak, descend to Horombo | Horombo to Marangu Gate |
Elevation reached | 2700m | 3700m | 4020m (acclimatization hike) | 4700m | 5895m | Descend to 1870m |
Hrs of trekking | 3-4 hrs | 4-6 hrs | 3 hrs | 6 hrs | 10-13 hrs | 5-6 hrs |
Overnight | Mandara Huts | Horombo Huts | Horombo Huts | Kibo Huts | Horombo Huts | Depart Kilimanjaro National Park |
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About Marangu Route
The Marangu Route is the only route on Kilimanjaro where trekkers sleep overnight in stationary huts. This is a good option when trekking during the rainy season or for budget climbs.
Marangu Route passes through all climate zones: rainforest, moorland, alpine desert, with a summit in the arctic zone.
RA Expeditions Ltd recommends a minimum of 6 days trekking Kilimanjaro’s Marangu Route. However, if you want to extend your itinerary for 7 days for longer acclimatization and a higher chance of successfully reaching the summit, reach out to us.
Marangu Route in detail
Day 1:
Trek distance: 9 km, climb to an elevation of 2700 m.
Drive to Marangu Gate (1870 meters above sea level).
After registering at the gate, you will begin trekking through a rainforest. You may see black and white colobus monkeys in the trees overhead.
If you arrive at Mandara Huts early, you can do an acclimatization hike to Maundi Crater before relaxing for the evening.
Day 2:
Trek Distance: 12 km, climb to an elevation of 3700 m.
Depart to Horombo after breakfast. You will depart the forest area and begin climbing in moorland, where the landscape and vegetation around you will change.
Dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut.
Day 3:
Trek distance: 5 km, climb to an elevation of 4020 m.
This is an acclimatization day in Horombo Hut. You will trek to the nearby Zebra Rocks and then return to Horomobo Huts for overnight.
Acclimatization is important for your body to adapt to the lower levels of oxygen at this high altitude.
Day 4:
Trek distance: 12 km, climb to an elevation of 4700 m.
After an early breakfast, you will start trekking to Kibo Hut. You will pass Mawenzi ridge and saddle before arriving at Kibo Huts for a brief rest. You will not get a proper overnight at Kibo huts, because around midnight you will start trekking to the summit!
Day 5: Summit Day
Trekking distance: 21 km total, climb to an elevation of 5895 m (Uhuru Peak) and descend to Hormobo Huts (3700 m).
You will begin trekking around midnight, passing through Gilman’s Point and Stella Point to reach Uhuru Peak. The summit trek takes approximately 5-6 hours, as a night climb in an arctic climate. You should summit in time to see an amazing sunrise on the roof of Africa.
Afterward, you will descend to Kibo Huts (approximately 3 hrs trekking), have a brief rest and continue descending to Horombo Huts for overnight (approximately 3 hrs trekking). This will be your last night in Kilimanjaro.
Day 6:
Trekking distance: 18 km, decent to Marangu Gate 1870 m.
After breakfast you will descend to Marangu Gate and collect your official Kilimanjaro Gilman’s and Uhuru Peak certificates.
END OF SIX DAYS TREKKING MARAGU ROUTE
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Kilimanjaro Climb Marangu pricing
This climb is available exclusively from RA safaris for as low as $1,783 per person*
Couple (2 ppl, sharing) ———$1953, per person
Climbing Group of 4 ————-$1,783, per person
See our full list of Kilimanjaro Climb Prices for more information. Contact us for other group numbers , discounts or to join a rescheduled group climb.
*for a group climb minimum of 4 persons, sharing
Note the following:
- For Marangu Route Kilimanjaro climbs, accommodations are overnight in huts. All other Kilimanjaro Climbs include Basic Camping (public or private).
- This itinerary can be customized, or extended. Please contact us.
- If you like us to arrange your accommodations for the night (s) before and after your Kilimanjaro climb please let us know.
- If you are arriving at Kilimanjaro/Arusha Airport or in Arusha by shuttle bus let us know so we can arrange meeting you on arrival.
- We will be happy to know your travel plans so we can customize this itinerary or any other itinerary for you. We are a full service company and we will be able to take care of all accommodations: before safari, on safari and after safari; airport and hotel transfers; and internal/regional flights.
- Click here for a complete packing list.
- This itinerary can also be extended (number of days and/or parks/activities) to cover other parks in the northern circuit, Kilimanjaro trek, Meru trek, Oldongo Lengai trek, Usambara Mountains, Zanzibar/Mafia/Dar beach holiday, Southern parks or western safari parks, or either way depending on your needs.