5 Days Marangu Route

After breakfast at the hotel you will be taken to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate (1,840 m). Once the necessary paper work has been completed, your trek can begin and you will soon be hiking through the dense rainforest. You might be lucky to catch a glimpse of the thumbless black and white colobus monkeys scrambling through the lush vegetation. Approximately 4 hours later, you will reach your destination for the day, the Mandara Hut. After a well-earned rest, your guide will take you to the Maundi Crater where you can enjoy wonderful views of the Kenyan interior. Evening meal and overnight stay at Mandara Hut (2670 m).

The day begins with an early breakfast and shortly after you have left Mandara Hut, you will reach the tree line where vegetation changes to shrubs. Approximately 4 to 6 hours later, the Horombo Hut will come into sight at an altitude of about 3,720 meter. From the hut you will have fantastic views overlooking Mawenzi, Kibo peak and the Masai steppe. Evening meal and overnight stay at the Horombo Hut.

Another day without much height gain, but many ups and downs, to Barranco Camp at 12,800 feet. The day’s walk is effectively a west to east traverse with a height gain at the end of the day of only 300 feet. However during the day’s walk you will ascend to almost 15,000 feet and then drop back down at Barranco camp. You should allow about 7 hours for the walk and enjoy the incredible views of Kibo ahead of you and down the valleys to the plateau and rainforest below. You should fill your water bottle at the stream about halfway through the day’s walk. The camping spot at Barranco is perhaps the most spectacular on the Machame route.

Today is the “big day” – the summit stage. You will start in the middle of the night when the lava ash is still frozen and walking on it is easier. You will begin the long and strenuous trek to the summit in the dark. Passing the Hans Meyer cave at 5,200 m, the climb slowly but surely goes upwards. At sunrise, you will reach Gilman’s Point (5,715 m) on the crater rim. Soon you will have forgotten the cold of the night and after another 1 to 2 hours, you will reach Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m. Now you are standing on the “Roof of Africa”. The descent follows the same path and the lava ash will now have thawed and allows for a fast descent. On your return to Kibo Hut, a warm meal awaits you and you can rest a while to regain your strength. After the 1 to 2 hour break, you will be on your way down to the Horombo Hut (3,700 m) where you will arrive in the afternoon. After an evening meal, it is early to bed for most.

The final hike of your wonderful 5 day Marangu route trekking begins after breakfast with a traditional farewell ceremony from the mountain crew. The moderate descend through the heather and moor zone to the Mandara Hut (2,700 m) where a cooked lunch awaits you. Soon you will again be in the lush tropical rainforest and after about 6 hours of trekking, you will be back at the same Marangu route gate 1,860 meter where you will meet a transferring driver. At the gate you will sign out and obtain your Kilimanjaro certificate then you will drive back to Moshi where you will have a long and warm shower after a tiring mountain. The rest of the day is free to rest while enjoying your glass of wine, relax at the pool or celebrate your achievement.