8 days mount kilimanjaro climb, marangu route

8 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Climb, Marangu Route

8 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Climb, Marangu Route

Overview

Why Marangu?
This is the traditional and most straightforward route on the mountain. It is also the busiest and best equipped. If you accept that there will be others around, there are the advantages of good huts, good views of Mawenzi and, of course, others to walk with. If you are travelling by yourself, this is the only route on which you can easily join a group.

Detailed trip itinerary

Day 1. Arrival JRO, Transfer Moshi

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro airport you will be met by our representative and taken to hotel in Moshi. It is a family run hotel located on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, with comfortable accommodation, variety of meals, clean swimming pool and friendly services. Located only ten minutes walking distance to Moshi town centre, palatable meal and luxurious accommodation hotel. Meal plan is bed and breakfast.

Day 2. Marangu gate (1,843 m/6,046 ft), mandara hut (2,700m/8,860 ft)

Walking distance: 8 km/5 miles
Walking time: 3-4 hours
Altitude gain: 857 m/2,814 ft
After breakfast you will be transferred to the Marangu Gate at Kilimanjaro National Park. Today, walk through the beautiful rainforest with dense vegetation, often on a muddy trail. The trekking pace is slow and very comfortable, ensuring you have enough time to enjoy the natural surroundings, take a photo and nibble on your packed lunch that we provide.

You will reach Mandara Hut (2 700m) after +- 4 hours of hiking from the Park Gate. There is a detour on this route to waterfalls in the rain forest, which is well worth following – discuss with your guide before you set off. Your accommodation is in dormitory style chalets. There are no shower/bath facilities while doing the climb and toilets will be long drops. You will be provided with bowls of warm water each morning, on request, to wash with. Dinner and overnight: Mandara Hut. Meal plan is full board.

Day 3. Mandara hut (2,700m/8,860 ft), horombo hut (3,700 m/12,140 ft)

Walking distance: 12 km/7.2 miles
Walking time: 5-7 hours
Altitude gain: 1,000 m/3,280 ft
Continue the hike up to Horombo Hut. A steep, sometimes wet, 20 min walk through the upper part of the rainforest, followed by a 2km section of tall giant heather interspersed with large clumps of tussock grass, around 15km or 5 hours from Mandara Hut. The vegetation changes to stunted clumps of heather with ‘everlasting’ flowers and short tussock grasses. Lobelia and groundsels occupy the wetter areas. Dinner and overnight: Horombo Hut. Meal plan is full board.

Day 4. Horombo hut (3,700 m/12,140 ft), acclimatization walk, horombo hut (3,700 m/12,140 ft)

Today is an extra day to acclimatize, and it is best spent taking a day hike up toward the Maundi Hut by the upper trail to a viewpoint at 14,100 feet (4 hours round-trip). If you are feeling very fatigued, it can be spent resting or exploring the nearby region. Birdlife is abundant at Horombo. The rains come upon us almost every afternoon. So plan your day hike to be back inside the lodge with a cup of tea and good book by 4 p.m. Most climbers begin to feel the altitudinal changes at this level. After the rain clears, Horombo typically has beautiful sunsets and a night sky full of stars. Dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut. Meal plan is full board.

Day 5. Horombo hut (3,700 m/12,140 ft), kibo hut (4,700 m/15,420 ft)

Walking distance: 9.5 km/5.7 miles
Walking time: 5-7 hours
Altitude gain: 1,000 m/3,280 ft
After breakfast we will set out on a path that traverses west, before turning northwards towards Middle Red Hill and the Triplets. Heading west for the final 3km to Kibo Hut (4,700m) is a little challenge which so much impresses climbers. This alpine desert is littered with rocks and leaves you feel as if walking on the moon. Whilst here, the view towards Mawenzi Peak to the east is most spectacular. Dinner and overnight: Kibo Hut. Meal plan is full board.

Day 6. Kibo hut (4,700 m/15,420 ft), summit via gilman’s point (5,690m /18,668 ft) to uhuru peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) and descent to horombo hut (3,700 m/12,140 ft)

Walking distance: 5.5 km/3.5 miles ascent + 15 km/9.5 miles descent
Walking time: 5-6 hrs + 1-2 hours up, 5-6 hours down (the overall walking time may vary between10 – 16 hours)
Altitude gain: 990 m/ 3,248 ft (Gilman’s Point) or 1,195 m/3,920 ft (Uhuru Peak) Descent: 2,195 m/7,200 ft
You will have to wake up very early to have a quick bite to eat and something warm to drink before setting out in darkness. The hike to Gilman’s Point is a very slow steep walk on volcanic scree for about 5-6 hours. The headlamps on the trail towards the summit almost look like fireflies flying in a long row. As you approach the crater rim you will enjoy the most memorable sunrise you may ever experience – the golden sunrise over Africa! You may over and over again see the curving of the earth at this high altitude and the sunrise on the horizon just accentuates it. Keep your camera ready at all times as there are plenty of photographing opportunities along the summit. Once you reach Gilman’s Point on top of the crater rim you are within reach of Uhuru Peak. Hiking to the peak is fairly flat terrain which normally takes about 1.5 hours to conquer Uhuru Peak (Summit of Africa). Spend a few minutes at the top to get that photos of your choice next to the sign marking the summit. Descend from Uhuru Peak in high spirits as you have just achieved your goal. The trail down from Gilman’s Point on the Marangu route is often enjoyed by hikers sliding down the scree slope, which entails skidding down the loose gravel with big steps and some sideways moves. Try it, it is fun! With every step going down your body enjoys having more oxygen to breathe in. Depending on how you feel, you may enjoy a short rest at Kibo Hut before descending down to Horombo Hut. Dinner and overnight: Horombo Hut. Meal plan is full board.

Day 7. Horombo hut (3,700 m/12,140 ft), marangu gate (1,843 m/6,046 ft)

Walking distance: 20 km/12.5 miles
Walking time: 5 hours
Altitude gain: 1,857 m/6,094 ft
Enjoy a slow hike through the rainforest to Marangu Gate. Take time to enjoy the lush vegetation with the Old Man’s Beard (tree moss) growing on the giant trees as well as some Giant Ferns towering high over the forest bed. The path has many steps leading you down to Marangu Gate. You will be transferred back to hotel in Moshi for hot shower and overnight rest. Meal plan is bed and breakfast.

Day 8. Departure

Descent and transfer to your town hotel in Moshi.

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions

Tour Inclusions

  • Two nights’ accommodation at hotel in Moshi on bed and breakfast
  • All fees related to Kilimanjaro National Park
  • Food including water on climb
  • Transport to and from the respective gate to the hotel
  • Sleeping tent/mattress/cooking utensils/dining tents, table and chairs/dining crockery and cutleries
  • Wages for all crew
  • Oxygen cylinder

Tour Exclusions

  • Airport transfer
  • Any meal or drink during the stay at hotel
  • Tip for the crew
  • Items of their personal nature
  • All personal hiking equipment

Easter & Christmas Surcharges
A surcharge would be charged per person per night on Good Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Easter Monday and on 24th 25th, 26th, 31st December and 1st January. The Surcharge would be confirmed at the time of booking for clarity purposes.


For optimal enjoyment of your safari, we urge you to carry the following:
All weather firm shoe pair, short and dress to use during the day, trouser for use in the evenings with long sleeved shirt, sweater or jacket, hat, swimming costume, sunglass, camera, binocular, sun protection cream and insect repellent spray or cream.


Work with Top Africa Safaris

We create fully personalised trips from start to finish, working with you to pick locations, accommodation and guides that suit you.

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