Kilimanjaro Marangu Route – 6 Hiking Days + 2 Nights Hotel
Kilimanjaro Marangu Route – 6 Hiking Days + 2 Nights Hotel
AÂ pilgrimage to the Roof of Africa via the "Coca-Cola" Route
No matter which route you undertake the pilgrimage from, climbing Kilimanjaro is an arduous undertaking. And if you are going to take up the challenge, you might as well improve your odds of going all the way to the top! Kilimanjaro Marangu route is one of the oldest, most popular climbing routes. Featuring dorm-like mountain huts, climbers who do not like camping -- and anyone looking for a little extra comfort -- will appreciate the 'soft life' option; that's the primary reason we schedule our climb on this route during the wetter seasons.
Being the shortest route to the top, it is typically completed in 5 days. However, our itinerary adds an extra day for altitude acclimatization, which further increases our chances of getting to Uhuru Peak.
Note: The Kilimanjaro summit push and subsequent descent is a highly physically and mentally exerting hike. The high elevation gain, coupled with inadequate sleep, low oxygen, and harsh weather, immensely impacts your performance. For this reason, we require pre-qualification through high-altitude endurance training, and we have a variety of high altitude hikes in our calendar for you to consider. Our Roadmap to Kilimanjaro program is a good choice if the schedule suits you, but you can also talk to us to prepare a customized plan.
KILIMANJARO MARANGUÂ ROUTE 8Â DAYS SUMMARY
Commute Day 1: Nairobi – Moshi (Overnight stay in hotel)
Hiking Day 1: Moshi – Marangu Gate (1,970m) – Mandara Huts (2,720m) – 8km
Day 2: Mandara Huts (2,720m)– Horombo Huts (3,720m) – 12.5km
Day 3: (Acclimatization Day) Horombo Huts (3,720m) – Mawenzi Ridge (4,353m) – Horombo Huts (3,720m) – 9km
Day 4: Horombo Huts (3,720m) – Kibo Huts (4,703m) – 6km
Day 5: (Summit attempt – 6km) Kibo Huts (4,703m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895m) – Kibo Huts (brief rest) – Horombo Huts (3,720m) – 21.5km
Day 6: Horombo Huts (3,720m) – Marangu Gate (1,970m) – 20km – Moshi (Overnight stay in hotel)
Commute Day 2: Moshi to Nairobi
Kilimanjaro Marangu Route Itinerary
Day 1 – Commute Day: Nairobi – Moshi
We leave Nairobi at 6:30 a.m bound for Moshi, Tanzania, where we will meet our mountain guides for briefing and gear check. Thereafter, we shall have dinner and stay overnight at the hotel.
Hiking Day 1: Marangu Gate (1,970m) – Mandara Huts (2,720m)
After breakfast, we'll be picked up from the hotel and to the Kilimanjaro National Park Marangu Gate for entry registration and then start the trek to Mandara Huts through the thick rain forest.
After registration we will trek through the mountain rain forest zone. Expect a few animal sightings such as colobus monkey and some bird species on our way to Mandara Huts. After a brief stop during which we will have our packed lunch, our trek continues to the rim of Maundi Crater with a spectacular view of Mawenzi peak. Finally, we shall descend to Mandara Huts for the night.
Distance: 8km | Elevation Gain: 750m | Hiking Time: 5-7 hours | Terrain: Rain Forest | Difficulty: Moderate
Day 2: Mandara Huts – Horombo Huts (3,720m)
After breakfast, we continue our upward trek. Our hike takes us outside of the rainforest and into the heath and moorland zone, ascending through the changing landscape. On this day, the hike feels like a mountain trek, with the Kilimanjaro's two prominent peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi, towering in the background on a clear day. If we are in luck, we might catch sight of some birds along the trail and eventually come across the giant Kilimanjaro groundsels unique to the park.
Distance: 12.5km | Elevation Gain: 1,000m | Hiking Time: 5-7 hours | Terrain: Heath & Moorland | Difficulty: Moderate
Day 3 – Altitude Acclimatization Day: Horombo Huts – Mawenzi Ridge (4,353m) – Horombo Huts (3,720m)
Today's hike is designed solely for altitude acclimatization. The trek takes you towards the jagged peaks of the Mawenzi cone (Kilimanjaro’s third and generally unclimbed peak) up to the rim of the Mawenzi ridge. The alpine desert landscape here offers stunning views of both the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks before taking you back down into the heather and moorland at Horombo huts for a second night.
Distance: 4km | Elevation Gain: 633m | Hiking Time: 2-3Â hours | Terrain: Semi-desert | Difficulty: Moderate
Day 4 – Horombo Huts (3,720m) – Kibo Huts (4,720m)
Today's hike is a little more intense, as we take a direct path towards the Kibo cone. We will slowly but steadily climb through the alpine desert in the dramatically changing landscape. Within no time, we shall bid farewell to the heath and moorland zone and continue the trek on the barren saddle (the dip between the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks). At the base camp, Kibo Huts, we shall have an early dinner and rest for the night, as we eagerly await the summit attempt later tonight.
Distance: 9.5km | Elevation Gain: 1,000m | Hiking Time: 6-8 hours | Terrain: Alpine desert | Difficulty: Strenuous
Day 5 – Kibo Huts – Summit Attempt: Gillman's Point (5,681m) – Stella Point (5,756m) – Uhuru Peak (5,895m) – Horombo Huts (3,720m)
We arise, have a cup of coffee or black tea, and start the midnight trek through the arctic zone. We will take the steep hike over loose volcanic scree through the dark and cold night, following a zig-zag pattern towards Gilman’s Point (5,681m), our first stop on the Kibo crater rim. From here a short (but difficult) hike remains to take us past Stella point (5,756m) and further around till Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. We hope to reach the summit at daybreak, celebrate our moment, have a short break, and then descend to Kibo Huts for breakfast. We shall rest a little, have brunch, and then continue down to Horombo Huts for the last night’s rest.
Distance: 6km ascent and 15.5km descent | Maximum Elevation Gain: 1,175m | Hiking Time: 7-9 hours ascent & 5-7 hours descent | Terrain: Arctic | Difficulty: Very Strenuous
Day 6 – Horombo Huts – Moshi
After breakfast, we shall have a farewell and thanksgiving session with the crew before commencing our walk down the now familiar trail to end our expedition at Marangu Gate, where we will bid the larger mountain crew farewell. We shall have a packed lunch on the way to our hotel in Moshi. Thereafter, enjoy a leisurely afternoon and your celebratory dinner.
Congratulations on conquering yourself on the Roof of Africa!
Distance: 20km | Hiking Time: 5-7Â hours | Terrain: Rain Forest | Difficulty: Easy
Day 8: Commute Day 2 – Home Sweet Home!
Kilimanjaro Marangu Route Itinerary Notes
Transport
We’ll travel together as a group from Nairobi in pre-procured public shuttle services. Departure is from Nairobi Riverside Shuttle Terminus opposite Jeevanjee Gardens on Monrovia Street, with drop off at the hotel in Moshi, Tanzania. Â
Assistance
- Our mountain climbing guides are knowledgeable on altitude-related sickness and are experienced in handling related incidents.
- The Outdoorer team accompanying you includes a skilled paramedic to administer basic first aid in case of injury or ailments.
- Oxygen tanks are provided depending on the group size to be used in case of altitude-sickness-related emergencies.
- Your ticket includes an air rescue cover for medical emergencies at no extra cost.
- Kilimanjaro National Park Rescue team has a VHF communication system to convey messages to all stations on the mountain and also provides wheeled stretchers for ground evacuation.
- Our guides use mobile phones to contact the offices throughout the climb.
- Regular porters are hired to carry your climbing gear and other supplies.
- Accommodation in hotels and dorms is on a sharing basis (two people in a room). Meals at the hotel are on Bed and Breakfast.
Pre-Qualification Requirements
Due to the high exertion levels linked to this expedition, we may only accept participants who:
- Completed the Outdoorer Rookie Program or Beginner to Mt. Kenya Program within the past year and undertook at least two preparatory hikes in the Roadmap to Kilimanjaro Program within the two months preceding this expedition; or
- Are advanced hikers who satisfactorily completed at least two high-altitude hikes within the two months preceding this expedition.
Required Travel Documents
- Passport or temporary permit
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate
What to Wear & Carry?
Click this button to view and download the Kilimanjaro Gear Checklist.
Charges
- Including 2 Prep Hikes -Â East African: US$800
- Kilimanjaro Only - East African: US$750; Non-East African US$1,950
USD bank account will be provided once we approve your application.
Included in your ticket
The Outdoorer Promise:
- 7:1 hiker to guide ratio on day hikes and 4:1 hiker to guide ratio on expeditions.
- Additional guidance and support from Outdoorer Champions.Â
- At least one skilled paramedic (up to 5Â depending on the group size).
- A thorough emergency action plan for any emergencies that may arise.
- Other ticket-includes as detailed below.
Kilimanjaro-Includes:
- Transport from Nairobi and back.
- All meals while on the climb.
- Dorm accommodation on the mountain.
- Hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast before and after the expedition–2 people sharing a room, own bed.
- All park fees.
- Ground rescue fees, and oxygen cylinders for emergency cases.
- Guides’, porters’, and other crew’s remuneration.
- Services of a skilled mountain paramedic.
- Air rescue coverage for medical emergencies.
Excluded
- Items of personal nature, including clothes, shoes, sleeping bags, and rucksacks.
- Tips to guides and porters (group tipping is recommended for fair distribution).Â
- Anything else not explicitly listed in the "Included" list.