5 Days Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be greeted and transferred to your hotel in Moshi. In the evening, there will be a trek briefing with your guide, along with a final gear check to ensure you are fully prepared. Overnight at a hotel in Moshi.

• Elevation: 1,860m to 2,715m
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Rainforest

After breakfast, a transfer will take you to Marangu Gate, where you’ll complete registration and start the trek. The hike begins with a gentle ascent through lush rainforest, with opportunities to see monkeys and unique plant life. By evening, you’ll arrive at Mandara Hut, where you’ll enjoy a warm meal and rest.

• Elevation: 2,715m to 3,720m
• Distance: 12 km
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Heathland

Leaving the rainforest behind, you’ll enter a zone of heather and moorland. The trail offers expansive views of the mountain and surrounding landscapes, with glimpses of Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Arrive at Horombo Hut by late afternoon, where you’ll have dinner and relax for the night.

• Elevation: 3,720m to 4,703m
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Today, you’ll continue ascending through the high-altitude desert, a stark and beautiful landscape with sparse vegetation. You’ll pass by the “Last Water Point” and make your way across the Saddle, a barren area between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Arriving at Kibo Hut in the afternoon, you’ll have time to rest, enjoy an early dinner, and prepare for your midnight summit attempt.

• Elevation: 4,703m to 5,895m (Uhuru Peak), then down to 3,720m
• Distance: 22 km
• Hiking Time: 10-14 hours
• Habitat: Arctic, then Heathland

Your summit attempt begins around midnight with a challenging climb to Gilman’s Point (5,681m) on the crater rim. From there, you’ll continue to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, reaching the summit at sunrise for breathtaking views. After a short celebration at the top, you’ll begin the descent back to Kibo Hut for a rest and then onward to Horombo Hut for the night.

• Elevation: 3,720m to 1,860m
• Distance: 20 km
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Rainforest

On your final day, you’ll descend through the lush rainforest back to Marangu Gate. At the gate, you’ll receive your summit certificate to commemorate your achievement. Afterward, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel in Moshi for a well-deserved rest and celebration.

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure or continue with an extended safari or tour in Tanzania.