7 Day Kilimanjaro Marangu Route (trip)

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7 Day Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

  • Moshi Airport, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
  • Active & Adventure
Tanzania, Africa

To check availability or book,
contact The Safari Partners:

Period offered: Year-round. The provider (view their profile) can provide you with specific departure dates, final prices, and other information.


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from $718* per person7 DaysYear-round
Basic accommodations Exertion level: 7
Operator: The Safari Partners 12 people max
It generally takes five days to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro along the Marangu route and involves walking about eighty kilometres. The route begins at Marangu Gate at 1 860 metres, and then passes through the tropical rain forest to the Mandara Hut at 2 752 metres, close to the Maundi Crater. Next day, the forest soon gives way to rolling alpine meadows with giant heather trees. The altitude begins to make itself felt and it takes about five hours to walk the twelve kilometres to the Horombo Hut at 3 780 metres. From here the landscape becomes progressively more rugged and rocky, and giant groundsels and lobelias appear in the sparse moor. The path skirts Mawenzi and then crosses the desert of the saddle towards the last hut nestling below Kibo at 4 740 metres. The final ascent is begun before dawn - this is the most difficult and tiring part, taking some five hours to reach Gillman's Point on the crater rim at 5 685 metres. Although this is usually taken as the summit of Kilimanjaro, the highest point is Uhuru Peak at 5 895 metres about 2 hour’s walk along the crater's rim. The descent is less tiring, and it is usual to stay overnight at Horombo.

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Tanzania, Africa

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Special information

  • This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.

Itinerary

Day 1: Moshi
Tonight is spent at Marangu Hotel on a bed and continental breakfast basis.

Day 2: Marangu - Mandara Hut
Climbers are taken to Marangu Gate, 6 kilometres from the hotel.  The gate is at an altitude of about 1,600 metres, at the entrance to the rain forest.  The trail climbs through the lush forest to Mandara Hut, at 2,700 metres.  This walk takes around 4 hours at a gentle pace. Mandara Hut is close to the edge of the forest, and within a short walk of Maundi Crater, a small parasitic volcanic cone just above the forest.  Climbers often visit Maundi in the afternoon after arriving at Mandara.  In clear weather, the views of Mawenzi, the lower of the two main peaks of Kilimanjaro, are breathtaking.

Day 3: Mandara - Horombo Hut
Climbers leave Mandara by about 9 o'clock. The first half hour or so continues through the rain forest after which the trail emerges into alpine moorland for the approximately 7 hour walk to Horombo which is at 3,700 metres. If the day is clear there are splendid views to be had of both Kibo and Mawenzi and also of the plains stretching away below the mountain. The vegetation is also spectacular, with different types of heather, everlasting flowers, redhot pokers, protea, lobelia and giant groundsel.  

Day 4: Horombo - Kibo Hut
Climbers are woken at about 11pm.  After dressing in all their warm clothing, they have a hot drink and then set off at midnight. The first part of the ascent to the Hans Meyer cave is quite indirect, going around large rock outcrops and it is not as steep as the latter part. The surface is loose and can be hard going.  After the cave the scree slope becomes extremely steep and you have to climb in a zig-zag fashion.  It takes an average of 6 hours to reach Gillman's Point on the crater rim. On a fine morning, the views of the sun rising from behind Mawenzi are spectacular. Gillman's Point is at 5,700 metres. From here, the path goes around the crater rim for a further one and a half to two hours to the summit at Uhuru Peak, 5896 metres. The descent back to Kibo Hut can take a further 3 or 4 hours. After a rest and a meal, the descent continues to Horombo Hut via the lower route, a further trek of around 3 hours.

Day 6: Return to Moshi
The descent from Horombo to Mandara Hut takes around 3 hours, and the final part of the descent through the forest to Marangu Gate takes another 2 hours.  At the Gate vehicles will be waiting to take you and your crew back to the hotel.. Spend an overnight back at the Marangu Hotel.

Day 7: Moshi
Your tour ends today after breakfast.

More information from The Safari Partners: