6 Days Marangu Route

Distance: 8 km Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Rainforest Your journey begins with a drive from Arusha to Marangu Gate, where you will complete the necessary registration. Afterward, the hike begins through the lush rainforest, offering chances to spot wildlife like blue monkeys and tropical birds. After a few hours of trekking, you’ll arrive at Mandara Hut, where you will spend the night. Overnight: Mandara Hut

Distance: 12 km Hiking Time: 6-8 hours Habitat: Moorland Leaving the rainforest behind, you’ll enter the moorland zone with its unique vegetation, including giant lobelias and groundsels. The trail gradually ascends, offering stunning views of Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. You’ll arrive at Horombo Hut in the afternoon, where you can relax and enjoy the beautiful moorland environment. Overnight: Horombo Hut

Optional Acclimatization Hike: To Zebra Rocks (4,000m) or Mawenzi Ridge Hiking Time: 3-4 hours (optional) This is a critical day for acclimatization. You can take an optional short hike to Zebra Rocks (about 4,000m) or Mawenzi Ridge to help your body adjust to the altitude. This additional day greatly increases your chances of successfully reaching the summit. After the hike, you’ll return to Horombo Hut for a second night. Overnight: Horombo Hut

Distance: 10 km Hiking Time: 6-8 hours Habitat: Alpine desert The trek becomes more challenging as you ascend through the Saddle, a barren, almost lunar landscape between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. The air becomes thinner, and the temperature drops as you approach Kibo Hut, where you’ll spend the night resting and preparing for the summit attempt. Overnight: Kibo Hut

Distance: 18 km (ascent to summit and descent to Horombo) Hiking Time: 10-14 hours Habitat: Arctic at the summit, Moorland on descent Summit day begins around midnight. The steepest section of the climb is the ascent to Gilman’s Point (5,685m), located on the crater rim. From here, you’ll continue along the rim to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. After celebrating at the summit and taking in the stunning views, you’ll descend back to Kibo Hut for a short rest before continuing down to Horombo Hut for your final night on the mountain. Overnight: Horombo Hut

Distance: 20 km Hiking Time: 6-7 hours Habitat: Moorland to Rainforest On your final day, you’ll descend through the moorland and rainforest zones back to Marangu Gate. At the gate, you’ll receive your summit certificates—green certificates for those who reached Gilman’s Point and gold certificates for those who reached Uhuru Peak. Afterward, you’ll be transferred back to Arusha, where you can relax and reflect on your Kilimanjaro adventure.