Marangu route itinerary day 02
Moshi – Marangu Gate – Mandara Huts.

After a relaxing night stay at Springlands your first day on your Marangu route Kilimanjaro adventure starts.
Depending on what time your arrived at the hotel on the previous day, you would either have had a detailed briefing with your guide.
Important things that needs to be covered are your equipment, if you still need to rent some gear this is the time to get all in place. Also the meals that will be prepared for you will be covered, if you have specific requirements or needs please remember to communicate this to your guide.
From Moshi it will be on average 45 minutes’ drive to Marangu Gate, the starting point for your hike situated on the eastern side of the National park.
After signing yourself in at the gate you begin your hike. The first day you will be hiking though the rainforest belt that is found around the park.
Lunch will be provided to you in a form of a lunch packet at the gate, and the first day will take you approximately 3 hours. A good idea is to go for a short hike after settling in your hut.
A good look-out point will be found about 15 minutes from the huts at the Maundi Crater. Dinner is normally served around 7pm in one of the dining huts.
Bathrooms with running water are available (unfortunately no warm water) and all the huts have solar-powered lights.
While the water has been tested by the Tanzanian National parks board (TANAPA), it will be saver to use the boiled water that is made available. Using water purification tablets will add extra peace of mind.
Your guide will schedule in a briefing with the group either that evening or the next morning, with a test with his pulse oximeter to monitor the blood oxygen levels of each hiker.
After enjoying dinner in the communal dining hut, you will retire to your tent for a good night rest, to be ready for the following day’s adventure.
Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point, with the Sun normally setting & rising just before 7 o’ clock each day.
A good idea will be to take some reading material or some card games to keep yourself busy in the evening.

Marangu route itinerary day 03
Mandara Huts – Horombo Huts.

Wake up around 07h00, with breakfast to follow shortly after. Start hiking around 08h30 to the next stop, the Horombo Huts. This day should take you around 5 hours to complete.
Lunch will be served half way through the day and you will have great views of Mawenzi (the second highest volcano on Kilimanjaro). Magnificent views of Kibo (the highest of the 3 volcanoes) can be enjoyed from the Horombo huts as well.
Bathrooms with running water are available (unfortunately no warm water) and all the huts have solar-powered lights.
Dinner is normally served around 7pm in one of the dining huts, followed by a briefing with your guide and the daily test with his pulse oximeter to monitor the blood oxygen levels of each hiker.
As is the case on all routes on Kilimanjaro, the higher you go the colder the outside night temperature will be, with the possibility of dropping to well below freezing.

Marangu route itinerary day 04
Acclimatization day.

This day is included for acclimatization. While some prefer to spend the day around the Horombo Huts, it is rather recommended to go on a hike up to Zebra Rocks that will be about 300m higher. The best way to acclimatize is to be active on altitude (to walk high and sleep low).
The hike up to Zebra Rocks will only take a couple hours, and you can even hike future up closer to Mawnzi.
After breakfast start your hike up to the Mawenzi Hut. Just outside the Hut area you will find a split in the road. For today you will go right and pass the Zebra rock, one of the many landmarks found in the Kilimanjaro National Park. This day must be used to walk high and sleep low (the best way to acclimatize). Although this day can be excluded from your itinerary, it is highly recommended to increase your chance of reaching Uhuru Peak. After reaching the Mawenzi Hut, return to Horombo Hut for dinner and rest.
Although this day can be excluded from your itinerary, it is highly recommended to increase your chance of reaching Uhuru Peak. Around midday return to Horombo Hut for dinner and rest.

Marangu route itinerary day 05
Horombo Huts – Kibo Huts.

As this will be a long day, it is recommended to wake up earlier to reach Kibo Huts early afternoon.
After breakfast start your hike up to your final overnight point prior to your summit, at the Kibo Huts.
On the second part of the day you will cross the saddle that links Mawenzi with Kibo. It is of utmost importance to ascend very slowly here to avoid altitude related problems.
This part is also normally very warm and dry so remember to cover up with sun block and to drink water regularly. This day should take you around 5 hours to complete.
Dinner is normally served around 7pm in one of the eating huts. The huts have lights powered by solar energy, but no running water is available.
Please remember to stock up on water at the previous hut, but the guide will also remind you of this.

Marangu route itinerary day 06
Kibo Huts – Uhuru peak – Horombo Huts.

Around midnight you will have to start your final ascent to the summit. You will be woken with tea/coffee and biscuits.
This part of your hike will be done at night to be able to reach Gillman’s Point around first light, 5 hours from Kibo huts.
This will be by far the most difficult part of your hike, as you will not only be hiking on a slope of loose gravel, but also be doing so at altitude. Remember to constantly be on the move, and only take short breaks every 2 hours or so to avoid getting cold.
Your equipment that you have on should be able to assist your body to warm itself, and to keep cold wind out, but when not moving this becomes more difficult.
Once arriving at Gillman’s Point, people tend to stay too long and often choose to turn around at this point. Do not spend more than 10 minutes here as you still have the last leg of your trip to complete.
Another 1,5 hour’s hike and you will have reached Uhuru Peak – the highest point in Africa! After this amazing and emotional experience you will return to Kibo Huts via Gillman’s Point.
This will go a lot faster than when you summated. You should arrive back at Kibo Huts just before lunch time for a light lunch and a short break.
After that you will continue down back to the Horombo huts for dinner and a well-earned rest.

Marangu route itinerary day 07
Horombo Huts – Marangu Gate – Moshi.

After Breakfast, you start your final descent to the Marangu Gate.
Enjoy the scenery as you walk thought the rain forest. From Marangu Gate you will be transferred back to Springlands Hotel and you will be served a delicious hot lunch and a well-deserved hot shower.
It is recommended and tips are highly appreciated at the end of your trip. Tips must only be given to the Guide at Springlands Hotel.
This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s Point (5 685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
Overnight in Springlands hotel.

Marangu route table day 02
Day 1 on Marangu route:

Marangu route table day 03
Day 2 on Marangu route:

Marangu route table day 04
Day 3 on Marangu route:

Marangu route table day 05
Day 4 on Marangu route:

Marangu route table day 06
Day 5 on Marangu route:

Marangu route table day 07
Day 6 on Marangu route: