Marangu Route 6-Day Kilimanjaro Itinerary: Day-by-Day Guide
Date Published
Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Huts
Start: Marangu Gate (1905m)
End: Mandara Huts (2720m)
Distance: Approximately 8.75km
Hiking Time: Around 3 hours
After a 45-minute drive from Moshi town to Marangu Gate, the headquarters of Kilimanjaro National Park, you will register, which may take up to an hour. Begin your uphill trek through the rainforest ecosystem, where you may encounter blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and the endemic Kilimanjaro impatiens flower. Enjoy a picnic lunch at Kisamboni, then continue upward. The trail steepens as you pass through the forest, with heather and bearded lichen appearing near Mandara Huts. If you have energy left, take a walk to Maundi Crater for views of Kenya and Mawenzi Peak. Mandara Huts offer the luxury of flush toilets and running water from a spring above.
Day 2: Mandara Huts to Horombo Huts
Start: Mandara Huts (2720m)
End: Horombo Huts (3720m)
Distance: Approximately 12km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
After a short stretch of forest, you will trek through moorland, characterized by heather and lobelias. Both peaks of Kilimanjaro, Kibo and Mawenzi, become visible, providing a stunning backdrop for photos. Enjoy a picnic lunch along the way before reaching Horombo Huts. These busy huts sleep up to 120 people and offer a lively atmosphere where you can share tips and stories with fellow trekkers over dinner.\
Day 3: Horombo Huts to Zebra Rocks and Mawenzi Huts
Distance: Approximately 5.5km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
This extra day provides additional acclimatization and offers a spectacular viewpoint. After a leisurely breakfast, head to Zebra Rocks, a collection of striped rocks resembling a zebra’s flank. Push on to the base of Mawenzi Peak for an amazing panorama across the saddle to Kilimanjaro’s highest peak. Return to Horombo Huts, passing through gullies of groundsel, and arrive mid-afternoon to rest and relax before dinner.
Day 4: Horombo Huts to Kibo Huts
Start: Horombo Huts (3720m)
End: Kibo Huts (4715m)
Distance: Approximately 9km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Today's trek crosses the saddle, an alpine desert separating Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Watch for altitude sickness symptoms and walk pole pole (slowly) behind your guide. Enjoy views of parasitic cones formed by volcanic eruptions. As you cross the saddle, you will see the path for summit night laid out ahead to Gillman’s Point. Kibo Huts, located under the peak, offer basic stone huts. Arrive for a late lunch and rest in preparation for your summit attempt.
Day 5: Summit Night and Descent to Horombo Huts
Summit Start: Kibo Huts (4715m)
Summit End: Uhuru Peak (5895m)
Total Distance: Approximately 6.25km
Hiking Time: About 6 hours to summit
Descent Start: Uhuru Peak (5895m)
Descent End: Horombo Huts (3720m)
Total Distance: Approximately 15.25km (6.25km back to Kibo, 9km to Horombo)
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours to Kibo Huts, 3-4 hours to Horombo Huts
Depending on your acclimatization, you will be woken around 11:00 PM–12:00 AM to begin your summit push to Uhuru Peak, accompanied by tea and biscuits. The ascent to Gillman’s Point is steep and demanding, so a slow and steady pace is essential. After a short rest at Gillman’s Point, continue along the crater rim toward Uhuru Peak, where stunning glacier views and Reusch’s Crater await. Most trekkers reach the summit in approximately six hours, just in time for a breathtaking sunrise.
After celebrating at the top, descend promptly back to Kibo Hut, then continue down to Horombo Huts. Many trekkers enjoy the fun, fast “scree skiing” technique on the loose volcanic gravel during the descent.
Day 6: Horombo Huts to Marangu Gate
Start: Horombo Huts (3720m)
End: Marangu Gate (1905m)
Distance: Approximately 20.75km
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
This final day will feel like a breeze after the summit climb. Enjoy the descent, and if time permits, take the Marangu ‘Nature Trail’ to a beautiful waterfall. Watch for monkeys and birds before reaching Marangu Gate. Sign out of the National Park and explore a souvenir spot with maps, books, and postcards. Our car will then pick you up and transfer you to your hotel for a well-deserved rest, with massages available on request.