5 Days Marangu Route-Mount Kilimanjaro

Day 1 – Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

Marangu Gate (1,800m/5,905ft) to Mandara Hut (2,743m/9,000ft)
Elevation Gain: 915 meters, 3,000 feet

Leave Moshi/Arusha at 8 am for Marangu Gate. After completing gate registration, begin your Kilimanjaro trek. Walk along a narrow trail through the rainforest of Kilimanjaro for most of the hike. Eat a picnic lunch at Kisambioni, day one’s halfway point. After lunch continues walking through the rainforest until reaching Mandara Hut. Relax for the rest of the day or take a short walk to Maundi Crater. The views to the east over Taveta and to the northwest to Mawenzi Peak are stunning on a clear day, making the short hike well worth the effort. The A-frame Mandara Huts can accommodate up to seventy people and consist of several sleeping huts and a dining area. All of Marangu’s huts have beds with mattresses.

Mandara Hut is a collection of basic, A-frame mountain huts with bunk beds – quite adequate for your needs – where you inevitably meet up with fellow trekkers who are bent on the same goal.
Overnight stay Mandara Hut – 1 night (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)

Day 2 – Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
Mandara Hut (2,743m/9,000ft) to Horombo Hut (3,720m/12,200ft)
Elevation Gain: 977 meters, 3,200 feet

After breakfast, leave Mandara Hut and Kilimanjaro’s forests for Horombo Hut. Most of the day’s hike will be through Kilimanjaro’s moorland, a rocky landscape with desert-like plants. Eat a picnic lunch at Kambi ya Taabu before continuing to Horombo Hut. If the weather is clear, enjoy beautiful views of Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Arrive at Horombo Hut at around 3 pm and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing. Although extremely busy, the Horombo Huts are considered to be the nicest on Kilimanjaro. The small, A-frame buildings can accommodate up to eight people each and provide lodging for hikers ascending, descending, and acclimatizing. Horombo can accommodate up to one hundred hikers and many more porters, cooks, and guides. Overnight stay at Horombo Hut (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

Day 3 – Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
Horombo Hut (3,720m/12,200ft) to Kibo Hut (4,750m/15,580ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,030 meters, 3,380 feet

Leave Horombo Hut after breakfast to hike through the moorland and alpine desert of Kilimanjaro’s upper altitudes. After hiking for about an hour arrive at Maua River, a small mountain stream. After Maua, the terrain becomes flatter and the vegetation begins to disappear. Break for lunch at Middle Red Hill. After lunch, continue on a steady incline for another two hours through Kilimanjaro’s Saddle. Although the environment on the way to Kibo is a bleak desert with little vegetation, you will see many stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Reach Kibo Hut around 3 pm to rest and prepare for your midnight climb.

Mandara Hut is a collection of basic, A-frame mountain huts with bunk beds – quite adequate for your needs – where you inevitably meet up with fellow trekkers who are bent on the same goal.
Overnight stay Mandara Hut – 1 night (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).

Day 4 – Kibo Hut to Summit to Horombo HutKibo Hut (4,750m/15,580ft) to Summit (5,895m/19,340ft) to Horombo Hut (3,720m/12,200ft)
Elevation Gain: 1,145 meters, 3,760 feet Elevation Loss: 2,175 meters, 7,140 feet

Around midnight, awake for the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. The hike begins with a demanding five-hour hike to Gillman’s Point on the crater rim. Although this is considered to be the easiest of the three crater ascent paths, it is still extremely difficult. The first major rest stop, William’s Point, lies at 5000 meters and is approximately a two-hour hike from Kibo Hut. Continue on for thirty minutes before beginning the rocky switchbacks that will continue to Gillman’s Point (5,681 meters). The hike from Gilman’s to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb and as far as hikes go, not very difficult. The altitude, however, makes the hike long and tiring. The crater rim hike takes approximately two hours. Upon reaching Uhuru, take photos of your guide and group at the peak before beginning the descent to Horombo Hut. On the way down from the summit, you will see all of the magnificent views you could not see on the way up. Stop for a short break and snacks at Kibo Hut before continuing on to Horombo Hut. Reach Horombo Hut in the afternoon and enjoy your last night on the mountain.

Day 5 – Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate to Moshi Town

Horombo Hut (3,720m/12,200ft) to Marangu Gate (1,800m/5,905ft) to Moshi town
Elevation Loss: 1,920 meters, 6,295 feet

After breakfast, finish the trek with a descent to Marangu Gate. Your last hike on Kilimanjaro is a beautiful one, passing through Kilimanjaro’s cloud forest. Watch your step during the descent, as the trail can be slippery. Our vehicles will be waiting at Marangu Gate to take you back to Moshi. You will be able to buy t-shirts and sodas at the gate.
Overnight at Kilimanjaro Resort: Dinner & Breakfast.

Cost Includes:
All transport by private vehicle to and from the mountain
Accommodation as detailed on the itinerary.
Services of a private mountain guide, cook, and adequate porters to carry both trip provisions and client’s private bags.
National Park entrance, accommodation, and camping/hut fees.
All food and catering equipment – breakfasts, lunches (packed when necessary), and evening meals prepared by our own cook. Special dietary requirements are catered for with prior arrangements at no extra cost.
Certificate of Achievement /appreciation from us.
Free storage of excess baggage not required on the mountain hike.
Crisis management apparatus – VHF 2-way radio/mobile phone, basic first aid kit, and an on call vehicle.

Cost excludes:
Travel and personal accident insurance.
Visa, passport, vaccinations, medicines.
Personal Mountain equipment.
Recommended tipping: USD$ 20 to 30$ per day.
Expenditure on alcoholic drinks, souvenirs, and other personal items.
Optional excursions not detailed in the itinerary.
Additional optional accommodation added at the base hotel or extra days on the mountain added.
Treated drinking water other than boiled.
Extra costs incurred in case of own intentional change of itinerary while already on the trek.

Additional Information

Climate:

Mount Kilimanjaro is only three degrees south of the Equator so although the climate is technically ‘equatorial’, it is essentially tropical. The long dry season (Jun-Oct) is followed by Short Rains (Nov-Dec). During the short dry season (Jan-Mar) it can be very hot and humid.
The ‘Long Rains’fall Apr-May. On the mountains, temperatures rise and fall only slightly throughout the year but vary considerably between night and day. Temperatures gradually fall as altitude increases. Above 4,000m, the daytime temperature is usually around 5C dropping well below freezing at night.

Baggage:
For your comfort we recommend you travel as light as possible; many airlines impose a maximum weight limit of 20 kg – we advise you to take a lot less!
We would suggest :
One main piece – a soft bag rather than a hard suitcase as it can be easily stowed and carried by porters on the ascent. Pack lightly as space is restricted – max. 15kg. NB: any surplus baggage can be stored in Arusha during the ascent – it is vital not to overpack. Please take only bare essentials for the climb.
A daypack – For comfort, we recommend a larger daypack or small rucksack with a comfortable harness and waist belt (30-40 liters capacity is ideal for carrying warm clothing, camera, water bottle, etc.

Clothing and Footwear:
It’s essential to keep yourself (and your baggage) dry at all times. Also, to cope with variable temperatures, the best strategy is to layer clothing, so you can adjust your temperature. You should not underestimate the freezing cold conditions you will encounter on the mountain. Although some clothing and equipment are available for hire locally, it’s impossible to guarantee its quality or availability, so equip yourself fully before departure. If you require further advice please contact your mountain climb consultants us Loraadventure.

The following is a suggestion of what you may find useful to take on this trip. It is not exhaustive and a more detailed packing list can also be found on the Suggested Mountain Climb Equipment page.
T-shirts (synthetic materials are best as cotton retains moisture)
Waterproof thigh-length jacket (Goretex or similar)
Gloves (waterproof warm outers + thin liners)
Warm hat (or balaclava) that covers the ears
Waterproof walking boots (well broken-in)
Waterproof outer trousers _ Warm mid-layer (fleece or down)
Warm long-sleeved shirt _ Warm walking trousers (not jeans!)
Thermal underwear _ Walking socks (several pairs)
Walking shorts
Trainers or soft shoes for relaxing
Sun-hat
Gaiters

Equipment:
Glacier glasses (or good quality sunglasses ? preferably with side shields)
Personal first aid kit & essential medication
Wet wipes
Warm sleeping bag (3/4-season)
Sleeping bag liner
Trekking pole(s) – can be hired locally
Small towel
Headtorch & spare batteries
Spare plastic bags
Water bottle(s) – minimum 3 liters capacity
High factor sunscreen & lips salve
High energy snacks, dried fruit, nuts, sweets, etc. NB: hang on to some till the last day – you’ll appreciate them more!
A small bottle of cordial or squash concentrate (to liven up the ? flat? taste of boiled water)

Meals
6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 5 evening meals are included.

Climate Chart
Arusha (1,390m) Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Temperature: average high/low C 28/13 28/14 27/15 25/16 23/15 22/13 22/12 23/12 25/13 27/14 27/14 27/14
Rain: average monthly mm 66 77 138 223 83 17 8 7 8 24 119 103