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Route 5 - Marangu
The Marangu route is best known for its Coke and beer stands at the various huts along the way! While it may appear easier than other routes, it is actually very difficult during the final few days. Less then 50% of climbers on the standard Marangu route reach the summit - our percentage is much higher because our guides know how to help our clients acclimatize properly.
Since it is the cheapest route, it continues to attract hundreds of climbers every week! Accommodation is in bunk beds in shared huts. If you enjoy company, this is the route for you!
Be aware that the extra day of acclimatization for Marangu has less of a positive impact than on the other routes. You are simply not high enough for long enough to take full advantage of the extra day - nevertheless, we still recommend you take an extra day.
If you must do this route: 6 days/5 nights (up and down)
- Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut
Beginning Elevation: 1843 meters/6047 feet
Ending Elevation: 2701 meters/8862 feet
Elevation Gain: 858 meters/2815 feet
Hiking time: 4 hours
After breakfast, we drive for about 3 hours to Marangu Gate where the Kiliwarriors are waiting! Due to the large number of climbers, the registration process can take an hour or longer.
For the majority of the day's trek, we will hike on a well-maintained trail through a rainforest. The trail is basically uphill for the whole way but our minds are occupied with the sound and sights of mountain streams, small waterfalls, bird sounds and monkeys!
After about 2 hours we reach an area called
Kisambioni where we will probably enjoy a picnic lunch. After lunch the hike
continues through the rainforest for another 1.5 hours to Mandara Hut. In the
afternoon, we take a short walk (twenty minutes one way) to the Maundi Crater.
Mandara Hut is actually a group of comfortable, wooden A-frame huts. The largest
cabin has a downstairs dining area and an upstairs dormitory with bunk beds and
mattresses; several smaller huts are also available. Water is piped into site
from springs above and flush toilets are behind the main cabin. The
toilets are interesting! They do flush, but it’s just a hole in the ground with
a porcelain foot tread. The trick is to squat as low as you can.
- Day 2: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
Beginning Elevation: 2701 meters/8862 feet
Ending Elevation: 3700 meters/12150 feet
Elevation Gain: 1002 meters/3288 feet
Hiking time: 6 hours
After an early breakfast, we leave Mandara Hut and soon exit the forest for our first glimpse of Mawenzi and the slopes of Kilimanjaro. As we enter the Moorland zone grass, heather and rare flowers dominate the landscape.
Lunch is at a picnic spot called Kambi ya Taabu.
By now the south-eastern slopes of Kilimanjaro are in full view for most of the
way. We arrive at Horombo Hut around 3pm where we can relax until dinner.
Horombo Huts are small, A-frame buildings that can accommodate more than 100
people and provide lodging for hikers ascending, descending and acclimatizing.
Unfortunately, there is only one dining hut at Horombo - so there is often a
line for dinner!
- Day 3: Horombo Hut (acclimatization day)
Beginning Elevation: 3700 meters/12150 feet
Mawenzi Elevation: 4520 meters/14826 feet
Elevation Gain: 816 meters/2676 feet
Hiking time: 4 hours
We use this day to acclimatize by hiking to
Mawenzi Hut. The views from there are wonderful. Lunch will be back at
Horombo. The afternoon is a time to rest and relax.
- Day 4: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
Beginning Elevation: 3700 meters/12150 feet
Ending Elevation: 4718 meters/15480 feet
Elevation Gain: 1015 meters/3330 feet
Hiking time: 6 hours
We leave Horombo Hut after an early breakfast to
return to the Mawenzi route and we take a northern (and less crowded) route to
our next camp. The environment is bleak desert with little vegetation, but the
stunning views of Kibo more than make up for the windy and dusty trail. Lunch is
served about halfway through the Saddle. We reach Kibo Hut around 3pm in time to
rest and prepare for our midnight climb.
- Day 5: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut
Beginning Elevation: 4718 meters/15480
feet
Summit: 5896 meters/19340 feet
Ending Elevation: 3700 meters/12150 feet
Hiking Time: 12 to 15 hours
At midnight, we begin our ascent to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. For the next 6-7 hours, we hike in the dim lights of our headlamps. This is by far the most challenging part of the climb. The track leads up through gradually steepening scree to Gillman's point on the Crater Rim which is a convenient point to rest and watch the sunrise over Mawenzi.
It is a further 3-hour round trip to Uhuru Peak. The 90-minute trek to the summit is slow and tough, but with the sun slowly rising behind us we must push on - there is no reason to turn back now!
At the summit, we celebrate for about 20 minutes before gathering our composures for the long road back!
We retrace our steps back to Kibo Hut for lunch and a short rest before setting off on the long descent across the saddle to the huts at Horombo.
What a day!
- Day 6: Horombo Hut - Marangu Gate
Beginning Elevation: 3700 meters/12150
feet
Ending Elevation: 1830 meters/6000 feet
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
After breakfast we depart at 7:30am to finish the trek with a descent to Marangu Gate. It is a beautiful trek, passing through the thick forest as we near the Mandara Hut.
At the gate, we sign the register, tip the team, get our certificates and head home! Our Kilimanjaro experience is over!