7 Days: Kilimanjaro Trekking via Marangu Route

Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha
Pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Arusha town, which is commonly known as the gateway to the northern circuit and the Geneva of Africa. Meet your guide and review your equipment in the evening in preparation for the trek the following day.

Altitude: (2700m/8860 ft) Walking Distance: 8kms/5miles (4-5 hours)
After breakfast and a short tour briefing from the guide, we will depart to Marangu gate of Kilimanjaro National Park (it is a 2 hours drive from Arusha to the Marangu Gate). Upon registering with park authorities, our climb will officially commence with a four-hour walk to the Mandara encampment. We will pass through a thick rainforest zone, where there is a high chance of rain in the afternoon. We will spend the night at Mandara Hut (2,750m). Rooms in the huts are on quad sharing and bathrooms are available with running water.

Altitude: (3700 m/12140 ft) Walking Distance: 12 km/7.2 miles (5-7 hours)
Today we will continue our ascent through the forest for a short time, before reaching the heather and moorland zone at roughly 3,000m (approximately a six-hour walk). Enjoy stunning views of the mountain peaks at this altitude. We will spend the night at Horombo Hut (3,720m), which lies in a valley surrounded by giant lobelia and groundsel, flora which are characteristic of this semi-alpine zone. Bathrooms are available with running water.

You can spend a full day and a second night at Horombo. On this day, you can either rest at the huts or take a stroll up to the Mawenzi base camp then return to the Horombo Huts. This extra day will help your acclimatization, and further your understanding of the mountains weather and altitude. After your pause, you will continue up to the Kibo Huts on your fourth day for your midnight start to the summit.

Elevation: 3721m/12,208ft to 4714m/15,466ft
Altitude gained: 993m

After breakfast, we continue on through the dwindling heathland that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. Here while we stop for lunch, and later when you cross this surprisingly large saddle, you can examine the summit climb up Kibo that you will be starting in just a few hours.

Elevation: 4714m/15,466ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude gained: 1181m
Descent to 3721m/12,208ft
Altitude lost: 2174m

Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

We continue our way to the summit in a switchback formation through trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion, we ascend through heavy scree and possibly snow towards Gillman’s Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here on your remaining 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way.

Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!

After photos, celebrations and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight Mweka Camp.

Altitude: (3700 m/12140 ft) Walking Distance: 20 kms/12 miles (5-7 hours)
Today's descent continues past the Mandara encampment to the bottom of the mountain, where each hiker will receive a well-earned certificate. From here, you will be transferred to your hotel in Moshi. You will enjoy a farewell dinner with your guides.

Tipping is an expected and highly appreciated component of your Mt. Kilimanjaro trek. Tipping is one of the most direct ways that you can have a positive economic impact within the African community. Although it may not be customary for you, it is an important source of income for those in the tourism industry.