5 Days Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

TRIP OVERVIEW

For many adventurers, the 5-Day Marangu Route up Mount Kilimanjaro remains a favored choice. Accommodation is provided in shared huts equipped with bunk beds, and the ascent follows the path to Gilman’s Point on the Kibo Volcano’s rim. This route also retraces the same path for the descent.

Highlights:

Explore Kilimanjaro’s diverse landscapes, from afromontane forests to glacial valleys and alpine deserts. Experience the ascent of Kibo, with the possibility of observing the Kibo caldera and ash pit. Witness the glaciers and stand atop the roof of Africa!

Day 1: Mandara Huts

Start Altitude: 6,464 ft / 1970 m
End Altitude: 8,924 ft / 2720 m
Distance: 5 miles / 8 km
Time: 3-5 hours
Climate Zone: Afromontane Forest

Depart after breakfast to Kilimanjaro National Park. Complete preparations at the gate and embark on the hike from Marangu Gate. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route and reach Mandara Hut in the afternoon. An optional walk to Maundi Crater is possible later in the day.

Day 2: Horombo Huts

Start Altitude: 8,924 ft / 2720 m
End Altitude: 12,205 ft / 3720 m
Distance: 7 miles / 11 km
Time: 5-7 hours
Climate Zone: Afromontane Forest

Set off after breakfast for Horombo Huts. The day involves significant altitude gain, requiring a gentle pace. Arrive at the camp in the afternoon, where you have two nights to acclimatize to the altitude.

Day 3: Kibo Hut

Start Altitude: 12,205 ft / 3720 m
End Altitude: 15,486 ft / 4720 m
Distance: 6 miles / 9 km
Time: 4-6 hours
Climate Zones: Heath / Alpine Desert

An early start to reach the final hut before the summit attempt. Progress through the alpine zone towards Kibo’s base. Arrive at Kibo Hut by mid-afternoon to prepare for the evening ascent. After an early dinner, rest before the nighttime summit departure.

Day 4: Summit Bid / Horombo Huts

Start Altitude: 15,486 ft / 4720 m
End Altitude: 12,205 ft / 3720 m
Distance: 13 miles / 21 km
Time: 13-17 hours
Climate Zones: Alpine Desert / Arctic / Heath

Commence the climb to the peak before midnight for optimal conditions. The firmer scree sections at night offer better footing. Around 6 hours to Gilman’s Point, then 1.5 to 2 hours more to Uhuru Peak (Alt 19,341 ft / 5985 m), the highest free-standing mountain peak globally. Descend the same path, with a stop at Kibo Hut before descending to Horombo Huts for dinner and rest.

Day 5: Arusha

Start Altitude: 12,205 ft / 3720 m
End Altitude: 6,164 ft / 1879 m
Distance: 12 miles / 19 km
Time: 5-7 hours
Climate Zone: Heath / Afromontane Forest

Descend through heath and forest zones back to Marangu Gate. After lunch and farewells, transfer to your lodge for a refreshing shower. Later, a Tanzania Travel Company Representative will congratulate you, gather feedback, and address any remaining questions regarding your onward journey.

Tour Includes & Excludes

Tour Includes:

Park fees, (entry fee camping/hut fees & rescue fees crew fees)
18% VAT on tour fees & services
Three health and fresh meals
Professional and experienced mountain Guide
Professional and experienced cooks
Transportation to & from the airport
Transportation to & from the mountain gates
Enough number of porters for your luggage, food, water, and camping equipment
Food, shelters, and fair wages for the porters, cooks, and guides
Camping gears (sleeping tents, dining tents, tables, chairs, and cooking gear)
Radio and cell phone communication that help us to stay in contact within and outside the group therefore we can respond almost instantaneously to whatever issue that may arise
We provide our guides with professional first aid kits and pulse oximeters for daily updates on acclimatization progress
Assistance with the climbing permit procedure

Tour Excludes:

Personal porters
All international and domestic flights
Tourist Visas
Medical and Travel insurance
Tips to mountain crew
Mountain trekking gears e.g. walking poles (available for hire upon request)
Sleeping Bag (available for hire upon request)
A portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is extra (US$200 per toilet + toilet tent)
Others; Extra expenses as food or drinks separate from those described in the itinerary, satellite phone calls, transference fees, and other services not specified as included
Any other alterations to our itineraries
Emergency Oxygen

Have Any Question?

Do not hesitate to give us a call. We are an expert team and we are happy to talk to you.

Sam Diah - Safari Expart

Book your dream Tanzania wildlife safari with sustainable local experts! Enjoy a lifetime thrill while supporting local communities and animal welfare. Start your adventure today with our custom itinerary

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Noah K

2024-02-25

Use This Local Tour Operator! Sam is Great! Sam was an incredible host, and he delivered a trip that exceeded our wildest expectations. He was extremely attentive, and it was clear that our business meant a lot to him. It also felt so much better to use a local tour operator rather than a travel agent based overseas. Tanzania is a magical place, and they deserve to have the money from safaris flow through their own economy. We would definitely use Sam again!

ElanaK1

2024-02-23

Locally owned and run tour operator We had a very large family trip to Tanzania that Sam helped make happen. He was available before during and after our trip to respond to our questions and to help make sure we were having the experience we were looking for. We met two of his beautiful children while we were in Arusha and at the very end, we had the privilege of meeting his lovely wife. This made us feel so connected to him and we felt so good about having this personal and special experience rather than have booked with a company where management sat in an office overseas. He also sent us on safari with two outstanding guides - Livingstone and Hosea. They really took care of us and we felt privileged to spend time with them as well. It is not easy to find a local tour operator and if this is something you value while planning a trip to Tanzania, I encourage you to reach out to Sam.

Zach K

2024-02-21

So glad I went local! 10/10 amazing experience This was the trip of a lifetime. I was responsible for planning our (9 person!) family trip to Tanzania, which was exciting... but a lot of pressure! It was important to us to use a local agency, locally-owned operators, and locally-owned lodges throughout our stay. Sam was a godsend. We worked together to choose great destinations, lodges, and even a hot air balloon safari. Sam is the head of the local tour operators association and knows everything there is to know about safari in Tanzania. He made himself very available - we must have exchanged hundreds of whatsapps and dozens of emails in preparation for our trip. When we arrived in Arusha, I was extra glad we had chosen to work with someone based locally. We had a lovely BBQ dinner with Sam and his family before heading out on our 10 day safari. During the trip, Sam was in frequent communication with our guides to make sure that everything was going well. When we flew from Serengeti back to Arusha, Sam and his wife met us for lunch before sending us off. The trip itself was unbelievable. Our guides, Hoseah and Livingstone, were seasoned veterans. We saw every safari animal I could have dreamed of - plus some I didn't even know existed! I'm glad I took lots of photos, but not sure I needed to - these memories will last a lifetime!

Yoni K

2024-02-14

Amazing Safari We had a wonderful experience working with Sam and our guides Hosea and Livingstone. Having been born and raised in Tanzania, Sam has deep knowledge of the culture and country. We saw the big 5 as well as dozens of other animals, all close-up. Was an unforgettable experience!

MKGIMD

2024-02-11

Superb Safari Experience! Our large family just had an unforgettable Safari adventure thanks to Sam and his amazing staff. Our guides were knowledgeable and professional. The sites we saw over these 10 days were simply spectacular! We learned so much about plants, animals and Tanzanian culture. We were committed to choosing a local company and we are so glad that we chose Tanzanian Travel & Safari Company. Sam was with us every step of the way – during the months prior to our journey and all throughout our Safari adventure. He was invaluable in booking many of our accommodations. He truly cared about our experience. I strongly urge you to reach out to Sam when you are planning your own African adventure.

Nan Z

2024-02-10

An Amazing Safari Experience Our family of 9 had an amazing Safari experience thanks to Sam, Livingstone and Hosea. It is hard to say which destination was the best between Tarangire, Ngorogoro Crater and the Serengeti. The animals, the birds, the landscape, the weather and the lovely staff in each location made the experience one of a lifetime. Our guides were very knowledgeable, accomodating, flexible, and driven to meet our needs. They helped us to see the Big Five and so much more. I recommend this tour company.

327nomad

2023-02-12

Fabulous! TTC were instrumental in putting together a rather ambitious hiking/climbing/camping adventure for me . It involved climbing Mount Longido, wild camping there and hiking sections of the Maasai plains followed by climbing Mount Meru and camping on Mount Meru too! Due to logistics and the fact that Mount Longido had been unvisited since pre pandemic, meant it was truly raw, unspoiled and wild! A brilliant experience for myself of course but it wasn't without it's challenges for my amazing support team ( my mountain family! ). Mount Meru was another amazing experience. Having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro a number of years ago, personally I found Mount Meru more beautiful and definitely not a "cake walk"....it was a true challenge but very rewarding. Summit night was tough....! Camping on Mount Meru also contributed to the uniqueness of my adventure. Thank you Sam and my incredible mountain family for making my madcap trip a reality.....and such fun!

Zoe K

2022-10-31

Kilimanjaro Lemosho route TTC were amazing throughout my trek to the Kilimanjaro summit in October 2022. Everything was organised so well but the really exceptional aspect was the team of local support staff and guide. AJ, Paul, Isaya, Joseph, Pascal, Renata and the 30 other fantastic people that carried, cooked, camped and cared for us. Absolutely loved every second, a trip of a lifetime, thank you 🙏

Henry S

2022-10-31

Once in a lifetime experience I climbed Kilimanjaro with the Tanzanian Travel Company (booked through Charity Challenge UK) in October 2022. Everything was superbly coordinated by TTC, who arranged everything from porters, transport, food, tents- pretty much everything we needed to get to the summit! All of the staff from the guides and porters were very friendly and their knowledge was unrivalled. Special mentions to our lead guide, Richard, who's advice was invaluable and the other guides and porters David, Eric and Joseph (there are too many to mention). Would definitely book again with TTC in the future.

5 Days Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

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Sam Diah - Safari Expart

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5 Days Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

Have Any Question?

Sam Diah - Safari Expart

Travel Experiences

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