5 Day Kilimanjaro Climb Through Marangu Route with Huts

Departing from Arusha to Moshi, this 2-hour 45-minute drive will take you through the village of Marangu to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead. Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here. Dinner and your overnight stay will be at Mandara Hut.

After a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, through heathland, looking for giant lobelias and groundsels. Continue up into open moorlands where small shrubs are the main vegetation. Stop halfway for lunch, to enjoy amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive at the Horombo Hut late in the afternoon beneath the spectacular Kibo Summit viewpoint. Temperatures begin to drop. Dinner and your overnight stay will be at Horombo Hut.

After breakfast, we'll continue through the dwindling heathland that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. We will stop for lunch here. 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. Dinner and your overnight stay will be at Kibo Hut.

Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2:00 am. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. We'll continue our way to the summit in a switchback formation by 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, you have a 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! Dinner and your overnight stay will be at Horombo Hut.

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We'll continue the descent down stopping at the Mandara Huts for lunch. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. You'll return to the Marangu Park Gate and receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles. From the gate, a vehicle will meet you to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha (about 1hour 45 minutes). Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebration.