Marangu gate - Kilimanjaro (Marangu route)

Access to the starting point:
From Kilimanjaro International Airport, there are several mini-buses or taxis to the starting point. The journey time is approximately 2 h 30 min.

Path description:
There are several different trails leading up the mountain, but only the trail described above offers accommodation in huts (the other trails require tents).
Mount Kilimanjaro cannot be climbed without a licensed guide, and this applies to all routes.
Our route, the Marangu route, starts at Marangu gate, at 1860 m. We can choose between a 5 or 6 day version of the tour. One day helps us in case of bad weather or just to acclimatise better.


Day 1: Marangu gate (1860 m) - Mandara hut (2715 m) approx. 5 hours

The winding trail takes us through a tropical rainforest and we cover almost a thousand vertical metres at a really slow pace. All the time we meet tourists and porters carrying everything necessary for the comfort of their clients. For the first time, we meet our overnight accommodation in a hut, where we are pleasantly surprised by the comfort the hut offers.

Day 2: Mandara hut (2715 m) - Horombo hut (3705 m) approx. 5 hours

Shortly after the start of the walk, at about 3000 m above sea level, we leave the rainforest and enter a higher world of scrub. Here you can already see Kilimanjaro and the slightly lower Mawenzi. Once again, the walking itself will not be too strenuous as the trail is well maintained and there is no need to be overly cautious. Again, we spend the night in huts with very nice toilets.

Day 3: Horombo hut (3705 m) - Kibo hut (4730 m) approx. 5 hours

We are breathing a little heavier but everything is going well as we are walking really slowly or as the locals say "pole, pole" - slowly, slowly! The trail takes us beyond dwarf pines into the so-called high alpine desert, where we will be accompanied by a strong, cold wind. All around us, there are beautiful views in all directions, with Kibo in front of us and Mawenzi to our right. Despite the fact that the path is sloping, we are struggling to make our way towards the Kibo hut, as the high altitude is already making itself felt here.

Day 4: Kibo hut (4730 m) - Uhuru peak (5895 m) - Horombo hut (3705 m) approx. 12 hours

The toughest day is ahead of us, as we will set off at midnight 1200 m higher to the roof of Africa, where we will reach our destination at sunrise. The route itself is not technically difficult, but the altitude requires a smart approach - "pole, pole!" The first 900 metres are the hardest, when you reach the so-called Gilman's point (5681 m), which is reached by a serpentine path on a steep slope. From here on, it's an hour and a half walk to Uhuru Peak. The trail takes us along the Kibo Crater, past the glacier, and offers magnificent views in all directions. During the last hour of the hike to the summit, many people faint, so it takes a lot of perseverance to "pull yourself up" to the top. When we reach the summit of Africa's highest peak, we don't stay at the top for more than 15 minutes, because we're only halfway there. Descending the mountain is much easier than ascending, as we get lower with every step. We have almost 15 km to walk to Horombo hut, where we spend the night.

Day 5: Horombo hut (3705 m) - Marangu gate (1860 m) approx. 6 hours

With the satisfaction of having reached the summit of Africa, we will descend from Horombo hut to our starting point, where we will have a well-deserved beer with our guides and the whole team that has looked after us on the mountain for the whole five days.


Notes:
- no bottles allowed on the mountain
- smoking is strictly prohibited
- alcohol is strictly prohibited


A slow approach is the key to reaching the summit. A good quality sleeping bag is required as temperatures drop dramatically at night. The huts provide comfortable beds so no mattress pads are needed.

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