5 Days Kilimanjaro Summit on the Marangu Route

Day 0: Arrival

Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha
Our guide will pick you up at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) Or Arusha Airport (ARK) and take you to our office in Arusha. You will have free accommodation at our HOTEL (Center of City near big supermarket and ATM’s and Shopping areas). In the afternoon or evening your Mountain Guide will meet you for a Kilimanjaro climb briefing and an equipment check.

Day 1: Arusha to Marangu Gate to Mandara Huts

• Elevation: 1879m to 2720m,
• Distance: 8km,
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours,
• Habitat: Montana forest

You will be picked up at your hotel in Arusha and drive to Marangu gate registration (2 – 3 hours). Afterwards, you will begin trekking though the rainforest to Mandara hut. Here you will have an acclimatization opportunity of visiting the Mound Crater. You will have dinner and overnight at Mandara hut.

Day 2: Mandara huts to Horombo Huts

• Elevation: 2720m to 3720m,
• Distance: 11km,
• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours,
• Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast you will out climb the rainforest and continue trekking to Horombo hut where you will trek through rolling moorlands and get your fist clear view of towering Kilimanjaro.

Day 3: Horombo Huts to Kibo Huts

• Elevation: 3720m to 4720m,
• Distance: 9km,
• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours,
• Habitat: Alpine Desert.

After a good night rest and break-fast you will trek past the last water point to reach Kibo saddle a great desert between the two peaks Mawenzi and Kibo. An early dinner and overnight at Kibo hut.

Day 4: Summit Day, Kibo Huts Camp to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Huts Camp

• Elevation: 4720m to 5895m, Down 3720m,
• Distance: 6km up, 15km down,
• Time: 6-8 hours up,
• Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Wake at midnight for a light breakfast then prepare for your summit ascent. Because you will climb to the summit in the dark you will need to have your headlamps/flashlights. It will also be very cold. You will need to have all of your warm layers. This is an important time to slow down the trekking (pole pole in Swahili). The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru peak shortly before or after sunrise. This is by far the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks up steep screed or possibly snow, and reaches Gilman’s point on the crater rim at 5685m 4 and 6 a.m. At this point you will have a view of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you. Then after 2 hours of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru peak here you will spend some times for taking photos. After your summit photos and taking in the view, descend back to the Kibo huts, have lunch, rest, collect your equipment and continue down trough re-cross the saddle to the Horombo huts. Have dinner and overnight at Horombo Camp.

Day 5: Horombo Huts Camp to Marangu Gate to the Hotel.

• Elevation: 3720m to 1879m,
• Distance: 19km,
• Descending Time: 4-7 hours

After a long sleep you will wake up for breakfast and packing and continue your trekking down through the moorland to Mandara huts. At Marangu gate you sign out at the registration office. Successful climbers will receive their summit certificates and will be served a delicious hot lunch!! After lunch you drive back to Arusha for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations at the Hotel.