Mountain trekking · Tanzania
The Marangu route on Kilimanjaro with the travel from Nairobi built in: the shuttle to Arusha on day one, then four days up through the huts and a summit night from Kibo.
The journey
The Marangu route on Kilimanjaro with the travel from Nairobi built in: the shuttle to Arusha on day one, then four days up through the huts and a summit night from Kibo.
Suggested accommodation
Kilimanjaro
before and after the climb; nights on the mountain are in huts or camps set by the route
Arusha
Suggested accommodation is subject to availability. A property of a similar standard may be proposed where necessary.
Suggested accommodation
Kilimanjaro
before and after the climb; nights on the mountain are in huts or camps set by the route
Arusha
Suggested accommodation is subject to availability. A property of a similar standard may be proposed where necessary.
Trip highlights
Your route
Nairobi → Arusha
We will confirm the day-by-day sequence and overnight stops in your detailed proposal.
Schematic route · See the day-by-day programme for travel details.
Day by day
Day 1
Depart Nairobi between 7:15 and 8am on the shuttle bus to Arusha, a drive of about four hours through the Namanga border with lunch en route on your own account. The afternoon is free to organise any gear you still need for the trek and to meet your guide for a briefing on the days ahead. Overnight in Arusha or Moshi on a bed-and-breakfast basis; lunch and dinner are your own arrangement.
Day 2
After breakfast and a briefing, drive about 45 minutes to the Marangu Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park, complete registration and begin walking. The seven-kilometre first stage climbs through montane rainforest, gaining roughly 1,000 metres in four to five hours to the Mandara huts at 2,740 metres. Colobus monkeys and forest birds keep the canopy busy, and a short side trip to Maundi Crater is worth it for the view across northern Tanzania into Kenya. Dinner and overnight at Mandara.
Day 3
An hour or so above Mandara the forest gives way to open moorland and the path climbs steadily for 11 kilometres to the Horombo huts at 3,700 metres, a walk of six to eight hours. The peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are in view for much of the day, with giant lobelias and groundsels beside the trail. This is where the altitude usually starts to be felt, so the guide keeps the pace slow and encourages plenty of water. Dinner and overnight at Horombo.
Day 4
Pass the last watering point and cross the Saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi to the Kibo huts at 4,700 metres, ten kilometres in six to eight hours. The vegetation thins from upper heathland to nothing, leaving a bare alpine desert of rock and volcanic dust with Kibo's summit cone rising ahead. Dinner is early and the evening is spent resting and preparing equipment, because the summit climb starts around midnight.
Day 5
Between midnight and 2am the climb to the summit begins by headlamp, up steep, heavy scree or snow to Gilman's Point on the crater rim at 5,861 metres, a four- to seven-hour effort with many switchbacks and the hardest section of the trek. From there it is one to two hours around the rim to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5,895 metres, with views at every turn. It is very cold until the descent begins. Come down to Kibo for lunch and a rest, then on to Horombo for dinner and overnight; the full day takes 10 to 15 hours.
Day 6
After breakfast, descend 18 kilometres in five to seven hours through the moorland to Mandara and then through the forest to the Marangu Gate at 1,830 metres. Lower down the path can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles are useful, and light clothing is enough with rain gear handy. A vehicle meets you at Marangu village for the drive back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi. Dinner is on your own account.
In pictures
Your written quotation itemises every one of these for your dates, so you can compare it line by line with any other:
Most travellers also budget separately for the items below. Your quotation confirms which apply to this trip.
When to travel
The clearest and driest climbing windows are generally January to March and June to October. The long rains around April and May and the short rains in November make the route harder underfoot and the summit views less reliable. Mountain weather changes quickly in any season, and your guide will brief you on conditions before each stage.
Read the full season guide →Who it suits
Pricing
On Request
Published catalogue reference rate. Confirm availability and the final quotation for your travel dates.
Free quotation
Tell us when and how many. We will reply with a written quotation for the 6-Day Kilimanjaro Climbing - Marangu Route in the style you selected above, and adjust the pace, parks or accommodation if you would like something different.
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Our Nairobi team checks availability and sends a quotation stating the route, accommodation and exactly what is and is not included.
Change the pace, the style of accommodation or the parks. Ask anything before you decide.
Nothing is reserved or charged until you accept the quotation in writing.
Send your travel dates, party size and accommodation preferences. We will confirm availability and send a written quotation before you book.
Ask our team about adjustments to the itinerary, accommodation and pace. We will explain what is practical for your dates and confirm any price changes.
On Request. Ask us to confirm the quotation for your dates and group size.
Some programmes include arrival, preparation or transfer days. Ask us for the confirmed mountain-day schedule and overnight stops for this particular route.
Before you choose
Read the destination guides alongside this itinerary to compare access, wildlife habitat and accommodation position. The named comfort option and written quotation confirm the actual overnight stays, meals and activities.
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