6 Days Climb Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route
Marangu Route is the oldest and the shortest route to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is also a well established route of all with accommodation offered in dormitory style of between 4 -20 bunk beds per room. There are 60 bunk beds in each Mandara and Kibo huts where at Horombo there is 120 bunk beds. In each bed there is a sponge mattress and pillow for climbers to use. In addition to that, all the huts in Marangu Routes are fitted with solar panels which provides sufficient source of light. People who climb Kilimanjaro shouldn’t worried about the availability of toilet facilities since there are shared bathrooms and running water with basic latrines at both Mandara and Horombo Huts. There are also dining huts which shared by all climbers which brings a cheerful atmosphere. Beer and soft drinks are also available for sale at the huts.
Climb Kilimanjaro through Marangu route takes 6 days for better acclimatization which result to high success rate. However there are unprofessional guides who take climbers for 5 days which lead to a low success rate of 50%. For this case we recommend our clients to go for 6 days trip which has a higher success rate than the 5 days.
When climbing Kilimanjaro through Marangu route you should expect to walk the distance of about 72 kilometers which is equivalent to 45 miles for entire trek up and down. The Marangu route approach the Mountain from South East direction at the park entrance gate of Marangu.
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro through Marangu is during dry season which is between January – March and June – October. However the climbing can be done all year-round, but it may be wet and colder which means you should be equipped with the right warm and waterproof gears.
Climb Mount Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Tanzania
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport meet and greet then transfer to the small town of Moshi for overnight at Keys Hotel or other hotels of the same standard.
Day 2: Moshi – Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut
Elevation: (1905m/6250ft to 2723m/8934ft)
Altitude gained: 818m
Distance covered: 8.3 km (5miles)
Climbing Time: 4-5 hrs
Habitat: Rainforest
Breakfast, followed by briefing from your guide, depart the hotel at 08:30 am for a 45 minutes drive to Marangu gate. This gate is located to the south eastern side of Mount Kilimanjaro. Finalize the registration and start the climb through the rain forest towards Mandara hut. Along the trail will see the eucalyptus trees, colobus monkeys and several bird species. The trail between the gate and Mandara hut used to be wet and muddy so trekking poles and gaiters will help. During climbing Kilimanjaro Shorts and t-shirts can be enough, but you should carry with you the rain gear and warmer clothing. You may opt to stop for lunch at halfway or proceed to Mandara Huts where you will arrive around 1 or 2 pm. Take lunch, rest and have some tea or coffee. While at Mandara you will have a 15 minute walking trip to Maundi Crater where you will see the surroundings. Dinner will be served at 7 pm.
Day 3: Mandara to Horombo
Elevation: 2723m/8934ft to 3721m/12,208ft
Altitude gained: 998m
Distance covered: 12.5 km (8 miles)
Trekking Time: 6-8 hrs
Habitat: Mooreland
Breakfast at 7:30 am, and continue to climb Kilimanjaro on Marangu route through rainforest glades, follow an ascending path through heathland for 1 hour. Along the trail you can see giant lobelias and groundsels. Continue toward the moorlands with the vegetation cover of small shrubs. Stop for lunch at the point where you can enjoy amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive Horombo Huts at 2 to 3 pm and enjoy the view of Kibo’s summit. Spend the remaining hours of the day relaxing and prepare yourself for dinner. Bathrooms with running shower are available. At this point most climbers start to feel the effects of altitude so you can choose to spend an extra day for acclimatization here. You may also choose to climb to a basecamp below Kibo’s sub peak Mawenzi in the next day.
Day 4: Horombo Huts (Acclimitization)
You can spend the entire day resting at Horombo or trekking to Mawenzi ridge and return to Horombo huts. This extra day meant for acclimatization which helps your body to cope with the mountain weather which will result to a high success rate. The next day you will continue to Kibo a hut which is the last point up to the Summit.
If you will opt to trek to Mawenzi ridge you walk the distance of 5 km in 2 -3 hours along the heath habitat. The altitude will range from 12,205 ft to 14,400 ft and back 12,205 ft at Horombo huts which is the starting point.
Day 5: Horombo to Kibo Hut
Elevation: 3721m/12,208ft to 4714m/15,466ft
Altitude gained: 993m
Distance covered: 10.5km (6 miles)
Trekking Time: 6 to 8 hrs |
Habitat: Semi – desert
Wake up early to enjoy the magnificent sunrise, breakfast and continue with the climbing Kilimanjaro program to Kibo Hut. The first part of the day’s trek is to climb through the dwindling heathland that annex into a moonscape as you enter the broad saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. Halfway stop for lunch, and as you proceed crossing the saddle you can observe the summit that you will be climbing in the coming few hours. Not that there is no running water at Kibo Hut.
Day 6: Kibo Hut – Summit – Horombo Hut
Elevation: 4714m/15,466ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude gained: 1181m
Descent to 3721m/12,208ft
Altitude lost: 2174m
Distance covered up: 6.25 km (3.9 miles) – Time 5 to 7 hrs
Distance covered down: 15.75km (9 miles) down – Time 5 to 6 hrs
Habitat: Glacier
Wake up at midnight for a light breakfast and prepare for your summit ascent. At 1 am start to climb along steep trail via Gilman’s Point and arrive to the summit at 5,861 m / 18,640 ft between 5 and 7 am. Here, the panoramic views of the magical crater and its icecaps welcome you. Continue to trek for another 2 hours along the crater rim near the renowned snows take you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak, by 9 am which is the Africa’s highest point. This is also the best spot on Kilimanjaro to take pictures which you will show to your friends.
After staying at the summit, descend back to the Kibo Huts for lunch and short rest thereafter continue to Horombo huts. Eat dinner and get some well-deserved sleep!
Day 7: Horombo Huts – Marangu Gate – Moshi
Elevation: 3721 m / 12,208 ft to 1905m/6250ft
Altitude lost: 1816 m
Distance covered: 20 km (12.5 miles)
Trekking Time: 6 to 7hrs
Habitat: Rainforest.
After breakfast, pack your luggage and continue with the trekking through the moorland downward to Mandara huts. Enjoy your lunch at this point then proceed down through rainforest to Marangu gate. After checking out and collect your climbing certificate, we will take you by vehicle to the hotel in Moshi town.
End of Climbing Kilimanjaro through Marangu route
Climbing Kilimanjaro Cost -Marangu Route:
Solo Climber: US $ 2250
2 climbers: US $ 1750 per person
3 – 4 Climbers: US $ 1650 per person
5 climbers and more: US $ 1600 per person.
Airport Pick up and drop off.
Pre and post climb accommodation in Moshi / Arusha
Park fee, permit and rescue fees
Hut accommodation
Service of the Professional Mountain Guide, porters & chef
Meals (Breakfasts, lunches and dinners)
Hot water for shower
Water; tea and coffee with meals
Summit Oxygen
Price Excludes:
Tanzania Visa: $50 per person on arrival
Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
Meals not listed above
Optional Tours (short safari after your climb etc)
Tips and any items of personal nature.
Emergency Evacuation by Flying Doctor
climbing gears
Drinks and beverages
How hard is to Climb Kilimanjaro through Marangu Route
Climbing Kilimanjaro through Marangu route seems by many as the easiest option to the Summit which is indeed a misconception. We all agreed that it is the most well established route than all other routes with accommodation offered in huts compared to other routes where climbers overnight in tents. But the matter of fact is the Marangu route doesn’t give sufficient time for climbers to acclimatize due to few days which required accomplishing the climb. However the situation becomes more difficult when climber opt 5 days climbing schedule instead of 6 days schedule which results to high chances of failure due to lack of acclimatization which may lead to altitude sickness.
With consideration to the above mentioned points, we advise you to acquire a good level of fitness in order to climb Kilimanjaro through Marangu route and you should prefer the 6 days program rather than the 5 days program for better success rate.
How Many Days it takes to Climb Marangu Route?
The total distance for Marangu route up and down Kilimanjaro is 82 km which is equivalent to 50 miles. The number of days required to climb is 5 days or 6 days but when adding up the arrival and departure days the total number of days become 8 to 10 days. Although you might have few days and tight budget but we still advise you to go for a 6 days Kilimanjaro climb rather than a 5 days program. This will help you to have sufficient time for acclimatization and increase the chance to reach the summit successful.
What is the Marangu Route Success Rate?
The Marangu Route with no doubt has the lowest summit success rates. This is due to the few numbers of days used to climb and poor advice given to the climber by both wicked tour operators and unprofessional guides who care about making profit rather than the safety of the climbers. They can simply take climbers for a 5 days Kilimanjaro climbing Marangu route program which has 50% success. We highly recommend 6 days Kilimanjaro Climbing program through Mara route since it has over 90% success rate. By following our advice you can increase the chance of conquering the highest point in Africa “The Kilimanjaro”.
What is the Scenery on Marangu Route?
The Marangu route offers remarkable scenery but relatively less compared to other Kilimanjaro routes since both ascend and descend follow the same path. The path passes through rainforest, moorland, high-altitude desert to glacier.
How busy is the Marangu route?
The Marangu route is the most crowded route than all other routes on Kilimanjaro. This is due to the fact that it is the oldest route, well established, well known than all other routes. It also has gradual slopes and direct path which makes people to think that it is the most accessible route to the summit. If you prefer more privacy during the Kilimanjaro Climb therefore this route is not the best option for you.
How much it Cost to Climb Kilimanjaro through Marangu route?
A six day Kilimanjaro climb through Marangu route cost US $ 2000 per person sharing. The cost includes 2 nights pre & post accommodation in Moshi town, Airport transfer and six days on the mountain. For details about the cost scroll up to the Climbing program.
What is the best time to Climb Kilimanjaro through the Marangu Route?
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is during the dry season which is from July to September. The weather during this time is stable and the possibility to rain is less. However people can climb Kilimanjaro all the remaining months of the year except April and Many which is the rainy season.