5 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Via Marangu Route
Tour overview
5 Days Kilimanjaro Hiking Via Marangu Route is a popular trekking option for those looking to summit Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. This route is known for its scenic beauty and gradual ascent, making it a more manageable climb for those who are less experienced or have less time to spare. The Marangu route starts at the Marangu Gate and winds through forests, moorlands, and alpine deserts before reaching the summit. Along the way, trekkers will stay in huts instead of tents, making the journey more comfortable. Despite its popularity, the climb is still a challenging and rewarding experience that requires physical fitness and mental toughness.
Tour Type
Duration
Tour Location
Airport Pickup
- Kilimanjaro Int. Airport (KIA)
Tour Highlights
- The only route with hut accommodations
- Ascent and descent follow the same path
- Gentle ascent on a well-maintained trail with a few steeper sections
- Good acclimatization achievable on a 5-day tour
- Total distance is approximately 73 km for a 5-day tour
Tour Itinerary
Kisambi Tours' representative will welcome you at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and accompany you to your accommodations for the night. Our guides are well connected with the country, so you'll be in good hands from the minute you arrive until you leave.
Leave Moshi at 8am for Marangu Gate. The drive to Marangu takes approximately 1 hour, and you will meet your Kisambi Tours guides, cooks and porters. After completing gate registration, begin your Kilimanjaro trek. Walk along a narrow trail through the rain forest of Kilimanjaro for most of the hike. Eat a picnic lunch at Kisambioni. After lunch continue walking through the rainforest until you reach Mandara Hut. Relax for the rest of the day or take a short walk to Maundi Crater. The views to the east over Taveta and to the northwest to Mawenzi Peak are stunning on a clear day, making the short hike well worth the effort. The A–frame Mandara Huts can accommodate up to seventy people and consist of several sleeping huts and a dining area. All of Marangu’s huts have beds with mattresses.
- Elevation: 1860m to 2700m
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Distance: 8 km
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Habitat: Rainforest
After breakfast, leave Mandara Hut and Kilimanjaro’s forests for Horombo Hut. Most of the day’s hike will be through Kilimanjaro’s moorland, a rocky landscape with desert–like plants. Eat a picnic lunch at Kambi ya Taabu before continuing to Horombo Hut. If the weather is clear, enjoy beautiful views of Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Arrive at Horombo Hut at around 3pm and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing. Although extremely busy, the Horombo Huts are considered to be the nicest on Kilimanjaro. The small, A–frame buildings can accommodate up to eight people each and provide lodging for hikers ascending, descending and acclimatizing. Horombo can accommodate up to one hundred hikers and many more porters, cooks and guides.
- Elevation: 2700m to 3720m
- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
- Distance: 12 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Habitat: Heath and Moorland
Elevation Gain: 1,030 meters, 3,380 feet Leave Horombo Hut after breakfast to hike through the moorland and alpine desert of Kilimanjaro’s upper altitudes. After hiking for about an hour arrive at Maua River, a small mountain stream. After Maua, the terrain becomes flatter and the vegetation begins to disappear. Break for lunch at Middle Red Hill. After lunch, continue on a steady incline for another two hours through Kilimanjaro’s Saddle. Although the environment on the way to Kibo is a bleak desert with little vegetation, you will see many stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Reach Kibo Hut around 3pm to rest and prepare for your midnight climb.
- Elevation: 3720m to 4720m
- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
- Distance: 10 km
- Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Around midnight, awake for the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. The hike begins with a demanding five hours hike to Gillman’s Point on the crater rim. Although this is considered to be the easiest of the three crater ascent paths, it is still extremely difficult. The first major rest stop, William’s Point, lies at 5000 meters and is approximately a two hours hike Kibo Hut. Continue on for thirty minutes before beginning the rocky switchbacks that will continue to Gillman’s Point (5,681 meters)
- Elevation: 4720m to 5895m (ascent) and then down to 3700m (descent)
- Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
- Distance: 22 km (6 km ascent, 16 km descent)
- Difficulty: Very Difficult
- Habitat: Arctic (Summit Zone)
After breakfast, finish the trek with a descent to Marangu Gate. Your last hike on Kilimanjaro is a beautiful one, passing through Kilimanjaro’s cloud forest. Watch your step during the descent, as the trail can be slippery. Kisambi Tours vehicles will be waiting at Marangu Gate to take you back to Moshi. You will be able to buy t–shirts and sodas at the gate.
- Elevation: 3720m to 1860m
- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
- Distance: 20 km
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Habitat: Heath and Moorland, then Rainforest
Includes
- Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary
- Professional, English-speaking guide
- Mountain crew (cook, summit porter& porters)
- Overnight stays in tents
- Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mats, tables, chairs, etc.)
- Meals according to the itinerary
- Drinking water, tea & coffee
- Oxygen tank and oximeters
- All national park fees
- Transfer from the hotel to the National Park gate and back
Excludes
- Alcohol and soft drinks
- Sleeping bag
- Flights
- Visa fees
- Tips
- Personal spending money for souvenirs
- Travel insurance
- Airport Transfer
- Pre and Post climb Hotel Accommodation
Gallery
GROUP DISCOUNT
Group adventures have a predetermined charge per person based on group size. However, we offer optional options for specific private and tailor-made preferences that are best suited to you, your family, and friends.
| GROUP SIZE | PRICE PER PERSON |
|---|---|
| 1 Pax | $ 1540 |
| 2 Pax | $ 1360 |
| 3 Pax - 4 Pax | $ 1260 |
| 5 Pax - 6 Pax | $ 1240 |
| 7 Pax | $ 1230 |
HIKING FAQ'S
Best time to climb Kilimanjaro is a major Kilimanjaro Faq’s asked by most of the trekkers. Mount Kilimanjaro can be ascended year around and all the Kilimanjaro routes will support climbing Kilimanjaro round the year. As Kilimanjaro is near to equator the region experiences a very less extremes of winter and summer weather, rather it has wet and dry seasons. Hence, the Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro is dry season which is warm. It is advised to avoid climbing Kilimanjaro during wet season for beginners. However, if you are with a professional climber and have all the safety precautions taken, then climbing Kilimanjaro in wet season would be really adventures. This also depends on your preference of Kilimanjaro Routes. You will need to choose best Kilimanjaro route and also choose a longer itinerary for better acclimatization.
The weather in Kilimanjaro is considered as wet season and dry season. Before knowing about Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro”, the weathers and climates are very important to decide for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. All the Kilimanjaro routes pass the ecological or climatic zones where the weather tends to change hourly due to the high-altitude condition and the trade winds. The wet season has more rainfall and dry season has lesser rainfall with more dry days. The main climatic zones are: Cultivation zone, Rainforest zone, Heath or moorland zone, Highland dessert zone and Artic zone. Each zone are unique in its own way and also have a distinct weather conditions all the way.
The Kilimanjaro Food during your climb will help you to avoid from Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness. The menu on Kilimanjaro is designed to ensure your food intake matches your level of exertion. It will provide you with a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables. When you are at altitude you could start to feel uneasy and your appetite may be suppressed, so the meals prepared at high altitude usually contain more carbohydrates and less protein to help you to digest your food. Your meals will be prepared by your cooks on Kilimanjaro and the food will be carried by your porters. You will be provided with Porridge, Toast, Pancakes, Egg, Smoked sausages, Tea, coffee and Hot chocolate. Sandwiches, Hard boiled eggs, Biscuits, Fruit juice. Soup, Pasts, Rice, Potatoes, Chicken, Beef, vegetables, Salad and Fresh fruits.
The Kilimanjaro Food during your climb will help you to avoid from Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness. The menu on Kilimanjaro is designed to ensure your food intake matches your level of exertion. It will provide you with a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables. When you are at altitude you could start to feel uneasy and your appetite may be suppressed, so the meals prepared at high altitude usually contain more carbohydrates and less protein to help you to digest your food. Your meals will be prepared by your cooks on Kilimanjaro and the food will be carried by your porters. You will be provided with Porridge, Toast, Pancakes, Egg, Smoked sausages, Tea, coffee and Hot chocolate. Sandwiches, Hard boiled eggs, Biscuits, Fruit juice. Soup, Pasts, Rice, Potatoes, Chicken, Beef, vegetables, Salad and Fresh fruits.
It is better to check with your doctor or centre of disease control before leaving for any recommendations. This one of the major Mount Kilimanjaro Facts you should take into considerations. However, while entering Tanzania you will need a yellow fever vaccination certificate and also malaria vaccination certificate. Apart from these other vaccinations are not compulsory. However, it is better to consult your doctor for Vaccinations for Kilimanjaro if you have asthma or any chronic health problems.
The usual ratio is three or four local staff for each climber, although small groups may have four or five staff per climber. The staff usually consists of an English speaking guide or guides, a professional cooker, and gear-carrying porters. We encourage you to interact with your staff. They are all trustworthy, local people who have grown up in the shadow of the mountain. Many of them have climbed the peak a hundred or more times.
We can measure each day in walking hours rather than kilometers. Most days, other than the summit day, will begin with breakfast around 6:30 AM and departure at 7 AM. You will walk four to five hours with a break for lunch followed by another hour or two of hiking in the afternoon. These days are not long or difficult and you will be advised to walk slowly.
We recommend a minimum of eight days from the USA and Europe, although some people may wish more time for the trip. We can customize itineraries or routes to offer more days in the park(s). Some people may wish to climb nearby Mount Meru as well. If you have more than eight or nine days, you can choose any of the main routes on the mountain and still have time for a wildlife safari before or after your trip.
Words from Our happy Clients
We have received feedback from our clients, and Kisambi Tours is rated 5/5 by them. Customers grant us this honor because we are constantly committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure that their safari is completely satisfactory.
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