Mt. Kilimanjaro Marangu Route
Day 0: Arrive in Tanzania. Our Samba Treks representative will greet you at the airport and drive you to the hotel.
Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut (8.1 km): Enjoy a complimentary breakfast at the hotel and check out of your room. The hotel will securely store the belongings you do not wish to bring on your climb. At approximately 8:00 a.m., our head guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for orientation and gear check. After this, we will depart for Marangu Gate. Your team will trek upwards, through a lush rainforest. This is your best opportunity to see wildlife during your Kilimanjaro climb. When we reach Mandara Hut (2,700m) nestled in a forest clearing, you will be greeted in song by our smiling porters. Mandara Hut sleeps 6-8 hikers in each of its A-framed, solar-lighted huts. Flush toilets are located behind the main hut, and your team will enjoy a delicious dinner in the dining mess.
Day 2: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut (11.6 km): After packing your gear, washing with a pan of warm water (provided for you), and eating a hearty breakfast, your team will begin the trek to Horombo Hut (3,720m). Your team will have a steep ascent through the rainforest, and then you will enter the rocky moorland. If the weather cooperates, you will get your first views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. We arrive at Horombo Hut mid-afternoon, where you can relax and enjoy the stunning scenery around the camp. Horombo Hut is a small cluster of huts on a plateau which can sleep 120 climbers. You will feel the excitement in this camp, as you encounter climbers ascending as well as descending.
Day 3: Horombo Hut acclimatization day: On this acclimatization day, a walk towards the Mawenzi Hut, passing the Zebra Rocks (about 3 hours up and 1.5 hours down), is strongly recommended. This is a good day to walk slowly, rest and hydrate. All of the meals for this day will be provided at the Horombo Hut.
Day 4: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut (9.6 km): Your team, anxious to continue up the mountain, will climb slowly through the alpine desert zone, towards the Saddle, which is the area between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Your guide will choose either the upper route or the lower route. The lower route is easier, shorter, and it passes through a watering point. Kibo Hut (4,700 m), a stone house which can sleep 60 climbers, is located in the Alpine desert. Your team can rest and enjoy soda and mineral water, available for purchase here at the camp office. Toilets are located behind the hut.
Tonight, we will make our ascent to the summit! Your team will prepare clothing and equipment for the final push, eat dinner, and go to sleep early.
Day 5: Kibo Hut to Summit to Horombo Hut (5.4 km ascent and 15 km descent): Your team will wake up at approximately 11 p.m. After getting dressed, you will have tea and biscuits and a briefing from your head guide. Slowly, we will begin our ascent over loose volcanic scree, to the rim of the main crater, Gillman’s Point (5,685 m). We will rest there for few minutes and hopefully enjoy the stunning sunrise over Mawenzi. We will continue along the crater rim to Uhuru peak 5,895 m., the highest point in Africa! After a few minutes of celebration and picture-taking, we will begin our descent to Horombo Hut. Today, we will have walked an excruciating 13-15 hours!
Day 6: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate (19.7 km): After breakfast, we will continue our final descent to Marangu Gate. Here, you will be awarded your summit certificates. Those who reached Gillman's Point (5685m) are awarded green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m), will receive gold certificates. After saying good-bye to your porters, guides, and staff, our vehicle will take you back to your hotel, where you can take a much deserved shower!
Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut (8.1 km): Enjoy a complimentary breakfast at the hotel and check out of your room. The hotel will securely store the belongings you do not wish to bring on your climb. At approximately 8:00 a.m., our head guide will meet you in the hotel lobby for orientation and gear check. After this, we will depart for Marangu Gate. Your team will trek upwards, through a lush rainforest. This is your best opportunity to see wildlife during your Kilimanjaro climb. When we reach Mandara Hut (2,700m) nestled in a forest clearing, you will be greeted in song by our smiling porters. Mandara Hut sleeps 6-8 hikers in each of its A-framed, solar-lighted huts. Flush toilets are located behind the main hut, and your team will enjoy a delicious dinner in the dining mess.
Day 2: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut (11.6 km): After packing your gear, washing with a pan of warm water (provided for you), and eating a hearty breakfast, your team will begin the trek to Horombo Hut (3,720m). Your team will have a steep ascent through the rainforest, and then you will enter the rocky moorland. If the weather cooperates, you will get your first views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. We arrive at Horombo Hut mid-afternoon, where you can relax and enjoy the stunning scenery around the camp. Horombo Hut is a small cluster of huts on a plateau which can sleep 120 climbers. You will feel the excitement in this camp, as you encounter climbers ascending as well as descending.
Day 3: Horombo Hut acclimatization day: On this acclimatization day, a walk towards the Mawenzi Hut, passing the Zebra Rocks (about 3 hours up and 1.5 hours down), is strongly recommended. This is a good day to walk slowly, rest and hydrate. All of the meals for this day will be provided at the Horombo Hut.
Day 4: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut (9.6 km): Your team, anxious to continue up the mountain, will climb slowly through the alpine desert zone, towards the Saddle, which is the area between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks. Your guide will choose either the upper route or the lower route. The lower route is easier, shorter, and it passes through a watering point. Kibo Hut (4,700 m), a stone house which can sleep 60 climbers, is located in the Alpine desert. Your team can rest and enjoy soda and mineral water, available for purchase here at the camp office. Toilets are located behind the hut.
Tonight, we will make our ascent to the summit! Your team will prepare clothing and equipment for the final push, eat dinner, and go to sleep early.
Day 5: Kibo Hut to Summit to Horombo Hut (5.4 km ascent and 15 km descent): Your team will wake up at approximately 11 p.m. After getting dressed, you will have tea and biscuits and a briefing from your head guide. Slowly, we will begin our ascent over loose volcanic scree, to the rim of the main crater, Gillman’s Point (5,685 m). We will rest there for few minutes and hopefully enjoy the stunning sunrise over Mawenzi. We will continue along the crater rim to Uhuru peak 5,895 m., the highest point in Africa! After a few minutes of celebration and picture-taking, we will begin our descent to Horombo Hut. Today, we will have walked an excruciating 13-15 hours!
Day 6: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate (19.7 km): After breakfast, we will continue our final descent to Marangu Gate. Here, you will be awarded your summit certificates. Those who reached Gillman's Point (5685m) are awarded green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m), will receive gold certificates. After saying good-bye to your porters, guides, and staff, our vehicle will take you back to your hotel, where you can take a much deserved shower!
