Marangu Route
Marangu Gate (1,860m / 6,102ft) - Mandara Hut (2,700m / 8,858ft)
• Elevation Gain: 840Meters / 2,756Feet
• Hiking distance: 11 km
• Hiking time: 5 to 7 hours
• Habitat: Rainforest
The Undugu Safaris Crew will arrive at the hotel on the first morning in order to meet you and hold a small briefing before the summit. After the briefing, we will load the gear into our group's transportation and then travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's eastern entrance: Marangu Gate.
After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking up to Mandara Hut.
Throughout the entire Marangu route, you will be spending your nights in special huts. They are a great alternative to those who do not want to sleep in tents.
By the time you reach camp, our professional mountain crew will have prepared the camp and prepared dinner for everyone.
This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:
•Abstain from consuming alcohol and caffeine.
•Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently).
•Take a Diamox pill to help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness.
Most mountain climbers take Diamox in the morning, in order to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. We recommend you consult your doctor prior to the trip to secure all necessary medications you may need for your summit with US.
Mandara Hut (2,700m / 8,858ft) - Horombo Hut (3,720m / 12,205ft)
• Elevation Gain: 1,020 Meters / 3,347 Feet
• Hiking distance: 10 km
• Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland
Early in the morning after breakfast, the group will depart Mandara Hut to start a moderate trek towards the second high altitude camp: Horombo Hut (3,720 m). When you reach the camp on this day, you will be treated to views of two volcanos at once: Kibo and Mawenzi.
Several hours after lunch, our guide will take you to complete an acclimatization hike in the direction of Kibo Hut with a 200-meter gain in altitude, and then hike back down to Horombo Hut where dinner will be prepared for you.
Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.
Horombo Huts (3,720m / 12,205ft) - Acclimatization Day
• Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours
• Habitat: Moorland
An extra day at Horombo Hut provides an opportunity to acclimatize and increase our chances of making it to the summit. There are a number of walks within the vicinity of the huts, which are strongly recommended to further help with the process of acclimatizing to the altitude.
The most popular hike is to the Mawenzi Saddle, passing the Zebra Rocks along the way. Remember to drink enough water and move slowly (pole, pole). After the four to five-hour hike (round-trip), you will then enjoy an evening meal before retreating to bed early for a good night’s rest.
Horombo Huts (3,720m / 12,205ft) - Kibo Hut (4,700m / 15,420ft)
• Elevation Gain: 980 Meters / 3,215 Feet
• Hiking distance: 10 km
• Hiking time: 4 to 8 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
Right after breakfast the group will be trekking to Kibo Hut. The actual trail is not difficult; just remember to stick with an appropriate pace to keep up your strength in order to reach the summit. When we reach camp you will be served lunch, after which we recommend you sleep as much as you can, avoid any strenuous activity, and drink lots of water.
Kibo Hut (4,700m / 15,420ft) - Uhuru Peak (5,895m / 19,340.55ft) - Horombo Hut (3,720m / 12,205ft)
• Elevation Gain: 1,195 Meters / 3,921 Feet
• Hiking distance: 16 km
• Hiking time: 9 to 12 hours
• Habitat: Arctic Conditions
We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us.
Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m).
After reaching the peak, you'll have the option to decend to the nearest ice glacier or continue the decent to Kibo Camp where we will rest before continuing onto Horombo Hut.
Horombo Hut (3,720 m) - Marangu Gate (1,860m)
• Hiking distance: 18 km
• Hiking time: 5 to 6 hours
• Habitat: Rainforest
You will be offered a warm breakfast in the morning, after which we will head for the Kilimanjaro National Park's exit: Marangu Gate (1,860 m). After your descent, the whole group will gather to congratulate you, and then you will have the chance to share your opinions on the trip in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates (in our office) and provide you a transfer back to the hotel to enjoy a shower, dinner and celebrations with a Kilimanjaro beer!
