Marangu Route — 5 Days
Overview
The 5-day Marangu is the shortest and cheapest way up Kilimanjaro, and the only route where you sleep in permanent huts with bunk beds. Because there is no built-in acclimatisation day, summit success is lower — we recommend it only for climbers with recent high-altitude experience.
Quick facts
- Start point
- Marangu Gate (1,860 m)
- End point
- Marangu Gate (same route)
- Distance
- ≈ 72 km round trip
- Highest point
- Uhuru Peak · 5,895 m
- Best season
- Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Traffic
- Low to moderate
- Scenery
- Exceptional
- Accommodation
- Mountain huts (no tents)
Day-by-day itinerary
- 1Day 1
Moshi → Marangu Gate → Mandara Hut
Today's StatusHiking Time: 3–4 hoursTotal Distance: 8 kmStarting Altitude: 1,860 m (6,100 ft)Final Altitude: 2,700 m (8,858 ft)Elevation Change: +840 mHabitat: Montane rainforestMorning briefing and gear check in Moshi, then a 1-hour drive to Marangu Gate (1,860 m) for park registration. A well-graded, easy-to-follow forest path climbs through lush montane rainforest with troops of blue monkeys, colobus and the calls of turacos overhead. Mandara Hut is a cluster of A-frame wooden cabins with bunk beds; an optional 30-minute walk to Maundi Crater gives views across to Kenya.
Meals: Lunch, DinnerMandara Hut · 2,700 m - 2Day 2
Mandara → Horombo Hut
Today's StatusHiking Time: 6 hoursTotal Distance: 12 kmStarting Altitude: 2,700 m (8,858 ft)Final Altitude: 3,720 m (12,205 ft)Elevation Change: +1,020 mHabitat: Heather & moorlandThe forest ends abruptly within an hour, opening into heath and moorland dotted with giant lobelias and senecios. Long, gentle switchbacks all day with your first clear views of jagged Mawenzi and the snow dome of Kibo. Horombo is a village of huts on a ridge at 3,720 m — twice-daily pulse and oxygen checks are taken here, and sunset falls over a sea of cloud below camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerHorombo Hut · 3,720 m - 3Day 3
Horombo → Kibo Hut
Today's StatusHiking Time: 6–7 hoursTotal Distance: 10 kmStarting Altitude: 3,720 m (12,205 ft)Final Altitude: 4,700 m (15,420 ft)Elevation Change: +980 mHabitat: Alpine desertPast the Last Water Point at 4,130 m — everything beyond is carried by the crew — and out onto 'The Saddle', a stark, wind-scoured alpine desert stretching between Mawenzi and Kibo. Vegetation disappears completely and the summit cone looms ahead all afternoon. Arrive at Kibo Hut, a stone bunkhouse at 4,700 m, in time for an early dinner, kit preparation and a few hours of rest before the midnight push.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerKibo Hut · 4,700 m - 4Day 4
Summit Day · Kibo → Uhuru Peak → Horombo Hut
Today's StatusHiking Time: 12–14 hoursTotal Distance: 22 kmStarting Altitude: 4,700 m (15,420 ft)Final Altitude: 3,720 m (12,205 ft) via Uhuru Peak 5,895 mElevation Change: +1,195 m / −2,175 mHabitat: Arctic → moorlandWake at 23:00 for tea and biscuits and set off by headtorch at midnight. Steep switchbacks of loose scree climb past Hans Meyer Cave (5,150 m) to Gilman's Point (5,681 m) on the crater rim, usually reached around sunrise. A further 1.5–2 hours along the rim past the glaciers brings you to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). After photos, descend to Kibo for brunch, then continue across The Saddle down to Horombo.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerHorombo Hut · 3,720 m - 5Day 5
Horombo → Marangu Gate → Moshi
Today's StatusHiking Time: 5–6 hoursTotal Distance: 20 kmStarting Altitude: 3,720 m (12,205 ft)Final Altitude: 1,860 m (6,100 ft)Elevation Change: −1,860 mHabitat: Moorland → rainforestA long but straightforward descent retracing the moorland and rainforest path, with a rest stop at Mandara Hut. Sign out at Marangu Gate and receive your summit certificate — gold for Uhuru Peak, green for Gilman's Point. Farewell song and tipping ceremony with the crew over a celebratory lunch, then transfer to your Moshi hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Pricing per person
All-inclusive on the ground. Price per person decreases with group size.
What's included
Everything covered on the ground, and what's not.
The Trip Cost Includes
- All transportation in destination location
- Hotel accommodations, before and after the trek
- All government taxes and park entrance fees
- All meals while on the mountain
The Trip Cost Excludes
- Personal gear rentals
- Tanzania visa fee
- Tipping to the trekking crew
- Travel insurance
Prices valid for current season bookings
Trail map
A stylised overview of the Marangu Route — camps, elevations and summit approach.
Route FAQs
The questions climbers ask most.
Do I need previous climbing experience?+
No technical climbing is required on any of the standard routes. Good general fitness and prior multi-day hiking experience are strongly recommended — you'll be trekking 5–7 hours per day for a week at high altitude.
How cold does it get on the summit?+
Summit night temperatures typically range from −7 °C to −20 °C with wind chill. Daytime at lower camps is much milder (10–20 °C). We provide a detailed packing list and can rent quality cold-weather gear locally.
What is the summit success rate?+
Our overall summit success across all routes is 96 %. On the 8-day Lemosho itinerary it climbs to 99 %. Success comes down to route length (more acclimatisation days = more oxygen in your blood at 5,895 m) and guide quality.
Is travel insurance required?+
Yes — mandatory. Your policy must cover trekking to 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation. We recommend World Nomads or Global Rescue.
How much should I tip the crew?+
The KPAP guideline is about USD 20–25 per climber per day, pooled and split among guides, cook and porters. We hand out a detailed tipping breakdown at the pre-climb briefing.
How long are the treks?+
Our Kilimanjaro treks run from five to eight days, and we recommend a minimum of six for proper acclimatisation. Total trekking distance is roughly 53–73 km depending on the route. Adding extra days significantly improves your chances of reaching Uhuru Peak — which is why we usually extend Marangu from five days to six.
How many hours will I trek each day?+
Expect 4–7 hours of hiking on a typical day. Summit day is the longest at 10–15 hours including the ascent and initial descent, and some descent days can run 8–10 hours. Actual times depend on your pace, the weather and the route.
Can children climb Kilimanjaro?+
Yes. Kilimanjaro National Park sets a minimum age of 10 years for children trekking to Uhuru Peak.
What kind of food will I eat?+
Our mountain chefs prepare three hot, nutritious meals a day plus trail snacks and afternoon tea, served in the dining tent. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, diabetic-friendly and other special diets are catered for with advance notice — ask us for a sample menu.
Are there charging points on the mountain?+
There are no charging stations on Kilimanjaro. Bring power banks and spare batteries; our vehicles have charging ports for transfer days.
What travel documents do I need?+
A passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, with a valid entry or re-entry visa for Tanzania.
Have a question about Marangu Route?
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