[Kilimanjaro
Via Machame Route | Mt
Kilimanjaro - Marangu Route | Tanzania
Camping Safaris | Tanzania
Lodge Safaris ]
:: KILIMANJARO VIA MARANGU ROUTE
The Popular Marangu Route
DAY 1: ARUSHA -MARANGU
Transfer to Marangu. Dinner and overnight at a Hotel.
DAY 2: MARANGU - MANDARA HUT (2,744 M)
Distance: 9 kms. Estimated duration: 4 hours.
Depart from your hotel, drive straight to Marangu
National Park gate, where the climb begins (1860m)
on the edge of the mountain forest. Walk through the
semi tropical dense rain forest, with camphor, cedar,
juniper, wild olive and pillar trees festooned with
lianas, lichens and Spanish moss. Flowers of various
species delight the eyes, while monkeys shake trees
and terraccos and other colourful forest birds sing
in the forest profusion. The walking takes 4 hours
covering 9 km to Mandara Hut, at 2744 m near Maundi
Crater. Dinner and overnight at Mandara Hut.
DAY 3: MANDARA HUT - HOROMBO HUT (3,761 M)
Distance: 11kms. Estimated duration: 5 hours.
Starting early in the morning towards Horombo Hut
you walk 5 hours, to cover the first 4 km or so, the
dense rain forest now gives way to the rolling moorland,
clothed in knee-high grass tussocks dotted here and
there with giant heather trees, some standing upto
9 m high. Here is perhaps the most pleasant point,
where the landscape is decorated with tropical flowers
and the sun is refreshingly warm. From here, both
Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks are magnificently viewed. Some
animal species are found here, i.e. bush duikers etc.
The landscape becomes more rugged and rocky, as you
continue to Horombo Hut at 3761 m above sea level.
Dinner and overnight at the Horombo Hut. You should
have warm clothes due to strong winds here.
DAY 4: HOROMBO HUT - KIBO HUT (4,700 M)
Distance: 10kms. Estimated duration: 5 hours.
After breakfast, continue to Kibo Hut through the
euphorbia trees and here high altitude causes difficulty
in breathing and tiredness is felt. The path leading
you to Kibo Hut passes the water streams and skirts
MAWENZI before opening out into the lunar landscape
of the saddle. It forms a "U" between MAWENZI
and KIBO Peaks. You will experience the winter nights
as cold and icy winds encircle the huts accompanied
by frost and snow. Dinner and overnight at KIBO Hut.
DAY 5: UHURU PEAK - HOROMBO HUT (3,761 M)
Distance: 24kms. Estimated duration: 12-13 hours
Wake up soon after midnight for the final attempt
to the summit. Walk for about 5 hours, the steepest
and most difficult part of the route, to GILMAN'S
POINT at 5681 m above sea level, on the Crater rim.
Try again if your stamina allows, for UHURU Peak,
reached in about 2 hours. This is the highest point
in Africa. After signing the visitors book, descend
to Horombo Hut, for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6: HOROMBO HUT - MARANGU HOTEL
Descend to Marangu Gate then transfer to Marangu or
Kibo Hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 7: MARANGU - ARUSHA
After breakfast, return to Arusha by company transport.
