MARANGU ROUTE

6 Day Marangu Route

DAY 1 - MARANGU GATE TO MANDARA HUT
After breakfast drive to Marangu Gate (1800m). Meet porters and complete registration formalities at the ranger’s office. The hike starts in lush rainforest leading upwards into increasingly thinning forest, eventually turning into long grasses and giant heathers intermingled with camphorwood trees, both draped by masses of bearded lichen. From here it is not far to Mandara Hut (2700m), the first campsite on the Marangu Route. En route you will enjoy a picnic lunch.

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• Trekking distance: 7 kilometers

• Trek time: Around 3-4 hours

• Environment: Montane forest

• Elevation: From 1800 meters to 2700 meters

DAY 2 - MANDARA HUT TO HOROMBO HUT
Leaving Mandara Hut, the forest re-appears sporadically until passing Maundi Crater, where the alpine heath and moorland zone now dominates. Soon Dendrosenecio Kilimanjari trees and lobelias will make their first appearance. After lunch, the trail crosses numerous moorland ravines before ending at Horombo Hut (3720m), your camp for the night.

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• Trekking distance: 12 kilometers

• Trek time: 5-6 hours

• Environment: Moorland

• Elevation: From 2700 meters to 3720 meters

DAY 3 - ACCLIMATIZATION DAY AT HOROMBO HUT
We will spend a full day at and around Horombo Hut. A mid-day acclimatization hike, exploring the area, will briefly take you to a higher altitude, before returning to Horombo Hut. “Climb high, sleep lower” is the best way to acclimatize to high altitude.

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• Environment: Alpine desert

• Elevation: 3720 meters

 
DAY 4 - HOROMBO HUT TO KIBO HUT
Leaving Horombo the path starts of steep through the ever-thinning vegetation of moorland zone until reaching the saddle, the dry and barren terrain between Kibo and Mawenzi. Continuing across the saddle soon Kibo Hut, although still far in the distance, come into view. Lunch will be served mid-way, before continuing to Kibo Hut (4700m), your last camp before summiting.

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• Trekking distance: 9.5 kilometers

• Trek time: 5-6 hours

• Environment: Alpine desert

• Elevation: From 3720 meters to 4700 meters

 
DAY 5 - KIBO HUT TO UHURU PEAK TO HOROMBO HUT
Starting around midnight – 0100 in the morning, the path leading to the crater rim starts directly behind Kibo Hut, reaching Hans Meyer Cave (5151m) about 2.5 hours later. Here it starts to zigzag across volcanic scree up the crater rim until reaching Gilman's Point (5680m), then continuing past stunning glaciers and ice cliffs alongside the crater rim, leading to Stella Point (5752m) followed by Uhuru Peak (5895m). From here you decent for lunch at Kibo Hut, then continue descending to Horombo Hut, where you will spend your last night on the mountain.

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• Trekking distance: 22 kilometers (6 kilometers ascent / 16 kilometers descent)

• Trek time: 10 to 13 hours (6 to 8 hours ascent / 4 to 5 hours descent)

• Environment: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.

• Elevation: From 4750 meters to 5895 meters (Uhuru Peak) to 3720 meters

DAY 6 - HOROMBO HUT TO MARANGU GATE
The descent from Horombo is gentle in comparison to the previous day and you get to enjoy beautiful scenery, from Dendrosenecio Kilimanjari trees, heath and moorland, tussock grasses and heathers, to the rainforest, once more. Mandara Hut (2700m) will be your lunch stop before reaching Marangu Gate, where your golden certificate awaits you, about 1½ to 2 hours later.

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• Trekking distance: 18 kilometers

• Trek time: 5-6 hours

• Environment: Montane forest

• Elevation: From 3720 meters to 1980 meters