8 Days Marangu Route - 6 Days Hiking Tour

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from Way 2 Africa Expeditions and transferred to your hotel in Arusha, approximately 50 kilometers with a driving time of about 1 hour. Arusha is the main gateway for Mount Kilimanjaro climbers and offers a relaxed environment ideal for rest and preparation.

The remainder of the day is spent at leisure. You may relax at your lodge, explore parts of Arusha town, or simply recover from your international flight. In the evening, you will meet your mountain guide for a comprehensive pre climb briefing, covering safety procedures, altitude awareness, daily trekking plans, and a final equipment check to ensure you are fully prepared for the journey ahead.

Major activities include airport transfer, climb briefing, and equipment inspection.

Extra activities available include an Arusha city tour, cultural experience, coffee plantation visit, or local market tour depending on arrival time.

Overnight in Arusha
Meals included Dinner

Activities : Trekking

After breakfast, you depart Arusha for Marangu Gate, located on the southeastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. The drive covers approximately 85 kilometers and takes about 2 to 3 hours, passing through scenic countryside and local villages. Upon arrival, park registration and climbing formalities are completed before the trek begins.

The trail starts in the lush rainforest zone, characterized by tall trees, thick vegetation, and a cool, humid climate. This section of the route is rich in wildlife, with frequent sightings of blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and a variety of bird species. The path is well maintained and gently ascending, making it a comfortable introduction to the climb.

You trek approximately 8 kilometers in 4 to 5 hours, gradually gaining altitude until reaching Mandara Hut at 2700 meters. In the afternoon, you may take a short optional walk to Maundi Crater, offering beautiful views of the surrounding forest and distant plains.

Major activities include rainforest trekking, wildlife observation, and acclimatization.

Extra activities available include a guided walk to Maundi Crater and nature photography.

Overnight at Mandara Hut
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

Leaving the rainforest behind, today’s trek transitions into heath and moorland vegetation, where the landscape opens up and temperatures become cooler. The trail offers spectacular views of Mawenzi Peak, with its jagged volcanic spires, and the broad slopes of Kibo rising ahead.

The distance covered today is approximately 12 kilometers, with a trekking time of 6 to 8 hours. Giant lobelias and groundsels line the trail, creating a dramatic high altitude atmosphere. The gradual ascent allows your body to continue adjusting to the increasing altitude while enjoying expansive mountain scenery.

You arrive at Horombo Hut at 3720 meters, the largest hut complex on Mount Kilimanjaro. The afternoon is spent resting, hydrating, and enjoying panoramic views across the moorland zone.

Major activities include scenic trekking, altitude adaptation, and mountain photography.

Extra activities available include short acclimatization walks around the hut area.

Overnight at Horombo Hut
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

This day is dedicated entirely to acclimatization, a critical factor for summit success on Mount Kilimanjaro. After breakfast, you take a guided acclimatization hike toward Zebra Rocks or the lower slopes of Mawenzi Peak, reaching higher altitude before returning to Horombo Hut to rest.

The hike typically covers 5 to 7 kilometers and takes about 3 to 4 hours, following the climb high sleep low principle. From the viewpoints, you enjoy breathtaking vistas of Mawenzi, Kibo, and the vast plains below. The remainder of the day is spent relaxing, eating well, and allowing your body to adapt to the altitude.

Major activities include acclimatization hiking and rest.

Extra activities available include extended hikes toward Mawenzi viewpoints and landscape photography.

Overnight at Horombo Hut
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

After breakfast, you continue your ascent toward the high alpine zone. The trail crosses the Saddle, a vast and barren alpine desert stretching between Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks. Vegetation becomes extremely sparse, and the environment feels remote and otherworldly.

You trek approximately 10 kilometers in 6 to 8 hours, steadily gaining altitude while maintaining a slow and controlled pace. The air is thinner and temperatures are cooler, emphasizing the importance of hydration and steady movement.

You arrive at Kibo Hut at 4700 meters, the base camp for the summit attempt. After an early dinner, your guide provides a detailed summit briefing, and you rest in preparation for the night ascent.

Major activities include alpine desert trekking and summit preparation.

Extra activities available include short acclimatization walks around the hut area if conditions allow.

Overnight at Kibo Hut
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

Summit day begins shortly after midnight as you start the slow ascent under the stars toward Gilman’s Point at 5685 meters. The climb is steep and demanding, taking approximately 5 to 6 hours, but the reward is extraordinary.

From Gilman’s Point, you continue along the crater rim for another 1 to 2 hours to reach Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters, the highest point in Africa. As the sun rises, you are rewarded with unforgettable views across glaciers, clouds, and the vast African landscape below.

After celebrating your achievement and taking photos, you descend carefully back to Kibo Hut for a short rest, then continue down to Horombo Hut, covering a total distance of approximately 15 kilometers.

Major activities include summit ascent, sunrise viewing, and long descent.

Extra activities available include extended summit photography depending on weather and energy levels.

Overnight at Horombo Hut
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

After breakfast, you begin the final descent through heathland and rainforest back to Marangu Gate, covering approximately 20 kilometers in 5 to 7 hours. The descent is scenic and reflective, allowing you to appreciate the changing landscapes one last time.

At the gate, you officially sign out of the park and receive your Mount Kilimanjaro summit certificates. You are then transferred back to Arusha for a hot shower, relaxation, and a celebratory evening.

Major activities include final descent and certificate presentation.

Extra activities available include celebratory dinner arrangements or spa treatments in Arusha.

Overnight in Arusha
Meals included Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Activities : Trekking

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight, marking the end of an unforgettable Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route climbing adventure with Way 2 Africa Expeditions.

Meals included Breakfast.

Activities : Trekking