6 Days marangu trek
Highlight of Marangu trek
- You will start your trek through a beautiful thick forest.
- You will have views of Lake Jipe, lake Chala.
- You may visit the Maundi crater nearby the Mandara huts campsite.
- You will have great views of Mawenzi peak.
- You will sleep in huts. Marangu is the only Kilimanjaro route with huts.
- You will use the same trails from the gate to Uhuru peak, and back to Marangu gate.
- Gradual slope and considered easy hence in comparison with Machame route, it is nicknamed Coca Cola route (sweet) while the Machame route is called Whiskey route (bitter) as it is considered a difficult route because of its fairly steep slope.
THE ITINERARY
Today you are on the South-Eastern side of the mountain. You will start the hike through a rainforest. Today’s hike is fairly easy as you will gradually be ascending toward the Mandara Hut. Your hut is furnished with solar-generated lighting, flush toilets, and water.
Distance: 7km
Trekking time: 4-6 hours
Zone: Tropical Rainforest
Altitude gain: 730 meters
After breakfast at Mandara Hut, we will leave through the rainforest towards the Heath zone at Horombo Hut. Your guide may arrange for a visit to Maundi where you will have your first full view of Kibo peak. Expect to see beautiful giant lobelias. At this altitude, these plants are common residents. Today you at Horombo Hut you may have great views of both Kibo and Mawenzi peak.
Distance: 12km
Trekking time: 6-8 hours
Zone: Heath
Altitude gain: 1020 meters
This day makes the difference, as you have a 4-5 hours hike up Zebra rocks and back to experience what we call climb high sleep low. They are called Zebra rocks because of their distinctive black and white strips resembling zebras.
This experience is good for your body as it helps the body to adapt to high altitudes before we move to a higher altitude towards Kibo Hut on the following day.
Distance: 5km
Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Zone: Heath
Altitude gain: 300 meters
It is recommended to start today’s hike very early in the morning as you will have a substantial amount of distance to cover and elevation to gain. We will take a lower route towards Kibo Hut. We will stop by the last water point at 4,130 meters for you to fill up your water reserves. Note, the will be no other watering point until you get back to Horombo Hut from the summit. At Kibo Hut you will be served an early dinner and you should try to get to sleep for at least 4 hours. Before you go to bed, ensure that all your trekking gears are well prepared for the summit attempt.
Distance: 10km
Trekking time: 6-8 hours
Zone: Alpine desert
Altitude gain: 1000 meters
This is the day you have been waiting for! The summit night is here, your mental and physical stamina are going to be tested to the limit.
After you wake up, you will be served hot drinks and biscuits and will start the summit hike the first destination being Gilman’s point. (5685 meters) which is on Kibo’s crater rim.
At Gilman’s point, you will take some time to rest (5 minutes maximum) and refuel with a snack. We will start the final push moving very slowly to finish to remaining 200 meters to Uhuru Peak. After taking photos and some celebrations at Uhuru Peak, you will begin your descent back to Kibo Hut, and onto Horombo Hut.
Distance: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak about 6.5km then from Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut 15.5km making a total of 22km
Trekking time: 6-8 hours to Uhuru Peak, then 5-6 hours from Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut
Zone: Arctic zone then Heath
Altitude gain: 1175 meters then altitude loss:2175 meters
At this point, you are probably exhausted but happy that you have finally fulfilled your dream to climb Africa’s highest mountain. On your way through the rainforest, expect to see Colobus monkeys and other small animals. It will be a tough descent, stopping at Mandara Hut for lunch then descend to Marangu Gate. At Marangu Gate, you will be presented with your certificate, either for Gilman’s Point or Uhuru Peak (depending on how far you managed to get).
Distance: 19km
Trekking time: 6-8 hours
Zone: Rainforest
Altitude gain: 1750 meters
6 Day Marangu trek starts at $1900
- Hotel accommodation the night before and after the climb, with dinner and breakfast included
- Transfer from your hotel to starting point for your climb, and return to your hotel after your climb
- All Kilimanjaro National Park gate fees, camping fees and climbing permits.
- Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees (Kilimanjaro Rescue Team)
- Basic first aid kit (for use in emergencies only)
- Qualified mountain guide, assistant guides, porters, and cook
- Salaries for the mountain crew as per guidelines set by Kilimanjaro National Park
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as hot drinks while on the mountain
- Camping equipment (tents, camp chairs, tables & sleeping mattress
- Return transfers Kilimanjaro airport to Arusha and Arusha to Kilimanjaro airport
- Supplemental Oxygen & Pulse Oximeter
- Portable toilet
- Personal trekking gears.
- Tips for climbing crew