Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking for East African Citizens (5 Days Marangu Route)

Day 1: Moshi (800 m) – Marangu gate at (1,980 m) – Mandara Hut (2700 m)

1. 5h · Admission ticket included
   Walking approx. 12 km in 5 hours over the montane forest and low alpine zone (moorland).
   Today, your Mt Kilimanjaro Climbing Marangu route 5 days starts by hiking up to Mandara hut at (2700 m) your hiking will be through a beautiful landscape of the mountain forest, little streams and waterfalls Kisamboni picnic area the place for lunch can be reached after 1.5 hours of walking from the park gate.
   The water around this area is from the spring and can be used for drinking, cooking and flushing toilets.
   You can have a short walk to the Maundi crater where you can enjoy good weather and possibly see Mawenzi peak. Blue Monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys can be spotted around this place.
   Each day when arriving at the huts you will have tea/coffee & some bites then hot water to wash before changing clothes you have been hiking with. On the mountain, we say stay warm all the time. Dinner will be served before going to bed.

Day 2: Mandara Hut (2700 m) – Horombo Hut (3,720 m)

1. 6h · Admission ticket included
   Walking approx. 15 km. hiking hours 6 (moorland zone).
   
   After light breakfast, your second hiking day on Kilimanjaro Marangu route starts, this day you will hike along with the last patches of the forest past the other side of Maundi crater and soon you will reach the moorland vegetation zone.
   
   This area is dominated by heather, Lobelia Deckenii and lovely Dendrosenecio kilimanjari. With good weather condition you can have a great view of both Kibo and Mawenzi. Reach Horombo huts and if you wish you can bath with hot water before dinner and sleep in a luxurious bed.
   
   Horombo huts have a capacity of 120 people all sleeping in beds and it is a small village and the only huts at Kilimanjaro with beds. At this camp nights tends to be very cold please be prepared. Arriving at the camp the same procedures will follow just as much as the previous day.

Day 3: Horombo Hut (3,720 m) – Kibo Hut (4,700 m)

1. 6h · Admission ticket included
   Walking approx. 15 km. in 6 hours (Alpine desert).
   
   Your Hiking day will start after breakfast. Saddle the area in-between Mawenzi and Kibo can be reached in two different routes, through the upper route which is eroded and stormy or by taking the lower route which is easier and most recommended where you can pass near the water point at (4,200 m) which is the last in this route.
   
   Fill your bottles with enough drinking water as this will be the last water point before reaching Horombo huts again, otherwise, you can buy mineral water or soft drinks at Kibo huts. If you wish you can take a short break at this Last water point and perhaps sit at the picnic site for lunch.
   
   You will reach Kibo huts at (4700 m) after 2 walking hours. Kibo hut is at the barren Alpine desert with only grasses and everlasting flowers. Kibo huts are built with stone blocks and have 60 bunk beds and platform toilets. Arriving at the camp the same procedures will follow as the previous day.

Day 4: Summit attempt: Kibo Hut (4,700 m) – Uhuru peak 5,895 m & back to Horombo Hut (3,720 m)

1. 14h
   Walking approx. 6 km ascent and 21 km descent for in 8 hrs. on the rocky, ice-capped summit.
   Depending on your pace you can wake up at 23:00 or 23:30 and have some tea and biscuits before starting. You will face a challenging part of your Mt Kilimanjaro climbing at the beginning which is a rough and rocky path.
   On the way you will pass Williams Point at (5,000 m), Hans Meyer Cave at (5,150 m) and Gillman’s point at (5,681 m) positioned on the crater rim. To reach Hans Meyer Cave from Kibo hut you will spend almost two and a half hours. Gilman’s point is placed just a short distance from Hans Meyer Cave, it is about an hour to get there. From Gilman’s point, you will possibly need not less than 1 hour and a half to reach the summit. Spend some minutes at the summit taking pictures but not much longer at this altitude before starting your way down and back to Kibo hut at (4,700 m) where lunch will be served, proceed further down to Horombo.

Day 5: Horombo Hut (3720 M) – Marangu gate at 1,980 m – then drive to Moshi

1. Marangu
   6h
   Walking approx. 27 km for 6 hrs across the low alpine zone, moorland and montane forest.
   
   Breakfast at Horombo hut before starting your last day downwards from Kilimanjaro.
   Have lunch and some rest at Mandara hut (2700) on your way down, hopeful the path is familiar as you have passed here on your first day.
   
   Reaching Marangu gate, you will provide some details to the register and you will be given a summit certificate, if reached Gilman's Point you will have a green certificate & for Uhuru Peak, the actual Summit is a gold certificate. Tips for potters and guides are recommended & this can be done at Horombo gate in the morning when celebrating before descending to Marangu Hut.
   Meet you, driver, at the gate who will transfer you back to Moshi

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels