The guided Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour via Marangu Route follows the shortest and easiest Kilimanjaro hiking trail. This affordable Kilimanjaro hike takes a leisurely 6 days, allowing for time to acclimatize as you climb Kilimanjaro to the "Roof of Africa".
The Marangu Route hiking tour is unique in offering the luxury of sleeping huts at all of the camps along the way. These solar-powered huts are equipped with comfortable bunk beds with mattresses and pillows for comfortable nights of rest. There are various beverages on sale along the so-called "Coca Cola Route" and usually even beers available at the huts. Meals are taken in shared dining huts where climbers from various countries across the globe get to meet. These social mealtimes on the Marangu route are fun and lively occasions.
Climb Kilimanjaro on the oldest route and conquer Africa's tallest mountain!
This Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour begins with a collection from Kilimanjaro Airport close to Arusha, Kilimanjaro, and Moshi, in northern Tanzania. From the Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be taken to Usa River, the capital of the Meru District, 23km from Arusha city.
The remainder of the day is free for you to relax at the leafy lodge. You can rest under the big indigenous trees, nap in your comfortable room, and take a swim in the pool. Or, you can take a taxi to Arusha to explore the bustling town and visit a local market.
We spend the night at the Meru View Lodge (or similar), our pre-hike lodge near Mount Kilimanjaro. This evening you will be briefed on the Marangu Route, the shortest and easiest Kilimanjaro hiking trail. Tonight we enjoy dinner at the lodge and check our hiking equipment in preparation for our epic climb up Kilimanjaro. The friendly lodge features a 10-acre tropical garden, swimming pool, bar, and restaurant.
Meals: Dinner
Day two of this guided Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour starts with breakfast at the lodge. Then you are transferred to the nearby Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860m).
Upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro National Park, we complete the necessary paperwork before starting our Mount Kilimanjaro hike. The Marangu hiking trail soon takes us into the dense rainforest where we are surrounded by ancient trees draped with moss, giant ferns, lichen, and other indigenous vegetation. Hiking through the rainforest we keep a lookout for black and white colobus monkeys, as well as other wild animals.
After a 3 to 4-hour trek, we reach our first overnight stop, the Mandara Hut (2700m). Here we rest before visiting Maundi Crater with our mountain guide. From the crater, we enjoy wonderful views of the Kenyan interior, before returning to Mandara Hut for dinner and our overnight stay.
Today begins with an early breakfast before continuing our Marangu Route hike up Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain. We soon reach the treeline passing into the heath and moor vegetation zone.
We climb Kilimanjaro for about 5 to 6 hours to reach the Horombo Hut, at an altitude of 3700m. We will have dinner and stay overnight at Horombo Hut, admiring the spectacular views over Mawenzi, Kibo, and the vast plains of the Masai steppe.
We take day four of our Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour to acclimatize. This greatly improves your chances of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.
After a relaxing breakfast, we hike for about 4 to 5 hours to reach the Zebra Rocks (3980m), a rock formation named after the distinctive black and white stripes on the rocks. Returning to Horombo Hut we enjoy a warm lunch prepared by our mountain team. The afternoon is free for you to relax and rest up before our long climb the following day. We have dinner in the evening and spend another night at Horombo Hut.
A long and challenging day of hiking awaits us today, lasting about 5 to 6 hours.
Our destination is Kibo Hut with the hiking trail passing the “Last Waterpoint” followed by the so-called “saddle” en route. Today our climb Kilimanjaro hike takes us through a barren plateau joining the main summit Kibo with Mawenzi.
Tonight we enjoy an early dinner and get an early night, in preparation for a very early start the next day.
Today is the most exciting day on our Kilimanjaro Hike as we will reach the summit!
We start the final stretch of our hike at night while the lava ash is still frozen, making it is easier to walk on. The mountain guide wakes you at 23:00 hrs and by midnight we set off on the long and tough climb to the summit. Making our way slowly but surely up Kilimanjaro we pass the Hans Meyer Cave at 5220m. We reach the crater rim of Kilimanjaro, Gilman’s Point at 5681m, as the rises casting its warming rays over the surrounding landscape.
Leaving the cold night behind us we hike for a further 1 to 2 hours to reach the highest point of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak. Standing at 5895m on Uhuru Peak you will be rewarded with magnificent sweeping views of the lower slopes of Africa's tallest mountain and the landscapes below. Here you experience the inspiring sense of achievement at having climbed to the “Roof of Africa”!
We retrace our steps following the same trail back down Mount Kilimanjaro. The now-thawed lava ash makes for a speedy descent to Kibo Hut, where a warm meal and welcome from the mountain team await. After a 1 to 2 hour break to regain strength we continue our Kilimanjaro hike to Horombo Hut (3720m), arriving in the afternoon. The evening meal is followed by a well-deserved early night!
The final stretch of this Kilimanjaro climb passes through heath and moor terrain as we return to the Mandara Hut at 2700m. After a warm lunch at Mandara Hut, we head back into the tropical rainforest reaching the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (1860m) after 6 hours of hiking today.
At the gate, we say goodbye to our mountain guides and transfer back to the safari lodge, where we spent the first night of this Kilimanjaro hiking tour. Back at the lodge you can enjoy a soothing hot shower or take a refreshing dip in the pool, relaxing after your days of climbing Kilimanjaro mountain.
The last evening is spent relaxing at the lodge, celebrating your great feat of reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro! Our evening meal and last overnight stay will be at the peaceful lodge in Usa River.
Day eight of our Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour begins with a leisurely breakfast at the lodge.
Having successfully climbed Kili, there is no more hiking to be done today. After breakfast, your driver transfers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport. This brings your memorable Kilimanjaro hike to a close.
Breakfast
Contact African Budget Safaris for more details.
Stage |
Start |
Finish |
Altitude gain (m) |
Duration |
Description |
1 |
Marangu Gate (1840m) |
Mandara Hut (2670m) |
↑840m |
3-4h |
Beautiful passage through the mountain forest with a chance of seeing the colobus monkeys. |
2 |
Mandara Hut (2670m) |
Horombo Hut (3720m) |
↑1000m |
5-6h |
Stage through heath and moorland with typical Senecia and Lobelia. |
3 |
Horombo Hut (3720m) |
Horombo Hut (3720m) |
↑400m ↓400m |
ca 4-5h |
Acclimatisation day with a hike to the Zebra rocks. |
4 |
Horombo Hut (3720m) |
Kibo Hut (4700m) |
↑1000m |
5-6h |
The alpine desert becomes more and more pronounced. Passing the Last Water Point and over the Saddle to the Kibo hut. |
5 |
Kibo Hut (4700m) |
Horombo Hut (3080m) |
↑1200m ↓2200m |
12-16h |
Start before dawn, at sunrise over Gillmann’s Point to Uhuru Peak. Descent via Kibo to Horombo Hut. |
6 |
Horombo Hut (3080m) |
Marangu Gate (1840m) |
↓1840m |
6-7h |
Descent through the rainforest to the park gate. A farewell ceremony from the mountain guides and the presentation of the Certificate of Completion of Kilimanjaro. |
Find out more about Africa's highest mountain and compare the hiking routes up Mount Kili in our blog post about Climbing Kilimanjaro.
This tour does not take children.
We advocate a minimum of 14-16 years on the basis that children are more susceptible to altitude sickness.
All Arusha Departures | All Kilimanjaro Tours | All Hiking Tour trips
1. Mount Kilimanjaro, Mt.Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania
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