Tanzania · Trekking

6-Day Kilimanjaro Trek via Marangu Route to Uhuru Peak

6 Days Round trip from Moshi Hard pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Trek through montane forest, moorland, and alpine desert landscapes
02 Enjoy spectacular views of Kibo Crater and glaciers from Maundi Crater
03 Reach Uhuru Peak at 5895 metres on Mount Kilimanjaro
04 Experience the demanding overnight summit ascent from Kibo Hut
05 Celebrate your achievement with an official summit certificate

Embark on a 6-day Kilimanjaro trek via the Marangu Route, passing through montane forest, moorland, and the barren alpine desert on your way to Uhuru Peak at 5895 metres. Along the climb, enjoy spectacular views of Maundi Crater, Kibo Crater, and the glaciers of Kibo, while overnighting in mountain huts along the route. This classic ascent combines changing landscapes, a demanding summit push, and the reward of a summit certificate before returning to Moshi or Arusha for a hot shower and well-deserved rest.

Embark on a 6-day Kilimanjaro trek via the Marangu Route, passing through montane forest, moorland, and the barren alpine desert on your way to Uhuru Peak at 5895 metres.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Hard

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Arusha, Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro, Marangu

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport and Transfer to Moshi

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met by Kili Park's representative and driven to your accommodation in Moshi for an overnight stay, ready for your adventure to begin the following day.

Day 02

Marangu Gate Registration and Trek to Mandara Hut

Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will drive to Marangu Gate in Marangu village, where registration for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will take place. A backpack is important for carrying a few things that will be useful for the day's trek, such as a camera, extra clothes, skin oil, a rain jacket, and other items you will be advised to bring. Porters will carry the rest of your equipment for the climb, such as food, drinking water, clothes, and cooking gas, and they normally walk faster than you so they can prepare dinner for you on time.
After all the formalities, our guide will show you the clear trail and assist you with any additional information or needs. You leave the park office and ascend on a cleared ridge route through the rainforest. The forest is covered with mist and draped with beards of moss. This trail follows the edge of a stream through the undergrowth and offers you the option to rejoin the main trail later; after three hours of hiking, you will reach Mandara Hut.
The weather at Mandara Hut is not very cold, and normal clothing with a jacket is enough. Except for Kibo Hut, the other huts are groups of wooden A-framed huts in a forest clearing. Each hut features 6-8 sleeping bunks with solar-generated lighting. The total capacity of the camp is 60 climbers. Water is piped into the camp from springs above, and flush toilets are behind the main hut.

Day 03

Through Forest and Moorland to Horombo Hut

Early in the morning, after breakfast, you will start climbing towards Horombo Hut with your picnic lunch. From Mandara Hut, the trail passes through a short stretch of forest and then heads around the base of Maundi Crater, where you will leave the forest and enter the moorland.
We recommend that you take a short detour up to the rim of Maundi Crater - from here, you can see the impressive Kibo Crater, and on a clear day you will also be able to see the glaciers of Kibo. This is a great photographic opportunity. In the moorlands, you will also encounter some of Kilimanjaro's most spectacular and strange plants in the open landscape, with giant lobelia and groundsel growing to heights of 3 and 5 metres respectively. Later in the afternoon, you will reach Horombo Hut for a hot dinner and an overnight stay. Your hut will be comfortable enough to ensure a good night's rest. Temperatures during the night will be around freezing point.

Day 04

Cross the Saddle to Kibo Hut

At this altitude, the oxygen begins to thin out considerably, making the climb tougher. You can choose one of two trails to the

Day 05

Midnight Summit Push to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Horombo

This will by far be your most challenging day. You will be woken just before midnight and soon head off into the cold night up a rocky path towards Hans Meyer Cave at 5150 metres - you may take a short rest here before continuing your ascent to Gillman's Point at 5685 metres. This is probably the most demanding section of the entire route, as it is very steep and stony, so go slowly and carefully here. From Gillman's Point, you will more than likely be walking through snow for the next 2 hours, when you will finally reach the summit of Uhuru Peak at 5895 metres.
Cold and fatigue will set in quickly here, and you may find it very difficult to get started again. So spend a little time enjoying the fact that you have conquered Kilimanjaro, get the camera out and take some pictures, then it will be best to get moving again - it's a long way down. The first part of your descent to Kibo Hut will take almost another 3 hours. After a short rest, which will be accompanied by brunch, you will begin the next part of your descent - it will take another 4 hours of hiking to get to Horombo Hut. You will arrive at Horombo Hut in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay there. You will no doubt sleep well, feeling exhilarated and proud of your achievement.

Day 06

Descent to Marangu Gate and Return to Moshi or Arusha

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, you continue your descent past Mandara Hut down to Marangu Gate - this will take the best part of seven hours. At Marangu Gate, you sign your name and details in a register. To make your achievement official, you will receive a summit certificate. If you reached Gillman's Point, you will be presented with a green certificate, and if you made it all the way to Uhuru Peak, you will have earned yourself a gold certificate. You will have a hot lunch at the gate and celebrate with your mountain crew.
After signing out at the park gate, you will be transferred to a hotel in Moshi or Arusha for a hot shower, probably dinner, and an overnight stay, or otherwise in the evening you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch your flight back home.

Where this trip takes you

Maundi Crater rim, Kibo Crater and glaciers of Kibo, Uhuru Peak

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Moshi 4 cities · 6 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Two nights' accommodation at the Kiliwonders Hotel in Moshi, double or triple occupancy, before and after the climb
- The first night includes breakfast
- The last night includes dinner and breakfast
Qualified guides with mountain crew
National park fees
Hut/camping fees and tents
Tent foam sleeping pads, cooking equipment, and cutlery/crockery eating utensils
Rescue fees, as required by the National Park
Pulse oximeters
First aid kit
Guide, porter, cook, and waiter salaries
Boiled water on the mountain
Airport transfers (JRO - Kilimanjaro International Airport)
All meals on the mountain (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Guide, porter, waiter, and cook accommodation and entry fees on the mountain