Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route

You will meet your Bucket List Leaders at the airport and fly out as a group for Bucket Lister + Trips. If you have booked a Bucket Lister Trip we will see you in Tanzania soon!

If you have transfers with us we will take you to the hotel. For those making their own way, we will see you in Moshi.

If you are on a Bucket Lister+ Trip or have booked transfers you will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transferred to the Weru Weru River Lodge in Moshi. If you are land only or on a Bucket Lister trip you will need to make your own way to the Weru Weru River Lodge.

Welcome Briefing: Your welcome briefing will be at 6pm at the hotel

Today you will have the opportunity to head into Moshi Town for a tour in the morning.

Before dinner, you will have your trek briefing with your guides.

After breakfast on the first day of the trek, we’ll load up the kit, and you’ll be driven to Marangu Park Gate. Fingers crossed we’ll get to see the Colobus Monkeys as we journey upwards! Generally, the walk takes about half a day. Visit Maundi Crater where there are some brilliant wildflowers and superb views of Kibo and Mawenzi.

Distance covered: 8.3km / 5.2 mi Approx. time taken: 5 hours

We’ll start moving out of the forest and before too long we’ll notice the Kifinika Hill on our left and also intermittent views of Mawenzi and Kibo. We’ll stop for a picnic lunch at Kambi Ya Taabu. We’ll arrive at Horombo Huts in the middle of the afternoon, spend some time chilling out, and then have dinner together.

Distance covered: 12.5km / 7.8 mi Approx. time taken: 9 hours

On the third day of the climb, we have an acclimatisation day. Generally, we recommend the ‘saddle walk’ – the views of Kibo and Mawenzi are amazing and the ascent and descent to Zebra Rock is just what your body needs.

If we set off nice and early we’ll still have the rest of the afternoon to relax and sort out kit. Remember to bring a book for this day!

Distance covered: 5km / 3.1 mi Approx. time taken: 4 hours

Climbing through the moorland forest and then alpine desert you will reach ‘the saddle’ between the twin peaks of Mawnzi and Kibo. Before Kibo you will come to Jiwe la ukoyo’.

From here you will walk for about an hour to reach Kibo Hut (4703m). Take a well-earned rest to recharge your batteries ahead of the night’s summit attempt. Purify your water, put new batteries in your camera and head torch, pack your snacks and get ready.

Distance covered: 9.5km / 5.9 mi Approx. time taken: 7 hours

On the fifth day of the climb, it’s time to get serious. You’ll be woken at midnight, and we’ll be trekking through the night. It gives us time to try and reach the summit and still descend in the daylight. Remember to layer up – it WILL be cold, but you’ll need to remove layers later in the day.

The first half of this ascent is on steep winding rocky path. We’ll maintain a very slow, but steady pace to reach the summit. As we near the crater rim, the sun will rise. We recommend that you pause to enjoy what many people consider the finest sunrise on earth.

From Gilman’s Point, it takes another 1½ to 2 hours to Uhuru Peak (5895m), although the gradients are much gentler and terrain easier. Standing on the summit will have made the last 10-12 hours worthwhile!

Today will probably have been the longest day of your life but quite possibly the best! After hitting the summit, we head back down to Horombo Hut for a well-earned rest!

Distance covered: 22km / 13.7 mi Approx. time taken: 12 – 15 hours

Day six of the climb is the final day on the mountain. We head from Horombo back to the Marangu Park Gate. We take the short drive back to the hotel for a well-earned HOT shower and celebratory evening meal.

Distance covered: 20.8km / 12.9 mi Approx. time taken: 8 hours

Today is a rest day. Take your time to relax or explore the town.

This marks the end of our Tanzanian adventure.

If you haven’t had enough you can continue with a Safari or a trip to Zanzibar!