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Your Marangu Route adventure kicks off with a 45-minute scenic drive from the Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha, Tanzania’s epicenter of adventure. Enjoy a private transfer directly to Arusha. Settle into a budget-friendly lodge that provides clean and comfortable rooms with basic amenities, serving as an affordable base to relax and prepare. Spend the evening unwinding as your certified lead guide gives a detailed overview of the Marangu Route, including all pathways, safety checks, and an extensive gear check to ensure your readiness. For dinner, the cost is on you, with an option to order Tanzanian and international meals from the house or visit restaurants around Arusha for reasonably priced local delicacies. This affordable welcome enables you to be well informed and rested before the climb.

Accommodation: Budget lodge in Arusha
Meals: None included
Activities: Private airport transfer, itinerary, and gear briefing

Drive Time: 1 hour
Altitude: 1,860 meters (6,102 feet) – 2,700 meters (8,858 feet)
Hiking Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
After refreshing yourself with a delightful breakfast at the lodge, set off on a one-hour private transfer to Marangu Gate (1,860 meters), which is the starting point for the Marangu Route on Kilimanjaro’s southern slopes. Accompanied by your guide, complete park registration, meet your dedicated porters and crew, then commence the 8 km hike to Mandara Hut (2,700 meters) that is nestled within the lush montane rainforest. Along the trail, the dense forest is home to colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, and colorful turacos. With insightful explanations about the biodiversity of the forest, your guide maintains a slow but steady ‘pole pole’ pace to control the altitude gain. As you journey to Mandara Hut, your cook provides you with a packed lunch to enjoy on the trek. This hut is a budget shared bunkhouse located in a woodland clearing, offering basic mattresses. Here, warm soups and Tanzanian dishes are served as you wait for the communal dining area's delicious dinner. You can then rest in the shared hut, lulled by the forest's peaceful sounds.
Accommodation: Budget shared hut at Mandara Hut
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Activities: Private transfer to Marangu Gate, trek to Mandara Hut

Altitude: 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) – 3,720 meters (12,205 feet)
Hiking Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
After a fulfilling breakfast, embark on a 12 km walk from Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut (3,720 meters). Move from the rainforest to the heath and moorland zone. The pathway begins at gentle slopes, covered with grass and heather. Kibo and Mawenzi peaks can be seen at a distance. To reduce the chances of altitude sickness, your guide works on acclimatization strategies with a slow pace, hydration tips, and breathing techniques. Enjoy a hot lunch on the way and delight in the vast horizons of the moorland. Circa Horombo Hut, there is a simple shared bunkhouse, which is budget-friendly and known for its eye-catching views of the summit. Savor a high-energy meal in the communal dining area and gaze into the star-filled sky before going to bed in the shared hut and waking up to the gorgeous campsite views that promise a peaceful sleep.

Accommodation: Budget shared hut at Horombo Hut
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Activities: Trek from Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

Altitude: 3,720 meters (12,205 feet) – 4,700 meters (15,420 feet)
Hiking Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

Gain energy from a wholesome meal, and begin your climb towards Kibo Hut (4,700 meters), which is a 10 km hike away, moving into the alpine desert zone. Amazing views of the stark summit cone and rocky landscapes are provided when crossing the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi. Your guide provides commentary on the high-altitude ecosystem while pacing the group to preserve energy for the summit attempt. Relish a hot lunch while in transit and marvel at the wild beauty of the alpine desert. Kibo Hut is a shared bunkhouse with budget-friendly prices that offers basic mattresses, located near the base of Kibo. In the afternoon, rest and prepare your gear while your guide delivers the last briefing on the summit. Sleep briefly in the shared hut after a light dinner to ready yourself for the midnight hike towards Uhuru Peak. The anticipation for the summit is enhanced by the high communal hut setting amidst the mountains.

Accommodation: Budget shared hut at Kibo Hut
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Activities: Trek from Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut, summit briefing

Altitude: 4,700 meters (15,420 feet) – 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) to 3,720 meters (12,205 feet) to 1,860 meters (6,102 feet)
Hiking Distance: 6 km (3.7 miles) to summit, 16 km (9.9 miles) to Horombo Hut, 12 km (7.5 miles) to Marangu Gate
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours (summit ascent), 5-7 hours (descent to Horombo Hut), 4-5 hours (descent to Marangu Gate)

Starting at midnight, trek from Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters), which is a 6km walk taking anywhere from 6-8 hours as you navigate steep scree slopes to reach Gilman's Point (5,685m) and the summit. Your guide ensures that the group maintains a reasonable pace to counter the altitude and cold conditions, with headlamps lighting the way. Celebrate at sunrise with stunning views of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers while savoring this bucket-list moment. Descend to Horombo Hut (3720m, 5-7 hours) for a hot lunch and then rest. Continue towards Marangu Gate (1860m, 4-5 hours) through the rainforest, eating a provided lunch and spotting blue monkeys. At the gate, receive your summit certificate (if successful) and participate in a private visit to a Maasai village near Arusha, shopping for artisanal crafts. Finish with a one-hour private transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport, departing with the unforgettable memories of the summit and Tanzania's culture.

Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Activities: Summit attempt to Uhuru Peak, descent to Horombo Hut and Marangu Gate, private Maasai village visit, private airport transfer