Kilimanjaro 5-day hike Marangu Route: summit Uhuru Peak

Hike through rainforest and moorland to stand at Africa's highest point.

You trek five days from Moshi to Kilimanjaro's summit, sleeping in mountain huts and eating three meals daily at each camp. The route climbs through rainforest and moorland to the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi, then makes the midnight push to Uhuru Peak at 5,895m, with a full descent the next day. Airport pickup, park entry and a guide are included; the whole climb takes you from 1,879m to the summit and back down in five days.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and start trek to Mandara Hut

• Meet driver at Kilimanjaro Airport
• Transfer to hotel in Moshi
• Meet guide and check equipment
• Breakfast at hotel
• Drive to Marangu gate
• Complete paperwork and start trek
• Hike through rainforest to Mandara Hut
• Rest and visit Maundi Crater viewpoint

Day 2 — Trek from Mandara to Horombo Hut

• Early breakfast at Mandara Hut
• Hike to timberline and moorland zone
• Reach Horombo Hut and enjoy views

Day 3 — Trek from Horombo to Kibo Hut

• Breakfast at Horombo Hut
• Pass Last Water point and saddle
• Arrive at Kibo Hut for rest

Day 4 — Summit attempt to Uhuru Peak

• Start final ascent around midnight
• Pass Hans Meyer Cave
• Reach Gillman’s Point at sunrise
• Continue to Uhuru Peak summit
• Return to Kibo Hut for meal and rest
• Descend to Horombo Hut

Day 5 — Descent to Marangu Gate and return

• Breakfast at Horombo Hut
• Hike through moorland to Mandara Hut
• Enjoy warm lunch at Mandara Hut
• Descend through rainforest to park gate
• Say goodbye to guides
• Transfer back to hotel in Moshi
• Relax and celebrate success

The Experience

Kilimanjaro's Marangu route starts at the gate near Moshi with a walk through dense rainforest where you might spot primates moving through the canopy. The first day covers 8.3 km in about five hours to Mandara Hut at 2,720m. Your guide briefs you on gear before you leave town, and any missing equipment can be rented that morning. By afternoon you're in the forest; by evening you're at the hut with views toward the Kenyan interior from the nearby Maundi Crater.

Day two climbs into the heath and moorland zone. You leave Mandara after breakfast and spend six to seven hours gaining elevation to Horombo Hut at 3,720m, covering 11 km. The vegetation thins as you rise, and from the hut you see both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks across the wide Masai steppe. Day three is the toughest before the summit push: a five- to seven-hour trek across the saddle—a nearly barren plateau between the two peaks—to reach Kibo Hut at 4,720m. You eat early and sleep early because the night is short.

The summit attempt starts around midnight on day four. You climb for twelve to fifteen hours, passing Hans Meyer Cave at 5,220m and reaching Gillman's Point on the crater rim at 5,681m as the sun rises. From there, another one to two hours takes you to Uhuru Peak at 5,895m. After the summit, you descend back to Kibo Hut for a meal and a brief rest, then continue down to Horombo Hut for the night. The final day is a steady descent through moorland and forest back to Mandara Hut, where lunch waits, then down to the park gate at 1,879m. A driver transfers you back to your hotel in Moshi for a hot shower and rest.

All camps have radio contact with the park office, and basic supplies—water, soft drinks, beer and chocolate—are available at the huts. The route is called easier because it uses established huts rather than camping, but it has a high failure rate among climbers who arrive unprepared or attempt the summit without proper acclimatization. Success depends on steady pacing and honest fitness going in.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your hotel in Moshi and back.
• park entry fees.
• accommodation at Mandara Hut, Horombo Hut and Kibo Hut.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) at each camp.
• a professional guide for the entire trek.
• radio communication at all camps for safety.
• basic supplies including mineral water, soft drinks, beer and chocolate available at the huts.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Rock To Bush Adventures

Is this one for you?This climb suits anyone with moderate fitness who wants to reach Africa's highest point without arranging transport, park permits or logistics themselves—the five-day structure and included guide handle all of that, leaving you to focus on the climb and acclimatization.

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Top questions

What is the Marangu route on Kilimanjaro?

The Marangu route is the most established path up Kilimanjaro, using mountain huts for accommodation instead of camping. It's graded as the easier route because of the huts, but it has a high failure rate among climbers who don't prepare well or attempt the summit without proper acclimatization.

How many hours of hiking per day on the Marangu route?

Day one is five hours, day two is six to seven hours, day three is five to seven hours, day four (summit day) is twelve to fifteen hours, and day five is eight hours. Day four is by far the longest because you start around midnight and climb through the night.

What altitude do you reach on Kilimanjaro?

Uhuru Peak, the summit, is 5,895m. You pass Gillman's Point on the crater rim at 5,681m about one to two hours before the summit.

Where do you sleep on the Marangu route?

You sleep at Mandara Hut (2,720m) on night one, Horombo Hut (3,720m) on nights two and four, and Kibo Hut (4,720m) on night three. All huts have basic supplies and radio contact with the park office.

What is included in the five-day Kilimanjaro climb?

Airport pickup from Kilimanjaro International Airport, park entry fees, accommodation at mountain huts, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner at each camp), and a guide are included. Gear rental is available on day one if you're missing any equipment.

When do you attempt the summit?

You start the summit push around midnight on day four from Kibo Hut. You reach Gillman's Point on the crater rim at sunrise, then continue one to two more hours to Uhuru Peak.

How far do you trek each day?

Day one is 8.3 km, day two is 11 km, day three is 9 km, day four is 22 km (the summit push), and day five is 20.8 km (the descent).

What fitness level do you need for the Marangu route?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The route is graded easier than others on Kilimanjaro, but the altitude and the twelve- to fifteen-hour summit day are demanding.

Can you see wildlife on the Marangu route?

Yes, you have a chance to see primates in the dense rainforest on day one as you hike to Mandara Hut.

What happens after you reach the summit?

After reaching Uhuru Peak, you descend back to Kibo Hut for a meal and a one- to two-hour rest, then continue down to Horombo Hut for the night. On day five you trek down through moorland and forest, stopping for lunch at Mandara Hut before reaching the park gate and returning to your hotel in Moshi.