Kilimanjaro & treks
Arusha, Marangu Gate, Mandara Hut, Horombo Hut, Kibo Hut, Gilman's Point, Uhuru Peak
your journey
The Marangu route is Kilimanjaro's classic trail, often called the Coca-Cola route, and the one where you sleep in shared mountain huts rather than tents. The path climbs from rainforest through heath and moorland to the alpine desert around Kibo, and you come down the same way.
This five-day version is the shortest way to attempt the summit. You walk to Mandara Hut on the first day, Horombo Hut on the second and Kibo Hut on the third, then leave for Gilman's Point and Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) around midnight. With no rest day, your body has less time to adjust to the altitude than on the six-day climb, so come fit and walk slowly.
We drive you from Arusha to Marangu Gate and back, and our mountain guide, crew and porters look after you from gate to gate, with meals provided throughout the trek.
Fit walkers with limited time who would rather sleep in a hut than a tent. No climbing experience is needed, but you should be ready for long days, cold nights and a summit day of 10 to 14 hours, with less time to acclimatise than on longer climbs.
Parks visited
Mount Kilimanjaro
what makes it special
day by day
After breakfast we drive you from Arusha to Marangu Gate, where your guide completes registration and the park formalities. The walk starts in lush rainforest and climbs gradually along a well-used forest trail, where you may hear and see birds and other forest wildlife. Take it slowly from the first step: the pace you set today helps you later. You reach Mandara Hut in the afternoon to settle in, eat dinner and spend your first night on the mountain. About 8 km, 4–5 hours.
After breakfast the trail leaves the forest and climbs into the heath and moorland zone, where the vegetation opens out and the sky gets bigger. As you gain height, the snow-streaked dome of Kibo and the jagged peak of Mawenzi come into view ahead of you. It is a long walking day, so drink often and keep to your guide's steady pace. You arrive at Horombo Hut for dinner and the night. About 12 km, 6–8 hours.
After breakfast you leave Horombo and cross the Saddle, the wide, high plain between Mawenzi and Kibo. The last plants thin out as you enter the alpine desert, rocky and sparse, and the air grows noticeably thinner. You reach Kibo Hut in the afternoon, eat an early dinner and rest as much as you can, because the summit attempt starts around midnight. Lay out your warm layers, headtorch and water before you sleep. About 10 km, 6–8 hours.
After a light snack around midnight you set off by headtorch up the steep path to Gilman's Point on the crater rim, then follow the rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa. Altitude, cold and darkness make this the hardest part of the climb, so steady pacing matters far more than speed. After time at the top you descend to Kibo Hut and continue down to Horombo Hut for dinner. About 6 km up and 16 km down, 10–14 hours in all.
After breakfast you begin the final descent, back through heath and moorland and into the rainforest you walked through on the first day. Your knees will feel the way down, so use your poles and take your time. At Marangu Gate your guide completes the park formalities and signs you out, and then our vehicle meets you for the drive back to Arusha, where the trek ends. About 20 km, 5–7 hours.
the price
Price on request
before you ask
Kilimanjaro needs no ropes or technical climbing skills, but it is a serious high-altitude trek. You walk for several hours a day on uneven ground, nights are cold, and summit night starts around midnight in thin air. Walking regularly on hills before you come, with a loaded daypack, is the best preparation.
We choose routes and itineraries with enough days on the mountain, and we follow the principle of climbing high and sleeping low. On the Machame route, for example, you take short walks above camp at Shira, Lava Tower, Karanga and Barafu before returning to sleep lower. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and tell your guide straight away about any headache, nausea or dizziness.
Many climbers use acetazolamide (Diamox) to help with acclimatisation, but it is a prescription medicine and not right for everyone. Talk to your own doctor before the trip, especially about allergies and side effects, and tell your guide if you are taking it.
Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year, but the driest months are mid-January to mid-March and late June to October, which are also the busiest. The long rains from late March to early June bring wet trails and cloud, and we generally advise against climbing then unless you are experienced in those conditions. November brings short rains, often in the afternoon.
On our Kilimanjaro packages with hotel nights, you stay at our partner hotel, Weru Weru River Lodge near Moshi, or a similar hotel, on the night before and the night after the climb. Your guide holds the pre-climb briefing and gear check there.
You need good broken-in hiking boots, warm layers including a down jacket, waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, a warm hat, a headtorch and a daypack. Tents, mats and all group and cooking equipment are provided. Your specialist will confirm what can be rented locally, including sleeping bags, and send you a full packing list.
Neither suits everyone. The 5-day climb fits a tight schedule. The 6-day climb adds an acclimatisation day at Horombo Hut with a hike towards the Mawenzi Ridge, giving your body more time to adjust before Kibo Hut and summit night. If you can spare the extra day, it is worth considering.
In shared, dormitory-style mountain huts at Mandara, Horombo and Kibo rather than in tents. Marangu is the Kilimanjaro route that uses huts; our other Kilimanjaro routes are camping routes.
Enquire
Every AAA Express Adventure trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.
Your journey
Price on request
5 days · 4 nights
also consider
17 days · 16 nights
Arusha National Park · Tarangire National Park · Ngorongoro Crater · Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai · Mount Kilimanjaro · Mount Meru
Price on request
6 days · 5 nights
Mount Kilimanjaro
Price on request
6 days · 5 nights
Mount Kilimanjaro
Price on request
karibu
Call us on +255 784 281316, email sales@aaaexpressadventure.com or send an enquiry. Our team in Arusha will get back to you.
Price on request
Plan your trip
Enquiry about: 5-Day Kilimanjaro Climb via the Marangu Route
Asante sana
We'll reply within 24 hours. Please check your inbox (and spam folder) for our confirmation email.
Need an answer sooner? Chat with us on WhatsApp
