8-Day Kilimanjaro Climb via the Marangu Route

When you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport our Legacy Destinations guide will be there to welcome and escort to your hotel, where you can relax from your flight.
Preparation for your climb: You meet your guide before the start of your climb, where he briefs you and provide advice on what to wear, pack, and other important tips to make your climb as comfortable as possible.

In the morning your guide will take you from the hotel to Marangu Gate and begin your trek through the rainforest, where you may spot colobus monkeys, coffee and banana plantations. After a seven-hour hike, you reach the Mandara huts. In the afternoon you have the option to go to the Maundi crater, a volcanic crater near the Mandara Huts or you can just rest and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. As this is your first day at this altitude, remember to drink plenty of water!

From Mandara Huts, the landscape slowly changes from cloud forests to grass plains with some heather and other vegetation. The higher you go, the less vegetation can be seen and the more it starts to look like a lunar landscape. The air is also becoming thinner now. A few hours after lunch you can make an acclimatization hike with an ascent of 200 meters and then return to Horombo Huts for dinner and overnight.

Explore the Mawenzi Ridge to adapt to the altitude. Get the chance to rest and let your body adapt to the altitude and prepare for the extreme hike ahead.

Today your hike leads through a kind of Alpine desert to a point between the two famous mountain peaks Kibo and Mawenzi. The hike is heavy and takes you through open landscapes with less shelter. You arrive at Kibo camp for lunch, after which you can relax in preparation for the big day ahead!

In the middle of the night, you start your ascent to Uhuru Peak, with your flashlight. The biggest challenge lies in the first part of this climb until you reach Gilman's Point. From here, Uhuru Peak is not far and is relatively easy to reach. Once at the summit, enjoy a beautiful sunrise, which is quite impressive at this height! After celebrating this achievement at the top, your descent begins through the Kibo Huts Camp down to the Horombo huts for dinner and overnight. In total, you are on your feet for about twelve hours today, so prepare yourself for a hard but rewarding day!

Celebrate your achievement as you trek back through the rainforest. Descend to Marangu gate, the exit of Kilimanjaro National Park. This is a wonderful five to six-hour walk through the beautiful forests of Kilimanjaro. Your guide then takes you to your hotel, where you get a well-deserved rest.

Relax, reflect, and depart with memories of conquering Kilimanjaro. The end of your holiday and time to go home has arrived. Enjoy your last hours in Tanzania before our driver comes to pick you up and takes you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.

Still longing for more? It's also possible to add a few days of safari or a beach holiday to your Kilimanjaro adventure!