EAC Exclusive: Marangu Route

Pickup at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to your hotel in Moshi town; afterward, your guide will come to brief you about the trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Then an overnight stay at the hotel.

Departing from Moshi, it's a 1-hour and a half drive to Marangu gate, where you will complete entry formalities. We will patiently wait for our permits. On the way you will enjoy your picnic lunch at Kisambioni Picnic Site, before at the hut at Horombo after lunch we continue commencing the trek. through lush undisturbed forest where you may be lucky enough to see Colobus monkeys. The path undulates steeply in places. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.

After breakfast, begin your trek to Horombo Hut, where the trail transitions from lush forest to open moorland. On clear days, enjoy your first breathtaking views of the snow-capped Kibo and the majestic Mawenzi peak

Today is an extra day for acclimatisation, helping your body adjust to the thinning mountain air. An optional hike to Zebra Rocks (4,100 m) offers a 90-minute climb with stunning views before returning to Horombo Hut (3,720 m) for the night. Horombo provides water, toilets, and washbasins. The landscape shifts from moorland to alpine desert, and you may spot high-altitude birds and rodents along the way.

The route passes the Maua River—the last water point—then crosses the barren Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route and arrive at Kibo by mid-afternoon. Dinner is served early as you rest for the midnight summit climb.

Begin your summit push at midnight after tea and biscuits. Climb 1,192 meters over 14–15 hours, passing William’s Point, Hans Meyer Cave, and Gilman’s Point before reaching Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) around sunrise. Celebrate your achievement, then descend to Kibo Hut for rest and brunch before continuing to Horombo Hut (3,720 m) for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, begin your final descent through the Marangu Montane Forest to Marangu Gate, a trek of approximately 7-8 hours, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride. The vehicle will be ready to drive you back to the hotel for a warm shower at Moshi. It’s definitely time to celebrate!

Today you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport in time for your flight, or if you’ve decided to extend your Tanzanian adventure, begin the next part of your journey!