“Comfort Trek: Marangu Route with Hut Accommodation

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), a friendly staff member from Serengeti Landmark Tours will be there to welcome you for your Marangu Route adventure. You will then be transferred to your hotel in Arusha, where you can relax after your journey and prepare for the Marangu Route climb.

In the evening, you will have a safari briefing, where our team will go over your itinerary, answer any questions, and ensure you are well-prepared for your Marangu Route experience. Get a good night’s rest—your unforgettable safari and climb begins tomorrow.

Accommodation

✓  Name: Tulia lodge
✓  Type: Hotel
✓  Level: Mid-range

A guide and a mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing for your Marangu Route climb. After this, you will travel by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park's eastern entrance: Marangu Gate (1,860 m / 6,102 ft), the starting point of the Marangu Route adventure.

After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will begin trekking the Marangu Route up to Mandara Hut (2,720 m / 8,922 ft). The trekking route includes passage through the rainforest (where tropical showers are highly probable), so we recommend you take not only spare clothes but also raincoats for your Marangu Route journey. When you reach the camp, our mountain support crew will take care of the necessities and prepare lunch.

Throughout the entire Marangu Route, you will be spending your nights in special huts. These huts are a unique feature of the Marangu Route, offering a great alternative for those who do not want to sleep in tents.

PLEASE NOTE:This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:

• Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently);
• To help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness, consider using a preventive measure like a high-altitude aid medicine. Many mountain climbers take such pills in the morning, before they begin their ascent, to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. Our managers will provide more specific details together with your travel itinerary. We recommend consulting your doctor prior to the trip to discuss any potential allergies or health concerns.

At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your breathing pattern at night, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and experience a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.

The group will wake early for a filling breakfast and then depart Mandara Hut as part of the Marangu Route trek. This stage of the Marangu Route leads you to the second high-altitude camp: Horombo Hut (3,720 m / 12,202 ft), a key stop on the Marangu Route ascent.

When you reach the camp on this day, you will be rewarded with stunning views of two volcanoes at once—Kibo and Mawenzi—one of the most iconic highlights of the Marangu Route experience.

Several hours after lunch, you will complete an acclimatization hike in the direction of Kibo Hut with a 200 m / 656 ft gain in altitude, and then return back down to Horombo Hut where dinner will be prepared for you, continuing your gradual adaptation along the Marangu Route.

PLEASE NOTE:The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation:

Horombo Hut (3,720 m / 12,204 ft)

Destination point en route to Kibo Hut (3,920 m / 12,861 ft)

Hiking distance:

2.5 km (1.5 miles)

Hiking time:

1-2 hours

On this day, right after breakfast, the group will be trekking to the Kibo Hut (4,720 m /15,482 f). The actual trekking is not very difficult, just remember to stick with an appropriate pace to preserve your strength for the climbing to Kilimanjaro's summit. When you reach the camp you will be served lunch, after which we recommend you sleep as much as you can, avoid any strenuous activity, and drink lots of water.

Trekking time:

4-8 hours

Distance:

10 km (6.2 miles)

Your group will depart at night from Kibo Hut (4,720 m /15,482 f) and begin the trek to Kilimanjaro's summit: Uhuru Peak (5,895 m /19,336 f). The trekking will be moderate from a technical standpoint, but the altitude presents a challenge, making even regular physical activity feel strenuous. For the entire length of the summit trek, each pair of climbers will be accompanied by their own guide, who will be monitoring the pair's stamina and mental resolve. After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak, you can descend to the nearest glacier if desired. Then you will return to Kibo Camp and enjoy a two-hour rest before continuing your descent to Horombo Hut (3,720 m /12,202 f).

PLEASE NOTE:Don't forget that 90% of all accidents occur during the descent, including most broken arms and legs. Please pay attention to your feet, as there is a high risk of damaging your toenails.

You will be offered a warm breakfast in the morning, after which we will head for the Kilimanjaro National Park's exit: Marangu Gate (1,970 m /6,462 f). After your descent, the whole group will gather to congratulate you, and then you will have the chance to share your opinions on the trip in the guestbook. Lastly, we will present you with your commemorative certificates and provide you with a transfer back to the hotel.

Trekking time:

5-6 hours

Distance:

18 km (11.1 miles)

Accommodation

✓  Name: Tulia lodge
✓  Type: Hotel
✓  Level: Mid-range

Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.

PLEASE NOTE: Hotel check-out is at 10:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.