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Trek Up Kilimanjaro
The trail climbing through dense rainforest on the lower slopes

Marangu Route

The only route with hut accommodation, and the only one that ascends and descends the same path. Choose it for the huts, not for the acclimatisation.

5–6 days
On the mountain
72 km
Total distance
5,895 m
Highest point
Huts
Sleeping
Marangu Route altitude profile, in brief. Full data is given in the table below.
Marangu Route altitude profile, in brief
Day Location Altitude (m) Distance (km) Overnight
1 Marangu Gate 1,860 0 No
1 Mandara Hut 2,720 8 Yes
2 Horombo Hut 3,720 20 Yes
3 High point 4,000 20 No
3 Horombo Acclimatization Day 3,720 20 Yes
4 Kibo Hut 4,700 30 Yes
5 Uhuru Peak 5,895 40 No
5 Horombo Hut 3,720 50 Yes
6 Marangu Gate 1,860 70 No
Sleeping altitudes, night by night

In short

Marangu is the oldest route on the mountain and the only one where you sleep in shared dormitory huts rather than tents. It is also the shortest, which is precisely why its reputation is mixed.

What it does well

  • Dormitory huts with bunks, mattresses and dining halls.
  • Shelter from rain, which matters in the shoulder seasons.
  • The shortest itinerary on the mountain if time is genuinely the constraint.
  • A gradual, walkable gradient for most of the ascent.

What to weigh up

  • The weakest acclimatisation profile of the standard routes, particularly over five days.
  • You descend the same path you climbed, so the return covers no new ground.
  • Huts are shared and can be full in high season.
  • We would generally suggest adding the extra acclimatisation day rather than taking the five-day version.

Route facts

5–6 days
Recommended length
72 km
Total distance
5,895 m
Highest point
East
Approach side
Marangu
Descent route
Huts
Sleeping
Challenging for its length
Difficulty
Jan · Feb · Mar · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Best months

The altitude profile

Circles mark sleeping altitudes. Those are what your body adapts to — the high points you walk over during the day matter far less.

Marangu Route elevation profile Route Sleeping altitude
Marangu Route elevation profile. Full data is given in the table below. 2,000 m 3,000 m 4,000 m 5,000 m 6,000 m Mandara Hut 2,720 Horombo Hut 3,720 Horombo Acc 3,720 Kibo Hut 4,700 Uhuru Peak 5,895 Horombo Hut 3,720
Marangu Route elevation profile
Day Location Altitude (m) Distance (km) Overnight
1 Marangu Gate 1,860 0 No
1 Mandara Hut 2,720 8 Yes
2 Horombo Hut 3,720 20 Yes
3 High point 4,000 20 No
3 Horombo Acclimatization Day 3,720 20 Yes
4 Kibo Hut 4,700 30 Yes
5 Uhuru Peak 5,895 40 No
5 Horombo Hut 3,720 50 Yes
6 Marangu Gate 1,860 70 No

The route, camp by camp

As walked on our 6 Days Marangu Route itinerary, with the altitudes it gives.

N Mawenzi Marangu Gate1,860 m Mandara Hut2,720 m Horombo Hut3,720 m Kibo Hut4,700 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m
Ascent Descent Overnight camp Comes down by the same trail. Schematic map, not to scale: positions are approximate and not for navigation. Altitudes are from our itineraries. Terrain: SRTM (NASA), via Terrain Tiles on AWS.
  1. 01 Marangu Gate gate 1,860 m
  2. 02 Mandara Hut hut 2,720 m
  3. 03 Horombo Hut hut 3,720 m
  4. 04 Kibo Hut hut 4,700 m
  5. 05 Uhuru Peak summit 5,895 m
  6. 06 Horombo Hut · descent hut 3,720 m
  7. 07 Marangu Gate · descent gate 1,860 m

Who this route suits

A good fit for

  • Climbers who strongly prefer a bed and a roof
  • Trekkers with limited time
  • Those climbing in the wetter months who want to stay dry

Probably not for

  • First-time high-altitude climbers taking the five-day version
  • Anyone prioritising summit chances over comfort
  • Climbers who want new scenery every day

Itineraries on this route

Before you decide

At a glance

Acclimatisation 2/5
Trail traffic 2/5
Difficulty 3/5
Scenery 3/5
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