6 Days Mount. Kilimanjaro Hike (Marangu Route)

Embark on a journey to conquer the great summits of Africa’s highest and single free-standing mountain – Mt. Kilimanjaro. About 6 well-established routes lead you to the summits of Mt. Kilimanjaro and include Machame, Marangu, Shira, Lemosho, Umbwe and Rongai. Of these, Marangu route also popular as the Coca Cola route is most famous because you require fewer days to hike and you will be guaranteed of a place to sleep at the designated campsites.

The Marangu route starts from Marangu gate and you ascend via a lush forest to Mandara huts also named after the fearsome Chagga chief of Moshi. This route further takes you via moorland to Horombo huts for a night and acclimatization. Finally, you will conquer the Uhuru peak through the Gilman’s Point. The Marangu route is a shorter route but comes with some steeper incline.

Detailed itinerary.

Day 1: Transfer from Moshi to Marangu gate, trek to Mandara Huts (4-5 hours)

After a hefty breakfast, set off from Moshi about an hour drive to Marangu gate. You will navigate via Marangu village to Kilimanjaro National Park gate where you will get registered. After, you will be led by an experienced guide from Kilimanjaro National Park. Trek through the montane forest as you enjoy the breathtaking sceneries and also get to know some of the local floral and faunal species as explained by your guide.

You should also come along with trekking poles and gaiters because the lower elevation at times tends to be muddy and a bit slippery. When you reach Mandara Hut, take a short walk over the Maundi Crater or simply chill as you appreciate the breathtaking scenery in your surroundings.

Day 2: Trek from Mandara Huts to Horombo Hut – 2,700 to 3,700m (about 6-8 hours)

After a hearty breakfast, you will embark on a rewarding hike of about 6-8 hours with an expert. Navigate via the rainforest and proceed on ascending path to heathland while you keep eyes on the giant lobelias and groundsels. Immerse yourself in the open moorland dominated by small shrubs and you will make a short stopover for you to have lunch.

As you enjoy lunch, do not forget the mesmerizing views of Mawenzi. You will get to Horombo Huts in the afternoon where you will get great treat to remarkable views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. At this point, temperatures start dropping.

Day 3: Horombo Huts (acclimatisation day) 3,700m

Have a full day at Horombo and your guide will be available to take you through an acclimatisation walk to zebra rocks and the base of Mawenzi peak. While here, enjoy the breathtaking views of Kibo looming over the saddle. You will get back and have the rest of the evening at the camp.

Day 4: Horombo Huts to Kibo Hut 3,700m – 4,700m (6-8 hours)

A full day is dedicated for you to trek up to the barren high elevation desert, navigating across the boulder strewn saddle which links Kibo and Mawenzi. You will have a lunch break and after, proceed to the huge saddle till you get to the hut.

Day 5: Kibo Huts – Summit & back to Horombo Huts

You will have an intense day today as you ascend to the Uhuru Peak. Trek to Gilman’s Point (5685m) on the Crater rim where you will have beautiful view of sunrise and a short rest. At the rim, you will proceed about an hour to Uhuru Peak where you will have the jaw-dropping views of the craters and glaciers. Later, walk back to Kibo for some relaxation and then proceed down to Horombo Hut for you to chill the rest of the evening.

Day 6: Horombo Huts back to Marangu gate, drive to Moshi

Enjoy a hearty breakfast and after, set off on a 6-7 hour trek back to Marangu gate with an expert. At the park gate, do not leave without receiving your summit certificates and later, board your 4×4 drive car ready to get back to Moshi.

End of adventure

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.Game drive security is assured.Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.