Hike to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro on the Marangu route

We arrived in Tansania at Addis Abebba Airport early in the morning and a driver took us to the Marangu Hotel in the village Marangu. From the backyard of the hotel, we were able to see the mountain we would climb in the next couple of days for the first time.  At the hotel, we accommodated ourselves and relaxed for the night as well as the whole next day. This gave as the opportunity to  explore a local market and get a  small tour with a lovely guide. He explained us some stuff about the different tribes as well as the vegetation they have there. 

After two good nights sleep, the adventure started. We had to weigh our equipment with a butchers pig scale and once everything was sorted out, we took off by bus to the entrance gate of the park. Porters in Tanzania are ‘only’ allowed to carry 20kg and their personal belongings, as opposed for example to Sherpas in the Himalayas, where they would carry up to 50kg. After signing in at the entrance gate, we started our hike for the day.  The hike was amidst the beautiful jungle, providing us with shade. We managed to see a couple of different animals (birds, monkeys etc.). The hike took us around 4.5 hours. We could’ve done this much faster, but it is important that you hike extremely slowly because it will help with the acclimatization as soon as you get to higher altitudes. We started at around 1870mabsl, hiked for around 9km and slept at the Mandara Hut at 2720mabsl.

As we ascended, the jungle transformed into a vibrant array of mountain flowers and bushed.

Day 3 saw us trekking 12.5km for 6 hours, reaching Horombo Hut at 3780m. Day 4 was an essential acclimatization day at the same hut. We passed Zebra Rocks and ventured to Mawenzi at 4340m. For many in our group, it marked their first time surpassing the 4000m altitude mark. After lunch, we just relaxed a bit in the altitude. We were well above the trees now and sometimes had a view up until Kenya. For the night, we descended again to the Hormbo Hut. 

We trekked for around 9.5km and 6 hours from the Horombo Hut (3780mabsl) to the Kibo Hut (4750mabsl). Even the last part of vegetation fell away and we just walked amongst a rock desert. Since it was pretty windy from time to time, it would get cold even though it was perfectly sunny. Altitude effects became seriously noticeable, with slower movements and even short walks to the toilets felt strenuous due to low oxygen levels. We retired early, around 8pm, anticipating the much-awaited summit day ahead.

Summit day! This marked one of the most demanding yet profoundly rewarding hikes of my life. You cannot imagine how it feels to be on top of Africa. 

As the clock struck half past midnight, our group set out on our ascent, trailing behind the earlier starters. The journey was a relentless ascent into the thin, oxygen-starved air of Mount Kilimanjaro. In the end, it became a bit steeper. Because of the low oxygen air we had to walk extremely slowly and some people had to struggle to actually stay awake while walking and not toppling over – that’s how slow we were. Hours passed  in a blur of darkness and we pressed on until, at last, the first hints of dawn painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. It was a breathtaking sight, a reminder of the sheer beauty that surrounded us. 

 Reaching Gilmans Point, perched at 5680 meters above sea level, marked a significant milestone. Here, we could claim the achievement of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. Yet, fueled by our collective ambition, we pushed forward, driven by the desire to stand atop Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, towering at 5895 meters above sea level.

The sensation that overcame us was incredible and hard to describe. That’s for sure a feeling I will never forget and helps me even years after if I’m faced with a challenge.

After exchanging congratulations and reveling in our accomplishment, we began our descent. We took a slightly different route with a lot of pebbles who helped us descend faster. We reached our starting point at around lunch time and after lunch there, we descended to the Horombo Hut. Losing as much altitude as possible is important in order to get less side effects of the height.

After collapsing into bed early at the Horombo Hut, there was no holding back. The next day, we embarked on our descent to the park entrance, a journey that spanned approximately six hours. But let me tell you, it was no ordinary stroll.

Bearing the aftermath of summit day—blistered feet, exhaustion weighing heavy—we tackled a 20.5-kilometer trek, descending from 3780 meters above sea level to 1870 meters above sea level. Every step was a reminder of the arduous journey we had undertaken.

Yet, as we finally reached the entrance gate, a sense of accomplishment washed over us. It was a moment to savor, a time to indulge in well-deserved summit beers, celebrating our triumph with every sip :)

We stayed again at the Marangu Hotel and just relaxed, went to a small waterfall and just congratulated ourselves on this unforgettable trip. After that, we went on to a 3 day Safari which was an amazing experience itself!