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Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro!

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world standing 5,895m or 19,341 feet above sea level. It is one of the Seven Summits – the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. 

Climbing Kilimanjaro is on many people’s bucket lists! It is not a technical climb and is relatively accessible to people of all ages. Altitude is the largest challenge on the mountain.

For many years, Kilimanjaro climbers have chosen Marangu Hotel as the base for their expeditions up the mountain. At Marangu Hotel one can be confident of an organization backed by over ninety years of experience, which equips and prepares mountaineers for all that they may encounter on their climb to the summit of Africa’s highest mountain.  

 

Our guides are specially trained by the hotel to ensure a safe and rewarding climb and are internationally recognized for their care, knowledge and dedication. Most of them come from families that have been guiding with  the hotel for many years, and this traditional partnership is evident in the cheerful, consistent and professional service they provide. Marangu Hotel is also a partner with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project and is an industry leader with respect to crew remuneration and conditions.

Marangu Hotel can arrange climbs up any of the established routes up Kilimanjaro. We can also tailor climbs according to climbers’ wishes.  All routes, other than the Marangu route, are camping routes. 

We organise two types of climb

Most climbs up Kilimanjaro are between 5 and 8 days, and all visitors to Mount Kilimanjaro must be assisted by at least one licensed guide. Depending on which route you choose, you and your team will have a lot of food, equipment, including tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, and your personal belongings. Most of our guests choose to have a crew of porters to help carry most of their equipment. This usually allows our climbers to have the best chance of success, as well as providing employment to many people within our local community. This is what we refer to as a fully equipped climb.

Fully Equipped Climbs:
The hotel arranges hut bookings, guides and porters, bedding and equipment, and catering on the mountain.  Climbers are expected to bring all necessary warm clothing, although the hotel will make good all shortfalls where possible at no extra charge.  Hotel staff undertake each climber’s mountain packing to ensure that nothing is omitted.  A special price package exists for those wishing to stay at the hotel before and after their fully equipped climb. Most people opt for fully equipped climbs. 

Hard Way Climbs:
This type of climb involves climbers bringing all their own food and equipment, and catering for themselves on the climb. However, it is a requirement by Kilimanjaro National Park that all climbers must be accompanied by a licensed guide, and guides are not allowed to carry a load in case of any potential safety issues. This means that a hard way climb will include at least one guide and one porter, who will carry food and equipment for themselves and the guide. The hotel arranges guides and porters for climbers as well as booking hut accommodation, if requested. 

CHOOSE A ROUTE TO EXPLORE

Marangu Route

(5 or 6 day climb) - Huts

Machame Route

(6 or 7 day climb) - Camping

Rongai Route

(5 or 6 day climb) - Camping

Marangu Route

(5 or 6 day climb) – Huts

Machame Route

(6 or 7 day climb) – Camping

Rongai Route

(5 or 6 day climb) – Camping

Umbwe Route

(5 or 6 day climb) - Camping

Lemosho / Shira Route

(7 or 8 day climb) - Camping

Northern Circuit

(8 - 10 days) - Camping

Umbwe Route

(5 or 6 day climb) – Camping

Lemosho / Shira Route

(7 or 8 day climb) – Camping

Northern Circuit

Why Climb Kilimanjaro With Us?

Marangu Hotel has been organizing Kilimanjaro climbs since 1932, and we are one of the most experienced operators on the mountain, with a strong reputation for safety and excellence. We have helped tens of thousands of climbers get to the roof of Africa, and back down again.

With Marangu Hotel you get high quality service – our goal is to work with you to create the ideal itinerary based on your needs, abilities and desires. We can help you plan every aspect of your journey, providing everything you need for a successful climb and enjoyable experience. We are available to answer any questions you may have. We always ensure that our guests have a full briefing before climbing, where we go through day by day what you can expect on the mountain.

We operate all of our own Kilimanjaro climbs and we plan, coordinate and control every detail of your expedition. Most of our guides have been working with Marangu Hotel for over 10 years and are experienced, with your safety and the safety of the entire crew being their top priority.

We use high quality equipment, including alpine tents, kitchen tents and sleeping bags to ensure that you will be kept safe and warm while on the mountain. Before and after every climb we perform thorough equipment checks. We also have a large inventory of warm gear and other hiking equipment, which we offer to our guests at no extra cost. This means, that if your suitcase gets lost or delayed, we are still able to fully equip you.

Food is a very important aspect of the trip, and we provide large, wholesome meals to all our guests and crew on the mountain, in order to maintain everyone’s energy and health. Almost all of our food is locally sourced from nearby markets or our own gardens.  We cater for all dietary restrictions and preferences.

We demonstrate a commitment to crew and porter welfare through our partnership with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project, which means that we pay crew fair wages, on time, and ensure that they have enough and good quality food and the right equipment. We also ensure that porters are not overladen and strictly adhere to the guidelines on baggage weight allowances.

By climbing with Marangu Hotel you will have a beautiful place to stay before and after your climb, on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. If there are any problems during your climb, and you need to come down the mountain early, you will also have a place to stay, at no extra cost.

We believe strongly in transparency and flexibility. If you need to change your plans, we can easily reschedule your trip, usually at no cost to you.

Our hotel has been a pillar of the Marangu community for over 100 years. Marangu Hotel’s mission has always been to support the local economy and to operate an ethical and sustainable tourism company. Read more about our commitments to sustainability.

Come join us in Marangu and be part of Marangu Hotel’s family. We are passionate about Mount Kilimanjaro, and it has been our main focus for over 90 years. We would welcome an opportunity to help you achieve your dreams of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, which is a truly life changing experience. Almost all of climbers come through referrals, which means that we have had thousands of extremely satisfied customers, who trust us. Check out our reviews on Trip Advisor below.

  • star rating  My family and I recently stayed at the Marangu Hotel and had a wonderful visit at their incredibly well cared for grounds. The staff was welcoming, warm, efficient, proving quality... read more

    jacquelinemK9845RE
    December 18, 2022

    star rating  We Went to Kilimanjaro Summit with Marangu Hotel. What an experience and what a team.
    Starting from a hotel owner to a staff = very friendly and helpful.
    Chief... read more

    uviipo
    October 25, 2022

    star rating  The team are wonderful, always happy to help and make your experience faultless. Food is unreal. After 3 nights stay, Desmond and the team then organised our trip up Mount... read more

    FarAway07364007671
    October 25, 2022
  • star rating  What a beautiful place to stay before and after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
    The team were outstanding in every way welcoming, friendly, nothing was a problem and they all went... read more

    -Melaniejbuttle72
    October 24, 2022

    star rating  This charming, long-standing hotel has remained for decades a constant stable point in a world of change, & so it was a real pleasure to re-visit it in the last... read more

    julianb663
    October 6, 2022

    star rating  Even though we were only there for one night, Valerie, Anthony, and the team made sure that we had everything that we needed to make our stay comfortable. They even... read more

    zahraw2013
    September 21, 2022
  • star rating  I must confess: I had great expectations for this hotel. From the moment I decided to climb Kilimanjaro, I romanticized the whole experience, and that is simply not fair. Real... read more

    oscarrhe
    September 20, 2022

    star rating  Myself and my friend have just returned home after a successful trek on Mt. Kilimanjaro.
    Our stay at the Marangu Hotel and Kilimanjaro trek were organised by the hotel owner... read more

    Paul T
    September 18, 2022

    star rating  Our family of four, including children ages 13 and 15, dreamed of climbing Kilimanjaro but weren't sure how realistic this would be. Anthony addressed all of our concerns during... read more

    DouglasZ708
    August 14, 2022
  • star rating  Marangu hotel was recommended to us by a friend who had climbed Kilimanjaro organized by Anthony and Marangu Hotel.
    Though we didn't spend a lot of time in the hotel... read more

    ssadoughi
    July 13, 2022

    star rating  I was spending in July 3 nights with a friend, and I regret I couldn't stay longer. The land and facilities (with swimming pool, bar & lots of places to... read more

    kilometrosparaelmund
    July 5, 2022

    star rating  We were the first guests after the hotel reopened after Covid. Anthony, the manager, and the hotel staff were warm and welcoming. Anthony was very helpful in selecting Rodrick, a... read more

    boberkoetter
    June 22, 2022
  • star rating  The Marangu Hotel team has years of experience in putting together climbing expeditions for the Kilimandjaro and this is remarkable. Everything was perfect starting with the preparation work and... read more

    virginierampon
    January 2, 2022

    star rating  After a long delay due to COVID, my son and I, along with his two friends, made the decision to climb Kilimanjaro despite the continuing pandemic. I cannot speak... read more

    LisaD_Cali
    September 21, 2021

    star rating  After a long delay due to COVID, my son and I, along with his two friends, made the decision to climb Kilimanjaro despite the continuing pandemic. I cannot speak... read more

    LisaD_Cali
    September 21, 2021
Every one of the Marangu Hotel staff provided exceptional service, hospitality, and camaraderie at every stage of our stay, from pre-climb briefing and outfitting, to an amazing and successful climb experience, and post-climb celebrations and ceremonies. I will wholeheartedly and emphatically recommend the Marangu Hotel to people of all backgrounds and interests, who have a desire to go on the adventure of a lifetime climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, while making lifelong connections with a close community of friendly and highly experienced Tanzanian locals who make this experience possible.

Alan

We are all back safe and sound and had a most remarkable trip. We owe such a debt of gratitude to you and your staff for the many kindnesses and the expertise that you shared. The safari was amazing and our guide, Humphrey was so much fun. We appreciate all you did to make the trek memorable. The whole staff at the hotel was amazing and kind and responsive to everything we needed or might need. Each of us has expressed repeatedly how much we appreciated your thoughtfulness and recommendations.
Hope to see you again to hike the canyon some day soon.

Scott

Here is my experience of the Marangu Hotel, Kilimanjaro…. The year was 2013, I have always wanted to visit Tanzania, but more specifically ascend mt Kilimanjaro, I started planning but also training for such a feat. I set out with my son and husband then.. we land in Kilimanjaro and I’m consumed with excitement, we arrive to marangu hotel and I’m in awe, the neatly manicured lawn and the view of Kilimanjaro in the distance was breathtaking. The rooms were quaint and very comfortable, service was impeccable. I was blown away by the friendliness of the staff… I climbed Kilimanjaro which is also a service offered by the hotel… following the descent I stayed a few more days to rest and relax and was saddened to leave this paradise… this is my small story of this jewel in Tanzania

Lea

Excellent hospitality. Top communication. Thorough briefing and checking of equipment. Climbing Kili w/c 8th Aug 2022 was the perfect week weather wise! Nothing but blue skies. Our guides were experienced, knowledgeable, patient and encouraging. Accommodation on the mountain was clean and comfortable. Food was so tasty!!! I did miss a flushing toilet at Kibo (town girl problems). We had moments on the trip when we had the mountain to ourselves, what an absolute treat that was. At no point did we feel crowded. Due to blisters/bad shoes, on the descent I had to use the stretcher service and then the ambulance to take me to the bottom of the mountain. Good service! Tipping/certificate giving ceremony was a highlight and memorable way to end off the trip after a well-deserved warm Bath that felt like slice of heaven after not having bathed for five days! Overall, a treasured experience! Thank-you!

Mphanga

The entire experience was remarkable! The guides, cooks, porters on the climb were all amazing in terms of the care they took and how they provided for and supported us. Each man on that team was responsible in large part, for the overall success of the climb. They made it so enjoyable and dare I say easy for us. Their overall service was second to none! I think we all felt a special connection to Charlie, Pauli and Johnson when it was all over and I can recall specific instances when each went above and beyond to look out for at least one of us. It all just carried over into the safari. Moses was the perfect guide, and we enjoyed him immensely. The Marangu Hotel is simply awesome, I wouldn’t change a thing and the food was delicious throughout. Last but not least was the flexibility and guidance of Anthony. From those early emails, just getting acquainted, to the safari scheduling and bookings, right on through the last minute scheduling and adjustments due to our travel delays. I came off the climb saying never again 🙂 but the overall experience of it all makes me want to return for a repeat performance, on another route of course. Tanzania, the people, the mountain, found its way into my soul, and will forever be with me. Asante sana, your friend,

Thomas

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Gallery

A big thank you to our many photographers including Matthias Mau & Uli Doering, who are both long time guests and friends of Marangu Hotel. Please click the links above to learn more about their projects.