The Marangu day hike is an enchanting blend of nature and culture that offers a captivating journey through lush landscapes at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. The trail provides stunning views as it passes through local villages and dense vegetation, making it a memorable experience for nature enthusiasts and those seeking a taste of Kilimanjaro’s beauty in a shorter timeframe.

The Marangu route is the only Mount Kilimanjaro route where ascent and descent are done on the same route. The hike starts from the gate and leads to the first camp at an elevation of 2,980m / 9,780ft. The adventure takes you through lush rainforest, which receives heavy rainfall on this side of the mountain. You are likely to see white and black Colobus monkeys in this unspoiled wilderness. The hike takes about 3 hours up to the first camp and 2 hours down back to the gate. You will be accompanied by an armed ranger and a mountain guide throughout the trek.

You can combine this hike with a Chagga cultural experience that includes visiting a Chagga home to learn about their daily life, visiting the Chagga museum and the small cave built by the Chagga people to hide during the civil war. The entrance to the cave is a tiny hole with a ladder, and once you are inside, you will be crawling. You can also visit a coffee plantation and Marangu waterfalls to make your day more active.