The second Kilimanjaro stage on the Marangu Route leads from the Mandara Huts to the Horombo Huts. The average gradient of 8.5% is slightly lower than on the first stage, but there is an alternation of steeper and flatter sections with slightly more unevenness and often a bit rockier. The vegetation changes rapidly. The forest on the first stage is initially followed by tall bushes and shrubs – and then after a quarter of the hike there are usually only knee-high bushes. This gives you a wide view over the country and up to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Level of difficulty: Medium to difficult – due to the altitude.

Shoes, clothing, equipment: It is getting cooler, but the sun is stronger, also because after the first third of the hike there are no trees providing shade. A sun hat is important, and light clothing with long sleeves and trouser legs is good to start with. The higher you go, the cooler it gets. That’s why it makes sense to have a light windbreaker with you.
During breaks, a light scarf, a fleece jacket and a wool hat will help you to not get cold too quickly. Without trees, the wind also seems stronger. And if it gets too cold during the hike, the fleece jacket serves well as a second layer.
During my hike it rained occasionally on this stage. A rain poncho should always be at hand – big enough so that the daypack can fit underneath.
The wetness caused the clay path to become very soft. The shoes sank deep. Hiking boots with high rubber coating are therefore a plus. Hiking poles make it easier to deal with the mud.

Overnight stay at Mandara Huts: Just like before in small triangular huts, each with four beds on thin plastic-covered mattresses. The evenings and nights are getting cold.

Special extra: You spend your acclimatization day at the Horombo Huts. The one-hour climb to the Zebra Rocks is worth it (it’s quicker to go back), firstly to help with acclimatization and secondly because the rocks really have an impressive zebra pattern.

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-1
> Start of the 2nd stage, follow the green arrows
> Also end of the 1st stage {https://hikingtrailview.com/de/rennsteig-virtuelle-360-panoramatour/kilimandscharo-kilimanjaro-Marangu-Route-etappe-stage-1/} at the Mandara Huts and start of the excursion to Maundi Crater {https://hikingtrailview.com/de/rennsteig-virtuelle-360-panoramatour/kilimandscharo-kilimanjaro-Marangu-Route-Maundi-Crater} (links also in pano)

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-2
> Slightly uphill on a flat clay path, partly shady

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-6
> More shadow

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-8
> After a short wooden bridge over a stream bed, rocky and uneven, less shade

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-9
> Turn off to Maundi Crater {https://hikingtrailview.com/de/rennsteig-virtuelle-360-panoramatour/kilimandscharo-kilimanjaro-Marangu-Route-Maundi-Crater}, continue to the left for the main path

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-10
> Level, sometimes small steps

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-11
> Cross a small wooden bridge into the forest, it becomes shady for a short while

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-13
> After a short wooden bridge, rocky, uneven and without shade, steeply uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-15
> Less steep and more level

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-17
> Alternation between shade and sun

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-18
> Uneven and rocky, no shade, slightly steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-21
> Very uneven and rocky, steep uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-22
> Flat and slightly downhill, no shade

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-23
> Uneven and rocky, steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-24
> Uneven and rocky, slightly uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-25
> Very uneven and rocky, more uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-28
> Even, slightly uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-30
> Stronger uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-32
> Even, sometimes small steps with wooden edges, less steep uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-33
> Very uneven, coarse stone paving, steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-34
> More level and less steep uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-37
> Stronger uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-38
> A little flatter uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-39
> Uneven and rocky, steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-43
> Slightly uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-44
> Rocky and uneven, steeply uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-45
> Even and steeper downhill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-46
> Level and slightly uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-47
> Very uneven with large stones, steeper uphill
> A porter with a heavy box on his head

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-48
> Level and slightly downhill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-49
> Uneven, steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-50
> Less steep uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-53
> More even

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-54
> Short wooden bridge

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-55
> Very uneven with large stones, more uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-57
> Here you can see how muddy the path can become when it is wet: your shoes sink a few centimeters into the ground, making progress very difficult, and the big number of hikers softens the path even more

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-61
> Rest area with narrow tables and benches without backrests
> Follow the blue arrow to the toilet

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-62
> Toilet

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-63
> Soft clay path, uneven, crisscrossed by larger stones, steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-67
> Uneven, roughly paved with stones, steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-68
> More even, fewer stones, less steep uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-69
> Stronger downhill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-70
> Uneven, coarse gravel and larger stones, more uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-71
> More even, less steep uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-75
> Shortly steeper downhill, after a short wooden bridge very uneven with larger stones, steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-76
> A little more even, interrupted by larger stones, more uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-77
> After a long, slight downhill section, more uphill again, even and fewer stones

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-78
> After a very uneven downhill section over a short wooden bridge, then steeper uphill, uneven and more stones

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-79
> Shortly downhill, then slightly uphill, a bit uneven

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-80
> Very uneven, roughly paved with large stones, steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-81
> Steep uphill, very uneven at times with scree and large stones

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-83
> Less uphill and more even

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-84
> Uneven with very large stones, more uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-85
> Shortly flatter and over a short wooden bridge

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-86
> A bit more even with fewer stones, stronger uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-90
> More downhill, a bit rockier

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-92
> Short wooden brigde over a small stream, where examples of the endemic giant groundsel, Dendrosenecio Kilimanjari, grow
> Before destination another short, steep and rocky uphill climb

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-93
> Steep and rocky upwards on pebble gravel

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 2 – Pano kjb-95
> End of the 2nd stage at the Horombo Huts
> To look around, follow the blue arrows
> Links to the acclimatization hike to the Zebra Rocks {https://hikingtrailview.com/de/rennsteig-virtuelle-360-panoramatour/kilimandscharo-kilimanjaro-Marangu-Route-Zebra-Rocks} and to the 3rd stage in the Pano {https://hikingtrailview.com/de/rennsteig-virtuelle-360-panoramatour/kilimandscharo-kilimanjaro-Marangu-Route-etappe-stage-3/}