The first Kilimanjaro stage on the Marangu Route leads from the KINIPA headquarters near Marangu to the Mandara huts. In the morning, the tour operator drove me in a minibus about 1 hour from the hotel in Moshi to the start. At the large parking lot there was an initial meeting with the porters, another hiker and my guide. 

The stage climbs quite steadily, with an average gradient of around 9.8%. It takes about four and a half hours of leisurely hiking, mostly through dense forest with lots of shade, but also some sunny sections.

Level of difficulty: Light to medium – due to the higher temperatures.

Shoes, clothing, equipment: It is hot. Short clothing is good here – although long trousers and long sleeves protect you from mosquitoes and also from the bushes on the side of the path when dodging descending hikers or quickly running porters. Due to the higher temperatures, breathable hiking boots are advisable for the first two stages. The hike is slow, but the altitude is already demanding. Since concentration also decreases somewhat, the shoes should not be too soft and should provide stability for the ankles and soles of the feet. Despite the dense forest, the sun keeps breaking through, which is why you should always have a light summer hat to hand. The sun is much stronger at higher altitudes.

Overnight stay at Mandara Huts: In small triangular huts, each with four beds on thin plastic-covered mattresses. The evenings and nights are already getting quite cool.

Special extra: After dinner you can take a short additional hike to the Maundi Crater – which you can explore here virtually in the 360° panoramic tour.

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-1
> Start – at the KINAPA headquarters, the official organization is TANAPA , Tanzania National Parks (links in also pano)
> The paid entry to the Kilimanjaro National Park should be registered early through a local organization. A guide and the appointment of porters is mandatory.
> Follow the blue arrow to the toilet, the green arrow for the tour

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-3
> Memorial plaque about the first ascent of Kilimanjaro as well as important information and rules
> Turn left on tar road slightly uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-5
> Entrance to the national park
> Stony clay soil slightly uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-7
> Steep uphill with stairs made of big stones
> With a little more shade through the forest

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-8
> Slightly stony clay path, more uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-10
> Fewer stones, slightly downhill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-12
> Clearing without shade
> Stronger uphill again with more stones

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-15
> A little more shade
> Less rocky, level clay path slightly uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-17
> Wooden bridge over a streambed

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-25
> Milestone

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-28
> Steep uphill over slippery roots and large stones

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-29
> Under large branches
> A little more level again, steeply uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-31
> Less steep uphill
> Sporadic roots and stones

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-35
> A little more uphill
> More stones and slippery roots

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-47
> Children present a chameleon on a stick and ask for money for this little attraction

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-49
> More uphill with more rocks and slippery roots through denser forest with more shade

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-59
> Less steep uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-60
> Through bushes, on larger rocks across a small quiet stream

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-61
> After a short part slightly downhill a little more uphill again over slippery roots and isolated stones

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-63
> Turn right over the wooden bridge
> Milestone

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-64
> Wooden bridge over a small rushing stream
> Continue slightly uphill, few stones and roots

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-68
> Flat path with few stones, alternating slightly uphill and downhill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-72
> A little rockier, more uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-75
> Turnoff to the rest area with toilet at access road – follow blue arrow over wooden bridge

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-76
> Rest area with narrow tables and benches without backrest
> The road is not permitted for hikers
> Follow blue arrow to the toilet
> Follow purple arrow back to path

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-77
> Toilets

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-78
> Flat clay path with gravel, stronger uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-79
> Occasional slippery roots
> Partly downhill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-81
> A little more uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-84
> Steeper uphill, higher root and rock steps

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-85
> Only a few stones, slightly steep uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-87
> Less steep uphill again

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-88
> Uneven with larger stones and roots

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-95
> A bit more level again, further uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-95
> Again very uneven, natural stairs over larger roots and stones

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-98
> Flatter again, less rocky, slightly uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-101
> More uphill, uneven, natural stairs over larger stones and slippery roots

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-106
> Flatter again, fewer stones and roots, less steep uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-109
> After a wooden bridge on a very unevenly paved stone path, it climbs more strongly uphill
> Milestone

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-110
> Again very uneven on clay, lots of slippery roots, steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-112
> Slightly leveler and less steep

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-114
> Uneven over slippery roots and wooden beams, steeper uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-117
> More uneven, slightly less steep uphill

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-122
> Leveler, slightly uphill, the forest thins out

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-126
> Uneven with lots of stones in the clay, steeper uphill, more shade again in dense forest

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-130
> Large old trees line the path

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-132
> Further uphill with rows of stones as steps

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-133
> More level, less steep uphill, a little more light
> Enchanted, bush-like, dense tree growth with thin trunks

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-145
> Stretched steps with wooden edges, a little steeper uphill, more dense tree growth and more shade

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-150
> Just slightly uphill, the forest becomes thinner again

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-152
> Again more shade

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-154
> Short steeper climb up to the huts to arrive

Kilimanjaro – Marangu Route – Stage 1 – Pano kja-159
> End of the 1st stage at the Mandara Huts (Google link also in pano)
> Starting point for a short hike to the Maundi Crater and the 2nd stage (links also in pano)
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> Follow blue arrows to have a look around

kja-155
> Large communal hut, to eat together at long tables
> Numerous small huts for 4 people each

kja-156
> Entrance to an overnight hut
> There is probably a large building now

kja-157
> Inside a sleeping hut

kja-158
> Toilets and showers