Marangu Route
7 days / 6 nights
Also known as the “Coca Cola route” – the Marangu route is one of the most popular routes leading to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. This is the only route that provides communal sleeping huts, equipped with beds and mattresses at every overnight site. Some basic goods such as mineral water, beer and chocolates are also sold at most sites. The Marangu Route takes the same route for both ascend and descend.
Itinerary
DAY 1 :
ARRIVAL IN ARUSHA & OVERNIGHT
You will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and driven to your accommodation in Moshi. Participants will be given a briefing for the climb that starts the next day. We’ll help you thoroughly check your kit and equipment. We encourage you to get a good night’s sleep in comfort at the Moshi Salsalinero Hotel
Meals: dinner
DAY 2:
MARANGU GATE (1860M) TO MANDARA HUT (2715M)
Hiking time: 5 hours
Distance: Approximately 8.1 km
Habitat: Montane forest
The drive from Moshi to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Marangu, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. As you sign in at the park gate, porters will be arranging and loading their packs which contain the food, water, cooking gas as well as most of your equipment. From the park gate, we ascend on a cleared ridge trail through the rain forest. An alternative and more scenic parallel forest trail follows the edge of a stream through the undergrowth and offers you the option to rejoin the main trail just before the Mandara Hut where you will spend the night.
Mandara Hut consists of a group of wooden A-framed huts in a forest clearing each sleeping 6 - 8 trekkers with solar generated lighting and water piped into the camp from springs above.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 3:
MANDARA HUT (2715m)
TO HOROMBO HUT (3705M)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 11.6 km
Habitat: Moorland
From Mandara hut, the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, skirts the base of the Maundi Crater and then emerges into a transition from rain forest to moorland. It is well worth a short detour to scramble up the rim of the Maundi Crater for your first impressive view of the Kibo Crater.
Once you are in the open moorland, you will get the chance to see some of Kilimanjaro’s most spectacular plants – the endemic giant lobelia which grows up to 3 m in height and the giant groundsel (Senecia Kilimanjari), which can reach heights of 5m. After about 6 hours trek from here, you reach the Horombo hut where we will spend the night.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 4:
HOROMBO HUT (3705M) ACCLIMATIZATION DAY
Horombo is normally bustling with hikers, guides and porters, with an atmosphere of adventure and excitement. You will meet both ascending and descending hikers here. This extra day and night at Horombo is spent acclimating to the high altitude. A five-hour hike towards the Mawenzi hut, passing the Zebra Rocks on the way is strongly recommended.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 5:
HOROMBO HUT (3705M) TO KIBO HUT (4730M)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 9.6 km
Habitat: Alpine desert
After breakfast, we continue our ascent into the alpine desert. From Horombo, there are two trails to the “Saddle” (which refers to the area located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo). As you pass the last watering point at 4130m, you will have to fill your water bottles with all the water you will need until your return to Horombo hut in two night’s time. Situated in the barren Alpine desert is Kibo hut, a stone build block house which has bunk beds for 60 climbers, but no streams with water nearby. It is however possible to buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp office.
The summit is now a further 1195M up and you will make your final ascent in a few hours. Prepare your equipment, ski-stick and thermal clothing for your summit bid. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing, it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 6: KIBO HUT (4730M)
TO UHURU PEAK (5895M)
TO HOROMBO HUT (3705M)
Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak plus 6 to 8 hours to descend to Horombo
Distance: Approximately 5.4 km ascent and 15 km descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
You will rise around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits we’ll head out into the night. You will be travelling light as most of your gear will be left safely in the Kibo hut whilst you summit. This is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m) and also offers a good resting spot.
The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5 681m), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone scree, requiring great physical and mental effort. This is probably the most demanding section of the entire route. From Gillmans Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend taking in the views and taking photographs before the three-hour descent back to Kibo hut. After a short rest, you need to gather all your gear and head down to Horombo hut for your overnight. The return to Horombo hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. The total time spent walking on this day is around 14 hours, so be prepared for a very tough day. This will be your last night on the mountain.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
DAY 7:
HOROMBO HUT (3705M)
TO MARANGU GATE (1860M)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: Approximately 19.7 km
After breakfast, you continue your descent (6 hours), passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu gate. At Marangu gate, you will receive your summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Gillman’s Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m), receive gold certificates. We'll now drive back to Moshi or for a long overdue hot shower at the Salsalinero Hotel, our celebratory dinner and a very comfy bed.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
