Known as the ‘Coca Cola Route’ because of its popularity and its relative ease, the Marangu route is the least difficult and the shortest way to Uhuru Peak. For those that can’t bear sleeping in a tent or during the wettest months, the Marangu Route remains a good choice.
The original route up to Mt. Kilimanjaro summit remains a popular choice for many climbers. The advantage of this route is the accommodation facilities. It has permanent shared huts with bunk beds at the campsites. This route is fairly easy but the final part to the summit is still difficult. Summit night from Kibo Hut is steep and passes Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak. Since it is a shorter route with a steeper incline and less time for acclimatization it tends to have a lower summit success rate. Though this route is the easiest, it has the highest failure rate due to bad preparation for many hikers. A 6-day option is strongly recommended over the 5-day one for better acclimatization. This is the only route where the ascent and descent route is shared, thus creating more traffic.
Kilimanjaro: afromontane forest, Mawenzi, glacial valleys and alpine desert, ascent of Kibo and possible views of Kibo caldera and ash pit. Glaciers and the roof of Africa!
Today you will commence the trekking of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. After early morning breakfast from your hotel/lodge, our mountain support team will arrive to meet you and hold a quick briefing. Then you will be transferred by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park’s eastern entrance: Marangu Gate (1,860 m). Upon arrival at the gate, we will patiently wait for the permits formalities to be issued and registrations. Here you will witness the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead.
Once the permits are settled, we will begin our ascent through the verdant rainforest that clothes the lower reaches of Kilimanjaro up to Mandara Hut (2,700 m). A picnic lunch is taken on route. Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. Day one is a gradual trek through the Kilimanjaro rainforest. Hiking for 4 – 6 hours through this ancient jungle, you’ll get to go on a miniature safari as you spot wildlife such as black and white colobus monkeys along the way. At these lower elevations where tropical showers are highly probable, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend you take your raincoat, gaiters and trekking poles among others. When you reach the camp, your mountain support team will take care of the necessities and meals preparations.
ELEVATION: 1,860 M to 2,700 M
DISTANCE: 11 KM
TREKKING TIME: 4 – 6 Hours
HABITAT: Montane Forest
Day two on the Marangu Route begins with an early start, as we’ve got a long day of hiking ahead. After breakfast, the group will depart Mandara Hut to start a moderate trek towards the second-high altitude camp: Horombo Hut (3,720 m). We emerge from the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, through heathland, looking for giant lobelias and groundsels. We continue up into open moorlands where small shrubs are the main vegetation. The altitude gain today is significant and so a gentle pace is ideal to slowly gain altitude. By mid-afternoon you reach camp and can relax. If the weather is clear you should definitely take the opportunity to scramble up the Maundi Crater (2.5 Km) for an acclimatization hike to get your first full view of Kibo, then descend back to Horombo Hut.
ELEVATION: 2,700 M to 3,720 M
DISTANCE: 10 KM
TREKKING TIME: 5-7 HRS
HABITAT: Montane Forest/Heather and Moorland
On this day, you start off early to the Kibo Hut (4,720 M) before the summit attempt. The actual trekking is not very difficult, just remember to stick with an appropriate pace to keep up your strength in this hypoxic (low oxygen) environment. We will hike through the dwindling heathland that blends into a moonscape as we enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. When you reach the camp you will be served lunch, after which we recommend you sleep as much as you can, avoid any strenuous activity, and drink lots of water. A relatively early dinner is taken as the night will be short. Make sure that you have all your gear ready for a prompt departure after mid-night for the summit hike.
ELEVATION: 3,720 M to 4,720 M
DISTANCE: 10 KM
TREKKING TIME: 6 -7 HRS
HABITAT: Heather/Alpine Desert
Today you’re starting your day early – just after midnight. Your mountain support team will wake you up with a cup of hot tea and a light snack for energy as you get dressed and prepare your daypack for the adventure ahead. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. We start out from Kibo Hut towards the Uhuru Peak. At night time the scree sections are normally much firmer and the night time start enables the best chance of a clear summit attempt. It takes around 6 hours to reach Gilman’s Point and then a further 1.5 to 2 hours to reach your ultimate goal: Uhuru Peak (Alt 19,341ft, 5985m) the top of the highest free standing mountain in the world and the roof of Africa!
At the summit, you’ll be able to experience a spectacular sunrise and take in the panoramic view. After photos, celebrations and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment, we’ll will return to Kibo Camp for a refuel and rest. Then we continue descending to Horombo Hut (3,720 m) for dinner and enjoy your last evening on the mountain. This is surely the longest and most grueling day of the entire trek.
ELEVATION: 4,720 M – 5,985 M – 3,720 M
DISTANCE: 16 KM
TREKKING TIME: 9 -12 HRS
HABITAT: Alpine Desert/Arctic/Heather
After a warm breakfast in the morning, we continue the descent down stopping at the Mandara Huts for lunch. This final descent takes you back through the heath zone and forest to the Kilimanjaro National Park’s exit: Marangu Gate (1,860 m). As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep, we highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles.
Hopefully you had a great time with your mountain support team, but it’s time to say goodbye. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here.
From the gate, our transfer vehicle will drive you back to your hotel/lodge. Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations! Later that evening you will be visited by our representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.
ELEVATION: 3,720 M to 1,860 M
DISTANCE: 21 KM
TREKKING TIME: 6 -7 HRS
HABITAT: Heather/Montane Forest
