Mt Kilimanjaro Trek- Marangu Route

Mt Kilimanjaro Trek - Marangu Route

Overview

Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu route is the only route which offers sleeping huts in dormitory style accommodations in lieu of camping.

The Marangu Route, also known as the Coca-Cola route is the oldest on Kilimanjaro and is also one of the most popular routes to the summit.

Many favor this route because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, given its gradual slope. The Marangu Route can be completed in 5-days, though the probability of successfully reaching the summit is quite low, which is why we do this route over 6 days, spending an extra day to acclimatize.

The route approaches Mt Kilimanjaro from the southeast. Despite its immense popularity, the main setback on the Marangu Route is that the route has the least scenic variety of all the routes and it is the most crowded.

Highlights

Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu trek provides comfortable huts for accommodation rather than camping. This makes it a popular choice for those seeking a less rugged experience.
The trail on the Marangu route is well-established and well-marked, making it easier to navigate and suitable for trekkers with less experience in mountaineering.
Reach significant milestones on your journey as you conquer Gillman’s Point and Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Standing at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), Uhuru Peak offers unparalleled views and an overwhelming sense of achievement.
Experience everything from lush rainforests to alpine meadows, making it a visually captivating journey.

Included

2 nights Hotel in Moshi (1-night on arrival and 1-night after climb) w/ Breakfast
All meals while on the mountain (large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food)
All camping and hut fees
All camping gear (4-season mountain sleeping tent, sleeping pad, etc)
Dining Tent with Table and Chairs
Professional, Experienced, Mountain Guide (English Speaking, certified as Wilderness First Responder & Emergency Adult and Child CPR)
Clean, purified drinking water
Kilimanjaro National Park Permits
Kilimanjaro Rescue Fee
Guides, Porters, Cook (salaries and park fees)
Mobile Communications (for emergency only)
Personal Summit Certificate stamped and signed by the National Park and your Guide
Transport to/from the Airport
Transport to/from the mountain gates
Private Camp Toilet
First-Aid Kit
Oxygen Cylinder
VAT (18% charged by the Government)

Excluded

International & Domestic Airfare
Airport taxes and excess baggage fees
Travel Insurance
Additional Hotel Stay
Beverages & meals not specified
Trekking Equipment for rent such as sleeping bags, hiking boots, clothes)
Tips for your guide, porters, cook and crew, & drivers
Innoculations & Vaccinations
Optional Activities
Personal Expenses
Visa Fees

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Moshi/ Airport Transfer

Arrive in Moshi and you’ll be picked up at the airport by our representative at Moshi Airport (QSI) and taken to your hotel. Moshi is a small and clean town that offers many activities and sceneries to take part in.

Arrive a few days before your climb and visit the ever-beautiful and tranquil Lak Chala, or take a dip in the Kikuletwa Hot Springs. Take a village trip to Materuni waterfalls and Materuni Village for a local coffee-making tour or take a tour to Olpopongi Village located at West Kilimanjaro.

INCLUDE:
— Airport Transfer

Overnight at Moshi Hotel

Day 2: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut

This morning, you’ll be picked up from your hotel in Moshi and driven 45-minutes through the village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. Here, you’ll wait patiently for your permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead. Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.

INCLUDED:
— Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner

Elevation: 1,843m/6,046ft to 2,700m/8,858ft
Hiking time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 8km/ 5 miles
Zone: Rainforest

Overnight at Mandara Huts

Day 3: Mandara Huts to Horombo Huts

After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, your journey today takes you beyond the rainforest and ascending through the heathland, while looking for giant lobelias and groundsels.

Continue up into open moorlands where small shrubs are the main vegetation. Stop halfway for lunch to enjoy amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive at the Horombo Huts in the late afternoon beneath the spectacular Kibo Summit viewpoint.

INCLUDED:
— Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
— Guided Tour and Entrance Fees

Elevation:2,700m/8,875ft to 3,700 m/12,200ft
Hiking time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 12km/ 7.5 miles
Zone: Heathland

Overnight at Horombo Huts

Day 4: Horombo Huts

We will spend a full day and a second night at Horombo. This extra day will help you acclimatize. On this day, you can either rest at the huts or take a stroll up to the Mawenzi basecamp then return to Horombo Huts.

INCLUDED:
— Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Overnight at Horombo Huts

Day 5: Horombo Huts to Kibo Huts

After breakfast, continue on through the dwindling heathland that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. Here, you’ll stop for lunch before crossing the surprisingly large saddle to get a first glimpse of the summit climb up Kibo that you will be starting in a few hours.

INCLUDED:
— Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Elevation: 3,721m/12,208ft to 4,714m/15,466ft
Hiking time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 10km/ 6 miles
Zone: Alpine-Desert

Overnight at Kibo Huts

Day 6: Kibo Huts to Uhuru Summit to Horombu Huts

Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2am. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

You’ll continue your way to the summit in a switchback formation trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. You’ll follow the switchbacks as you ascend through heavy scree and possibly snow toward Gillman’s Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here, on your remaining 1-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow the entire way.

Congratulations! You have reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!

After photos, celebrations, and maybe a few tears of joy, you’ll take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. You’ll then begin your steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for the uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. A well-deserved rest awaits as you enjoy your last evening on the mountain.

INCLUDED:
— Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak
Elevation: 4,703m/15,430ft to 5,895m/19,341ft
Hiking time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 10km/ 6 miles
Zone: Arctic

Descent to Horombu Huts
Elevation: 5,895m/19,341ft to 3,734m/12,250ft
Hiking time: 5-8 hours
Distance: 16km/ 10 miles
Zone: Heath

Overnight at Mweka Camp

Day 7: Horombo Huts to Marangu Gate

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. You’ll continue the descent down, stopping at the Mandara Huts for lunch. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy, and steep. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here.

You’ll return to the Marangu Park Gate and receive your summit certificates. A vehicle will be waiting for you to drive you to your hotel in Moshi (about 45 minutes). Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, and dinner, and celebrate your accomplishment of climbing the highest mountain in Africa!

INCLUDED:
— Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Elevation: 3,700m/12,200ft to 1,700 m/5,500ft
Hiking time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 20km/ 12.5 miles
Zone: Rainforest

Overnight at Moshi Hotel

Day 8: Depart Moshi/ Airport Transfer

Today is departure day and there are no scheduled activities. At the appropriate time, a representative will pick you up and take you to the airport for your return home or to your next destination.

INCLUDED:
— Meals: Breakfast
— Airport Transfer

ITINERARY DISCLAIMER

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However, it is subject to change and does not form a contract between parties. While it is our intention to adhere to the route described, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary, and on occasion, it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. Occasionally, our itineraries change due to weather or other circumstances that are beyond our control. This includes regulations surrounding COVID-19. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and are subject to vary.

What to Expect

Our local travel partner for the Mount Kilimanjaro Trek is a Moshi-based, family-owned company whose mission is to not only give you a meaningful and exciting adventure but to also positively contribute to the well-being of local communities by increasing job opportunities to boost the local economy. They also encourage environmental conservation and regeneration practices and participate in mountain clean-up efforts and tree-planting activities in collaboration with the local government and various NGOs. Furthermore, they proudly support the Nguzo Women’s Foundation, a grassroots non-profit in the Hai District of the Kilimanjaro region, whose initiatives include providing menstrual kits and health education to young girls in six government primary schools. In addition, they have taken proactive steps to create opportunities for female guides and porters on their team.
All of our guides have at least 10 years of experience on the mountain, and all have extensive training in first-aid, mountain rescue, flora, fauna, and geology, and all have been certified in Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness Emergency Medicine, and Heartsaver CPR.
Our itinerary allows you to spend two nights at Horombo Huts, which helps you to acclimatize and reach the summit without altitude problems.
Although no mountaineering experience is required, a good level of physical fitness is necessary to tackle Mt Kilimanjaro. You’ll need to be comfortable walking 6-8 hours uphill a day. The distances may not be long, but the altitude makes it harder than your average uphill hike.
Sections of this trek take you above 9200 ft (2800 m), where it is common to experience altitude sickness.
You will need to limit the weight of your duffel bag and its contents to be carried by the porters on the climb to 15 kg (32 lbs) or less. Extra luggage, including clean clothes to wear after your climb can be left at the hotel in Moshi.
Temperatures at night can get very low when you’re above 3500 m, so clothing and a sleeping bag made for this kind of climate are essential. You can rent this at the beginning of your trip if you don’t have your own.
You must be prepared to share the huts along this route with between 3 and 11 other people who may be of a different gender. Guests are supplied with mattresses and pillows, but you must supply your own sleeping bag (available to rent). The huts have communal dining halls and basic washrooms and we also provide a private, portable toilet for our guests.
Daily meals during the hike include breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. Breakfast is generally between 7:30 and 8:00 am, and departure from the huts/camp is at 9 am after a medical checkup. Lunch is mid-day, a hot drink, and a snack are around 4 pm, and dinner is at 7 pm. Summit morning is different: full breakfast at 11:30 pm, start hiking at midnight or sometimes 1 am.
The food on the mountain consists of such staples as pasta, potatoes, meats, and stews. Vegetarian and vegan diets can be accommodated. For more specific requirements, please contact us to discuss. All dietary requirements need to be specified prior to arrival.
Most daily hikes take from 4-7 hours and the pace is slow with a rest at least once every hour and plenty of time to take photos and enjoy the view. When you arrive at the campsite, you will find your tents already set up and your bags ready to collect.
Hiking for several days without a shower can be tough – be prepared for some dust and dirt. A mask, wet wipes, and a face cloth may become your best friends!
Hiking insurance is mandatory for this trip. This should cover high-altitude trekking of at least 19,340 ft and should be on a ‘non-reimbursement’ basis so the insurer will pay for the hospital bills immediately, as opposed to claiming when you get home. We strongly recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance which provides coverage for trip interruption, flight cancellation, and loss of baggage.
We are aware of the negative impacts of travel and we choose our travel partners based on their commitment to social development and environment preservation. Our guides are responsible for ensuring that the guests understand the nature of the environment that they are in and minimize the impact they may have.

Physical Rating

Level 5: Challenging

Our Challenging Trips are intended for physically fit individuals who are seeking a challenging experience. Previous trekking experience is not required for Mount Kilimanjaro, but you should be able to hike 6-8 hours a day at a moderate pace over hilly terrain with a light day pack. To ensure that you are physically and mentally fit and capable of attempting your Kilimanjaro challenge, we would highly advise you to start training at least 3-4 months before your tour date.

Payment Policy

Once we receive your inquiry, we will reach out with a calendar invite in order to schedule a time to talk about your trip. A 25% deposit is required once the itinerary is approved. Payment is due in full 90-days prior to the start date of your trip.