Marangu Route Overview
It is known as Coca-Cola route; Marangu approaches Kilimanjaro from the southeast
of the Mountain. It is the oldest established route. Many favor the Marangu route
because it is considered to be the easiest route on the mountain. The minimum days
required for this route is five, although the probability of successfully reaching the top in
that time is a bit low. Spending an extra acclimatization day on the mountain is highly
recommended, maximizing the chance of reaching to the summit. Marangu is the only
route which offers sleeping huts in dormitory style accommodations.
Marangu Route 5/6 Day Itinerary
Elevation:
1,000 m to 1,200 m.
Distance: 36 km
Driving Time: 45Min
Habitat: Town
- Elevation: 1200 m to 1,750 m to 2,750 m
- Distance: 9 km
- Trekking Time: 3 hours
- Habitat: Montane Forest
You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the Marangu Gate, where you’ll complete the registration process. Afterward, your trek will begin, leading you through the lush rainforest as you head toward Mandara Hut. Once there, you’ll have the chance to acclimatize with a visit to the nearby Maundi Crater. Dinner and an overnight stay will be at Mandara Hut.
Elevation: 1200m to 1700m to 3000m.
Distance: 13 km.
Hiking time: 5-7 hours.
Habitat: Montane forest.
After breakfast, our vehicle will transport you from the hotel drive to Machame gate. Here you will do the required registration procedures, then you will start the trek through the rainforest to Machame camp, where you will find the tents are already setup for you. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.
Elevation(m):3807m to 4725m
Distance: 13 km
Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Desert
This extra day and night at horombo is for additional acclimatization. A hike towards the Mawenzi Hut, passing the Zebra Rocks on the way, is strongly recommended. This hike will further assist with the process of acclimatization. Retire to bed early and get a last good nights rest.
(this day is omitted if choosing a 5-day itinerary).
Spend an extra day here at Horombo during the 6-day itinerary for acclimatation
purposes. This day you will hike to Mawenzi Ridge or Zebra Rock to have your body
adjust to higher altitudes. After this session, you will return back to Horombo hut for
lunch, resting until dinner, and overnight.
Elevation: 4,695 m to 5,895 m to 3,690 m
Distance: 4 km up, 14 km down
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
Wake at midnight to a light breakfast, then prepare for your summit ascent. Because you
will climb to the summit in the dark, you will need to have your headlamps and flashlights. It
will also be very cold until you start descending, so you will need to have all of your
warm layers. This is an important time to keep on slowly slowly (pole pole in Swahili).
The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or
after sunrise. Switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on
the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 6 AM. At this point, you will have a
views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you. Then, after 2 hours of hiking along
the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit.
Uhuru Peak here, you will spend some times for taking photo’s. After your summit
photos and taking in the view, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, and collect
your equipment and continue down through re-crossing the saddle to the Horombo Huts.
Have dinner and overnight at Horombo Camp.
Elevation): 3,690 m to 1,830 m to 1,387 m
Distance: 18 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
After a long sleep you will be awaked for breakfast and pack, continue your descent
through the moorland to Mandara Huts. Here you will have lunch then proceed your
triumphant recessional down through lush forest to Marangu park gate. After the gate
sign out, a vehicle will take you to back to the hotel where it is definitely time for your
certificate presentation and celebration!
Essential Personal Equipment Checklist for Climbing.
- One sleeping bag
- One sleeping Mat
- One pair of climbing poles/sticks
- One large Duffle bag with straps / rucksack
- One head lamp / Flashlight + Batteries
- Water bottle - 2 liters x 2 bottle or camel bag bottle
- Camera / sufficient memory/film
- Purification water Tablets / Water Pump
- One pair sunglasses
- One pair of climbing hiking boots
- One pair of tennis Shoes - to begin climb/side walks
- Socks - thin and thick pairs
- One warm trousers
- Woolen Trousers and jacket with zippers
- Water proof / wind trousers & jackets
- Warm Sweater for cold nights
- Inner slacks - long Johns & Top
- Long / short sleeve T-shirt with zippers
- Pajamas and hand towel
- Shade Sun hat or cap
- Balaclava
- Gaiters
- Mitten / Gloves - poly thermal
If it happens you do not have any among from those which have mentioned, we will help
you on getting them from the hiring stores here in Moshi with reasonable price and not
Mzungu price.