6 Days Marangu Route

Description

Marangu route is one for the most popular routes of Mount Kilimanjaro. And the only route tha has huts for accommodation on Kilimanjaro. No technical skills are required for this 6 days trek. The Marangu Route is the oldest and most well established trekking route on Mount Kilimanjaro, and it remains extremely popular, despite a wide variety of other options becoming available. This path provides trekkers with the classic Kilimanjaro climbing experience, offering sweeping views and a wonderful hiking adventure all the way to the summit of Uhuru Peak. That said, it also has some unique aspects that set it apart from any of the other routes as well, giving Marangu route a character and feeling that is entirely its own. This route summit – requiring just five days to reach Uhuru Peak – it is a popular one with trekkers who have a limited amount of time for their climb.

Highlights
  • 6 Days Marangu Route Climbing, Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro.
  • It is the oldest, most well-established route.
  • All climbing groups, often from several countries around the world, share meals in dining huts providing a jovial and energetic atmosphere.
  • The huts have communal dining halls and basic washrooms, ranging from flushing toilets and running water at the lower huts to long drop toilets and buckets of water at Kibo Hut.
  • Many favor the Marangu route because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, due to its more gradual slope.
Includes
  • Dedicated Customer Satisfaction Associate
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off
  • Hotel lodging the night before and the night after the climb
  • Breakfast before and after the climb
  • All meals and water on the mountain
  • All park fees and taxes
  • Transportation to and from the hotel and trailhead
  • Tents (3-person mountaineering tent)
  • Sleeping mat
  • Private toilet tent
  • Support team (certified guides, porters, and cooks)
  • Kilimanjaro SAR evacuation insurance
Excludes
  • Airfare to and from Tanzania
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Visa
  • Tips for the support team
  • Sleeping bags and other personal gear
  • Rental gear
  • Lunch and dinner at the hotel
  • Drinks and snacks

Location Map

Tour Timeline

  • 1
    Day 1: Marangu Gate- (1980m) to Mandara Hut

    After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from Arusha (1400) and drive to Marangu Gate (1980). The drive to Marangu takes approximately 2 hours. At the gate, the porters will organize and pack the belongs for the trek while your guide is doing some registration with the Tanzania National Park. After registration, you will then begin the ascent into the rain forest. During this section of the hike, you should expect rain, mud, and fog. And also keep your eyes open for wildlife, including Colobus monkey ! After 3-4 hours of ascending you will reach Mandara Hut (2700m). The A frame Mandara Hut can accommodate up to seven people, and the area is consist of several sleeping huts and dining area. After evening tea with snacks, as part of acclimatization program (go higher sleep low policy), you can always take a short evening walk to Mahundi Crater and return to the hut for dinner and overnight At night, mountain temperature may drop to freezing point so be prepared!

    Elevation: 5500ft/ 1700m to 9000ft/ 2,740m

    Distance: 7 km

    Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

    Habitat: Mountane Forest

  • 2
    Day 2 : Mandara Hut (2700m) - Horombo (3720m)

    After breakfast, Leave Mandara Hut and Kilimanjaro forest for Horombo hut. Most of the day’s hike will be through Kilimanjaro’s Moorland, a rocky landscape with desert lake plants. After 6 hours of hiking, we will reach Horombo Hut and spend the rest of afternoon relaxing. Although extremely busy, the Horombo Huts are considered to be the nicest on Kilimanjaro. The small A- frame buildings can accommodate up to eight people each, and provide lodging for hikers, ascending, descending and acclimatizing.

    Horombo can accommodate up to one hundred hikers and all the porters, cooks and guides for all the trekkers lodging there.

    Elevation: 90,00ft /2,700m to 12,100ft/3,700m

    Distance: 11 km

    Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

    Habitat: Heathland

  • 3
    Day 3: Horombo Hut (3720m)- Acclimatization Day

    Day Three is an acclimatization day. You will have the option of doing a day hike to Mawenzi Huti (4600 m) for further acclimatization with your guide. The hike will increase your chance of reaching Uhuru Peak, and also you will have a beautiful view of Kibo summit. Return to Horombo for late lunch and after noon relaxation.

    Elevation: 12,205ft/14,160 to 12,205ft

    Distance: 10 km

    Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

    Habitat: Heath

  • 4
    Day 4: Horombo Hut (3720 m) - Kibo Hut (4700m)

    After breakfast, you leave Horombo to hike through the Moorland and Alpine desert of Kilimanjaro’s upper altitudes. Hikers have two options of trails to get to Kibo Hut (2700m). The upper route (located to the right of the folk) is the same trail used the previous day for the Day hike to Mawenzi Hut. The lower route (located to the left of thefolk) is more popular route because of a shorter hiking distance (one hour shorter).

    Although the environment on on the way to Kibo is a bleak desert with little vegetation. You will have many magnificent views of Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks. Expect to reach Kibo Hut around 3pm to rest and prepare for summit night. Your summit attempt will begin midnight, before a departure, you will wake up one hour earlier for breakfast and last preparations.

    Elevation: 12,100 ft/3,700 m to 15,400ft/4700m

    Distance: 10 km

    Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

    Habitat: Alpine Desert

  • 5
    Day 5: Summit Attempt

    Your guide will wake you up 23-23:30 for tea and snacks. You will then begin your summit attempt. The hike begins with 5 hours hike to Gillman’s point on the crater rim (5681m). Reaching this section is quite an achievement as the trails is steep, rocky and zigzag at a high altitude. Reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is a lifetime accomplishment! You will be able to spend short time on the summit taking photos and having some victorious celebration, before descent to Kibo Hut begins. The hike down to Kibo Hut takes about 3 three hours.

    At Kibo Hut, you will rest and enjoy a hot lunch in the sun. After lunch, you will start your journey back down to Horombo Hut (3720m). After getting there, you will have dinner, wash, and rest soundly at the hut after a very long and strenuous day.

  • 6
    Day 6: Horombo (3720m) - Marangu Gate (1980m) - Arusha

    After a well deserved breakfast, your staff will prepare for you a big celebration of dancing and singing. It is here on the mountain that you will present your tips to the guides, cook, and porters. After the celebration, you will descent for about 6 hours back to Marangu gate (1980m). The trek down from Horombo to Marangu Gate takes about 6-8 hours. At the gate you will be required to sign your names to receive your victorious certificates. The car will be there waiting to take you back to Arusha for long overdue shower and more celebration.

    Elevation: 12,100ft/ 3,700 m to 5,500ft/ 1,700m

    Distance: 20 km

    Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

    Habitat: Rain Forest