6 Days Trekking, Marangu Route
- Destinations
- Marangu Gate - Manadra Hut - Horombo Hut - Kibo Hut - Summit - Horombo hut - Marangu Gate
Marangu Route also Known as “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the oldest, most well established route. Many favours the Marangu route because it is considered to be the easiest path to the summit, given its gradual slope. It is also the only route which offers sleeping huts in dormitory style accommodations.
Tour Day by Day
Day 1:
Pick up from the International Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to the hotel in Arusha.
Day 2:
After breakfast, we pick you up from the hotel and drive to Marangu Gate on the eastern side of Kilimanjaro. Our hike will begin though a thick rainforest and then enter the moorland and heather zone till we reach Mandara Hut for dinner and overnight.
A side trip to Maundi Crater (about 15 minutes away) is a good way to see the surroundings as well as offers views of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Bathrooms with running water are available.
Altitude: 2.700m
Hiking time: 4 hours
Day 3:
After breakfast, we start hiking towards the Horombo huts. Our hiking will be through lower heath land with small shrubs being the main vegetation. Half way through we will stop at a picnic site for lunch while enjoying the magnificent view of Mawenzi at this altitude.
The summit of Kibo can be seen from Horombo Huts where we will stop for dinner and overnight. Bathrooms with running water are available. (An extra day can be added at this point, for better acclimatization with an enjoyable walk to Zebra Rocks, a beautiful formation of 20m high stony black and white walls.).
Altitude: 3.720m
Hiking time: 6 hours
Day 4:
After breakfast with a sunrise view, we begin our hike crossing the upper heat land and after a short break we will continue to the vast saddle that connects Mawenzi and Kibo. The saddle is an alpine desert that resembles a lunar landscape and walking here is one of the highlights of the Marangu Route. We will reach Kibo Huts for dinner and overnight. Here, there is no running water available in the huts.
Altitude: 4.730m
Hiking time: 7 hours
Day 5:
Summit day
We will wake up at around midnight and after a light breakfast we start our ascent to Uhuru Peak. This part of the hike is carried out during the early morning before dawn so that the climbers reach Uhuru Peak at around sunrise. On our way up, we will enjoy the view of the crater from Gilman’s Point and pass from the Hans Meyer Cave.
Only 2 hours of hiking left and we will reach Uhuru Peak. We will be at 5.985m. on the “roof of Africa”! After enough time to enjoy οur achievement, we will start our descent back to Kibo huts for brunch and a short rest. Then we will continue for dinner and overnight in Horombo Huts.
Altitude: 5.985m – 3720m
Hiking time: 12-13 hours
Day 6:
Today we will descend to Mandara Huts, where we will have our last lunch together on the mountain and continue to Marangu gate. There, a certificate attesting your success in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will be given to you. Our car will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi and reward you with a celebration dinner.
Altitude: 1980m
Hiking time: 12-13 hours