Kilimanjaro Climb - Marangu Route

Itinerary details Day to Day activities

The Marangu Route, also known as the ‘Coca-Cola’ route or Tourist Route, is the oldest route on Mt Kilimanjaro and is also one of the most popular and is considered one of the easiest routes to the summit of Kilimanjaro. The gradual slope of the path makes it ideal for any climbers who don’t want an arduous journey. Although a less scenic route than other routes, it is the most well-established route on Kilimanjaro and is the only route that offers huts for accommodations instead of just camping.

Route: This western route will take you to the Marangu Gate through to Mandara Hut, Horombo Hut, Kibo Hut, and then finally Uhuru Peak.

Accommodation: On the mountain, you will be staying overnight in dormitory-style huts, with some camps having running water and flushing toilets. 

Arrival to Moshi Town

Upon arrival to Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred for overnight accommodation, your head guide will meet you for your briefing, gear check and arrange for you to hire any equipment you may need.

Day 1 - Marangu gate (1,830 M/6,000 Ft) To Mandara Huts (2,740 M/9,000 Ft) 

Elevation gain: 870 m/ 2,854 feet

The distance from Marangu gate to Mandara Hut is 8km/5 miles and takes about 4-5 trekking time through Montane Forest.

After Breakfast and A Briefing from Your Guide, Leave Moshi at 8 AM, and Drive For 45 Minutes to Marangu Gate on The Eastern Side of Kilimanjaro. While hiking In the Rainforest, you will see the Towering Eucalyptus Trees, Birdlife, And Colobus monkeys. At these lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts should be sufficient, but keep your rain gear and warmer clothing nearby. Stop halfway for lunch, and reach the Mandara huts at 2 or 3 pm. Unpack, rest, and have some tea or coffee. A 15-minute side trip to the Maundy crater is a perfect point to see the surroundings including northern Tanzania and Kenya. Dinner is served during the early evening at 7 pm. 

Day 2 - Mandara Huts (2,740 m/9,000 ft) to Horombo Huts (3,690 m/12,100 ft) 

Elevation gain: 1020 m/ 3,346 feet

The distance from Mandara Hut to Horombo hut Is 12km/8miles which takes a trekking time of 6-8 hours.

Day two on the Marangu route begins with an early start. You will be served breakfast and should be on your way by the latest 08:30. Hike for an hour through rainforest glades, then follow an ascending path through heathland where you can look for giant lobelias and groundsels. Continue up into open moorlands where small shrubs are the main vegetation. Stop halfway for lunch, where you can enjoy amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive at the Horombo huts by 3 pm, where you can see Kibo’s summit. Rest, unpack, and prepare for dinner. You may start to feel the effects of altitude here and to aid your acclimatization, you can choose to spend an extra day resting at Horombo or climbing to a base camp below Kibo’s sub-peak Mawenzi.

DAY 3 - HOROMBO HUTS (3,690 M/12,100 FT) TO KIBO HUTS (4,695 M/15,400 FT)

Elevation gain: 980 m/ 3,215 ft

The distance from Horombo Hut to Kibo Huts is 10km/6miles takes a trekking time of 6-8 hours

Today your hike leads through a kind of Alpine desert to a point between the two famous mountain peaks Kibo and Mawenzi.

You will have breakfast, however, if you wake up early you can get some great photos of the sunrise. The first part of the day’s hike climbs through the decreasing heathland that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. When you stop for lunch, and later when you cross this surprisingly large saddle, you can examine the summit climb up Kibo that you will be starting in just a few hours. Be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness. There is no running water at the Kibo huts.

Day 4 - Summit Day! Kibo huts (4,695 m/15,400 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) to Horombo Huts (3,690 m/12,100 ft) 

Elevation gain: 1195 m/ 3,920 ft | Elevation loss: 2175 m/ 7,135 ft 

The distance between Kibo Huts to Uhuru Peak is 5.5km/3miles with a trekking time of 6-8 hours to the summit and descent to Horombo Huts for a distance of 15km/8miles for about 10-15 hours

Day four begins with summit night. After being awoken at 23:30 you will be served some hot tea and biscuits and will then begin your summit ascent. You do the beginning of this climb in the dark with headlamps or flashlights. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru peak shortly after sunrise. Leave at 1am, switch back up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 5 and 7 am. Here, views of the fabled crater and its icecaps greet you. Another 2 hours of hiking along the crater rim near the celebrated snow take you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru peak, by 9 am. This is Africa’s highest point, be sure to have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends. After your summit stay, descend back to the Kibo huts, have lunch, rest, collect your things, and re-cross the saddle to the Horombo huts. Eat dinner and get some well-deserved sleep! It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the trek. Slowly slowly, or, pole-pole and an optimistic attitude will get you there!

Day 5- Horombo Huts (3,690 m/12,100 ft) to Marangu gate (1,830 m/6,000 ft) to Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft) 

Elevation loss: 1890 m/ 6,200 ft

The distance from Horombo hut to Marangu gate is 20km/12.5miles and takes a trekking time of 6-8 hours.

Wake, as usual, pack, and descend through the moorland to the Mandara huts. Have lunch there then continue your triumphant recessional down through the lush forest to the park gate, which you should reach around 2 or 3 pm. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. A vehicle will take you back to your hotel in Moshi.

Moshi to Kilimanjaro Airport

After breakfast will pick you from your hotel for transfer to Airport for your onward flight.