6 Days Marangu Route – Detailed Itinerary & Complete Guide
6 Days Marangu Route , The Marangu route, also known as the “Coca-Cola” route, is the oldest, most well-established route on Kilimanjaro. This is the only route that offers sleeping huts in dormitory-style accommodations in lieu of camping. There are 60 bunk beds each at Mandara and Kibo Huts, and 120 bunk beds at Horombo Hut. Guests are supplied with mattresses and pillows, but sleeping bags are still required. 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 Marangu because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, given its gradual slope and direct path. However, the short time frame of the route makes altitude acclimatization fairly difficult. The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the southeast. Marangu is unfortunately less scenic than the other routes because the ascent and descent are along the same path. It is also the most crowded route for that reason
Day 0: Arrive in Tanzania
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut
- Elevation (ft): 6,046 ft to 8,858 ft
- Distance: 8 km
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
- Habitat: Rain Forest
- Hut: Mandara Hut.
We head to the Marangu Gate for the necessary formalities before beginning our trek. The trail climbs through a tropical rain forest near the upper edge of the forest line, where we sometimes see playful blue monkeys. The trail then widens to expose beautiful hillsides until we reach Mandara Hut.
Day 2: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
- Elevation (ft): 8,858 ft to 12,205 ft
- Distance: 12 km
- Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
- Habitat: Heath / Moorland
Our second day on the trail begins with a steep ascent through the forest and opens into high moorland. If the sky is clear, we may get our first views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks, two of the three volcanic peaks that make up the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Day 3: Horombo Hut to Mawenzi Hut to Horombo Hut
- Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 14,160 ft to 12,205 ft
- Distance: 10 km
- Hiking Time: 3-5 hours
- Habitat: Heath
This extra day is used for acclimatization. We hike towards or all the way to Mawenzi Hut and back. The unique landscape offers motivating views of Kibo and Mawenzi.
Day 4: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
- Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 15,430 ft
- Distance: 10 km
- Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Today we climb gradually, then cross the lunar desert of the “Saddle” between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach our campsite which sits at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. Once at camp we rest, enjoy an early dinner and prepare for summit day.
Day 5: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Point to Horombo Hut
- Elevation (ft): 15,430 ft to 19,341 ft to 12,205 ft
- Distance: 22 km
- Hiking Time: 10-13 hours
- Habitat: Arctic
We wake in the middle of the night and begin the final push to reach the Roof of Africa. The trail to Gilman’s Point is very steep and the ascent will be slow and steady. From Gilman’s, it is a traverse along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak. We stay at the summit for a short time, to take photos and enjoy the views, before retracing our steps to all the way back to Horombo Hut.
Day 6: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
- Elevation (ft): 12,205 ft to 6,046 ft
- Distance: 20 km
- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
- Habitat: Rain Forest
A long trek is in store for today, however it is mostly downhill. Once at the park headquarters at Marangu Gate we pick up our certificate that proves our achievement and catch our vehicle transfer to hotel in Moshi.
Day of departure: Transfer to the Kilimanjaro Airport.
KILIMANJARO PRICE 6 DAYS MARANGU ROUTE
ACCOMMODATION | PRICE | HINTS INCLUSIVE | ||
Package for-Private hiking | Kilimanjaro White House Hotel (Bed and breakfast) before and after the climb in Moshi town | USD ($) 2100per person | Sleeping in Huts | |
Package for-Joining Group hiking | Kilimanjaro White House Hotel (Bed and breakfast) before and after the climb in Moshi town | USD ($) 1900 per person | Sleeping in Huts | |
NB: For the group, sharing won’t be any additional charges in the case of the group member canceling or changing the route. The office will encore that cost and we will take you privately | ||||
Included
- Park fees,
- Hut fees
- Rescue fees
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Filtered water throughout the trek
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides. Cook and Porter
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
- Large portions of fresh, healthy nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Oximeter
- Medical Kit
- Emergency oxygen
- Crisis management and safety procedures
- Fair and ethical treatment of porters
- Pick up and drop off to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Pre and after – trek accommodations at the hotel in Moshi town with bed & breakfast (BB) Meal plan
Not Included
- Both National and International flights
- Travel / Medical insurance
- Visa cost which is $50 except for Canadian and USA passport holders which is 100$
- Tips to mountain crew
- Items of a personal nature
- Laundry Services
- A doctor for the group
- Alcoholic beverages
- Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is extra ($150 per toilet + toilet tent)