5 Days Marangu Route Climbing Kilimanjaro
Tour Overview
Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the oldest, most well established route. Many favor the Marangu route because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, given its gradual slope. It is also the only route which offers sleeping huts in dormitory style accommodations.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Huts
- Distance: 7km
- Hiking Time: 3 hours
- Habitat: Montane Forest
You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and driven to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. Once signed in at the park and final preparations are complete, we start ascending on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest. Our first night is at Mandara Hut camp set in a forest clearing. This camp consists of a group of wooden A-framed huts and flush toilets behind the main hut.
Day 2: Mandara Huts to Horombo Huts
- Distance: 12km
- Hiking Time: 6 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
In the morning we leave camp and trek through a short stretch of forest through to moorland, circumventing the base of the Maundi Crater. In the afternoon we will reach the Horombo Hut where will we stay overnight.
Day 3: Horombo Hut To Kibo Hut
- Distance: 10km
- Hiking Time: 5 hours
- Habitat: Alpine desert
Today we continue our ascent into the Alpine desert zone to Kibo Hut. This afternoon we will have an early dinner, prepare your personal gear for the summit and then get some sleep. Our summit trek starts around midnight.
Day 4: Kibo Hut to Summit to Horombo Hut
- Distance: 21km
- Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
- Habitat: Stone screed and ice-capped summit and Moorland
You will be woken around 23:30pm, and after a hot breakfast we will start our final summit. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to Hans Meyer point (5250m). The path then zigzags up to Gillman’s point (5681m) on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of scree. From Gillman’s Point we could encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. After taking photos at the summit we start the 3 hours descent back to Kibo Hut. After a short rest we pack up all your personal gear and trek down to Horombo Hut (3 hours). Tonight is our last night on the mountain.
Day 5: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
- Distance: 18km
- Hiking Time: 6 hours
- Habitat: Montane Forest
This morning we make our final descent down to Marangu Gate where we started. You will be taken for lunch and here you will receive your summit certificate to commemorate your great achievement. We will then drive you back to your hotel where we will say our farewell.
