The Marangu route nicknamed “Coca Cola Route” begins in the eastern side of the mountain. It is the easiest of the Kilimanjaro routes (with about 29% of climbers taking this route every year) but needs at least 5 days to attempt the summit successfully. Unlike other routes such as Machame and Lemosho route, when taking Marangu route, climbers stay overnight in permanent huts and the trail is hardened and well built – there are no any sections that require any scrambling! However, the summit night is extremely challenging on the way up with 5 – 7 hour midnight hike especially at the steep slope past Gilman’s Point (5,681 m/ 18,638 ft)!

An extra acclimatization day is recommended at Horombo Hut Valley for newbies to provide more rest before heading to the Base Camp ready to face the final challenge!

6 DAYS ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Tanzania

You will be picked up from the Airport (JRO) and transferred to your hotel in Moshi.

Pre tour Briefing & Equipment Check:

You will meet your mountain guide (and office Rep) followed by your pre Tour briefing and Equipment check. This day, our team will be answering any question about your upcoming adventure to make sure everyone is ready to go! Dinner & Overnight at your hotel, HB

Day 2: Marangu Gate – Mandara Huts          (1,860m/6,102 ft)

After breakfast at your hotel, we transfer to Marangu gate where we register and complete the National Park formalities. It will take an hour of drive from Moshi and 2hr 30 min from Arusha to get to Marangu gate. We then start trekking; steadily ascending through stunning dense rainforest which can be quite muddy and wet underfoot, but it’s a magnificent way to start our challenge!

Night Camp: Mandara Huts (2,720m/ 8,924 ft).

• Altitude Change: ↑835 m/ 2,740 ft
• Trekking Distance/ Time: 7 km/ 4.4 miles (4-5 hr)

Day 3: Mandara Huts – Horombo Huts

After breakfast at the Mandara, we proceed with our ascent to our next destination via lighter ‘monkey’ forest. Maundi Crater (at 2,775 m) is located just after 20 minutes of walk from Mandara Huts and one can opt to pay it a visit by walking another 15 minutes away. We will have our lunch at around 3,500 m/ 11,500 ft elevation. On a clear day, we will enjoy an amazing view of Mawenzi peak (5,149 m/ 16,893 ft) and some villages in the lower plains of Kenya (Taveta). We proceed on a stony trail to the final bridge which crosses over a wide stream and swampy meadow of the Horombo Plateau where we will be spending the night.

Night Camp: Horombo Huts (3,720m/ 12,205 ft).

• Altitude Change: ↑1,000m/ 3,280 ft
• Trekking Distance/ Time: 11 km/ 6.8 miles (5-6 hrs)

Day 4: Horombo Huts – Acclimatization Day!

Our day will be spent on the moorland and alpine desert by hiking from Horombo Huts uphill to the black cliff formations standing about 20 meters high, namely Zebra Rocks (3,980 m/ 13,058 ft). It is a good idea to trek further up to about 4,200 m/ 13,780 ft elevation where we will have once in-a-life time view of Kibo peak and the entire route of the next day! The descent is is quick and would take about an hour, so that we can be back at the Camp for hot lunch. The rest of the day can be spent either catching some sleep or playing some games to pass time … 

Night Camp: Horombo Huts (3,720m/ 12,205 ft).

• Altitude Change: ↑↓480 m/ 1,574 ft
• Trekking Distance/ Time: 5-7 km/ 3-4 miles (4-5 hr)

 Day 5: Horombo Huts – Kibo Huts

We leave early at 7:30 am towards Kibo Huts with the unique view of the summit. At around 4,000 m the trail passes the final water source where porters fill up their containers last time. We will be keeping our pace to a slow rhythm as we need to conserve as much energy as we can for the summit attempt later this evening. We reach our Base Camp at 2 pm for a good rest followed by an early dinner (at 5 pm) before getting our heads down, as we will be woken at 11 pm for our summit attempt!

Night Camp: Kibo Huts (4,703 m/ 15,430 ft)

• Altitude Change: ↑983 m/ 3,225 ft
• Trekking Distance/ Time: 12 km/ 7.5 miles (5-6 hr)

Day 6: Kibo Huts – Uhuru Peak & Then Back to Horombo Huts

We leave the Camp at 11:30 pm or a bit early after having a little snack/ porridge or soup/ tea or coffee – most of our mountain gears stays at Kibo Huts till our return late in the morning. We shouldn’t forget head torch, our filled up water bottles & few snacks. You will be accompanied by Guides, Assistant Guide and some dedicated summit crew and the rest of the porters will remain at the Camp. The next 5 hours are spent trekking to Stella Point (5,750m) over scree and rock, where we will be rewarded with magnificent and spectacular views of the ice cliffs which surround us, and the majestic views to the Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks – trekking just does not get any better than this! We now make regular rest stops every 15 minutes or so, to aid our chances of reaching to the Peak at 5,895 m/ 19,341 ft. We push on to the summit with an amazing sun rise and aim to reach the top by about 6:30 or 7 am. We start our long descent via Gilman’s Point and back to Kibo Huts, where we will enjoy some lunch and a good rest. Our descent then continues down to Horombo Huts – today is a very long, emotional day, but at the same time, so memorable and exhilarating.

Night Camp: Horombo Huts (3,720m/ 12,205 ft).

• Altitude Change: ↑↓1,192 m/ 3,910 ft & Then , ↓ 2,175 m/ 7,136 ft
• Trekking Distance/ Time: 21 km/ 13 miles (12-14 hr)

 Day 7: Horombo Huts – Marangu gate – Moshi

Our final descent start with a nice breakfast followed by tipping ceremony; then we continue trekking for about 6 hours to make the 1,880 meters descent back to Marangu gate. Lunch will be served either at Mandara Huts or at Marangu gate. We take the vehicle transfer back to our Lodge in Moshi for a well-deserved hot shower or cool soak in the pool! This evening, we meet as a group to contemplate our achievements with a Great Dinner at your Lodge.

• Altitude Change: ↓1,880m/ 6,168 ft
• Trekking Distance/ Time: 18 km/ 11 miles (5-6 hr)

 Day 8: Depart Tanzania

After breakfast there may be some free time to relax at the lodge or go shopping in Moshi and then leave your hotel for your transfer to the airport to catch your departure flight

 6 Days Marangu Route Price

• Group of 2-4 pax: $1,810 per person/ trip
• Group of 5-7 pax: $1,780 per person/ trip

Includes

• Conservation Fees, Camping/ Hut fees & Rescue fees
• Camping equipment
• Airport transfers – JRO to Moshi, 2 ways
• Transport to and from the Kilimanjaro National Park
• Guide, assistant guides, porters
• Meals + mountain chef while on the mountain
• Water throughout the trek
• Pre & Post climb hotel accommodation in Moshi

Excludes

• Sleeping bag
• Snacks, personal hygiene kit and personal medication
• Extra acclimatization day – An extra day can be added while on the mountain and each extra day costs extra US$ 220 per person and this amount will be paid at our main office after the climb.
• Water purification tabs
• Portable manual flush toilet (except for the Marangu route) – available for hire for extra $150 per toilet tent
• Personal mountain clothing & trekking gear – some of the kit is available for hire in Moshi
• Flights and Tanzania entry visa
• Health requirements (Yellow Fever vaccination is recommended depending on your flight route on entering Tanzania; vaccination for Meningitis & Hepatitis A optional)
• Optional Travel and medical insurance is but highly recommended
• Tips for Kilimanjaro mountain crew is mandatory nowadays (average tip is anything from US$180 to US$ 250 per climber depending on the number of days spent on the mountain, group size and route chosen)
• Hiking helmet & crampons
• Doctor for the group
• Items of a personal nature