Marangu route is easiest, shortest, oldest and the most popular route on Mount Kilimanjaro; this is the only route where you will sleep in communal mountain huts; each with a bunk, a sponge mattress and a pillow.
Overview
Tour Itinerary
Marangu route is easiest, shortest, oldest and the most popular route on Mount Kilimanjaro; this is the only route where you will sleep in communal mountain huts; each with a bunk, a sponge mattress and a pillow.
The only setback on the Marangu Route is that it can get very crowded as it is usually mostly chosen by first-time climbers due to the belief that it is the easiest route to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. This route has in fact been nicknamed the “Coca-Cola” or “tourist” route because of its relative ease. On this route, only the final stage(summiting) is slightly more demanding.
Marangu route is usually completed in 5 days; however, if you want to acclimatize better it is recommended that you take an extra day at Horombo Hut.
Trekking Distance: ~ 8 km
Trekking Time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Rainforests
The Marangu route starts at Marangu Gate (1860m) which is located on the South-East side of the majestic Kilimanjaro.
After breakfast and briefing in Arusha, you will be driven to Marangu gate(1860m), where our guides will help you register with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities. Day one is a gradual trek through the Kilimanjaro rainforests and it takes about 5-7 hours. Inside the forest, you will see Eucalyptus trees, birds and Colobus monkeys.
Lunch will be served midway and then the trek will continue towards Mandara Hut(2715 m) where you will reach late in the afternoon. Upon arrival you will rest, and should you want, our guide will take you to Maundi Crater where you will catch a glimpse of the northern parts of Tanzania and the Kenyan interior, all below you.
Dinner and overnight accommodation at Mandara Hut(2715 m).
Distance: ~ 12 km
Time: 6-8 hours
Zone: Rainforests / Low Alpine
You will be served an early breakfast at Mandara Hut(2715m) after which you will break camp and start hiking through rainforests. After the rainforest, the trek transitions into low alpine moorlands where shrubs dominate. During the trek in the moorlands, you will see the giant lobelias scattered across the landscape.
Lunch will be served at a designated spot, after lunch and some rest you will continue trekking towards Horombo Hut(3700m) where you will reach late in the afternoon.
Dinner and overnight accommodation at Horombo Hut.
Distance: ~ 10 km
Time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Low Alpine / High Alpine
After breakfast at Horombo Hut, you will start your trekking towards Kibo Hut(4700m). On this day you will trek past the last water point(4130m), after which there is no clean running water on the mountain. You can however still buy bottled mineral water at Kibo Hut.
After the last water point, you will enter the saddle which is an almost desert-like terrain that forms a link between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Lunch will be served before entering the saddle.
Upon arrival at Kibo Hut, you will be served an early dinner after which, you should try and get some rest because you will be awoken around 23:00 to start the final ascent to the summit(Uhuru Peak). The final ascent is approximately 1,150 meters and it is done at night.
Note: If you are doing Marangu Route in 6 days(6-day trekkers), this day will be spent acclimatizing. Acclimatization greatly improves your chances of reaching the peak, so it should not be ignored.
6-day trekkers will head out from Horombo Hut for a 2 to 3 hours trek to the Zebra Rocks(3980 m). The rocks are named after their characteristic white and black stripes. From Zebra Rocks they will return back to Horombo Hut, where lunch will be served and then the remainder of the day will be spent resting in preparation for the next day’s trek from Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut.
Distance: ~ 5.5 km ascent and 15 km descent
Time: 6-8 hours to the summit and then 5-8 hours descent to Horombo Hut
Zone: Glacial Zone, High Alpine & Low Alpine Zones
This day begins with the summit to Uhuru Peak. Shortly before midnight, you will be awoken and then will be served a light snack (mostly hot tea and biscuits), after which the ascent to the summit will begin.
The long and strenuous trek to the summit will take you to the first checkpoint Hans Meyer Cave (5200m); then the trek will continue zig-zagging until reaching Gilman’s Point (5715m) on the crater rim around sunrise. At this point you will most likely be very tired, so you should take some time to rest before attempting the last push to Uhuru Peak.
The final push is tough but it will take you past spectacular glaciers, before reaching Uhuru Peak(5895m), where you will be standing on the “Roof of Africa”. You will not be able to stay at the peak too long but take some time to take as many pictures as you can and savor the moment.
The descent back to Kibo Hut is fast and easy; upon arrival to Kibo Hut you will be served a warm meal and enjoy some rest. After a hearty meal and some rest, you will descend further towards Horombo Hut where you will arrive in the afternoon.
Dinner and overnight accommodation at Horombo Hut.
Distance: ~ 20 km
Time: 6-8 hours
Zone: Low Alpine & Rainforest
Day 5 is a relatively easy descent that takes you through low alpine zones and the rainforests all the way to Mandara Hut, where lunch is served. After lunch and some rest, you will descend all the way to Marangu Gate where you will be presented with certificates if you made it to Gilman’s point or Uhuru Peak.
Our drivers will be waiting for you at the gate ready to drive you to your hotel in Arusha where you will take a long warm shower and celebrate your success.
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