5-Day Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Trek
Duration
5 Days / 4 Nights
Difficulty
Moderate
Location
Tanzania
From
$1,850
Overview
Marangu Route, commonly known as the Coca-Cola route is more popular because it can be done in fewer days and has permanent sleep huts at the campsites. Summit night from Kibo Hut is steep and passes Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak. It is a shorter route with a steeper incline and less time for acclimatization it tends to have a lower summit success rate. This is the only route where the ascent and descent route are shared, thus creating more traffic.
Highlights
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Marangu Gate – Mandara Huts
Departing from Moshi a 45-minute drive will take you through the Village of Marangu to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.
Mandara Huts – Horombo Huts
After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, through heathland, looking for giant lobelias and groundsels. Continue up into open moorlands where small shrubs are the main vegetation. Stop halfway for lunch, to enjoy amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive at the Horombo Huts late afternoon beneath the spectacular Kibo Summit viewpoint. Temperatures begin to drop.
Horombo Huts- Kibo Huts
After breakfast, we continue on through the dwindling heathland that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. Here while we 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.
Kibo Huts – Summit - Horombo Huts
Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. We continue our way to the summit in a switchback formation trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion, we ascend through heavy scree and possibly snow toward Gillman Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here on your remaining 1-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way. Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa! After photos, celebrations, and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Horombo huts, stopping at Kibo for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight Horombo Huts.
Horombo Huts – Marangu Gate – Moshi
After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down stopping at the Mandara Huts for lunch. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. You return back to the Marangu Park Gate and receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy, and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles. From the gate, a vehicle will meet you to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 45 minutes). Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations!!
What's Included
- Lead Guide(s), Assistant Guide(s), for 2+ people
- English Speaking & Wilderness First Responder Trained
- Cook, Porters, equipment, personal client luggage (15 kg per client)
- The ratio of porters per client is 3 to 4.
- Sleeping mat, 2-inch foam
- Pillow
- Walk-in dining tent and table
- Backed chairs
- Wash basins with hot water each morning and evening
- Three meals per day & afternoon snack during the trek
- Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free upon request
- Treated drinking water (minimum of 3L per day while trekking with additional water available at camp)
- Coffee and tea during the trek
- Pulse oximeter
- Altitude sickness checklists
- First aid kit
- Emergency oxygen
- Camping/hut, rescue, conservation and taxes
- Pre-trek briefing with your guide
- Round-trip airport transfer between Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and Moshi
- Round-trip transfer between Moshi and the park gate
- Hotel stays in Moshi pre- and post-trek (2 nights total) on bed & breakfast
- Kilimanjaro National Park fees and VAT
What's Not Included
- Gratuities/tips
- Personal trekking gear such as sleeping bag and clothing
- Favored beverages (water, soda and alcohol at hotels)
- Additional accommodation or meals resulting from early descent
- Tanzania entry visa
- Travel insurance
- Domestic or international flights
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Personal hire gear such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, etc
- Personal spending money for souvenirs etc
