6 Days Marangu Route Climbing
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 favour the Marangu route because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, due to its more gradual slope. It is also the only route which offers sleeping huts with dormitory style accommodation. There are 60 bunk beds at both 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.
Mount Kilimanjaro Includes
- 2 Nights accommodation
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides:
- All Park fees
- Rescue fees
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Arrival and Departure transfers
- Guides, Porters, cook salaries and park fees
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs:
- Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food:
- Clean, purified drinking water:
- Crisis management and safety procedures:
- Fair and ethical treatment of porters:
- Sleeping Mattress:
Excludes:
- Tanzania Visa: $50 per person on arrival
- Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
- Meals not listed above
- Optional Tours (short safari after your climb etc.)
- Tips and any items of personal nature.
ITINERARY
DAY 1
ARRIVAL
All trekkers need to organize their own flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From JRO we will arrange a private transfer to your hotel. That night or early the next morning you will meet your local Unbelievable Africa representative and have a full pre-climb briefing.
- Transport: Private transfer (45minutes – 1 hour, 40 km)
- Accommodation – Hotel
DAY 2
MARANGU GATE TO MANDARA HUT
After breakfast we will collect you from your hotel for your transfer to Marangu Gate for registration. Our porters prepare and pack our supplies and luggage before we start our ascent on a cleared ridge trail through the rainforest. The forest, covered with mist and dripping with beards of moss, is also where most of Kilimanjaro’s animals are found. We will spend our first night at Mandara Hut, a group of wooden A-framed huts set in a forest clearing.
- Transport: Private transfer (1 hour, 43 km)
- Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
- Ascent: 830 m
- altitude: 2720 m
- Accommodation: Hut
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 3
MANDARA HUT TO HOROMBO HUT
From Mandara Hut the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, skirting the base of the Maundi Crater emerging into the transition zone from rain forest to moorland. After about 6 hours we arrive at Horombo Hut.
- Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours
- Ascent: 1000 m
- altitude: 3720 m
- Accommodation: Hut
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 4
ACCLIMATISATION AT HOROMBO HUT
This extra day and night at Horombo are ideal for good acclimatization. A hike towards Mawenzi, passing the Zebra Rocks on the way (about 3 hours up and 1.5 hours down) is strongly recommended as it will further assist with acclimatization.
- Hiking time: 3 – 4 hours
- Ascent: 300 m
- Descent: 300 m
- altitude: 4020 m
- Accommodation: Hut
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 5
HOROMBO HUT TO KIBO HUT
We continue our ascent into the Alpine desert zone passing the last place where water is available at 4130m. From Kibo Hut, the summit is now a further 1195m of ascent. We will make our summit ascent tonight so we will go to the bed early to get as much rest as possible.
- Hiking time: 5 – 6 hours
- Ascent: 1000 m
- altitude: 4720 m
- Accomodation: Hut
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 6
KIBO HUT TO SUMMIT TO HOROMBO HUT
We will wake up around 00:00 hours, and after some tea and biscuits we shuffle off into the night, and this is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer point (5250m), also a good resting spot. The path then zigzags up to Gilman’s Point (5681m), which is located on the crater rim. This section is very steep with a lot of stone scree, requiring a great physical and mental effort.
From Gilman’s Point we will normally encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long we will be able to spend taking photographs before the 3 hours descent back to Kibo Hut. After a short rest we gather all the gear we left behind for the ascent and head down to Horombo Hut, a further 3 hours. Later in the evening, we will enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
- Hiking time: 12 – 14 hours
- Ascent: 1195 m
- Descent: 2175 m
- altitude: 5895 m
- Accommodation: Hut
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
DAY 7
HOROMBO HUT TO MARANGU GATE
Your final day on the trek, departing after breakfast we descend a further 1740m to Marangu Gate to pick up your summit certificates from the Park Headquarters. Transfer to your hotel for a well-earned shower and celebration.
- Transport: Private transfer (1 hour, 40 km)
- Hiking time: 6 – 7 hours
- Descent: 1740 m
- altitude: 3720 m
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Meals included: Breakfast
