Trip Overview
The 5 Day Marangu route itinerary takes you up Mount Kilimanjaro via the Marangu, the mountain’s oldest and most popular route. Popularly known as the Coca-Cola route, this route appeals to many climbers as statistics show that at least 40% of Mount Kilimanjaro climbers use this route. It is one of the easiest, shortest, and most popular routes.
The famous Marangu Route is the only route on Mount Kilimanjaro that uses huts/cabins as a form of accommodation instead of camping/tents.
Detailed Itinerary
Elevation: 5,500 ft. / 1,700 m to 9,000 ft. / 2,740 m
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
After early breakfast and briefing, leave Moshi town to Marangu Gate (45 minutes) for registration, and paperwork to meet up with your Mount Kilimanjaro crew to begin the 5 Days Marangu Route climb. You will hike through the rainforest to the Mandara Hut Camp. To get the best out of this hike, a side trip to the Maundi Crater rewards you with beautiful views of the environment that lies at the Kenya-Tanzania border. If you are lucky enough, you will spot amazing birdlife, Colobus Monkeys, and Eucalyptus trees.
Elevation: 9,000 ft. / 2,700 m to 12,100 ft. / 3,700 m
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Heath land
Gradually ascend the moorland vegetation zone of Mount Kilimanjaro via the Marangu Route on a trail that leads to the Horombo Hut Camp. Even though this area that has giant lobelias and groundsels reward you with amazing and beautiful views of the Mawenzi and Kibo Peaks, you might begin to feel the effects of Altitude sickness.
Elevation: 12,100 ft. / 3,700 m to 15,400 ft. / 4,700 m
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
The third day is the day for preparing to reach the Uhuru Peak Summit. After hiking up the mountain towards the saddle of Mount Kilimanjaro, sandwiched between Kibo and Mawenzi peaks you will pass by the last watering point. You will head to your hut at Horombo for dinner and rest as you prepare to summit in the middle of the night. The vegetation zones that you will go through include heath and alpine desert at the top of the mountain.
Elevation: 15,400 ft. / 4,700 m to 19,300 ft. / 5,895 m / 19,300 ft. / 5,895 m to 12,100 ft. / 3,700 m
Distance: 4 km up / 14 km down
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
You will wake up very early at around midnight to 2 am, to begin the push towards the Uhuru Peak Summit. This is one of the biggest challenges on Mount Kilimanjaro as you embark on steep, scree-filled ground towards Gilman’s Point at the crater rim on your way to Uhuru peak at night and against extreme cold weather, winds, and darkness.
Once at the summit of Uhuru peak, you will be amazed at the breathtaking views on top of Africa’s Rooftop, Mount Kilimanjaro. Make sure you take summit pictures.
After spending some time at the top of the mountain, it is time to descend as you make a stopover at Kibo for lunch on your way to the Horombo hut.
Elevation: 12,100 ft / 3,700 m to 5,500 ft / 1,700 m
Distance: 18km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
After breakfast, early in the morning, you will descend through the same Marangu Route that took you up the mountain to the summit a descent trek that crosses moorland vegetation that leads to Mandara Hut and eventually through the path that traverses the rainforest zone ending up at the Marangu gate.
At the gate, you will receive your Mount Kilimanjaro summit certificates then drive back to your hotel in Moshi town or Arusha City marking the end of your 5 Days Marangu Route Trek.
Elevation: 12,100 ft / 3,700 m to 5,500 ft / 1,700 m
Distance: 18km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
After breakfast, early in the morning, you will descend through the same Marangu Route that took you up the mountain to the summit a descent trek that crosses moorland vegetation that leads to Mandara Hut and eventually through the path that traverses the rainforest zone ending up at the Marangu gate.
At the gate, you will receive your Mount Kilimanjaro summit certificates then drive back to your hotel in Moshi town or Arusha City marking the end of your 5 Days Marangu Route Trek.
Inclusions
- All transfers to the mountain and back to your Arusha hotel
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides
- Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
- Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents
- Sleeping Mattress
- All meals while on the Mountain (Good portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food)
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Conservation fees (part of park fees)
- Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
- Rescue fees (part of park fees)
- VAT (18% charged by the Government)
Exclusions
- Tips for drivers and porters.
- Items of personal nature.
- Laundry services.
- Beverages/drinks.
- International flights.
- Visas.
- Hotel accommodations before and after safari.