Overview
Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is the oldest, most well established route on Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to its gradual slope, the Marangu route is considered the easiest path on the mountain. It is also the only route which offers sleeping huts in dormitory style accommodations. This is one of the reasons this route is favored during the rainy season. Marangu route is also considered the busiest route due to the ascent and descent being done on the same path. This makes for a crowded path at times.
Highlights
- Difficulty: Medium
- Scenery: Good
- Traffic: High
Price includes:
- Arrival and departure Kilimanjaro airport transfers
- Scheduled Riverside bus shuttle transfer Nairobi-Arusha-Nairobi if arriving/departing from Nairobi.
- Transport from the hotel to the mountain and back to the hotel
- Accommodation as indicated
- Sleeping tent and mattresses on the mountain
- Dining tent on the mountain
- Meals as indicated above (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
- All park fees, including mountain rescue fees, government taxes and all applicable fees and taxes.
- Services of a Professional Leading Guide who is medically trained, certified, licensed and English speaking.
- Services of English-speaking assistant guide (s) and enough number of porters for your luggage, food, and water, and a skilled cook.
- Transport from your hotel to the mountain, and back to your hotel.
- Group average of 4~6 climbers, maximum of 15.
- Oxygen bottle and pulse oximeter
Price excludes:
- International airfare
- Items of a personal nature such as passport, and visa,
- Climbing gears (can be rented on arrival)
- Tips (recommended in USD, Cash)
- Medical Equipment which can be rented well in advance for the following costs: $250/group for hyperbaric chamber, and $140/group for a stretcher. Please note these prices include a porter to carry the equipment.
Note:
- The pack that the porters carry is limited to 35 pounds (i.e. 15kgs)
- Overweight or extra luggage will require an extra porter at $10/day
You can leave extra luggage in Hotel in Arusha (if you leave any valuable items like cash, jewelry, etc) make sure you get a receipt for that.
*If you add that day, instead of just staying at the hotel, we can offer a day trip to the nearby Arusha National Park for game drives for $180pp inclusive of 1to 2 hours hiking on mount Meru. Starting from 4 pax in a group.
Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport,
Met upon Arrival and transfer to hotel in Arusha,
- Activities: Transfer
- Accommodation & Meals: Arusha Gold Crest Hotel, B, B.
Day 2: Marangu Gate (1,870 meters) to Mandara Hut (2,700 meters)
The Marangu Route begins at Marangu Gate (1,870 meters) on the South-East side of Mount Kilimanjaro (see map above). Typically you will be driven to the gate from Moshi, which takes approximately an hour and passes through the village of Marangu. If approaching from Arusha it takes over two hours to reach Marangu gate. At the gate you will meet your trekking team, register with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities and witness porters assembling and weighing packs of gear that they will be carrying up the mountain. Day one is a gradual trek through the Kilimanjaro rainforest and takes 5-7 hours to complete. Your first night is spent in the Mandara A-frame Huts (2,700 meters) which come equipped with solar generated lighting, flush toilets and water piped in from a nearby mountain stream. Each hut has 6-8 bunk beds. If you are a light sleeper we suggest bringing ear plugs!
- Estimated Trekking distance: 8km / 5 miles
- Estimated Trekking time: 4-6 hours
- Zone: Rainforest zone
- Activities: Hiking/Trekking
- Accommodation & Meals: Mandara Hut (2,700 meters). B, L, D.
Day 3: Mandara Hut (2,700 meters) to Horombo Hut (3,720 meters)
Day two on the Marangu Route begins with an early start. You will be served breakfast and should be on your way by latest 08:30. The trek continues through the rainforest, around the base of the Maundi Crater and then transitions rather rapidly into the low alpine moorland zone. If the weather is clear you should definitely take the opportunity to scramble up the Maundi Crater to get your first full view of Kibo. During the trek you will also see giant lobelias which are scattered throughout the landscape at this altitude. Day two takes approximately 6-8 hours to complete and covers a significant distance (11.5km / 7miles). At Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) you will be served dinner and shown to your sleeping quarters for the night.
- Estimated Trekking distance: 11.5km / 7 miles
- Estimated Trekking time: 6-8 hours
- Zone: Rainforest zone/ Low Alpine Zone
- Activities: Hiking/Trekking
- Accommodation & Meals: Horombo Hut (3,720 meters). B, L, D.
Day 4: Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) to Kibo Hut (4,700 meters)
Note: Day three on the Marangu Route is an acclimatization day for 6 day trekkers. Most six day trekkers venture on a 4-5 hour hike to Mawenzi Hut and back, which is good for acclimatization. For 5 day trekkers you will depart from Horombo Hut early and begin a 1,000 meter ascent to Kibo Hut which covers a distance of approximately 10km. There are two routes to Kibo. The first, or upper route, forks to the right. Six day trekkers would have trekked this route on their acclimatization day to Mawenzi Hut. You will most likely take the lower left hand route as it is easier and nearly an hour shorter. On the left hand route you will pass the last water point at 4,130 meters. Make sure to fill up your water reserves here as you will not find another watering point until you get back to Horombo Hut from the summit (you are able to buy bottled mineral water at Kibo Hut). At Kibo Hut you will be served an early dinner and should try get to bed before 19:00 as you will be awoken around 23:30 to start your 1,150 meter ascent to Uhuru Peak. Make sure that you have all your gear ready for a prompt departure, including insulated water, snacks, your headlamp and camera.
- Estimated Trekking distance: 10km / 6 miles
- Estimated Trekking time: 5-7 hours
- Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone
- Activities: Hiking/Trekking
- Accommodation & Meals: Kibo Hut (4,700 meters). B, L, D.
Day 5: Kibo Hut (4,700 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) and then Horombo Hut (3,720 meters)
Day four begins with summit night. After being awoken you will be served some hot tea and biscuits and will then begin your summit ascent. The route follows a rocky path to the first check point, Hans Meyer Cave at 5,150 meters. It then continues to zigzag for a good 2-3 hours until you get to Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters) on Kibo’s crater rim. You will most likely be very tired at this point. Take some time to rest and refuel with a snack. The final push is tough and requires mental stamina. Focus on moving slowly and deliberately for the final 200 meter ascent. At Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) you will not be able to stay too long so make sure to get all the pictures you want to take and then begin your descent back to Kibo Hut, and onto Horombo Hut. In total you will be trekking upwards of 12-16 hours. It will be one of the longest days of your life but well worth it! Here’s the good news, beers can be bought at Horombo!
- Estimated Trekking distance: 5.5km / 3 miles ascent and then 15km / 8 mile descent
- Estimated Trekking time: 6-8 hours to the summit and then 5-8 hours to Horombo Hut
- Zone: Glacial zone, high alpine zone and low alpine zone
- Activities: Hiking/Trekking
- Accommodation & Meals: Horombo Hut (3,720 meters). B, L, D.
Day 6: Horombo Hut (3,720 meters) to Marangu Gate (1,870 meters)
Day five from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate is nearly 20km but usually only takes 7 hours to complete. You will be exhausted at this stage and spend most of the hike imagining the hot shower you will be having that evening. At Marangu Gate you will be presented with your certificate, either for Gilman’s Point or Uhuru Peak (depending on how far you managed to get). It is expected to present your trekking team with their hard-earned tips at this point. You will then be driven back to your hotel where celebrations can begin!
- Estimated Trekking distance: 20km / 12.5 miles
- Estimated Trekking time: 6-8 hours
- Zone: Low alpine zone and rainforest
- Activities: Hiking/Trekking
- Accommodation & Meals: Arusha Gold Crest Hotel, B, L.
Day 7:
Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your return flight, B. or Proceed with safari with us.
- Activities: Transfer
- Accommodation & Meals: B, B.
Prices;
Per person $1590
