7-DAY KILIMANJARO CLIMB VIA THE MARANGU ROUTE WITH 2 NIGHTS HOTEL STAY INCLUDED
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The Marangu route, also known as the “Coca-Cola” route, is the oldest and most well-established route on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the only route that offers sleeping huts in dormitory-style accommodations, providing a more comfortable alternative to camping. These huts are equipped with bunk beds, with 60 beds each at Mandara and Kibo Huts, and 120 beds at Horombo Hut. Climbers are provided with mattresses and pillows, though sleeping bags are still necessary. The huts also feature communal dining halls and basic washroom facilities. At the lower huts (Mandara and Horombo), there are flushing toilets and running water, while at Kibo Hut, the facilities are more basic, with long-drop toilets and water brought in buckets.
Many climbers favor the Marangu route because it is considered the easiest path up Mount Kilimanjaro. This is due to its gradual slope and direct route to the summit, which makes it a less physically demanding climb compared to other, more challenging routes. However, the relatively short duration of the trek makes acclimatization to the altitude more difficult, and many climbers struggle with altitude sickness as a result. The Marangu route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the southeast, providing a straightforward path to the top.
One downside to the Marangu route is that it is less scenic than other routes. Since both the ascent and descent follow the same path, hikers do not get to experience the varied landscapes and views offered by other routes. As a result, the route tends to be more crowded, especially during peak trekking seasons, which can diminish the overall experience for some climbers. Despite this, the Marangu route remains a popular choice for those seeking a quicker and easier climb with the added convenience of hut-based accommodations.
Included/Exclude
- One night at the Hotel before starting the climbing trip.
- One night at the hotel after finishing the climbing trip.
- Entry Fees at the Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park.
- Rescue Fees, Guides, Porters and Cooks Fees
- Mountain Staff/Crew salaries and allowances.
- All meals on the mountain, Breakfast, Lunch, evening refreshments and dinner.
- Drinking water will be provided during the climb.
- Oxygen cylinder, Ox-meters and Special daily check-up care while on the mountain.
- Mountain Gears, Sleeping Tents, Dinning Tents, sleeping form mattress are provided
- Plastic cover for your day packs, to cover baggage, porters will carry for protection of wet and rain on the mountain.
- Pick up and drop off to and from hotel to starting point for climbing the mountain.
- Pick up transfer after descend from mountain and transfer back to Hotel.
- Government Taxes, Office Agent fees, Operational costs.
- Airports pick up and drop off transfers.
- Gratuities / Tips, Extra service Laundry,
- Other personal care like massage (Can be offered as special Service after Kilimanjaro Climb)
- Alcohol, International flights tickets, but can be booked on requests.
- Domestic flight tickets ie, Flight to Zanzibar, Mafia Island, or to Parks like Serengeti, Selous, Ruaha and Gombe within Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda or to Amboseli Park in Kenya (Can be booked on requests)
- Medical services in case of sickness or you will need to get Insurance cover from your country.
Tour Plan
Arrive in Moshi (890 m), at the Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam International Airport, and meet by our representative, load all your luggage, belongings into van for transfer to the hotel or residential home for Overnight.
After breakfast and a briefing from your guide, leave at the Hotel or Residential at 8:00AM, drive for 50 minutes, from Moshi to the Marangu Gate or 2 Hrs and 30 mins, drive from Arusha to Marangu Gate on the eastern side of Kilimanjaro park. After arrived at the gate register with the national park, and begin hiking at round 09:30 am. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colubus monkeys. At these lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts should be sufficient, but keep your rain gear and warmer clothing handy. Stop halfway for lunch, and reach the Mandara Huts at 2 or 3 PM. Unpack, rest, and have some tea or coffee. A 15 minute side trip to Maundy Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. Dinner is served during the early evening at around 07:00 PM. Bathrooms with running water are available at Huts, you will have dinner and overnight at Mandara Huts.
On this day you will wake up at around 06:30am, prepared for breakfast which you will take at around 07:00am and after breakfast, pack for another day, next trek. Porters will break camp by 8:00AM, and the all group continue hiking to the next Camp. For an hour through rainforest glades, then follow an ascending path through heath land where you can look for giant lobelias and groundsels. Continue up into open moorlands where small shrubs are the main vegetation. Stop halfway for lunch, where you can enjoy amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive at the Horombo Huts by 3 PM, where you can see Kibo’s summit. Rest, unpack, and prepare for dinner. Bathrooms with running water are available. You will have Dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut.
You may start to feel the effects of altitude here, and to aid your acclimatization, you can choose to spend an extra day resting at Horombo or climbing to a base camp below Kibo’s sub peak Mawenzi for acclimatization.
You will wake up at around 06:30am and get prepared for breakfast and at around 07:00am you will have a breakfast as usual, but if you wake early you can get some great photos of the sunrise. The first part of the day’s hike climbs through the dwindling heath land that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. When you 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. Be careful to notice any signs of altitude sickness. There is no running water at the Kibo Huts. On this day you will have very few hours of sleep, and your night will be very short. You will have a long walk from Horombo to Kibo Hut and after evening meals at around 06:30pm, you will have a short rest and sleep for 3hrs from 07:30pm, as you will need to wake up at 10:30pm and start getting your summit gears ready. The start to climb to summit will be at around 11:30pm. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly after sunrise. Switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 05:00am to o6:00 am.
You will be already walking more than half way to summit. Here, views of the fabled crater and its icecaps greet you. Sun Rise can be seen at around 05:30am. Another 1 hr to 2 hours of hiking along the crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru Peak, by 07:00am. You are now at Africa’s highest point! And you would have to travel more than 3,000 miles toward the Himalayas to find a higher peak! Be sure to have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends. After your summit stay, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your things, and re-cross the saddle to the Horombo Huts. The descend from Summit to Kibo hut can take approximately 1 to 2 hrs and descend from Kibo hut to Horombo can take 3 to 4 hrs and when you arrive at Horombo Hut you will get your last and happy supper on the mountain. After Dinner and get some well-deserved sleep, Overnight at Horombo Hut.
You do the beginning of this climb in the dark with headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the trek. Slowly slowly, or, “pole pole,” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
As this will be your last day on the mountain, you will need to wake up as usual at around 06:30am, pack, and then you will get your breakfast at 07:00am and start descend at around 07:45am from Horombo, through the moorland to the Mandara Huts. Have lunch there then continue your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to the park gate, which you should reach around 02:00pm or 03:00 PM. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here at the Gate, as most of them are living at the home and their villages are just nearby so they will not need to back to Moshi Town with the group and then return back to the mountain in Marangu villages where they stay with their families. A vehicle will take you back to the hotel or similar lodging in Moshi or Arusha, where it is definitely time for celebration!
Depart for safari to Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire or other Parks in Southern part of Tanzania like Selous /Nyerere Park and other historic attractions like Bagamoyo, Kilwa ruins and Zanzibar. A trip to Zanzibar beaches is a good way to recuperate. We can arrange as many for reasonably priced trips around East Africa.
