6 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

There are six established routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro – Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai, and Umbwe. The Marangu, Machame, and Umbwe routes all approach from the south of the mountain. The Lemosho and Shira routes approach from the west. The Rongai route approaches from the north near Kenya. All routes except Marangu and Rongai descend via Mweka.

The 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, which tends to result in a lower summit success rate. This is the only route where the ascent and descent route is shared, thus creating more traffic.

Duration: 5 or 6 days
Difficulty: Medium
Scenery: Good
Traffic: High

MARANGU ROUTE ELEVATIONS

Arrival in Tanzania

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred for overnight accommodation at The Maridadi Hotel B&B. Your head guide will meet you for your briefing, gear check, and to arrange for you to hire any equipment you may need.

Day 1: Marangu Gate – Mandara Huts: 8.3km / 5mi | 4-5 hrs | Rainforest

Elevation: 1905m/6250ft to 2723m/8934ft
Altitude Gained: 818m

Departing from Moshi, a 1-hour 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 winding trails while your guide tells you about the local flora, fauna, and wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.

Day 2: Mandara Huts – Horombo Huts: 12.5km / 7.8mi | 6-8 hrs | Moorland

Elevation: 2723m/8934ft to 3721m/12,208ft
Altitude Gained: 998m

After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rainforest 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.

Day 3: Horombo Huts (Acclimatization Day)

You can spend a full day and a second night at Horombo. On this day, you can either rest at the huts or take a stroll up to the Mawenzi base camp and then return to the Horombo Huts. This extra day will help your acclimatization and further your understanding of the mountain’s weather and altitude. After your pause, you will continue up to the Kibo Huts on your fourth day for your midnight start to the summit.

Day 4: Horombo Huts – Kibo Huts: 10.5km / 6mi | 6-8 hrs | Semi-Desert

Elevation: 3721m/12,208ft to 4714m/15,466ft
Altitude Gained: 993m

After breakfast, we continue 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.

Day 5: Kibo Huts – Summit: 6.25km / 3.9mi up | 5-7 hrs | – Horombo Huts: 15.75km / 9mi down | 5-6 hrs | Glaciers, Snow-Capped Summit

Elevation: 4714m/15,466ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude Gained: 1181m
Descent to: 3721m/12,208ft
Altitude Lost: 2174m

Excitement builds 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 towards Gilman’s 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 Hut, stopping at Kibo Hut 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 at Horombo Hut.

Day 6: Horombo Huts – Marangu Gate – Moshi: 20km / 12.5mi | 6-7 hrs | Rainforest

Elevation: 3721m/12,208ft to 1905m/6250ft
Altitude Lost: 1816m

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent, 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!!
Overnight at The Maridadi Hotel B&B before being transferred to your journey home, safari, or a relaxing trip to Zanzibar.