6 days Marangu Route hike
The Marangu route, also known as the ‘Coca-Cola’ route is the most popular and believed to be one of the easiest routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. The 6-day hike offers one of the highest success rates to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa at an altitude of 5895 meters in northern Tanzania.
Marangu is the only route on Mount Kilimanjaro that offers hut accommodation in dormitory style unlike other routes where accommodation is in tents at designated campsites.
The huts on the Marangu route include Mandara hut, Horombo hut and Kibo hut. The distance covered during the hike on the Marangu route is about 82 kilometers through a gradual elevation with the ascent and descent along the same path.
The starting point for this hike is the Marangu gate and the nearest town to stay before or after the hike on Mount Kilimanjaro is Moshi, located at the mountain’s foothills.
Highlights
Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut
Day 2: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
Day 3: Horombo Hut to Mawenzi ridge to Horombo Hut
Day 4: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
Day 5: Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut
Day 6: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
NOTE:
We can also organize for you a short safari around the northern Tanzania safari circuit which includes destinations such as Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ngorongoro Crater or you can add a short beach holiday in Zanzibar after completing your hike along the Marangu route.
In case you are interested in this trip, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@wildlife-encounters.com for more information.
Elevation: 1843 m to 2700 m
Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: 8km
Habitat: Rainforest
Your first day of the hike will start from Marangu Gate where you will proceed to register for the hike with your guides and the rest of the crew; you will start the hike from Marangu gate to Mandara hut for about 4 to 5 hours hiking through the rainforest. You will encounter wildlife species such as blue monkeys and enjoy views of the hillside as you hike to Mandara hut where you will spend the first night.
Elevation: 2700 m to 3720 m
Hiking time: 6 to 8 hours
Distance: 12 km
Habitat: Heath
After an early breakfast, you will start the hike from Mandara hut to Horombo hut through the heath vegetation cover for about 6 to 8 hours. You will also enjoy views of Kibo Peak and Mawenzi Peak during your hike.
You will have your dinner and spend the night at Horombo hut.
Elevation: 3720 m to 4315 m
Hiking time: 2 to 3 hours (Horombo hut to Mawenzi), 1 to 2 hours (Mawenzi to Horombo)
Distance: 5 km
Habitat: Heath
You will spend this day acclimatizing after having breakfast at the Horombo hut and hike to Mawenzi ridge for about 2 to 3 hours and enjoying views of the surrounding peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro.
After spending time at the Mawenzi ridge, you will hike for about 1 to 2 hours back to Horombo hut for another night.
Elevation: 3720 m to 4703 m
Hiking time: 6 to 8 hours
Distance: 10 km
Habitat: Alpine desert
You will set out for a 6 to 8-hour hike from Horombo hut to Kibo hut and proceed to the Alpine desert zone. During the hike, you will cross the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi and proceed to Kibo hut which is located on the Kibo crater wall, and you will spend the night there.
Elevation: 4703 m to 5895 m
Hiking time: 6 to 8 hours (Kibo to Uhuru peak), 4 to 5 hours (Uhuru Peak to Horombo hut)
Distance: 6 km (Kibo hut to Uhuru peak), 16 km (Uhuru to Horombo hut)
Habitat: Arctic and Heath
You will wake up as early as before midnight for the hike from Kibo hut to Uhuru Peak which is the summit hike that will take about 6 to 8 hours. You will reach the summit by sunrise and enjoy views of the sunrise at Gilman’s Point. At Uhuru peak, you will enjoy the views from the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro, take photos, and marvel at the beauty of the highest free-standing mountain in Africa.
After spending time at the Uhuru peak, you will start to descend to Horombo hut which will take about 4 to 5 hours. You will spend the evening relaxing at the Horombo hut where you will have your dinner and spend the night.
Elevation: 3720 m to 1843 m
Hiking time: 5 to 7 hours
Distance: 20 km
Habitat: Rainforest
After your successful hike to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, you will start the day with breakfast at Horombo hut and hike to Marangu gate for about 5 to 7 hours. You will receive your certificates and proceed to Moshi or your preferred drop-off location.