The Marangu route is the most popular Kilimanjaro climb and is nicknamed the Coca-cola route. It is followed by ninety percent of all climbers. The path is well defined and climber-friendly to make your adventure a little easier.
This popular Kilimanjaro climb offers accommodation at Mandara, Horombo, and Kibo en route and accommodation on this route consists of built mountain huts providing adequate shelter, bottled water, beer and soft drinks. This route can be extended with an extra acclimatisation day at Horombo.
The "gentle" Marangu Route
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From £2,050 pp
Arrival Day
Pick up at Kilimanjaro Airport or at any arrival destination and transfer to the hotel in Arusha to be arranged on request by agent or client.
Day 1 - Marangu Gate (1980m) - Mandara hut (2700m)
Marangu Gate (1980m) – Mandara hut (2700m)
Hiking time: 5 hours
Distance: About 12 km’s
Habitat: Montane forest Moorland
On arrival allow 1-2 hours at the Park Headquarters at Marangu Gate for registration and payment of fees. It is recommended that you start this route in the morning, because this allows a leisurely walk to Mandara, avoiding the rain showers that sometimes fall in the afternoon. From the gate, you ascend a cleared ridge trail, formerly a vehicle track to Mandara Hut. The cleared trail is the fastest way to Mandara, but opportunities to see wildlife or enjoy the forest are limited due to the heavy foot traffic. An alternative is to ascend along the parallel forest trail and descend on the main trail. The forest trail branches off to the left, a few minutes after the gate, and follows the edge of a stream through the undergrowth. About halfway (1 1/2 hrs from the gate) you can choose to cross the stream and rejoin the main trail, or continue on the forest trail. Both trails continue on opposite sides of the stream, merging about one hour before Mandara Hut. (B,L,D)
Day 2 - Mandara hut (2700m) - Horombo hut (3720m)
Mandara hut (2700m) – Horombo hut (3720m)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: About 15 km’s
Habitat: Moorland
From Mandara Hut the trail passes through a short stretch of forest and skirts the base of Maundi Crater, crosses a meadow and a wooded stream, then emerges into grassland. It is well worth the short detour to scramble up to the rim of Maundi Crater for a superb view of the mountain and its surroundings. The trail crosses numerous moorland ravines before ending at Horombo Hut, which is set in a rocky valley with a fine stand of giant senecios or groundsels. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Kilimanjaro Climb – Aclimatisation - Horombo Hut
Kilimanjaro Climb – Aclimatization – Horombo Hut.
Acclimatization day beyond 12,000ft and return to the hut. Dinner and an overnight stay at Horombo hut (BLD)
Day 4 - Horombo hut (3720m) - Kibo hut (4700m)
Horombo hut (3720m) – Kibo hut (4700m)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: About 15 km’s
Habitat: Alpine desert
From Horombo Hut there are two trails to the Saddle. The right fork is very stony and eroded but is the most direct route to the Saddle and Mawenzi. From the Saddle (about 2 hrs from Horombo), there are trails to Mawenzi Hut (1/2hr) or Mawenzi Tarn Hut (2 1/2 hrs) and across the length of the Saddle to Kibo Hut (3 hrs). The left fork from Horombo Hut is an easier trail and emerges on the Saddle much closer to Kibo and about one kilometre from Kibo Hut. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - SUMMIT ATTEMPT!! Kibo hut (4700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Horombo hut (3720m)
Kibo hut (4700m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Horombo hut (3720m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to Uhuru
6 hours to descend to Horombo Distance:
6 kms ascent – 21 kms descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
The trail to the summit lies directly behind Kibo Hut, to the west. It is normal to start this day’s climb at 2 am or earlier. (You can see the sun rise over Mawenzi from the top of Kibo, the loose stone scree is frozen —making it easier to climb – and you can get back in good time). The first part is an uneven trail which leads to the Hans Meyer Cave, a good rest point. After that, the trail makes more regular switchbacks most of the way to the top, with a last scramble over rocks to Johannes Notch and Gillman’s Point. From there, the trail continues along the rim past Stella Point to Uhuru Peak . As you descend the scree from the rim back to Kibo Hut, it is tempting to run fast, but this can result in clouds of irritating dust and even unpleasant falls. The return to Horombo Hut will seem surprisingly fast compared to the ascent. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Horombo hut (3720m) - Marangu Gate (1980m)
Horombo hut (3720m) – Marangu Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: About 27 kms
Descend from Horombo Hut. You can easily make Mandara Hut by lunchtime, and continue to the Park gate and Marangu in the afternoon. (B,L,). Note: Accommodation after climb to be arranged on request.
Mount Kilimanjaro
Includes:
- transport: two ways transfers from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi to Machame gate on the starting day up and from Mweka gate on the last day coming down back to Arusha.
- accommodation: 5nights staying in huts while on Mountain i.e. 1night at Mandara hut, 3nights Horombo hut, 1night Kibo hut.
- meals will be as per itinerary above breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- professional english speaking mountain guides/driver guide (number of guides depends on number of clients as for two clients will need 1chief guide and assistance guide and 4 clients will need 1chief guides and two assistant guide).
- 2clients to be saved with a minimum number of 6crews; 1guide and 5porters (2porters to carry clients’ stuffs and 3 to carry food and cooking equipments for clients), but number of porters might increase according to the weight of clients luggage, camping equipments and food that will need more porter to carry. Note that each porter is required to carry not more than 20Kgs including his stuffs.
- all clients and crew park entry fees, Hut fees, and rescue fees.
- guide and porters allowances (except for extra porter that will exceed the given number if clients will have extra stuffs they have to arrange for themselves).
- treated/boiled water on the trek (but client are requested to bring water tablets to treat or use boiled water).
Excludes:
- tips, laundry, sleeping bags, drinks and climbing gears
- international flights and taxes
- visas
- items of a personal nature and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary.
- clients to bring their own Oxygen: 100Ltr oxygen bottle, regulator & masks
- client also has to bring Hyperbaric Chamber
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