Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the oldest, most well established route. Many favor the Marangu route because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, given its gradual slope. It is also the only route which offers sleeping huts in dormitory style accommodations. The minimum days required for this route is five, although the probability of successfully reaching the top in that time period is quite low. Spending an extra acclimatization day on the mountain is highly recommended when climbing Klimanjaro using the Marangu route.
Drive from your Hotel in Arusha town at 8:00am, drive to Marangu gate and spend around two hours for registration, payments of fees and final parking. Start climbing through dense semi-tropical to the first hut- Mandara hut (9,000ft). Dinner and an overnight at Mandara hut.
Early morning breakfast and later ascend through the alpine meadow and grassland and moorland to Horombo hut (12,000ft). Both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks can be viewed easily on the way. Dinner and an overnight at Horombo Hut.
Have breakfast and further ascend to Kibo hut (15,000ft). The landscape becomes very stony and eroded. Spectacular mountain vegetation like giant cactus, groundswell, and lobelia appear on the way. Dinner and an overnight at Kibo hut.
Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut
Wake up at midnight, and after a snack, proceed to the summit through Gilman’s point (18,640ft). It is about 5-6 hours and 1-2 hours from Kibo hut to Gilman’s point and from Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak (19,340ft) respectively. You will reach the Mountain peak on the morning of the 5th day and start descending after picture taking on the top to Horombo hut for dinner and an overnight after a short break at Kibo hut.
After breakfast, descend from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate. The waiting car will take you to Arusha.
