Trip Overview
Marangu Route is often called the Tourist Route or the Coca Cola Route, and is both the least difficult and the shortest way to reach Uhuru Peak. It is also the oldest of the routes. 70% of all climbers choose to take this route, as it mostly consists of easy hiking.
While this is the ‘easiest’ route, it also has a high failure rate due to poor preparation. If you take the route seriously and prepare adequately, you’ll be fine.
Marangu is not considered as scenic as other routes, but it has the benefit of boasting hut accommodation along the route – which makes it a good choice in the rainy season.
You can choose to complete this route in either five days or six days.
Trip Highlights
- Day 1: Arrive in Tanzania
- Day 2: Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut (8,875 ft)
- Day 3: Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut (12,201 ft)
- Day 4: Acclimization at Horombo
- Day 5: Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut (15,463 ft)
- Day 6: Kibo Hut – Summit (19,340 ft) – Horombo Hut (12,201 ft)
- Day 7: Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate
- Day 8: Depart Tanzania(Breakfast)
On your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport a member of our staff will be at holding a Jaribu Africa Adventures placard. You will then be transferred to your Hotel in Arusha.
Today’s Stats Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Total Distance: 7 km
Starting Altitude: 1830m (6,000ft)
Final Altitude: 2740m (9,000ft)
Environment: Montane (rain) Forest
This morning we drive through Kilimanjaro’s semi-tropical foothills to Marangu Gate, where you enter Kilimanjaro National Park and start your climb. Today’s trek takes 4-5 hours through tropical rainforest to reach Mandara Hut.
Sleeping in a Mountain Hut at Mandara Huts
Today’s Stats
Hiking Time:5-6 hours
Total Distance:11 km
Starting Altitude: 2700m (9,000ft)
Final Altitude:3700m (12,141ft)
Environment:Mooreland
Your second day on the mountain starts with a fairly steep climb through the last of the rain-forest up to alpine meadows dotted with giant heather.
Further on, the environment changes to open heath with stunted vegetation before opening out to bleak moorland.
Today you will gain approximately 1,000m in altitude, so walk slowly in order to acclimatize properly. It is normally a 6-7 hour hike to reach Horombo Hut.
Sleeping in a Mountain Hut at Horombo Huts
Today you will take a short walk up to Mawenzi base camp and come back to Horombo. This will be an opportunity to acclimatize and understanding the Mountain weather and altitude.
Sleeping in a Mountain Hut at Horombo Huts
Today’s Stats
Hiking Time:6-7 hours
Total Distance:10 km
Starting Altitude: 3700m (12,141ft)
Final Altitude: 4695m (15,400ft)
Environment:Semi Desert
The terrain now becomes progressively more rocky and rugged and giant groundsels and lobelias make their appearance. The trail skirts Mawenzi Peak, before crossing a stark, almost lunar landscape and the tundra desert of ‘the saddle”.
The hike to Kibo Hut takes anything from 5 to 7 hours and the views from the saddle is breathtaking. Make this an early night – your attempt on Uhuru Peak starts at midnight.
Sleeping in a Mountain Hut at Kibo Huts
Today’s Status
Hiking Time:11-15 hours
Total Distance:18.5 km
Starting Altitude:4695m (15,000ft) – Uhuru Peak 5895m(19,340ft)
Descend Final Altitude:3700m (12140ft)
Environment:Alpine Desert
Soon after midnight, you will be awakened by your guides to start the zigzag trek up a long scree slope. After roughly two hours you should reach Hans Meyer’s Cave and from here the gradient gets steeper. Continue your climb for approximately another 3 hours to Gilman’s Point and you will be rewarded by the dramatic sight of the rising sun reflecting off the ice fields and craggy peaks of Mawenzi.
Walk along the crater rim for another couple of hours to reach your goal – Uhuru Peak, towering at 19,340 ft. After congratulating yourself and your companions on this great achievement, descend to Kibo Hut for rest and refreshment before continuing to Horombo Hut for your last night on the mountain.
Sleeping in a Mountain Hut at Horombo Huts
Today’s Status
Hiking Time:6-7 hours
Total Distance:18 km
Starting Altitude:3700m (12,140ft)
Final Altitude:1830 (6000ft)
Environment:Rain Forest
After a leisurely breakfast, make your final descent across the alpine meadow, past Mandara Hut and on down through the rainforest to Marangu Gate, where your driver and vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to your Hotel
| VIP Accommodation | Mid-Range Accommodation |
|---|---|
|
One night Accommodation at River trees country Inn on FB or at Arumeru river Lodge |
One night Accommodation on BB at either of the following Ameg Lodge or Salinero Hotels |
Depart Tanzania or continue your dream with amazing safari extensions
For trekkers not continuing with a safari we provide transfers to Kilimanjaro International Airport or bus station for your onward journey.
The Trip Cost Includes
- Airport transfers
- Kilimanjaro National Park entrance, camping/hut and rescue fees
- Two nights accommodations based on Bed and Breakfast
- Professional Up to date wilderness first responder trained guide or equivalent Assistance Guide
- Gamow bag (portable hyperbaric chamber)
- Emergency oxygen
- Expedition medical kit
- Pulse oximeter
- Comprehensive vital sign monitoring
- Two way Radio
- Mobile phone
- Three person expedition tents (2 clients/tent)
- Mountaineering mattress
- Light weight mess tent
- Expeditions walk in mess tent
- Light weight aluminum table
- Luxury chair with back rest
- Portable tented private flush toilet
- Medical evacuations with AMREF Flying doctors
- Purified water while on the mountain
- Return transfer Arusha/Arusha hotel to Park Gate
- Wine and Champagne the summit
- Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
- Fair and ethical treatment of porters
- Salary for the porters
- Salary for the Guides
- Salary for the Cooks
- Government taxes
- VAT 18% on park entrance fees
- Hot steamy towel on the camp
- Bowl of hot washing water in the morning and evening
- Shower/wash tent
The Trip Cost Excludes
- International airfare
- Excess baggage charges
- Costs of visas
- Immunizations
- Personal expenses such as beverages (other than those included with meals, as listed in each itinerary)
- Room service
- Souvenirs
- Laundry
- Communication charges
- Medical or extra evacuation fees
- Staff gratuities
- Personal trekking equipment
- Additional transportation
- Meals incurred by a client unable to continue a planned itinerary due to illness
- Medical conditions or due to airline schedule changes
Pricing
| Number of Travelers in Group Discount | Cost Per Traveler in US($) |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | 3,500 |
| 2 People | 2,400 |
| 3 People | 2,350 |
| 4 People | 2,300 |
| 5 People | 2,250 |
| 6 People | 2,200 |
| 7 People | 2,150 |
| 8 People | 2,100 |
| 9 People | 2,050 |
| 10 People and above | 2,000 |
| VIP Accommodation | Mid-Range Accommodation |
|---|---|
|
2-night Accommodations at River trees country Inn on FB or at Arumeru river Lodge |
2 – nights Accommodations on BB at either of the following Ameg Lodge or Salinero Hotels |






















