MARANGU ROUTE CLIMBING KILIMANJARO

Mount Kilimanjaro stands on the East African plateau, on the Tanzanian side of the Kenya border, overshadowing its smaller sister volcano, Mount Meru. Mount Kilimanjaro is deemed to be a dormant volcano, created during the formation of the Great Rift Valley in the Pleistocene era.

Kilimanjaro National Park comprises all of the mountain above the tree line. The name 'Kilimanjaro' has varying interpretations, from "Mountain of Greatness", Mountain of Whiteness", "Mountain of Caravans", and "Small Mountain of Caravans" which are all names derived from the Swahili, or Chagga dialects. In addition, there is a word in Swahili, “kilima” which means top of the hill. An additional claim is that it comes from the word "kilemakyaro" in the Chagga language, meaning "impossible journey".

Kilimanjaro Marangu route is the most often used trail on the mountain. Acommodation is in huts and thus more affordable. It is a busier route and if you are traveling alone you can easily join in with another group for company. It is also a more moderate ascent making it less difficult to climb than the others. Like with all other routes, porters carry all of your equipment and supplies, and a cook prepares all your meals. The Marangu route is also referred to as the "Coca Cola route.

The Marangu route is completed in a minimum of 5 days of trekking

Marangu Route itinerary

Day 1: Arrive

Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight hotel.

DAY 2: Marangu Gate (1850m/6000 ft) - Mandara Hut (2700m/9,000 ft)

We leave Moshi for Marangu Gate and start hiking between about 10h30 and 12h00.

The route takes one through a thick rainforest from the park gate (6000 ft) to Mandara Hut (9000 ft), which is reached around 14h00 to 16h00. Dinner is served during the early evening, at about 19h00 in the communal dinning areas.

DAY 3: Mandara Hut (2700m/9,000 ft) - Horombo Huts (3700m/12,000 ft)

After breakfast we head out on our next days trek towards Horombo Huts at 12000ft on a route that will take about 5-6 hours. The climb will take us through the lower heathland with small shrubs being the main vegetation. At our lunch stop about half way up, we will get stunning view across to Mawenzi. We will arrive at Horombo Hut around 15h00 with Kibo summit already in view.

DAY 4: Horombo Huts (3700m/12,000 ft) - Kibo Huts (4700m/15,500 ft)

Wake to breakfast as usual. Pack and begin the hike to Kibo Huts (15,500 ft). The first half of the day-'s hike traverses the upper heathland while the second half crosses the vast saddle that connects Mawenzi and Kibo. The saddle is an alpine desert that resembles a lunar landscape. It is here that you may begin to feel the first effects of altitude with shortness of breath and irritability, assuming it had not taken effect earlier on the climb.

Walking slowly and maintaining a good rhythm is essential. The day-'s hike should take 6 to 7 hours, stopping half way for lunch. There is no running water at Kibo Huts.

DAY 5: SUMMIT DAY (5895m/19,340 ft)

Wake at around midnight to a light breakfast, and then prepare for the summit ascent. This part of the hike is carried out during the early morning before dawn so that the climbers reach Uhuru Peak at around sunrise. Leave at about 1:00am and reach Gilman-'s Point at about 7:00am. The climbers are met with views of the crater from Gilman-'s Point. Another 2 hours of hiking will bring you to the long awaited summit, Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft) at about 8:30 am. From there you will descend back to Kibo Huts, collect your things and cross the saddle again at Horombo Huts where you will spend the night. After eating dinner, you will get some well-deserved sleep.

DAY 6: You will wake as usual, pack and then descend along the same route to Mandara Huts, where you will have lunch, before heading down to the park gate where you will be met by your transport back to Moshi. You should reach the park gate around 14h00 or 15h00.

Day 7: Depart

After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight home.

End of services

FOR A MAP OF THE DIFFERENT ROUTES GO HERE: KILIMANJARO ROUTE MAP