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
Itinerary
for the Marangu route
DAY
1
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
2:
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
3:
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
4:
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
5:
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.
