5 Days Kilimanjaro Marangu Route
per person
Marangu Route, commonly known as the Coca Cola route is more popular because it can be done in fewer days and has permanent sleep huts at the campsites.
Tour Overview
Marangu Route, commonly known as the Coca Cola route is more popular because it can be done in fewer days and has permanent sleep huts at the campsites.
Summit night from Kibo Hut is steep and passes Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak. It is a shorter route with a steeper incline and less time for acclimatization it tends to have a lower summit success rate. This is the only route where the ascent and descent route is shared, thus creating more traffic.
- Duration: 5 or 6 days
- Difficulty: Medium
- Scenery: Good
- Traffic: High
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred for overnight accommodation at Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel 4 stars B&B. Your head guide will meet you for your briefing, gear check and arrange for you to hire any equipment you may need.
Tour Includes:
- Park fees, camping fees, Hut fees & rescue fees
- Twice a day medical health checkup, monitoring with pulse-oximeter and stethoscope with basic first kit
- Oxygen Cylinder
- Orientation meeting in Moshi and gear check as well.
- 18% Value Added Tax on tour fees & services
- Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mat, camp chairs, camp tables, mess tent & cutlery for meals) and 3 Season mountain tents
- Airport pick up and drop off
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Medically qualified mountain guides, cooks and porters
- 3 Meals while on the mountain + evening tea with popcorn or peanuts.
- Hot water for washing up daily and treated water for drink while climbing.
- Pre & Post Trek accommodation in Moshi. Bed & Breakfast Basis with storage facilities for excess luggage during hikes.
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- 3-4 porters per climber, which includes porters to carry up to 30 lbs of your personal gear.
- Kilimanjaro certificate for your successful summit attempt.
Tour Exclude:
- Flights ( International)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Tips for safari guide
- Personal expenses in nature such as money for souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees etc.
- Visa fees ( 100 USD for American and 50 USD for non-American)
- Immunization documents ( yellow fever recommended for visa processing on arrivals)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and /or park fees
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DepartureMoshi, Kilimanjaro - Airport (Kilimanjaro International Airport)
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Departure TimeAfter Breakfasst at 08:00 AM for a prompt departure at 09:00 AM.
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IncludeGate TransfersComplimentary Oxygen CylinderFair and Sustainable Salary Crew WagesAll National Park & Hut Fees, Crew Permits and VATPre and Post accommodations (2 nights Bed and Breakfast)Proper Ration of Mountain crew (Cook & Porters)Professional, English-speaking Wilderness First Responder & CPR certified GuideKilimanjaro trekking according to the itineraryGovernment TaxesMeals as per itineraryPickup from airport or hotel in Arusha / Moshi
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Not IncludedPersonal hire gear such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, etc.Tips for porters and mountain crewTravel or Medical Insurance is required and you should ask for RecommendationDomestic & Shared Charter FlightsTransportation in a 4×4 safari vehicleExtra activitiesSoda and Alcoholic beveragesExtra Personal itemsTravel insuranceFlights costs/faresTip for the guide1.5 liter Drinking mineral water per person per dayPark entrance feesGround Safari Vehicle and feesProfessional Cook, if CampingProfessional Guide/sAll accommodations as per itinerary
DAY 1: MARANGU GATE – MANDARA HUTS: 7K /MI | 4-5 HRS | RAINFOREST
Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2740m/9000ft
Departing from Moshi a 45-minute drive will take you through the Village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.
DAY 2: MANDARA HUTS – HOROMBO HUTS: 11KM/3MI | 6-8HRS | MOORELAND
Elevation: 2740m/9000ft to 3690m/12,100ft
After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, through heathland, looking for giant lobelias and groundsels. Continue up into open moorlands where small shrubs are the main vegetation. Stop halfway for lunch, to enjoy amazing views of Mawenzi. Arrive at the Horombo Huts late afternoon beneath the spectacular Kibo Summit viewpoint. Temperatures begin to drop.
DAY 3: HOROMBO HUTS- KIBO HUTS: 10KM/6MI | 6-8HRS | SEMI-DESERT
Elevation: 3690m/12,100ft to 4695m/15,400ft
After breakfast, we continue on through the dwindling heathland that blends into a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. Here while we stop for lunch, and later when you cross this surprisingly large saddle, you can examine the summit climb up Kibo that you will be starting in just a few hours.
DAY 4: KIBO HUTS – SUMMIT: 4KM /2.5 MI UP | 5-7HRS | – HOROMBO HUTS: 14KM /9MI DOWN | 5-6HRS | GLACIERS, SNOW CAPPED SUMMIT
Elevation: 4695m/15,400ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Descent to 3690m/12,100ft
Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
We continue our way to the summit in a switchback formation through trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion, we ascend through heavy scree and possibly snow towards Gillman’s Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here on your remaining 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way.
Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!
After photos, celebrations and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight Mweka Camp.
DAY 5: HOROMBO HUTS – MARANGU GATE – MOSHI: 18KM/11MI |6-7HRS | RAINFOREST
Elevation: 3690m/12,100 to 1830m/6000ft
After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down stopping at the Mandara Huts for lunch. Remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. You return back to the Marangu Park Gate and receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles. From the gate, a vehicle will meet you to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 45 minutes). Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations!!
Overnight Bristol Cottages B&B. before being transferred to your journey home, safari or a relaxing trip to Zanzibar.
CERTIFIED ETHICAL CLIMBING:
We believe the tourism industry has an obligation and a great opportunity to protect the world’s natural habitats, cultural heritage sites, and communities. We actively promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility.