OUR TREKKING TOURS:
The Chagga people, who have lived on Kilimanjaro’s slopes for centuries, call it Kilemakyaro. It is the highest freestanding mountain in the world, rising almost perfectly from the surrounding plains to 5,895 metres (19,340 feet), and it sits just three degrees south of the equator, close enough that its snow-capped summit remains one of the more quietly astonishing sights in the natural world.
The Marangu Route, variously known as the Tourist Route or the Coca Cola Route, has earned a reputation as the most straightforward path to Uhuru Peak, and in terms of technical difficulty that is accurate. The tracks are well maintained, the gradients more forgiving than other routes, and it is the only route on the mountain where accommodation is in huts rather than tents. For travellers who prefer a roof and a bed after a long day at altitude, Marangu is the answer.
What it trades for that comfort is scenery. Unlike the Machame Route, ascent and descent follow the same trail, which means you see less of the mountain’s remarkable range of landscapes. What it does offer, particularly across the Saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi, is a lunar stillness that is entirely its own.
The route is offered over five days or six. This is worth thinking about carefully: the majority of five-day attempts do not reach Uhuru Peak, and altitude is the reason. An extra acclimatisation day at Horombo Hut significantly improves summit success rates, and we recommend it without reservation. Hut capacity is limited to 60 climbers per day, so advance booking is essential.
Our Trekking Tips, Trekking FAQ and Equipment and Preparation pages cover everything you need to prepare properly for the climb. For questions or a quick price quotation, please get in touch.
ITINERARY:
DAY 1: Arusha – Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut (7km, 3-5 hour walk, 720m/2362ft ascent)
An early departure from Arusha to the Marangu Gate, where the climb officially begins. The trail moves through dense rainforest, alive with birdsong and filtered light, climbing steadily to Mandara Hut near the rim of the Maundi Crater. Picnic lunch on the trail, dinner and overnight in the hut. Overnight: Mandara Hut
DAY 2: Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut (11km, 5-7 hour walk, 1000m/3281ft ascent)
The forest thins and falls away behind you as the trail passes the Maundi Crater and opens into alpine moorland. The landscape shifts dramatically here, the vegetation becoming sparse and the sky larger, and Horombo Hut appears eventually across the open ground ahead. Picnic lunch on the trail. Overnight: Horombo Hut
DAY 3: Horombo Hut – acclimatisation day
This is the day we strongly recommend adding. Spending an extra night at Horombo gives your body the time it needs to adjust to the altitude before the final push, and the statistics on summit success rates reflect that clearly. Side trips are available for those who want to keep moving, or the day can simply be spent resting and eating well. All meals are in the hut. Overnight: Horombo Hut
DAY 3/4: Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut (10km, 5-7 hour walk, 1000m/3281ft ascent)
The trail climbs out of the moorland zone and into the high alpine desert, passing the last reliable water point before reaching the Kibo Saddle. The Saddle is a broad, otherworldly plateau stretching between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi, barren and wind-scoured, with a quality that is genuinely difficult to describe to someone who has not stood in it. Kibo Hut sits at its far edge. Eat well, rest, and sleep as much as you can. The alarm comes early. Overnight: Kibo Hut
DAY 4/5: Kibo Hut – Uhuru Peak – Horombo Hut (18km, 11-16 hour walk, 1200m/3937ft ascent, 2200m/7218ft descent)
Shortly after midnight the climb to Uhuru Peak begins. The steepest section leads to Gillman’s Point on the crater rim (5,680m / 18,635ft), from where another ninety minutes of steady progress through snow and thin air brings you to the highest point in Africa (5,895m / 19,340ft). Stand there. Take it in. Then the long descent begins, all the way back down to Horombo Hut for a well-earned overnight. Overnight: Horombo Hut
DAY 5/6: Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate – Arusha (18km, 5-7 hour walk, 1720m/5643ft descent)
The final descent back through moorland and forest to the Marangu Gate, where the vehicle is waiting. Collect your summit certificate before you leave. After what you have just done, it belongs on a wall.
End of tour!
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