Marangu Route has been referred to as the 'Coca Cola' route and this has led potential climbers to think that it is an easy route to the summit. This is far from the truth, to be honest! The fact that it requires a minimum of 5 days to complete does not mean it is easier than any other route. But with African Trek & Travel you will get to reach the summit well. The trail goes through lush rainforest, heath, and moorland to alpine desert and ultimately the arctic zone at the peak and same route down. This safari is a great chance for you who are up for a Kilimanjaro adventure!
The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the southeast. Marangu is, unfortunately, less scenic than the other routes because the ascent and descent are along the same path. It is also the most crowded route for that reason. African Trek & Travel offers Marangu Route climbing for five days and six days climb. The difference being five days climb does not have an acclimatization day on day three at Horombo Hut
DAY ONE: MARANGU GATE- MANDARA HUT
You will be picked up from the hotel and a drive to Marangu gate follow as you drive towards the gate you will be enjoying excellent views of the mountain, you will meet your team of guides and porters at the gate. Whilst in the forest you could see bright-colored birds, colobus monkeys, and other species of monkey as well as mosses, lichens and flowers, and delicate orchids. If the skies are clear you can see the town of Moshi lying at the edge of the plain further down. Once registrations are finished you will start ascending leave the park buildings the walk is 4-5 hours through areas of coffee plantation and thick rainforest to Mandara Hut for Dinner and overnight.
DAY TWO: MANDARA HUT- HOROMBO HUT
The second day on the mountain starts just after breakfast with a steep climb through the last swathe of rainforest, though this soon gives way to a rolling alpine meadow dotted with giant heather. Once you leave the forest sunshade, Kilimanjaro's two peaks snow covered Kibo and rocky Mawenzi – lie straight ahead overlooking the skyline. Further on you cross a zone of open moorland with diminutive vegetation, today you gain roughly 1,000m altitudes; the walk can take five to seven hours depending on your pace but always POLEPOLE. Tonight for Dinner and overstay at Horombo Huts.
DAY THREE: HOROMBO HUT - KIBO HUT
We climb very gradually towards the lunar desert of the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. The terrain changes to screed and there is a palpable sense of high altitude wilderness. We usually reach Kibo Hut (4,700 m.) at the bottom of the crater wall by midday and the afternoon is free (to contemplate the summit ascent!!). The remainder of the day is spent resting and eating in preparation for the final climb before a very early night! [4-5 hours walking from Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut]
DAY FOUR:KIBO HUT- UHURU PEAK- HOROMBO HUT
The scenery turns out to be more rocky and rough as you leave behind Kibo, everlasting flower, and other bizarre alpine plants Massive groundsels and lobelias appear in the sparse moorland. The trail up to Kibo will take between five and seven hours. Skirting Mawenzi Peak ass you pass the Last Water point then you cross a stark, almost lunar landscape to the Saddle which is a wide tundra desert between the two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Here you will start getting fantastic views of the upper ranges of the mountain before arriving at Kibo Hut (4,705m), a dry-stone-walled hut with dorms and limited facilities. Tonight you prepare for tomorrow’s final assault – THE SUMMIT – re-packing to leave any non-essential items with the porters; you need to summon all your energy to get to the summit so there’s absolutely no point in carrying anything you don’t need! An early night is imperative as you must make a midnight start in order to reach the summit in the morning before the cloud cover settles, and then have time to get back down to the hut. Overnight stay at Kibo Hut for 1 night (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
DAY FIVE: HOROMO HUT – MOSHI
This is a long and demanding day! The guides wake you soon after midnight and you start out in the darkness, zigzagging up a long scree slope by the light of your torch in the extreme cold. At this time of day, the screen is still frozen – which makes it easier to walk on! After roughly two hours you should reach Hans Meyer’s Cave – named after the German geologist who made the first successful ascent in 1889 – where he found the remains of a frozen leopard. The gradient gets steeper and three hours on (this is the hardest stretch of the climb! you should reach the crater rim at Johanna’s Notch. From here it’s a short scramble to Gillman’s Point (5,685m) in time for dawn. Your reward is the dramatic spectacle of the sun rising over the ice fields and craggy peaks of Mawenzi – the profusion of colors and shapes makes all the suffering seem worthwhile! For those who still have the energy and drive, it takes another couple of hours along the crater rim to reach Uhuru (Freedom) Peak (5,896m). Your descent (approx. 3 hours) retraces the route back down past Kibo Hut to Horombo Hut for a well-deserved rest. Overnight stay at Horombo Hut for 1 night (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
