The 5-Day Marangu Route is the most popular and cheapest route for climbing Kilimanjaro; however, it can be crowded at times, particularly between July and September and December and March. The 6-day option is highly recommended because it gives better acclimatization compared to the 5-day climbing of Kilimanjaro on the Marangu Route.
The 5-day climbing Marangu Route, also known as the “Coca-Cola” route, is the most popular of the available routes on Kilimanjaro today. This makes it ideal for hiking during the rainy season, as it is the only route where overnight stays are in huts. For more information on Kilimanjaro, visit Wikipedia’s Kilimanjaro page. The route is an overused path that traverses all the climate zones, ranging from tropical rainforest to the eternal ice. Along the way, hikers can experience stunning African landscapes, which are also featured in various YouTube videos.
5-day climbing Marangu Route programs are available, so you can choose depending on the amount of time at your disposal. Longer programs are always recommended over the shorter ones for better acclimatization. Arrive in Tanzania Meal: Breakfast and dinner included upon arrival, transfer to your hotel from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Afterwards, our well-trained guide will brief you on your trek and will conduct equipment checks to ensure that you have all the necessary mountain gear. Spend the night in your hotel.
After having breakfast, be picked up for the hotel around 8:00 am and then drive to Marangu Gate. After all registration formalities, this is the point where for 5 hours you will hike to Mandara Hut and cover 9 km. As you head to Mandara Hut, the dense rainforest will offer you some beautiful glimpses of primates such as blue monkeys and Colobus monkeys.
Once we are finished with breakfast, we will head out on our hike, which will take us toward Horombo Hut. Approximately 4 to 6 hours later, we will see the Horombo Hut, which is at an altitude of around 3,700 m. From the Hut, you can enjoy fantastic views of Kibo and Mawenzi.
After breakfast, we are going to start another pretty day, just like usual. For most of the first part of the day, you will hike through what is left of the healthy land, which soon transforms into almost a moonscape as you enter the sweeping saddle connecting Mawenzi and Kibo. After lunch, make a crossing of this surprisingly vast saddle where you can shoot a glimpse of the summit trail leading up Kibo that you will climb in just a few hours. So, an early dinner is on the cards and a long rest before heading to the summit.
Well, it’s pretty much the day you have been anticipating, and there is a certain amount of nervous excitement. There is wake up at 1:00 am to get out to the summit; and it would take you around 4-5 hours to pull through to the Gilmans Point at 5681 m above sea level, the crater rim of Kilimanjaro, where the sun would somewhat slowly start warming up the land. Then, after hiking for another 1hr 30 minutes, reaching Uhuru Peak at 5895 m, spend some time taking pictures and appreciating the African sunrises forming the horizon; afterward, descend to Kibo Hut, having a warm lunch and a short rest for 1-2 hours. Afterwards, you leave to go to Horombo Hut once again to pass your last night on Kilimanjaro.
Rouse yourself early as ever and descend the moorlands to Mandara Huts. There, you will have a hot lunch before continuing your descent through the tropical rainforest to the park gate. A vehicle will transfer you to the hotel, where it will be high time to celebrate.