6 Day Climbing Marangu Route

Trip Overview ~ 6 Day Climbing Marangu Route

6 Day Climbing Marangu Route or “Coca-Cola” route is the most thronged of the available routes on Kilimanjaro today. This makes it ideal for hiking in the rainy season because it is the only route where overnight stays are in huts. An overused path through all the climate zones, it goes from tropical rainforest to eternal ice. Then, of course, it will present you with beautiful African sceneries.

This is the most popular and cheapest route in Climbing Kilimanjaro, hence it can be crowded at times between July-September and December and March. The 6-day option is highly recommended because it gives better acclimatization compared to the 6-day climbing Marangu Route.

6-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.

Full Detailed Itinerary for 6 Day Climbing Marangu Route

Day 1: Marangu Gate (1860m) to Mandara Hut (2700m)

Distance covered: 8 km

Approximate time taken: 5 hours

Habitat: Rainforest

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Accommodation: Hut

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.

Day 2 -Mandara Hut (2700m) to Horombo Hut (3720m)

Distance covered: 12 km

Approximate time taken: 8 hours

Habitat: Moorland

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Accommodation: Hut

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.

Day 3: Horombo Acclimatization

Your second night is going to be spent at Horombo. This is an extra day intended to help improve the chances of everyone making the ultimate goal peak summit. Today will be spent completely here acclimatizing with treks during the morning for approximately 3 hours to Zebra Rock then descents so the base will be reached on time for lunch, after which you can relax and spend the rest of the day cooling off, then in the evening you can take a small evening walk along the valley. Dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut.

Day 4: Horombo Hut (3720m) to Kibo Hut (4700m)

Distance covered: 9 km

Approximate time taken: 5 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Accommodation: Hut

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.

Day 5: - Kibo hut (4700m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) and down to Horombo Hut (3720m)

Distance covered: 21 km

Approximate time taken: 13 hours

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Accommodation: Hut

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 sun would somewhat slowly start warming up the lands. Then, after hiking for another 1hr 30 minutes reaching Uhuru Peak at 5895 m, spend some time taking pictures and appreciate the African sunrises forming the horizon; afterward descent to Kibo Hut having a warm lunch and short rest for 1-2 hours. Afterwards you leave to go Horombo Hut once again to pass your last night over Kilimanjaro.

Day 6: Horombo Hut (3720m) to Marangu Gate (1860m)

Distance covered: 21 km

Approximate time taken: 13 hours

Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

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.