Kilimanjaro Hike - Marangu Route

This hiking trail follows the Marangu Route, which is the easiest and shortest route to the summit of Kilimanjaro. This trail is referred to as the "Coca Cola" as well as "tourist" route.

The Marangu route is unique in offering the luxury of sleeping huts at all of the camp stops along the way. The Mandara and Kibo Huts have 60 beds each and the Horombo Hut sleeps 120 people. The huts are equipped with comfortable bunk beds each with a sponge mattress and pillow. The huts on the Marangu trail are communal and are fitted with solar powered lights. The bathrooms of the huts lower down on the slopes feature running water. The final camp stop has very basic male and female bathroom facilities.

There are various beverages on sale along the so-called "Coca Cola" route to quench the thirst of climbing hikers. Bottled water, soft drinks and even beer, are usually available at the huts. The prices do however hike as you make your way up Kilimanjaro, so be sure to bring along low denomination notes of Tanzanian cash to purchase these quenchers with. Meals are taken in shared dining huts where several climbing groups from various countries across the globe get to meet up. These social mealtimes on the Marangu route are fun and lively occasions.

The Marangu route takes 5 days, or a leisurely 6 days for those who prefer to spend more time acclimatizing. If you opt for the slower hike you have the choice of resting for an additional day at the Horombo Hut or climbing the small peak of Mawenzi.

The Marangu route hike can be done on its own or in combination with any 5-day long safari.

The hike can start on:
Any day of the year for individuals or small bookings
Every Saturday of the year for large groups

General Overview of the Hike

If you are flying into Kilimanjaro Airport you will be met and transferred to your accommodation in Moshi or Arusha, generally speaking its best to have one rest day before starting your trek. If you are transferring from Nairobi the transfer will can act as your rest day. There are plenty of things to do in Arusha and Moshi but it is advisable to take things slow before your hike.

You will be met by your guide the evening before for a full briefing and you will be expected to separate you luggage at this stage and take only on bag up the mountain with you and extra luggage can be stored in your hotel. Most hotels do not charge anything for this service.

The next morning after breakfast you will be transferred from your accommodation to the trekking office. Depending on the route you take, the drive to the trail head can take up to one hour and is generally bumpy! ( Rongai, Lemosho, and Shira routes the drive is four plus hours). You will need to bring along enough water for your first days hike.

Final preparations for the climb are made on reaching the park gate you will also need to sign the national park registration book. At this stage you will see the Porters arranging packs containing the food, water, and other equipment. You must make sure you have all your day pack items with you as the porters move quickly! In general it will take about an hour to get signed in with the national park and get all your equipment ready.

For most days you will start between 8-9am and you will hike for around 5 to 6 hours, you will be expected to walk very slowly and the distances you will hike each day are therefore very moderate. This will allow you to acclimate a little at a time. Your guides will continually repeat "pole pole" (po-ly, po-ly), which means "go slowly" in Swahili.

The lower terrain at the beginning is wonderful and fascinating and the views get better and better the higher you go up. At the campsites there is not a whole lot to do so remember to take absorb the scenery and take photos regularly as there are plenty of opportunities to do so.

On the summit day you will hike to the top around midnight depending on the route you're opted for, and the speed of your group. You will be allowed to go as high as you feel fit. Some people in your group will stop at the crater rim, while others will continue to the very highest point on the mountain. Once you have reached the summit your guides will take you down as quickly as possible to minimize any altitude problems. You will continue past your last campsite to the next one where you will then spend the night.

At the end of your trek, you will be picked up at the trail head and taken back to your hotel.

Tour Itinerary

Pre Departure

Moshi town
Starting at 815m (2670ft) above sea level.

Overnight at a hotel in the town of Moshi, or Arusha city, where you will be briefed about the climb by your hiking guide. Note that you can set off on the Marangu hike on any day throughout the year.

Day 1

From the Marangu starting point to the first camp, the Mandara Hut.
Climb from 1700m to 2740m (5500ft to 9000ft) over a distance of 7 km, in about 4-5 hours. Hiking through Montane Forest up the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro.

After being briefed and eating breakfast we drive for about 45-minutes to the gate of the Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate we register and begin our climb to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. To reach the Mandara camp we pass through a rainforest, growing at about 2740m (9000ft). The rainforest is home to a rich variety of birdlife and Colubus monkeys as well as tall Eucalyptus trees. Climbers can choose to take a short side trip to the Maundi Crater. The crater offers a worthwhile vantage point over the Northern Tanzanian and Kenyan landscapes surrounding the majestic Mt Kilimanjaro.

Day 2

Hiking to the Horombo Camp Hut, from 2700m to 3700m (9000ft to 12,100ft) over 11 km. This stretch takes about 6-8 hours, passing through heathland vegetation.

On day two we head for the Horombo camp leaving the rainforest behind after about an hour of walking. The trail makes its way up through the moorlands to the Horombo encampment. On this leg of the climb the affects of high altitude generally begin.

Continuing higher up Kilimanjaro spectacular vistas over Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo peak open up. Giant grounsel and lobelia plants enhance the awesome views even further.

If you choose to take the slower 6-day hiking option, then you will spend an extra day at the Horombo Hut. The extended stop will be spent resting or taking a short hike up the small peak of Mawenzi.

Day 3

To the Kibo Camp, from Horombo. Climbing from 3700m to 4700m (12,100ft to 15,400ft) over a distance of about 10 km. This part takes between 6-8 hours through Alpine Desert terrain.

On day 3 we pass the last of the watering points as we ascend the slopes of Kilimanjaro. We climb up onto the Kilimanjaro saddle, stretching between the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. The vegetation changes from upper heathland to barren desert terrain referred to as a "moonscape".

After dinner at Kibo, we get some rest and prepare for the final climb up the Kilimanjaro summit.

Day 4

To the Kilimanjaro summit from 4700m to 5895m (15,400ft to 19,300ft) and back down to Horombo camp again at 3700m (12,100ft). This stretch of the Marangu route entails climbing up 4 km's and down 14 km's. The trek takes around 10-15 hours and mostly passes through Alpine Desert.

We make a very early start heading for the summit at about 1 or 2am in the morning. It will still be dark as we begin climbing necessitating flashlights or headlamps for this part of the climb.

We climb up steep slopes covered in heavy scree or snow to reach the summit. You will need all your warm layers, as the conditions on day 4 will be very cold until we start descending again.

The first 4-7 hours of hiking bring us to Gilman's point, which is on the crater rim at around 5861m (18640 ft). Then we ascend the Uhuru Peak taking us to a lofty 5895m (19340 ft) in about 2 hours. This climb, with its challenging and cold conditions, is the most strenuous stretch of the hike. It helps to keep the summit and rewarding views in mind to stay motivated.

The breathtaking views abound as we reach the top of Kilimanjaro, also the tallest point in Africa.

At the summit you can have your photograph taken to record the triumphant moment of ascending this great mountain of Africa.

On the peak of Kilimanjaro we soak up the awe inspiring views and take a short rest to enjoy the achievement of reaching the top. We then begin the descent, of about 2 hours, stopping at Kibo for a rest and some lunch and then continuing to Horombo. Tired after a hard day of climbing we tuck into a well-deserved dinner and spend overnight at Horombo Hut.

Just take it one pole-step at a time and remember that you can do it!

Day 5

Returning to Moshi from 3700m to 1700m (12,100ft to 5500ft). This part is 18km's long and takes between 5 and 7 hours. We begin our descent after breakfast working our way down the slopes of Kilimanjaro steadily. We pass back down through moorland vegetation to the Mandara Hut at 2700m (8858 ft), our initial stop on the way up the Marangu trail. You can wear shorts and t-shirts on this part of the Marangu route keeping your rain gear and warm clothes handy.

We walk down further on an easy path passing through lush forest until we reach the National Park gate at 830m (6004 ft). The ground is sometimes muddy and wet at these lower elevations; therefore gaiters and trekking poles are recommended.

At the Marangu village a vehicle will collect you and take you to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha city. It is customary to tip guides and porters.

Back in Marangu, tales from Mt Kilimanjaro are shared as happy climbers celebrate their successful adventures.

Guides and Porters

The local guides that are employed are licensed, trained, friendly, and with years of experience. Safely is a top priority. Porters are arranged and go on your hike to carry your luggage, food, and other equipment. We have guides that speak English, Spanish, French and German. You will only have to carry a day pack with your daily essentials. In order to ensure you reach the summit we make use of a high number of guides and porters.

Equipment, Food and Group Size

We make use of top of the range professional quality mountain equipment. You will be provided with plenty of delicious food to keep your energy levels up. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea are provided on the trek. Vegetarian and other special diets can be accommodated.

Groups are limited to 10 people. We will combine groups up to this limit if they are starting the same route on the same day. However, we can also arrange for private groups at no extra cost. We will try to add single travellers to a group if at all possible but will also do groups with just one climber. We can accommodate large groups of any size.

Tips for guides and porters on Kilimanjaro

The typical tip is $20/day for guides, $15/day for assistant guides and cooks, $10/porter/day for porters. These tips are from the whole group, not per hiker.

Expect 1 guide per 2 hikers, 1 assistant guide per 3 hikers, and 1 cook per 8 hikers.

Porters as follows:

-2 porters per hiker on the 5-day Marangu Route. (minimum of 4 porters)

-3 porters per hiker on a 6 or 7-day trek (minimum of 5 porters)

-4 porters per hiker on the 8-day Lemosho Route (minimum of 8 porters)

Sometimes extra porters are required based on the weight of the luggage.

Budget $300 per hiker for tips for a 6-day trek if hiking in a group of 4 people.

We recommend that you leave your valuables and your tip money in a safe deposit box at the hotel in Moshi. After your trek, give your tips to the office staff in Moshi with a list of which staff receive which amount, and the tips will be distributed to your guides and porters accordingly. You can use U.S. dollars, Euros, TZ shillings, or a combination of these.

You can hand over your tip money personally if you prefer. If you are going to do this, it's best to do so at camp the morning of the last day of the trek. Place your tips in small envelopes and use small bills.

Gifts: Guides and porters also appreciate your warm clothing, shoes, and packs. You may want to bring some older clothing items for this purpose.

Celebration: You are also welcome to invite your guides back to your hotel for dinner (on you) as a thank-you in addition to their tip.

Looking for departure date info? It's up here…

Looking for other tours to Kilimanjaro? View all Kilimanjaro Budget Safaris