Description
Marangu route which is also known as the coca cola route is the least expensive route to the summit. This is also the only route with the comforts of sleeping huts at every camp site with solar lights and comfortable beds. The huts are communal, and the bunks have a sponge mattress and pillow. There are 60 beds at both Mandara and Kibo Huts and 120 beds at Horombo Hut. Bathrooms and running water are available at the two lower huts. Mens’ and ladies’ latrines are available at the last camp but are very basic.
Highlights
- Arrive at Kilimanjaro Int. Airport
- Hike Mt. Kilimanjaro, located in Tanzania, East Africa
- The highest mountain in Africa with an elevation of 19,341 feet (5,895 meters)
- The largest free-standing mountain in the world and is one of the seven summits
Tour Itinerary
After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (about 1 hour), register and commence the climb. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara encampment. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colobus monkeys.
Elevation: 1860m/6100ft to 2700m/8875ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
You leave the glades of the rain-forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo encampment. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and grounsels. You may begin to feel the affects of the altitude.
Elevation: 2700m/8875ft to 3700m/12,200ft
Distance: 12km/7.5mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Heathland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Ascending, we now pass the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heathland but then disappears into “moonscape”. Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit climb.
Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 4700m/15,500ft
Distance: 9km/5.5mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s point located on the crater rim. Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.
Elevation: 4700m/15,500ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3700m/12,200ft
Distance: 6km/4mi up / 15km/9mi down
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours up / 15km/9mi down
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
A vehicle will be waiting for you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour).
Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 1700m/5500ft
Distance: 20km/12.5mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: Breakfast
Itinerary Map
Price Information
This price is per person, based on 2 people sharing. While this price reflects the suggested itinerary (including accommodation and excursions), this private trip is 100% tailor-made, and after you make your inquiry, a specialist can help you select the options best suited to your tastes and budget.
Departure Information
This trip can be tailor made throughout the year to suit your requirements
Includes
- All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides
- Guides, Porters, Cook salaries, and park fees
- Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on a sharing basis)
- Sleeping Mattress
- Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Quality Mess tents with tables and chairs
- Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Conservation fees (part of park fees)
- Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
- Rescue fees (part of park fees)
- VAT (18% charged by the Government)
- Kilimanjaro summit certificate
Excludes
- Tanzania Visa
- International and domestic flights
- Hotel (available as an optional addon)
- Transfers (available as an optional addon)
- Personal trekking equipment such as sleeping bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
- Tips and gratuities
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Liquors, beers, and bottled beverages
- Surcharge for online payment of advance and balance (5% on each payment)
Meet Our Safari Expert
Our team of Safari specialists are waiting to help you book your next adventure. Contact us today to start planning your tailor-made trip.
To More Inquiry
+255 719 177 553
See What Our Clients, Have to Say
We have been receiving reviews from our served clients and Nyamera Treks & Safaris is rated 5/5 by customers. This honor is given to us by customers because we always remain committed to all our customers to do whatever is needed by them to make their safari fully satisfied.
Best Time to Travel
Climbing Kilimanjaro isn’t an easy feat. Thus, knowing the best time to ascend the mountain is the best way to ensure reaching the peak.
So, when is the best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? The best time to climb the highest-standing mountain in the world is during Tanzania’s dry season. This means it would be best to scale from December to March or the middle of June to the end of October, which are the driest months in Tanzania.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a mighty challenge, but practically everyone can do it. In addition, if you’re a newbie to trekking, camping, living outdoors or high altitude, you might find the hike up Kilimanjaro quite challenging indeed. Thus, it’s essential to scale the mountain during the driest months in Tanzania and avoid climbing in April, May and November as these are the rainy seasons in the country.
Marangu Route
The Kilimanjaro Marangu route, nicknamed the ‘Coca Cola’ route, has historically been the most popular Kilimanjaro route. Around 12,000 people use it each year, most commonly those on a tight budget. This is because it’s the only Kilimanjaro route offering dormitory-like accommodation (you get mattresses and other basic amenities). This makes it a popular choice for budget Kilimanjaro operators that don’t have camping equipment to offer.
The Marangu route also only takes five days to complete, which makes also makes it a cheaper option compared to the other routes. However, the acclimatisation profile is mediocre which leads to a very low success rate, therefore not offering the best value for money. And whilst it offers rewarding views from ‘the Saddle’, it’s less scenic than other Kilimanjaro routes as it uses the same trail for both the ascent and descent. Otherwise, the route itself is easy, with almost no steep sections. The rainforest and moorland sections of the trail are beautiful.
Accommodation Style
Perched amid the rugged grandeur of Mount Kilimanjaro, mountain huts offer weary trekkers a welcome respite and a glimpse into the unique alpine world of Africa’s highest peak. Situated along various routes ascending the mountain, these humble shelters serve as vital waypoints for climbers seeking to conquer the towering summit. Despite their modest exteriors, these huts provide essential amenities such as beds, cooking facilities, and sometimes even basic provisions, offering a semblance of comfort amidst the challenging terrain.
Nestled amidst the stark beauty of Kilimanjaro’s slopes, these huts also foster a sense of camaraderie among climbers, as they share stories, meals, and the collective goal of reaching the iconic Uhuru Peak. With their simple charm and stunning surroundings, mountain huts on Mount Kilimanjaro are not just shelters but integral parts of the unforgettable journey to Africa’s rooftop.
Most Frequently Asked Questions
You are expected to carry your own day pack, with only things which should be able to sustain you until you reach the next camp at the end of the day. You do not need to carry your personal backpack/ duffel pack – It will be carried by our porters.
No worries about that – this is a common concern. It is much better for your body if you proceed slowly and guides will permanently remind you about this (“pole-pole” – which means “slowly slowly”). By walking slowly, your body will much better acclimatize to high altitude. There is plenty of time allocated each day for the treks, even for those who like to go very slowly.
Some climbers may fall short of reaching the summit, but not at the expense of their overall experience. Even for those who never reached the top, the experience of the wonders of Kilimanjaro is very rewarding. If one or more members of the group decide they cannot continue, or if a guide deems it unsafe for an individual (or a group) to continue, they are escorted to the most convenient campsite or Hut. Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.
On the Marangu Route, there are simple basic Huts. The first 2 Huts sleep four people each and the last Hut is a dome-style with bunk beds. On all the other routes, you will sleep in 3 dome-style Tents, two people each. The Tents are modern and have an outer flysheet and large vestibules to keep equipment from the elements. They are set up, broken down, and carried- along with everything else- by our porters.
There are public toilets set up at every campsite, but portable toilets are available upon request at the cost of $ 100 per group for the whole tour. Hot water is provided for each person every morning but No showers during the trek There will be dining tents with chairs and tables where all meals will be served. Before any meal, we will provide soap and hot water for washing your hands.
For each trek on the Mount a dedicated cook will be part of the logistical team. They are professional chefs and can prepare different kinds of dishes. Please see a sample page for Dietary Menu.
You shouldn’t worry- You are in safe hands. Our guides are professionally trained to handle all sorts of distress and respond quickly and accordingly. They all have Wilderness First Aid Responder qualification and they will all time bring you to safety. They will directly call for an emergency evacuation if the situation worsens.
Planning an adventure to Tanzania?
Get in touch with us today and we will help build your experience of a lifetime to Tanzania.
Other tours you may be interested in
You are free to customize our itinerary options to fit your own interests. While these carefully chosen ideas will serve as a springboard, remember that your journey will be tailored specifically to you.
