7 Days Marangu Route - Mount Kilimanjaro Tour

Duration : 6 Nights / 7 Days

Destination Covered : Arusha

Tour Activities : Trekking

Tour Themes : Adventure Tours, Wildlife

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Arusha Tour Overview

The 7-day Marangu Route on Mount Kilimanjaro, known as the “Coca-Cola” route, is renowned for its gradual ascent and hut accommodation. Starting at Marangu Gate, trekkers move through verdant rainforest to Mandara Hut, followed by a climb to Horombo Hut for acclimatization. This acclimatization day is crucial as the altitude increases. The trek then proceeds to Kibo Hut, the base for the summit attempt. Summit day begins in the early hours, with climbers ascending to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the mountain, before descending back to Kibo Hut.

The final descent continues to Horombo Hut and then to Marangu Gate, where climbers are rewarded with certificates of achievement. This route offers a relatively comfortable climb with hut-based lodging, though altitude sickness remains a significant challenge. Proper acclimatization and preparation are essential for a successful climb.

Arusha Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive at JRO/ Arusha

Arrival in Kilimanjaro International Airport, Meet and assist at the airport and after going through Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs, Transfer to Tulia Boutique Hotel & Spa to overnight at on Bed and Breakfast basis. We will gather in the evening for a pre-climbing briefing and climbing equipment check. We will also confirm that you have the appropriate mandatory medical coverage and travel insurance as well.

Day 2

Mandara Hut

The National Park Gate (1,830 m) lies at the edge of Marangu, which is an attractive village with many small coffee and banana plantations. After completing the entrance formalities, we climb up through attractive and unspoilt forest to reach the clearing containing Mandara Hut (2,700 m.), a group of comfortable ‘A’ frame wooden huts. The largest cabin has a downstairs dining area and an upstairs dormitory and mattresses. Smaller huts sleep eight persons. The total capacity is sixty persons. Water is piped onto site from a spring above and there are flush toilets behind the main cabin. The volcanic remains of Maundi Crater are nearby and make a good afternoon excursion. An alternative is to rest and enjoy the beautiful forest. There is a rich birdlife at the huts and monkeys are often seen as well. It takes about 3–5 hours walk.

Day 3

Horombo Hut

The first part of the walk is a steep ascent through the forest, but the path soon opens out into grassy moorland and in clear weather, there are good views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. We climb steadily through the moorland zone, containing giant heathers and occasional stands of groundsel, to eventually reach the hut complex at Horombo (3,720 m.). The buildings here are similar to Mandara Hut, but total capacity is one hundred and twenty persons. Water is piped from the stream behind the huts. There are platform toilets south east of the main hut, about eighty metres down the slope and flush toilets have been built within the complex of small huts. Sunrises and sunsets here are often spectacular and the site is close to the glaciated dome of Kibo. There is a real sense of being above the clouds here. It takes about 4–6 hours walk.

Day 4

Kibo Hut

We climb very gradually towards the lunar desert of the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. The terrain changes to scree 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. Kibo is a stone-built block house with a small dining area and a number of dormitory rooms leading off a main corridor. There are bunk beds and mattresses for about sixty people. There is no water here so one has to bring an ample supply from the ‘last water’ supply above Horombo Hut. Platform toilets are behind the hut. The remainder of the day is spent resting and eating in preparation for the final climb before a very early night. It takes about 4–5 hours walk.

Day 5

Uhuru Peak – Horombo Hut

We will start our ascent by torchlight at about 1:00am, aiming to be up at Gillman’s Point by sunrise. The initial climb is steep over loose volcanic scree, but there are some well-graded zig–zags and a slow but steady pace will have us up to Gillman’s (5,685 m.) in about five or six hours. We will rest there and spend some time taking in the sunrise. For those who are still feeling strong can make the three hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m.), passing close to the spectacular glaciers that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent is surprisingly fast and we return to Horombo for the night. It takes about11–15 hours walk.

Day 6

Marangu Park Gate – Back to Arusha

After breakfast, a steady descent takes you down through moorland to Mandara Hut (8,900 ft). We then continue descending through lovely lush forest on a good path to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate at Marangu (6,000 ft) where are transferred to Tulia Boutique Hotel & Spa to overnight on Bed and Breakfast basis.

Day 7

Departure

After breakfast Relish Enthusiast Adventures Team can organize a private departure transfer on request to Arusha Airport or to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back home or flying to Zanzibar Island.

End of Trip