8 Days Tanzania Mountaineering Tour - Marangu Route
Highlights
- The shortest and cheapest route,
- Nicknamed the 'Coca-Cola' route due to the tea huts where Coke can be bought along the way,
- Dormitory style accommodation,
- Less time to acclimatize hence lower success rate,
- Less scenic due to ascent and descent on same route.
- Route duration: six days
- Total hiking distance: Approx. 96 kms (excludes acclimatisation hikes on the 3rd day)
This is the most popular route to the summit of Kilimanjaro commonly referred to as the "Coca-Cola route". The Marangu route is actually most appropriate to budget hikers since it is the least expensive route and you can even opt to do it in five days. Yet it offers you the luxury of being accommodated in huts throughout your journey to the peak. You can buy beers, soft drinks, mineral water, chocolates and snacks on all the camps along the route. You will have porters and a cook to cater for the carriage of your supplies and meals respectively.
TOUR ITINERARY
Arrival day 1: JRO Airport to Moshi Town
Our tour agent will drive you from JRO/ KIA Kilimanjaro Airport to your hotel in Moshi Town. The drive takes about 45 minutes and you may have time to go for a brief city tour before retiring to your hotel - Marangu Hotel or Parkview Inn or Springlands Hotel or Kibo Hotel.
A briefing by our tour guide will enable you to ascertain that you have all the necessary requirements for the mountain trek adventure.
Day 2: Kilimanjaro Climb fromMarangu Gate (1980m) to Mandara hut (2700m)
Hiking time: Approx. 4 Hours
Distance: Approximately 12kms
Habitat: Montane forest
After breakfast, a few minutes’ drive takes you from your hotel to Marangu gate where you will spend a couple of hours clearing and making final preparations. Your first day hike takes you through a rain forest on a cleared ridge trail to Mandara hut (2700m). Dinner and an overnight stay at Mandara hut.
Day 3: Kilimanjaro Climb from Mandara hut (2700m) to Horombo hut (3720m)
Hiking time: Approx. 6 Hours
Distance: Approximately 15 kms
Habitat: Moorland
Your trek begins after breakfast, passing through a rain forest to moorland. This hike offers you magnificent views of Maundi Crater, Mawenzi peak, Kibo Crater glaciers, and Kilimanjaro's most spectacular plants like the endemic giant lobelia and the giant groundsel (Senecia Kilimanjari). Dinner and an overnight stay at Horombo hut.
Day 4: Horombo Hut (3,720m) to Mawenzi Hut (4,600m) to Horombo Hut (3,720)
Elevation ascend and descent: 880 meters, 2,900 feet
The acclimatisation exercise is essential to increase your possibilities of making it to Africa’s highest peak – the Uhuru peak (5895m). You are advised to leisurely take a 3 hour hike to Mawenzi for the magnificent views of Kibo peak and return to Horombo in just half the hiking time. You will then have lunch, relax the whole afternoon and enjoy your evening at Horombo Camp. Eat well, drink enough water and retire to bed early for a good night rest.
Day 5: Kilimanjaro Climb from Horombo Hut (3720m) to Kibo Hut (4700m).
Hiking time: Approx. 6 Hours
Distance: Approximately 15 kms
Habitat: Alpine desert
This hike takes you through the moorland and alpine desert of Kilimanjaro's upper altitudes featuring stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. An hours’ hike will get you to Maua River after which you will break for lunch at Middle Red Hill. You will then go through the Kilimanjaro Saddle before you arrive at Kibo Hut most likely at 3pm. Eat well, organise your hiking gear and have adequate resting so that you will be ready to rise at midnight to start your journey climax – the summit trek. Dinner and an overnight stay at Kibo hut.
Day six: Kibo Hut (4,750m) to Summit (5,895m) to Horombo Hut (3,720m)
Hiking time: Approx. 7 Hours to Uhuru peak, 5 Hours to get to Horombo
Distance: Approximately 6 kms ascent, 21 kms descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Elevation ascend: 1,145m, Elevation descend: 2,175m
Wake up few minutes before midnight to have some snacks and thereafter embark on the trek in the dark, cold early morning hours of the day. You will use torchlight and lanterns to overcome the darkness and the cold conditions make the trek less tiring. After a few hours meandering hiking, you will be at Williams Point (5000m). A further zigzag trek takes you to Hans Meyers cave (5182m) where you will have a cup of the best African - Kilimanjaro coffee while you get a brief repose. At dawn, as the sun is preparing to rise, you will have a spectacular view as you stand at Gillman’s point (5685m). Delight in the impressive views of the glacier and ice cliffs as you make the last efforts to reach Africa’s highest point - the Uhuru Peak (5895m).
Finally, you will enjoy the picturesque view and the contentment of making it to the top. A 5 hour descent to Horombo camp (3720m) is faster since you will ski down the scree. Relax and spend a serene overnight at the camp.
Day 7: Horombo To Your Hotel in Moshi
In approximately 4 hours, you will slope down crossing the moorland and the forest to Mandara for lunch before proceeding to Marangu gate. After registering and getting a certificate of achievement (either green certificate for Gillman’s Point - 5685m or gold certificate for Uhuru Peak - 5895m), our driver will take you back to your Hotel in Moshi to relax, have a chat with your travel partners and guides and you can tip the porters if you are delighted with their service.
Departure day 8: Back to Kilimanjaro airport
Our driver will take you to Kilimanjaro airport so that you can fly back home or to your next destination.
Note: a 6 day Mountain Kilimanjaro hike is also possible at your request but you must be aware of the shortcomings of this arrangement.
Very important to note:
We are specialists in tailor made vacations:
Contact our experts for further information.
TEL: +255 754 370466, Hotline:+255 786 370466
P.O.Box 2029, Arusha Tanzania
Email info@tanzaniasafaritours.com
