6 Days Marangu Route

Marangu has the gentlest gradient of the main routes for most of the way, and sleeping in huts makes the nights more comfortable, which is why it is nicknamed the "Coca-Cola Route". It is not an easy climb, though. Because many people do it quickly, it gives less time to acclimatize than longer routes, and summit night from Kibo Hut is steep and long. With the extra day at Horombo and good preparation, it is a very achievable route for fit first-time climbers.

Altitude is the biggest challenge on Kilimanjaro. A study of climbers on the Marangu Route, published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, found that most developed acute mountain sickness and concluded that climbers need a more gradual ascent. The CDC and the Wilderness Medical Society also advise building extra acclimatization time into high-altitude climbs. Our 6-day itinerary adds a second night at Horombo Hut, with a walk up to Zebra Rocks, so your body has more time to adjust before Kibo Hut and summit night.

Marangu is the only Kilimanjaro route with hut accommodation. Mandara and Kibo huts have about 60 bunk beds each, and Horombo has about 120, in shared rooms with mattresses and pillows, so you need to bring or rent a sleeping bag. Each hut site has a dining hall. Mandara and Horombo have running water and flushing toilets, while Kibo Hut is more basic. A private portable toilet can be arranged on request at extra cost. Because hut space is limited, booking early helps in the busy dry seasons.

Over six days you walk roughly 77 km, including the acclimatization walk to Zebra Rocks. You go up and come down on the same trail, from Marangu Gate at 1,843 m (6,046 ft) to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m (19,341 ft), a gain of just over 4,000 m. The longest day is summit day, at about 22 km.

It is one of the better choices when rain is likely, because you sleep and eat indoors and can dry your gear in the huts. The driest months on Kilimanjaro are late December to early March and June to October, while the long rains fall from late March to May and the short rains in November. In the wet months the forest section can be muddy, so waterproofs and gaiters are worth packing.

It is the only route with huts, and the only one where you go up and down the same trail. Camping routes such as the 7 days Machame Route and the 8 days Lemosho Route cross more varied landscapes and include a climb-high, sleep-low day, while the 8 days Rongai Route starts on the quieter northern side and comes down on the Marangu trail. Marangu suits climbers who prefer a roof over their head and a steady, direct ascent.

Mild headaches, tiredness and poor appetite are common and often ease with rest, water and a slow pace. Your guides check on you throughout the day and measure your oxygen saturation and pulse with a pulse oximeter daily. If symptoms worsen, they take you down, which is the safest treatment. We carry emergency oxygen and a first aid kit, and rescue fees are included in your park fees. Your travel insurance should cover trekking up to 6,000 m.

Tipping is optional but encouraged, and it matters a great deal to your crew. Suggested amounts are per day for the whole group, not per climber: head guide 20-25 USD, assistant guide 15-20 USD, cook 12-15 USD and 8-10 USD per porter. Tips are handed over at a short ceremony on your last morning, at Horombo Hut, in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings. Our Kilimanjaro tipping guide has more detail.

Yes. If you only have a day, our Kilimanjaro day hike follows the start of the Marangu Route through the rainforest from Marangu Gate, with no overnight stay. It is a good taste of the mountain for travellers who are not planning a full climb, or for family members who are not joining the summit.

Yes. After your night in Moshi you can head straight into the northern parks on safari or fly to Zanzibar for some rest by the sea, and many climbers do both. Take a look at our safari and Zanzibar holidays or send us your dates and we will plan the full trip.