Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Marangu Route – 8 Days

Fitness level:
Able to hike 10 km / 6.2 miles at a time
Level of difficulty:
Level 2 of 6 - easy
Trek begins: Marangu Gate
Trek ends: Marangu Gate
Maximum Altitude:
5.895 m / 19.341 ft
min. 1 people
max. 12 people
Start & end of tour:
Kilmanjaro Airport or Hotel in Moshi
  • Physical condition required:
  • Power required:
  • Experience given:
  • Charisma of the environment:

Tour description

Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the oldest, most well-established route. Many favor the Marangu route because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, given its gradual slope. It is also the only route that offers sleeping huts in dormitory-style accommodations.
However, the short time frame of the route makes altitude acclimatization fairly difficult. The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the southeast. Marangu is, unfortunately, less scenic than the other routes because the ascent and descent are along the same path. It is also the most crowded route.

DAY 1

Arrival and Airport Kilimanjaro Pickup – Moshi

  • Elevation: 950 m / 3.120 ft
  • Distance:  42.2 km / 26.2 miles
  • Drive Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
  • Habitat: Town / Municipality / County

You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to Moshi, where you will check in into one of the best hotels in the region.
After lunch you will sort your trekking equipment to avoid any inconvenience. Dinner and breakfast at the hotel.

DAY 2

Moshi – Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut

  • Elevation: 950 m / 3.120 ft – 1.843 m / 6.046 ft – 2.700 m / 8.858 ft
  • Driving: 38 km / 23.6 miles (1 hour drive)
  • Hike Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
  • Trekking Time: 4 – 5 hours
  • Habitat: Rainforest

After breakfast, we will depart Moshi for Marangu Gate for introductions before beginning our trek. The hiking trail begins by ascending a beautiful, tropical Rainforest. At the upper edge of the forest line, we have the opportunity to see blue monkeys. The trail then widens to expose beautiful hillsides until we reach Mandara Hut.

DAY 3

Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut

  • Elevation: 2.700 m / 8.858 ft – 3.720 m / 12.205 ft
  • Distance:  12 km / 7.5 miles
  • Trekking Time: 6 – 8 hours
  • Habitat: Moorland

We start the day continuing through the forest until the trail opens into high moorland. We may get our first views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks – two of the three volcanic peaks that make up the summit of Kilimanjaro.

DAY 4

Horombo Hut – Mawenzi Ridge – Horombo Hut

  • Elevation: 3.720 m / 12.205 ft – 4.389 m / 14.400 ft – 3.720 m / 12.205 ft
  • Distance:  5 km / 3.1 miles
  • Trekking Time: 2 – 3 hours
  • Habitat: Moorland

This is an extra day meant for acclimatization and can be spent day-hiking on Mawenzi Ridge. The unique landscape offers motivating views of Kibo and Mawenzi. After spending a few moments exploring the area we head back to Horombo Hut.

DAY 5

Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut

  • Elevation: 3.720 m / 12.205 ft – 4.703 m / 15.430 ft
  • Distance:  10 km / 6.2 miles
  • Trekking Time: 6 – 8 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

We will climb gradually, then cross the lunar desert of the “Saddle” between Mawenzi and Kibo. Our camp, Kibo Hut, sits at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. Once here, we rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day.

DAY 6

Kibo Hut – Uhuru Peak – Horombo Hut

  • Elevation: 4.703 m / 1.430 ft – 5.895 m / 19.341 ft – 3.720 m / 12.205 ft
  • Distance:  22 km / 13.6 miles
  • Trekking Time: 11 – 13 hours
  • Habitat: Arctic, then Moorland

Very early in the morning (around midnight), we will begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. At Gilman’s point (18.600 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see, coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
After spending a few moments taking in the plains of Africa and your accomplishment, we descend to Horombo Hut. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

DAY 7

Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate – Moshi

  • Elevation: 3.720 m / 12.205 ft – 1.843 m / 6.046 ft – 950 m / 3.120 ft
  • Distance:  20 km / 14.3 miles
  • Trekking Time: 5 – 7 hours
  • Drive Time: 38 km / 23.6 miles (1 hour drive)
  • Habitat: Rainforest

On our last day, we have a long trek mostly downhill through the tropical rainforest. Once at the park headquarters at Marangu gate, we collect our summit certificates. A vehicle will meet us here and drive us back to the hotel in Moshi, where we will eat dinner and sleep.

DAY 8

Exiting Moshi hotel to Kilimanjaro Airport or for further safari

  • Elevation: 950 m / 3.120 ft
  • Distance:  42.2 km / 26.2 miles
  • Drive Time: 1 – 1.5 hours
  • Habitat: Town/ Municipality / County

After breakfast, first check and make sure as you leave the hotel that everything is in good condition and intact. Get ready to be driven back to the Airport or embark on other safaris in Tanzania or Kenya with an unforgettable safari experience with us.

Important Details

Gear list

Check list below to reduce chances of inconveniences.

Bags

  • 65-75 litre rucksack (for a porter to carry your main gear) with cover
  • 35-45 litre day sack (for you to carry each day)
  • Dry bags of different sizes for clothes, sleeping bag, etc.

Shell

  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Waterproof gaiters
  • Umbrella (optional)

Warmth

  • Warm jacket – could be fleece or down jacket, potentially ski jacket. Make sure you can put the waterproof shell jacket over the top.
  • 2 or 3 fleece tops or hiking shirts/sweatshirts
  • 2 or 3 base layers or T-shirts
  • Pair of trekking trousers and shorts
  • Leggings, thermal bottoms or running tights
  • Several sets of underwear – avoid cotton. Sports bras and cycling shorts are good.

Extremities

  • Warm hat and a buff or scarf
  • Sun hat
  • Warm gloves or mittens, and thin liner gloves are also useful

Feet

  • Several pairs of good quality trekking socks
  • Waterproof trekking boots
  • Trainers or flip flops/sandals

Sleeping

  • 3-4 season sleeping bag (comfort -5°C or lower)
  • Sleeping bag liner cotton/fleece/silk (optional)
  • Stuff sack for sleeping bag
  • Thick foam mat or self-inflating mat (like a Therm-A-Rest)

Personal

  • Sunglasses
  • Trekking poles
  • Some favourite snack bars
  • Headlamp
  • Power bank for charging phones, etc.
  • Wash kit – no showers on the mountain but you can have a bucket wash
  • Papers – passport, money, insurance
  • 2 water bottles
  • Flask for hot drinks – useful on summit night
  • Earplugs
  • Wet wipes, tissues
  • Anti-bacterial hand gel

First AID suggestions

  • Paracetamol – temperature, colds
  • Painkiller – headaches, very good for altitude related symptoms
  • Antiseptic wipes and a few bandages and tape, antiseptic cream
  • Blister bandages
  • Oral rehydration sachets
  • Sunblock and lipbalm
  • Knee/Ankle support
  • Personal Medications eg anti-malaria tablets, inhalers, antihistamine
Meeting point
We’ll pick you up at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Then you will spend one night in a hotel in Moshi. The trekking begins the following day at the Marangu Gate.
Availability
  • January through mid-March
  • Mid-June through October
  • December
  • look at our Tour Calender
Duration
8 days including 2 days at hotel
Meals
On all of our tours, all of our meals are freshly prepared on the mountain by our talented chef, so when we arrive to camp after a long day of hiking, we have a delicious hot meal waiting for us.
Please note: we can accommodate any dietary needs, so please let us know what your meal requirements are and we will be sure to have our chef whip you up something yummy!
About your guide
All of our guides have extensive experience and training, certification, and knowledge of the area and all of the routes. You’ll be in great hands from top to bottom and by the end of the trip, you’ll be sad to say goodbye! Depending on the number of hikers, there will be generally 1 guide for every 2 people and 3 porters per person.

Request Form

Send us your desired travel dates and we will contact you as soon as possible. We will then send you more information and exact arrival and departure times for this route.

Marangu Route – 8 Days

Included

Full organization of Mohakin Travel from/to Kilimanjaro International Airport

Airport pick-up and drop-off

All transfers, excursions and sightseeing according to the program

Full board during the trekking tour / climbing tour / safari

Boiled water, black tea, coffee and powdered milk for the ascents

Transportation to and from the hotel and trailhead

Accommodation in mountain tents (2-man tent, 4-season tent, mess tent, kitchen tent, chairs and tables)

Sleeping mat

Support team (certified guides, porters, and cooks)

All park and camp fees for the tour

Guides, cook and porters and their payment

experienced english speaking kenyan guide

Preparatory talk on the phone (WhatsApp)

Not included

Airfare to and from Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda

Visa

Tips for the support team

Sleeping bags and other personal gear

Rental gear

Lunch and dinner at the hotel

Single-occupancy fee in hotel

Drinks and snacks

You must have your own personal insurance - also in the case of emergency, we can organize an airlift

Marangu Route – 8 Days

Terms and Conditions

Reservations: A deposit of 35% is required at the time of booking and the balance at least before the tour begins or full payment/part payment before treks or safaris arranged on short notice. Special payment arrangements can be made directly with the office.

Cancellation: Any monies paid will be refunded less 35% of the cost and any cost levied by hotels or any additional food expenses. Rates: Includes all expenses in respect of vehicles or drives as per itinerary/general information. Also includes meals on safari and entrance fees to National parks/game reserves.

Transportation: Cars, minibuses, 4WD’s, coaches or trucks will be provided according to the route and number of clients. The right is reserved to employ the services of sub-contractors as appropriate. English-speaking drivers/guides are provided.

Accommodation: When possible, rooms with a private shower are provided. Single rooms are available at an additional cost but cannot be guaranteed. Hotels/lodges are named as an indication of category and rooms may be reserved at similar hotels and lodges. Accommodation is specific to client’s request of budget class, middle class or luxury class, depending on availability.

Alteration to Tours/Treks: We reserve the right to alter arrangement or cancel the operation of scheduled trek/safari should the circumstance necessitate. We also reserve the right to decline or accept or retain any person as a member of any tour at any time, in which case an equitable amount will be refunded. Prices are based on tariffs and other costs prevailing at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice, but a full explanation will be given.

Liability: We do not accepts responsibility for personal injury, accident, loss while clients are on treks/safari. We advise all clients to take out additional insurance cover. Mohakin Travel acts only as agents when employing the use of sub contractors and acts as only agents of the passenger/client in all matters relating to Hotel/Lodge Accommodation, tours, transport, etc. and shall not be liable for injury, delay, loss or damage in any manner. The company’s liability to passengers carried in its own vehicle is governed by the laws of the country in which the tour takes place and no other country. All claims are subject to jurisdiction of the courts of the country in which the action a rise. The company reserves the rights to employ sub-contractors for all parts and services.

NOTE: All expeditions involve an element of personal risk and times can be hazardous nature, Expedition members must accept this risk. We are not liable for any loss, damage, Injury, expense, delay or inconvenience caused to your baggage as a result, whether directly or indirectly, or any matter or whatever nature which is outside our control. All participants are advised to take out an insurance policy to cover personal accidents and medical expenses. We can arrange this at low cost. The guide reserves the right to withdraw participants from treks, safari due to inclement weather, irresponsible behaviors, poor health or any other sound reason the guide gives.

Quality Guarantee

Mohakin Travel clients can expect the following guarantees to ensure proper service:

  • Your guide will introduce himself and your driver, and cover the laid out tour/safari itinerary in advance.
  • We will double-check that all gear and supplies are prepared for your custom tour/safari.
  • During the tour/safari, we will ensure that your needs are met and you are well cared for.
  • We will address any issues that arise out of our control, to give our clients the smoothest and most enjoyable adventure possible.
  • We will ensure the drivers/sub-contractors are on time and presentable.
  • We will give information about surrounding areas and points of interest.
  • Each day, we will set time aside to let our clients know what is happening for that day.
  • At the end of your tour/safari, we will ask for your feedback to ensure the quality of our service.

Health and Safety

Mountains in the world can sometimes be dangerous and hazardous – especially in high altitude.
It is therefore important to:

1. Be well equipped.
2. Let your expedition leader know your health history.
3. Have a good communication system.
4. Have a good basic first aid kit and know how to use it.
5. Be able to identify mountain illnesses.

HOW TO RECOGNISE ALTITUDE RELATED ILLNESS

At high altitudes the amount of oxygen decreases dramatically. This can result in medical urgency that must be a concern to every hiker.

AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)
Signs include: Headache, nausea, fatigue, malaise, loss of appetite and difficulty in sleeping.
Treatment
Slow down, stay in camps, drink water and rest while the body adjusts to the altitude. If symptoms persist after 48 hours, descend.

HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Aedema)
Symptoms include: Shortened breath during exercise progressing to shortened breath while resting, a dry cough deteriorating to a frothy sputum, audible gurgling (rales) from the chest area, increased heart and breathing rate.
Treatment
Descend immediately and seek medical attention. Descending is the treatment. It can progress quickly to a point where the patient cannot walk. It doesn’t improve with rest at the same altitude.

HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Aedema)
Symptoms include:- AMS that progress to severe headaches, loss of coordination, slurred speech, irrational behaviour, coma and death.
Treatment
Descend immediately, Hace can quickly progress to lethal stage.

Prevention of AMS, HAPE and HACE

Allow 2 nights at 10.000ft or at higher altitude at around 14,000ft. Before proceeding higher, increase fluid intake to 4-6 liters per day. Avoid extreme physical exertion and eat a light diet rich in carbohydrates. Take symptoms seriously. Rest and acclimatize if AMS is suspected. Report to ranger’s rescue station and descend immediately if HAPE or HACE is suspected.

However, it is important to drink plenty of water slowly to allow your body to get used to the altitude.

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