Summary
This is a 7 days/6 night’s tour through the Marangu route to the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Because it is the most popular route followed by about ninety percent of all climbers, it is sometimes referred to as the 'Coca-Cola' route. It has a well-defined path, which has been well set out and where most obstacles have been modified to make them 'climber friendly'. Accommodation on this route is in purpose built mountain huts providing adequate shelter and even bottled water, beer and soft drinks. Despite the human traffic (it can be fun to mingle with climbers from all over the world), this is a very scenic route with good views of Mawenzi and excellent prospects for viewing wildlife.
On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel where you will be given a pre-climb briefing on the trek, later have dinner and the rest of the evening at leisure.
After breakfast, you will drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Gate at Marangu for the first section of the climb through the montane forest taking you between 3 to 4 hours to Mandara Hut at 9000ft/ 2750m.
Dinner and overnight at Mandara hut
Today, leaving the forest, you trek along a good path through open grassy moorland to reach Horombo Hut at 12000ft/3700m, taking 5 to 7 hours.
Dinner and overnight at Horombo hut
On this day, you continue ascending past ‘the last water point' traversing the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi for between 5 to 7 hours to Kibo Hut at 15000ft/4700m.
Dinner and overnight at Kibo hut.
Today is an early start for the summit on steep and heavy scree up to Gilman's Point at 18640ft / 5681m. on the crater rim to arrive in time for sunrise. Continue on to Uhuru Peak the highest point in Africa at 19340ft / 5896m.
You then begin descend to Horombo Hut which will take you between 7 to 8 hours to ascent and another 4 to 7 hours descent.
Dinner and overnight at Horombo hut
This day you continue to descend the mountain which will take you between 5 to 7 hours to the Park Gate then to the met and finally be transferred to your hotel where you will have dinner and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.
