The Marangu Route is nicknamed the “Coca-cola” route and it is followed by ninety percent of all climbers.

The path is well defined, ‘climber friendly’ and it offers accommodation in huts at Mandara, Horombo, and Kibo en route. The Tanzanian Government limits the number of climbers on each Mountain route at any one time. On the Marangu Route you will always meet climbers from all over the world making it a social and friendly trip. This is a very scenic route with good views of Mawenzi and excellent prospects for viewing wildlife.

You have the choice of 4 nights or 5 nights on the Mountain with a night before and after at a small hotel in Moshi.

We are able to arrange any route – additional days on the mountain if requested, overnights in the crater, technical climbs, or supply additional services on any of the routes – such as one-on-one guiding, portable toilets, guides to carry your cameras to the summit etc – to make this into the ultimate 5 star adventure. We’ve even organised surprise birthday parties (complete with cake and champagne!) – and instantly emailed photographs from the summit to a clients’ boardroom!

Day 1 – Keys Hotel, 1 night
On arrival at Keys Hotel check in to your room and meet your guide for a climb briefing. He will outline your day by day goals and check over all your gear.

If you need to hire any extra gear, advise the hotel this evening. Leave any excess clothing and valuables at the hotel – they will lock them up for you. Pack your bag carefully for the climb – remember the weight limit of 12kg. Leave some ‘plastic bin bags’ in an outer pocket of your bag, and show the porters where they are so that in case of rain they can quickly cover your bag. Keep one out for your personal backpack too!
Dinner

Day 2 – Marangu to Mandara Hut (2710 mtrs)
After breakfast transfer to Marangu Gate to sign the register at the Park office and make your final preparations for the climb. Your team of porters will arrange and load their packs, containing the food, water, cooking gas and most of your equipment. It is important to have all your daypack items such as drinking water, a lunch pack and extra clothing with you and not with the porters, as they will ascend a lot quicker than you.

When you leave the Park you take a cleared ridge trail through the cultivation zone, where you will see how local farmers manage and produce their goods on the side of the mountain, before you enter the forest. This is a beautiful part of the climb as lush forest and sometimes-thick clouds surround you.
After stopping for lunch and a rest, head off to Mandara Hut to spend the first night. Mandara consists of a group of wooden A-framed huts situated in a forest clearing, with each hut sleeping 6 to 8 hikers in bunk beds. All the huts are equipped with solar generated lighting and this camp has a total capacity of 60 hikers. Spring water is piped into the camp and you will find flush toilets behind the main hut.

Today’s Route: Marangu Gate – Mandara hut
Altitude range: 1970 metres – 2710 metres
Hiking time: About 5 hours
Distance: 12 kilometres
Habitat: Rain forest
All meals

Day 3 – Mandara to Horombo Hut (3720 mtrs)
Set out early – from Mandara hut the trail passes through a short stretch of forest, and then heads around the base of the Maundi Crater where you will leave the forest and enter the moorland.

We recommend you take a short detour up to the rim of the Maundi Crater – from here you see the impressive Kibo Crater, and on a clear day you will also be able to see the glaciers of Kibo. This is a great photographic opportunity. In the moorlands you will also encounter some of Kilimanjaro most spectacular and strange plants in the open moorland – with giant lobelia and groundsel growing to heights of 3 and 5 metres respectively!

Later in the afternoon reach Horombo Hut to stay overnight. There is hot water and an evening meal prepared by your cook. Your hut will be comfortable enough to ensure a good nights rest. Temperatures during the night will be around freezing point.

Today’s Route: Mandara hut – Horombo hut
Altitude range: 2710 metres – 3720 metres
Hiking time: About 6 hours
Distance: 15 kilometres
Habitat: Moorland
All meals

Day 4 – Horombo Hut – OPTIONAL acclimatization Day
Your choice – an extra day at Horombo Hut will improve your chances of reaching the summit but of course it does add to the cost and you may not have the time??

Today is acclimatisation day so you will stay based at Horombo Hut. A great way to spend the day is to hike out past Zebra Rocks to Mawenzi hut. This will take about 3 hours on the ascent, and a further 1 ½ hours for the descent back to camp. Remember to keep your water intake levels up, and not too rush this hike.

Horombo hut is actually a village of huts with double the capacity of Mandara camp – both ascending and descending hikers meet here with all the guides, porters and cooks on their respective routes – so this camp is normally full and buzzes with activity and excitement. All meals for the day are provided at Horombo hut. Tonight you will have a good opportunity to get to bed early for a good night’s sleep – make the most of it because you will need all the energy you can get for the next couple of days.

Today’s Route: Horombo hut – Zebra hut – Mawenzi hut
Altitude range: 3720 metres
Hiking time: 4 ½ hours
Distance: 6 – 8 kilometres
Habitat: Alpine desert
All meals

Day 4 or Day 5 – Horombo to Kibo Hut (4826 mtrs)
If you are not allowing a day for acclimatization this will be Day 4.
If you are then this will be Day 5.

The climb is becoming more difficult as the oxygen at these altitudes begins to thin out considerably. To begin today you can take one of the two trails to the “Saddle”, located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Stick to the lower route, which is much easier and has the added benefit of taking you past the last watering point. Unless you are willing to buy mineral water at Kibo Hut, you should stock up with all the water you will need – the next watering point will be at Horombo hut when you return there on your descent the night after next. Once again remember to take it slowly and drink enough water.

It will take from 5 to 7 hours to reach Kibo Hut where you will rest and have dinner. This is a barren area of extreme conditions, with temperatures at night sometimes dropping to below freezing point and daytime temperatures being relatively high.

Kibo is a large stone house that can comfortably sleep 60 hikers in bunk beds – remember there is no water supply at this camp, although you can buy mineral water and soft drinks at the camp office. There are toilet facilities behind the hut.

Spend time this afternoon preparing your equipment as you will be making your final ascent tonight – you will need your ski-stick and extra thermal clothing for your summit bid – also ensure that your headlamp and camera batteries are in order and make sure you have spare sets of batteries available as well. Carry your water in a thermal flask otherwise it will freeze later. Make sure you are in bed by 7pm – you will need all the sleep you can get before your very early wake up call in only 4 ½ hours time.

Today’s Route: Horombo hut – Kibo hut
Altitude range: 3725 metres – 4826 metres
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: 15 – 16 kilometres
Habitat: Alpine desert
All meals

Day 5 or Day 6 – The Summit & back to Horombo Hut
Today will by far be your toughest day, you will be woken just before midnight and soon head off into the cold night up a rocky path towards to the Hans Meyer Cave at 5150 metres – you may take a short rest here before continuing your ascent up to Gillman’s point at 5680 metres. Probably the most demanding section of the entire route as it is very steep and stony – go slowly and carefully here.
From Gillman’s Point, you will more than likely be walking through snow for the next 2 hours, when you will finally reach the summit of Uhuru Peak at 5895 metres.

Cold and fatigue will set in quickly here and you may find it very difficult to get started again. So spend a little time to enjoy the fact that you have conquered Kilimanjaro, get the camera out and take some pictures, then it will be best that you get moving again – it’s a long way down!

The first part of your descent to Kibo hut will take almost another 3 hours. After a short rest you will begin the next part of your descent – it will take another 3 hours of hiking to get to Horombo hut where you will spend the night. Later you can enjoy your last dinner on the mountain. You will no doubt have a good sleep, feeling exhilarated and proud of your achievement.

Today’s Route: Kibo hut – Uhuru Peak – Horombo hut
Altitude range: 4700 metres – 5895 metres – 3720 metres
Hiking time: About 14 hours
Distance: About 27 kilometres in total
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
All meals

Day 6 or Day 7– Back to Marangu, Keys Hotel, 1 night
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, you continue your descent passing the Mandara hut, down to the Marangu gate – this will take the best part of 6 hours.

At Marangu gate you sign your name and details in a register. To make your achievement official, you will receive a summit certificate. If you reached Gillman’s Point you will be presented with a green certificate, and if you made it all the way to Uhuru Peak you will have earned yourself a gold certificate.

You then take a road transfer back to your hotel where you have certainly earned a long hot shower and a drink or three to celebrate before getting a decent night’s rest in a comfortable bed.
Final Descent

Today’s Route: Horombo hut – Marangu Gate
Altitude range: 3720m – 1980m
Hiking time: 1980m
Distance: About 27 kilometres
Habitat: Moorla
All meals

Day 7 or Day 8 – Departure

Check out of your hotel this morning – we can arrange departure transfers / safaris to suit you!

DATES

The climb can be arranged for any day of the week, year round.

SAFARI  STYLE
If you want to achieve your goal and see the sun rise over the roof of Africa you need to hike with experts. It is also important that you hike with a company that respects the environment and ensures your Kilimanjaro Climb is a positive experience for all involved – the porters & guides as well as you! Reasons to use our Kilimanjaro operators include:

* They are the only company in Tanzania that belongs to IMEC (International Mountain Explorers Connection) which is an American initiative that protects porters’ rights. This ensures a number of key issues amongst them being that the porters are properly clothed (wet weather gear, suitable footwear etc), are not abused with excess weight, are paid a living wage and that they have a collective ‘voice’.
* Additionally they further support various charities in the area and have been instrumental in fund raising to build both a senior and junior school in the Moshi district.
* All the guides have recently undertaken an extensive course on medical rescue, mountain rescue, first aid and related mountain injuries through an independent organization.
* The Moshi office staffs first climbed Kilimanjaro in 1985 and have now made 24 successful summits.

YOUR ACCOMMODATION / CLIMB

The Keys Hotel, your base hotel, is located in Moshi about 3 km from the centre of town in a quiet suburb. It has a swimming pool, indoor bar and garden area, patio, restaurant and CNN /M-Net television coverage. The rooms are clean and comfortable. Showers are en-suite with hot/cold water. The staff are very friendly and ‘nothing is too much trouble’.

On the this climb your accommodation is in the huts on the mountain – these are shared with other climbers and are simple but provide adequate shelter and protection from the environment.

KIT LIST SUMMARY

Waterproof Rucksack and Day pack, Sleeping bag (at least 3 seasons), Water purifying tablets, Insulation pad, Boots and light walking shoes, Balaclava and Woolen hat or Scarf, Snow goggles / Sun glasses, Gaiters, Gloves, Sweaters / Jumpers Pants and Jackets (waterproof), Water bottle, Anorak / raincoat, Several pairs of socks, First aid kit and insect repellent Sun protection cream and Lip salve, Personal toiletry requirements, Flash light with spare batteries, Whistle and some plastic Bags, Walking stick / Ski-pole.

EQUIPMENT

We have in-house equipment hire for necessary items such as Ventex jackets, down jackets, sleeping bags, waterproof pants, walking poles, water bottle, backpacks and kit bags. This must be pre-booked well in advance.

BRIEFING

It is important to arrive the evening before the climb; there is then time for a comprehensive briefing. Your kit will be checked and if anything is missing or inadequate we will try to arrange it from our hire supply, however at the last minute this is not always possible. If you plan to hire gear please do this at the time of booking or paying your deposit.

PREPARATION

Both mental and physical – are fundamental to your success. We have kit lists, medical lists, very detailed itineraries as well as a documented exercise routine; we can e-mail you these if you feel they will be of assistance in preparing for the trip.

THE GUIDES AND CREW

Good guiding gets you to the top and OUR guides are excellent. Some of our local guides have climbed and been trained in the USA and on Everest, and have years of experience on all major routes (including technical routes). Some of our guides have reached the summit over 400 times!! The guides motivate you and look after your every need – ensuring that everyone safely gets to the top. We continually receive excellent reports for these conscientious hard-working people. The high guide / climber ratio ensures a safe ascent.

The Guides have completed a course on the principles of first aid and safety management including

* Emergency scene management
* Artificial respiration
* On-rescue CPR
* Choking
* Wounds & bleeding
* Shock, unconsciousness and fainting
* Fractures
* Burns
* Head and spinal injuries
* Correct use of oxygen & gamow bag if carried.

RATIO OF STAFF/GUIDES/PORTERS TO GUESTS

The below table is a guideline to the ratio of guides and porters to guests – it may vary a little from time to time (eg a disabled group or elderly group may require more staff), but it is an indication of group size. Some companies may ‘skimp’ on this very important issue, saving costs, but risking the safety and wellbeing of their guests. In order to conserve the environment, we try to limit the number of crew, whilst still providing good service and gear, and not overloading our crew in line with approved guidelines. Further by employing local people we are putting money back into the community.