5 Days Marangu Route Climbing

Tour Overview

5 Days Marangu Route Climbing

5 Days Marangu Route Climbing is also known as the “Coca Cola” or “tourist” route. It is the easiest and shortest route to the summit. This is also the only route with the comforts of sleeping huts at every camp site with solar lights and comfortable beds. The huts are communal, and the bunks have a sponge mattress and pillow.

There are 60 beds at both Mandara and Kibo Huts and 120 beds at Horombo Hut. Bathrooms and running water are available at the two lower huts. Mens’ and ladies’ latrines are available at the last camp but are very basic.

All climbing groups, often from several countries around the world, share meals in dining huts providing a jovial and energetic atmosphere.

This route is usually done in 5 days but can be done in 6 days for better acclimatization. The extra day can be spent resting at Horombo or climbing the small peak of Mawenzi.

Marangu ROUTE ELEVATIONS

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Drive to Kilimanjaro National Park Marangu Gate, Hike to Mandara Hut

Day one of 5 Days Marangu Route Climbing, After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (about 1 hour), register and commence the climb. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara encampment. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colobus monkeys.


  • Elevation: 1860m/6100ft to 2700m/8875ft
  • Distance: 8km/5mi
  • Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: Montane Forest
  • Meals: LD
Day 2: Hike Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

Day two of 5 Days Marangu Route Climbing, You leave the glades of the rain-forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo encampment. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and grounsels. You may begin to feel the affects of the altitude.


  • Elevation: 2700m/8875ft to 3700m/12,200ft
  • Distance: 12km/7.5mi
  • Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
  • Habitat: Heathland
  • Meals: BLD
Day 3: Hike Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut

Day three of 5 Days Marangu Route Climbing, Ascending, we now pass the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heathland but then disappears into “moonscape”. Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit climb.


  • Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 4700m/15,500ft
  • Distance: 9km/5.5mi
  • Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert
  • Meals: BLD
Day 4: Hike Kibo Hut to Summit, and down to Horombo Hut

Day four of 5 Days Marangu Route Climbing, Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s point located on the crater rim. Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.

The beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is by far the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks. Going slowly “pole pole” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!


  • Elevation: 4700m/15,500ft to 5895m/19,340ft
  • Down to 3700m/12,200ft
  • Distance: 6km/4mi up / 15km/9mi down
  • Hiking Time: 6-8 hours up / 15km/9mi down
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert
  • Meals: BLD
Day 5: Hike Horombo Hut to trail head, drive to Moshi

Last day of 5 Days Marangu Route Climbing, After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

A vehicle will be waiting for you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 1 hour).


  • Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 1700m/5500ft
  • Distance: 20km/12.5mi
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Forest
  • Meals: B

Itinerary Map

KILIMANJARO CLIMBING PRICE

GROUP EXPEDITIONS

The price per person for group expeditions are fixed based on a group size. However, we have optional arrangements for individual private and tailor-made preferences best suited for you, your family and friends.

SEE GROUP BOOKING DISCOUNT

5 days Marangu route (Joining group price 1300$)

Number of PeoplePrice Per Person ($)
11,519
21,406
31,362
41,348
51,336
61,323
71,318
81,314
91,310
10+1,306

Includes

  • 2 night’s accommodation in Moshi or Arusha is included
  • Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your Accommodations in Moshi.
  • Park entry fees
  • Hut fees
  • Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
  • Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
  • 18% VAT on tour fees & services
  • Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters
  • 3 hot meals daily while on the mountain
  • Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
  • Hot water for washing
  • Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
  • Government taxes
  • Ox meter
  • Emergency first-aid kit

Excludes

  • Airfare Tips for porters, Guide, Cook and Assistant Guide
  • Flights
  • Visas
  • Tips to the mountain staff
  • Meals other than breakfast while in Arusha or Moshi
  • Additional nights beyond the two standard hotel nights included
  • Hotel upgrade costs if you decide to request an alternative hotel to the standard
  • Items considered to be non-essential, such as alcohol, beverages, cigarettes, snacks, etc

traveler photos from this trip

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READ TESTIMONIES FROM OUR HAPPY TRAVELERS

Maryam E
Maryam E
2023-08-06
Verified
Serious company and friendly people Tanzania Joy tours is really a serious company. They were here whenever we had any question when preparing our trip to Kilimanjaro. We did lemosho route in 8 days. Our guides Calvin and Levin and their team of porters was incredible. We spent memorable days. The whole trip was exceptional. The guides are amazing persons, very friendly and this is important since we spent a lot of time together. At the final ascension to the summit they were very motivating and never let us out. The team of porter are also very nice and helpful. Really amazing people that we will never forget on this incredible experience.
Solène L
Solène L
2023-08-01
Verified
What an amazing experience So an amazing experience with this local agency to climb the Kilimandjaro. It was initially planed to make it in 7 days by the Machame route but after some days, our chef guide Patrick propose us to make it on 6 days without risk of bad acclimatization and it was successfully ! He is a very professional guide, attentive, with a big knowledge of the mountain. We were also accompagnied by Maiko, also an incredible guide, always here to encourage us, discuss about Tanzania, life, everything. Jeremiah, the cook, made us so good meals during this 6 days. And to finish, a dream team of porters was here to help us, of course to relieve us physically but also with good attentions on the camps and some of them to the top, always in an incredible atmosphere. Nothing would have been possible without this team. I really recommand this agency if you want to success your climb, in security, with a dream team.
Camille M
Camille M
2023-08-01
Verified
Un immense merci à toute l’équipe pour cette expérience inoubliable! Un immense merci à toute l’équipe pour cette expérience inoubliable! Nous avons emprunté la route Machame en 6 jours (initialement prévu en 7 jours mais après proposition et discussion avec notre guide nous avons finalement condensé deux journées en une) Nos guides Patrick et Maiko nous ont permit d’atteindre le sommet grâce à leur professionnalisme, leur gentillesse et leur motivation. Ils étaient accompagnés d’une équipe incroyable avec un cuisinier, un serveur, des porteurs dont deux sont venus avec nous jusqu’au sommet, un responsable des tentes : rien n’aurait été possible sans eux. La nourriture était excellente, nous avons été dorlotées par toute l’équipe pendant ces 6 jours. Encore merci pour ces souvenirs gravés à jamais!
Maggie A
Maggie A
2023-07-23
Verified
worth more that 10 stars! It was a second time I went with this agency and experience is just unbelievable! Guides, hotel, food organisation - top notch. Emmanuel is just great and very responsive and adaptive to all the needs of the group. Our guide - Patrick and his team - did everything for us to succeed and to make an experience unforgettable. Big thanks to everyone. If I could give 10 stars I would!
Misty T
Misty T
2023-07-14
Verified
Two day to Horambo Hut Guide Ringo was amazing. He had local knowledge of the mountain habitats and terrain. This was a two day overnight from base to Horambo Hut. 19 km each way. Our crew prepared great meals and were amazing supports on such an extensive hike. I would ask for this crew again if hiking over more days.
Martin V
Martin V
2023-07-06
Verified
Succesfull Kilimanjaro climbing - Lemosho route with TJ Tours Just completed Kilimanjaro climbing 7 days Lemosho trek with Tanzanie Joy Tours, the successful summit. Our lead guide Patrick has helped us a lot. Incredible staff - guides, cooks, porters, etc. Everything came off without a hitch. Clients well being/safety is foremost as well as exceeding expectations. Always a great equipments tents,campsite, friendly staff and eager to make your climb the best possible experience. I would strongly recommend this local company Tanzania Joy Tours as a highly professional, quality services and supportive team.
Steffi F
Steffi F
2023-07-06
Verified
Unforgettable experience Very good experience with Patrick and his team. They were professionals and very helpful. We reach our goal and they contribute to it. I recommend TJ Tours to everybody!
Cian L
Cian L
2023-07-02
Verified
An incredible experience Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro with Tanzania Joy was a wonderful experience. Ringo and the team were fantastic, every day they went above and beyond to provide a world class experience and make the trip feel like a balance of adventure and fun. I chose the Lemosho Route as a solo trip, and felt like I was travelling with a group of friends once I met the team. From the first day I emailed Emmanuel, I received quick, detailed replies that made planning the trip a breeze. Once I arrived in Tanzania, my guide Ringo made sure I had the right equipment and prepared for the trip ahead. The entire team worked extremely hard every day to make camp lodgings feel comfortable, providing all the necessities and then some. On the trail Ringo was an amazing guide, providing encouragement and insight at every step. I ended the trip due to a bad bought of altitude sickness and struggled to breathe, and Ringo and the entire team went above and beyond to help me get to safety. Ringo even came and visited me once I got back to Moshi to make sure I was okay, and made sure I was able to get home safely. This is a genuinely great organisation with a fantastic team. Happy to recommend this group to anyone, Tanzania Joy is a very professional
Monika Va
Monika Va
2023-06-27
Verified
We recommend this company 100 percent We had a great experience with TJ Tours. Our team leader Kelvin and his assistant Hassan were knowledgeable, patient and very encouraging. Our cook made us wonderful meals and Leavy catered to all our needs. Everyone on our team did their best to help us reach the Uhuru peak!
Elżbieta W
Elżbieta W
2023-06-11
Verified
Great experience with professionel company❤️ Very professional and friendly team. They always help you when you need help. They always think positivley and believe in you. They take care of you. They explaine everythink and are very patient with you. With whole heart i recommend this company ❤️

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