Marangu Route

This is the popular and easiest trekking way which is visited by many tourists. It is also known as ‘Cocacola’ route. When trekking through this route you do not need to carry tents with you because there are permanent huts located at Mandara, Horombo and Kibo.

 

Day 1:

Moshi (915 m/3,000 ft) to Marangu Gate (1,830 m/6,000 ft) to Mandara Huts (2,720 m/9,000 ft) 8 km, 4-5 hours Rain Forest (Montane Forest)Breakfast will be available around 7 am then followed by briefing (tour guide). At 9am, 1hr drive from the hotel to Marangu gate whereby park registration will be conducted before begin hiking. 10:30 am, hiking begins. When trekking you will get an opportunity to walk through the rain forest while viewing the beautiful attractions such as birds, colubus and blue monkeys. If there is sunny it is recommended to use shorts and t-shirts at the lower elevation while keeping your rain gear and warmer clothing handy. Lunch will be taken on the way before arriving at Mandara huts where you will have some rest and have tea/coffee. A 15 minute side trip to Maundy Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. Dinner is served during the early evening at 7 PM. Bathrooms with running water are available.

 

Day 2:

Mandara Huts(2,720m/9,000 ft) to Horombo Huts (3,620 m/12,100 ft) 11 km, 6-8 hours Heath Breakfast will be available at 7:30 AM. Break camp by 8:30 AM, hike for an hour through rainforest glades, following an ascending path through heath land where giant lobelias and groundsels may be spotted. Continue walking up into open moorlands with small shrubs and will stop halfway for lunch, while looking at amazing views of Mawenzi. Kibo summit will be seen at 3 pm upon the arrival at Horombo Huts and then you will rest, unpack, and prepare for dinner. Bathrooms with running water are available. At this point you may experience the effects of altitude, and to aid your acclimatization, you can choose to spend an extra day resting at Horombo or climbing to a base camp below Kibo sub peak Mawenzi.

 

Day 3:

Horombo Huts (3,620 m/12,100 ft) to Kibo Huts (4,720 m/15,400 ft) 10 km, 6-8 hours Alpine Desert Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast and be able to get nice photos of the sunrise if the weather is fine. Number one priority; remember to report to your guide if you get some problems related to the altitude. There is no running water at the Kibo Huts.

 

Day 4:

Summit Day! Kibo Huts (4,620 m/15,400 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) to Horombo Huts (3,620 m/12,100 ft) 4 km up, 14 km down 10-15 hours Day 5 Horombo Huts(3,720 m/12,100 ft) to Marangu Gate (1,830 m/6,000 ft) to Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft) 18 km, 5-7 hours Breakfast will be as usual on the same time, load your bag pack, and get ready to descend through the moorland to Mandara Huts for lunch, then will continue with your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to the park gate, and usually it is around 2 or 3 PM to arrive here. Please remember to tip your guides, cooks, and porters, since you will be leaving them here. A vehicle will take you back to your hotel in Moshi, where it is definitely time for celebration!