The "Coca-Cola" route
Marangu Route
The only route with mountain huts instead of tents.
- Duration
- 5–6 days
- Summit
- 5,895 m (19,341 ft)
- Sleeping
- Mountain huts
- Crowds
- Busy
- Difficulty
- Moderate
The Marangu Route is the oldest way up Kilimanjaro and the only one where you sleep in huts, with shared bunk rooms and dining halls, instead of tents. It climbs from the south-east through rainforest to Mandara Hut, across moorland to Horombo Hut, and over the alpine desert of the Saddle to Kibo Hut.
The trail is well made and the gradient steady, which gave it the nickname "Coca-Cola" route. You go up and down the same way. Because the climb is shorter, acclimatisation matters: rest well, drink plenty and walk slowly, and your guides will set the pace.
Why choose this route
- Sleep in mountain huts, with beds and dining halls
- A steady, well-made trail with a gentle gradient
- The shortest climb we offer, in five days
Good to know
- It is popular, and huts are shared with other climbers
- Up and down by the same trail, so the scenery repeats
- A shorter climb gives less time to acclimatise than longer routes
Map of the Marangu Route
The trail as it is mapped on the ground, with every gate, camp and high point we pass. Select a place in the list to find it on the map.
Altitude profile
How high you climb, and where you sleep. Dips in the line are "walk high, sleep low" days that help your body adjust.
Altitude at each gate, camp and high point, in walking order. Distances between points are not to scale.
Marangu Route itinerary
The day-by-day plan we follow on our Kilimanjaro Marangu Route — 5-Day Classic Summit Trek.
After a briefing and kit check at your hotel in Moshi, drive to Marangu Gate (1,860 m) to register with Kilimanjaro National Park and meet your mountain crew.
The path climbs gently through dense montane rainforest of tall trees, ferns and moss, where you may see black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys and hear turacos in the canopy. Your guide sets a slow pace — "pole pole" — to help your body begin adjusting to the altitude.
Distance about 8 km, walking time 4–5 hours. Overnight in the A-frame huts at Mandara.
Overnight: Mandara Hut (Full Board)
Leave the forest behind and climb into the heath and moorland zone, where giant heathers, groundsels and lobelias grow among open grassland. On a short detour you can look into Maundi Crater, with views over the lowlands towards Kenya.
As you climb, the jagged peak of Mawenzi and the snow-capped dome of Kibo come into view. Horombo Hut sits on a ridge above the clouds, with sunsets that often light up both summits.
Distance about 12 km, walking time 6–7 hours.
Overnight: Horombo Hut (Full Board)
Continue upwards past the last water point and onto the Saddle, the wide alpine desert between Mawenzi and Kibo. The landscape is stark and beautiful, with few plants able to survive the cold nights and strong sun.
Arrive at Kibo Hut in the early afternoon. Your guides check your health, help you prepare your summit gear, and serve an early dinner so you can rest for a few hours before the summit attempt.
Distance about 10 km, walking time 6–7 hours.
Overnight: Kibo Hut (Full Board)
Wake around 11 pm for tea and biscuits and begin the summit climb by headtorch. The steep scree path zigzags up to Hans Meyer Cave and then to Gilman's Point (5,681 m) on the crater rim, usually reached around dawn.
From Gilman's Point, a further one to two hours along the rim brings you to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa, with views over the crater, glaciers and the plains far below.
After photographs, descend to Kibo Hut for a rest and a meal, then continue down to Horombo Hut. It is a long and demanding day of 12–16 hours in total.
Overnight: Horombo Hut (Full Board)
Descend through the moorland and rainforest to Marangu Gate, where you sign out of the national park and receive your summit certificate. Tipping and farewells to your crew usually take place here.
Distance about 20 km, walking time 5–6 hours. Transfer to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha for a hot shower and a celebration dinner.
End of trek.
Marangu Route: questions and answers
- Is Marangu the easiest route?
- Its trail is the gentlest, but the short schedule gives less time to adjust to the altitude. Good fitness and a slow pace make a real difference.
- What are the huts like?
- Simple shared huts with bunk beds and mattresses, and a dining hall at each camp. Bring a warm sleeping bag: nights are cold, especially at Kibo Hut.
Other routes up Kilimanjaro
Compare all routesMachame Route
Kilimanjaro's classic: rainforest, the Lava Tower and the Barranco Wall.
Route guide and map → 7–8 daysLemosho Route
The most beautiful way up: a quiet western start and the wide Shira Plateau.
Route guide and map → 9 daysNorthern Circuit Route
The longest and quietest route, around the wild northern slopes.
Route guide and map →