5 Days Marangu Route Trek

Route Overview

Marangu Route, commonly known as the Coca-Cola route is more popular because it can be done in fewer days and has permanent sleep huts at the campsites.
Summit night from Kibo Hut is steep and passes Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak. It is a shorter route with a steeper incline and less time for acclimatization it tends to have a lower summit success rate. This is the only route where the ascent and descent route is shared, thus creating more traffic.

5 Days Trek - Marangu Route

Route Itinerary

Day 1: Marangu Gate (1860m) to Mandara Hut (2715m)

7km /4.35mi | 4-5 hrs | Rainforest
Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2740m/9000ft

Before you depart from the hotel you will have a short briefing about the mountain. You will then drive for about an hour to Marangu Gate, spend a few minutes doing registration while your guides and porters are packing your equipment and supplies.

Hiking starts from Marangu Gate (1860m) through rain forest to Mandara Hut (2715m). On this day you will hike about 8.1km which takes 5-6 hours.

Day 2: Mandara Hut (2715m) to Horombo Hut (3720m)

11km/6.83mi | 6-8hrs | Mooreland
Elevation: 2740m/9000ft to 3690m/12,100ft

Your hiking starts after breakfast. The trail passes through a petite spring forest of little Maundi Crater then emerges into the transition from the rainforest to moorland. If there will be no clouds, you might see the view of Mawenzi and KiboPeak when reaching the garden of flora and fauna. On this day you will hike about 12km which takes 5-7hours.

Day 3: Horombo Hut (3720m) to Kibo Hut (4700m)

10km/6.21mi | 6-8hrs | Semi Desert
Elevation: 3690m/12,100ft to 4695m/15,400ft

In day 3 the hiking starts early in the morning – just after breakfast from Horombo Hut (3720m) to Kibo Hut (4700m). The hike is slow and steady through rugged and rocky landscape to the arctic zone about 9.6km which takes 5-7 hours.

Day 4: Kibo Hut (4700m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) to Horombo Hut (3720m)

14km /9mi down | 5-6hrs | Glaciers, Snow Capped Summit
Elevation: 4695m/15,400ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Descent to 3690m/12,100ft

The hike starts at midnight from Kibo Hut (4700m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m). This is where the going gets really tough. The path will take you through a very steep zigzag trail with a lot of stone screw to the Gilmans point (5680m) which is located on the crater rim. Finally, you will cross to the edge of the rim to Uhuru Peak (5895m). The journey takes about 6km to reach Uhuru Peak for 7 – 8 hours, and about 15km to descend to Horombo Hut for 6 – 8 hours.

Day 5: Horombo Hut (3720m) to Marangu Gate (1860m)

18km/11mi |6-7hrs | Rainforest
Elevation: 3690m/12,100 to 1830m/6000ft

This is the last day on this Mountain; you will descend from Horombo Hut passing the Mandara Hut to Marangu Gate (1860m). The vehicle will be waiting for you at the gate to take you back to the hotel after finishing registration. The descending distance for this day is 19.7km which takes about 6 – 7 hours.