6 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.

6 Days Trek - Marangu Route

Route Itinerary

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

7k /mi | 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: Marangu Hut (2715m) to Horombo Hut (3720m)

11km/3mi | 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) – Acclimatization Day

After the late breakfast, you will take 3 hours hike from Horombo Hut toward Mawenzi Hut (4310m) through Zebra Rocks and 1.5 hours down to the hut. This hike is strongly recommended to exercise your lungs and muscles as well as adjusting to the weather and altitude. You will then spend the night at this hut ready for the hard task the following day.

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

10.5km/6mi | 6-8hrs | Semi Desert
Elevation: 3721m/12,208ft to 4714m/15,466ft
Altitude gained: 993m

In day 4 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 5: Kibo Hut (4700m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) to Horombo Hut (3720m)

15.75km /9mi down | 5-6hrs | Glaciers, Snow Capped Summit
Elevation: 4714m/15,466ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude gained: 1181m
Descent to 3721m/12,208ft
Altitude lost: 2174m

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 6: Horombo Hut (3720m) to Marangu Gate (1860m)

20km/12.5mi |6-7hrs | Rainforest
Elevation: 3721m/12,208 to 1905m/6250ft
Altitude lost: 1816m

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