Mount Kilimanjaro Climb Marangu Route.
Marangu Route, also called the “Coca-Cola Route,” is Mount Kilimanjaro’s oldest and most popular path, famous for its comfortable hut accommodations.
Communal dining, steady, less steep ascent through rainforest, moorland, and alpine desert, making it good for acclimatization when extended to 6 days, though the same-route ascent/descent offers less varied scenery than other routes and can have lower success rates if rushed in 5 days.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on the Marangu Route
Marangu Route, or “Coca-Cola Route,” is Kilimanjaro’s oldest and most popular trail, famous for its hut accommodations instead of camping, making it comfortable but also crowded, and typically done in 5 or 6 days.
Offers a gradual ascent through rainforests to alpine zones, though its shorter duration can challenge acclimatization, leading to a lower summit success rate compared to longer routes.
Climbers enjoy unique views of Mawenzi peak and see diverse wildlife, but it’s known for its steady, less scenic path with the same ascent/descent route, making it a great choice for beginners seeking comfort but requiring careful pacing for altitude.
Mount Kilimanjaro Climb Marangu Route Trek.
Total hiking distance: About 96 kms (Excluding any acclimatization hike).
Kilimanjaro Climb Marangu Route. Affectionately known as the “Coca-Cola route”, Marangu route is by far the most popular route to the summit of Kilimanjaro.
This could partly be as a result of the fact that the Marangu is the least expensive route, but more so, perhaps the fact that it is possible to do the Marangu route in 5 days, thereby getting to the summit one day earlier than on the Machame route.
This is not always the best way due to a shorter acclimatization period. The Marangu route does however offer you the option of spending an extra acclimatization day on the mountain.
Mount Kilimanjaro Climb Marangu Route
This extends the route to a 6-day march, greatly increasing your chances of success.
Hut accommodation on the Marangu route forms one of the main differences, compared to the other routes. It offers you the relative luxury of being able to sleep in huts along the entire route.
Kilimanjaro Climb Marangu Route
Mineral water, soft drinks, chocolates and beers are also sold at all the camps on this route. All your equipment and supplies are portered and a cook prepares all your meals.
For the 5-day route, simply exclude the additional acclimatization day at Horombo hut – day 3 on the itinerary below.
The oldest route on Mount Kilimanjaro, the Marangu route, is also known as the “Tourist Route” or “Coca Cola Route.“
And you may have heard that “of all routes up Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Marangu route is the easiest, cheapest and by far the most popular.“
Only one of the statements is true: climbing Kilimanjaro on the Marangu route is the cheapest option.
The Marangu route is not the most popular route anymore. Surpassed by the Machame Route.
We disagree with the statement that the Marangu Route is the easiest because it is misleading.
It may be the easiest trip to organize, have the widest, most comfortable path to walk on and offer hut accommodation, but that does NOT make it easier to reach the summit.
Marangu Route Itinerary
Starting Point: Marangu Gate (1860 m/6100 ft)
Day 1 – Marangu Gate (1860 m/6100 ft) – Mandara Huts (2700m/8860 ft)
Distance: 8 km/5 miles; time: 3-4 hours
Altitude gain: 840 m/2760 ft
Day 2 – Mandara Huts – Horombo Huts (3700 m/12140 ft)
Distance: 12 km/7.2 miles
Time: 5-7 hours
Altitude gain: 1000 m/3280 ft
Duration: 5 days (acclimatization day can be added at Horombo)
Day 3 – Horombo Huts – Kibo Huts (4700 m/15420 ft)
9.5 km/5.7 miles; time: 5-7 hours
Altitude gain: 1000 m/3280 ft
Day 4 – Summit attempt via Gilman’s Point (5700 m/18700 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5895 m/19340 ft) and descent to Horombo Hut (3700 m/12200 ft)
Walking distance: 5.5 km/3.5 miles ascent + 15 km/9.5 miles descent
Walking time: 5-6 hrs + 1-2 hours up, 5-6 hours down (the overall walking time varies from 10 – 16 hours)
Altitude gain: 1000 m/ 3280 ft (Gilman’s Point) or 1195 m/3920 ft (Uhuru Peak)
Descent: 2195 m/7200 ft
Mount Kilimanjaro Climb Marangu Route
Day 5 – Horombo Huts – Marangu Gate
Walking distance: 20 km/12.5 miles
Walking time: 5 hours
Descent: 1840 m/6040 ft
Mount Kilimanjaro Climb Marangu Route