5 Days Marangu Hiking Tour gets you to Uhuru Peak Mount Kilimanjaro’s highest point. The 5 Days Marangu Hiking Tour is ideal for all hikers on hiking vacation in Tanzania. The hike takes place along Marangu Route also referred to as the “Coca-Cola” route” with dormitory style accommodations i.e 60 bunk beds each at Mandara and Kibo Huts, and 120 bunk beds at Horombo Hut.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to the hotel bed and breakfast in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day. Accommodation at Keys Hotel
After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (45 minutes), register and commence the climb. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara encampment. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colobus monkeys.
You leave the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the
Horombo encampment. Views of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant
lobelias and grounsels. You may begin to feel the effects of the altitude.
Ascending, we now pass the last watering point, walking into the saddle of Kilimanjaro between
the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heathland but then disappears into
“moonscape”. Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit climb.
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman’s point located on the crater rim. Continuing, we now ascend to
Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa. There are unbelievable views at every turn. Have
your picture taken at the summit to show your friends and family. From here we descend, stopping
for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment.
The beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is by far the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks. Going slowly “pole pole” and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
After breakfast, a steady descent takes us down through moorland to the Mandara Hut. Continue
descending through lush forest path to the National Park gate at Marangu. At lower elevations, it
can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be
plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
A vehicle will meet you at Marangu gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi. Don’t forget to
tip your guides and porters.
