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Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via the Marangu Route

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Tanzania Tanzania

Trekking Map

Trekkingrouten Kilimandscharo

The Marangu Route, also known as the “Coca-Cola Route”, is one of the most popular and well-known routes for climbing Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. It offers an alternative for trekkers who do not want to sleep in a tent, as comfortable huts with mattress beds and communal toilet facilities are available.

The route covers approximately 64 kilometers (round trip) and is characterized by its gentle climb up to Kibo Hut, making it one of the “easiest” routes. Nevertheless, summit day represents a significant challenge and requires good physical fitness and altitude adaptation. You will pass through different ecological zones, starting in the dense rainforest, rich in tropical vegetation and a variety of animal species, including monkeys and exotic birds. As the altitude increases, the landscape changes into heath and moorland with characteristic plants such as lobelia and senecia. These sections offer impressive views of the surrounding valleys and the summit of Kilimanjaro.
The final stage takes you through an alpine desert, a barren, rocky landscape, with the climb often taking place at night to witness the spectacular sunrise at the summit.
Experience at heights, sure-footedness and good endurance are prerequisites for participation.

We highly recommend adding a few days of safari to this trip. Tanzania should not be left without experiencing the impressive wildlife and breathtaking landscapes.

Day 1: Kilimanjaro Airport – Moshi – Briefing
You will be met by our driver at Kilimanjaro Airport and then driven to your reserved hotel in Arusha. The drive takes about an hour and with a little luck you will get a glimpse of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru. After checking in, your guide will give you a brief briefing about your booked trip and then look through your equipment. You have the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening you will be invited by your guide to the welcome dinner. Overnight at Chanya Lodge or similar category, (D).

Day 2: Drive Moshi to Marangu Gate (1,860m) and trek to Mandara Hut (2,700m) – 4 hrs. hike
Early in the morning we drive for about 1 hour to the Marangu Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park (1,840 m). While our guide is busy with the registration forms, we can watch our mountain team / crew prepare for the ascent and pack their bags. As soon as the registration is done and the team is prepared, our Kilimanjaro adventure through the dense rainforest begins. We may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the black and white colobus monkeys foraging in the lush vegetation. After about 4 hours of easy hike through the magnificent rainforest, we reach the beautifully situated Mandara Hut. After a well-deserved break, our guide takes us to the Maundi crater, where we can enjoy a magnificent view of the Kenyan interior. Overnight in Mandara Hut (B|L|D).

Day 3: Mandara Hut (2,700 m) to Horombo Hut (3,700 m) – approx. 6 hrs
The day begins with an early breakfast and shortly after leaving the Mandara Hut, we reach the tree line where the vegetation turns into heather bushes. We hike through a beautiful moor landscape through the hills with special flora until after about 6 hours the Horombo Hut comes into view at an altitude of about 3,700 m. From the huts we have a fantastic view of the Mawenzi, the second highest peak in the Kilimanjaro massif, of the Kibo peak and the wide plains below us. Kilimanjaro consists of three extinct conical volcanoes, Kibo (5,895 m), Mawenzi (5,148 m) and Shira (3,962 m). Overnight in Horombo Hut (B|L|D).

Day 4: Acclimatization day – to the Zebra Rocks (3,980 m) & back to the Horombo Hut (3,700 m) – approx. 4 hrs.
The purpose of an acclimatization day is to get our bodies used to high altitudes. Acclimatization shouldn’t be underestimated as it greatly improves our chances of reaching the summit. After a relaxed breakfast, we go on a 2 to 4-hour hike to the 3,980 m high zebra rocks. The distinctive black and white stripes give the rock formation its name. A warm lunch awaits us on our return to the Horombo Hut. In the afternoon we can relax and recharge our batteries for the next day’s hike. Overnight in Horombo Hut (B|L|D).

Day 5: Horombo Hut (3,700 m) to Kibo Hut (4,700 m) – approx. 6 hrs.
Today’s stage is long and demanding, although there are no steep climbs. You will clearly feel the height and thus the thinning air today. The path leads past gigantic Scenicio Kilimajari plants, past the “last water point”, which is followed by the so-called “saddle”. We will have the Mawenzi and Kibo summits in view almost the whole long way. This almost vegetation-free plateau connects the summit of the Kibo with the Mawenzi. Today’s destination is the Kibo Hut and should be reached in about 5 to 6 hours. After an invigorating lunch, we can relax a little, have dinner around 5:00 p.m. and go to sleep around 7:00 p.m. The ascent to the summit starts at midnight, so it is important that we recover well beforehand. Because the ascent to the summit is a little longer from this route, it is very im-portant that we eat and drink enough and recharge our batteries for the long day on the summit. Remember to have at least 3 liters of warm drinking water prepared by the crew. Overnight in the Kibo Hut (B|L|D).

Day 6: Kibo Hut (4,700 m) to Uhuru Summit (5,895 m) back to Horombo Hut (3,700 m) – 12 to 14 hours
Today is the “big day” of the summit stage. After a hot tea and light breakfast, we start in the middle of the night when the lava ash is still frozen and walking is easier. We start the long and arduous ascent to the summit in the dark, with our headlamp and under the light of the starry sky. Passing the 5,200 m high Hans Meyer Cave, it slowly but surely goes uphill. At sunrise we reach Gilman’s Point (5,715 m) on the crater rim. You have to expect strong winds on the further ascent. After about an hour we reach Stella Point (5,756 m). Another 1 to 2 hours ascent along the crater ridge lead us to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Here we see Kili-manjaro in all its glory and enjoy the 360 ° view over the landscape at sunrise. We are now on the “roof of Africa”! The comparatively easy but long descent is on the same route. The temperatures now change from minus degrees to high plus degrees. Remember to drink enough on the way back and to eat a snack now and then because your body has used up a lot of energy. At lunchtime we should arrive at the Kibo-Hut, where the porters and the cook are waiting for us with tasty dishes. After a warm meal and a well-deserved break of about 1 hour, we make our way back to the Horombo Hut (3,700 m). After dinner, most people go to bed early and enjoy a long, restful sleep. Overnight in the Horombo Hut (B|L|D).

Day 7: Horombo Hut (3,700 m) to Mandara Hut (2,700 m) – drive to Moshi – approx. 6 hrs. hike and 1 hr drive
The last stage leads through the heather and moor zone to the Mandara Hut (2,700 m), where our last lunch awaits us on the mountain. Soon we are back in the lush tropical rainforest and after about 6 hours of trekking we are back at the Kilimanjaro National Park gate (1,860 m). After we have said goodbye to our mountain crew, we will be driven back to Moshi to our accommodation. End of the trek! Overnight at the Chanya Lodge or similar category (B|L).

Day 8: Departure Drive to Arusha-Kilimanjaro International Airport or connecting module Safari / Zanzibar
Free time until departure. Our driver will pick you up from the hotel according to your flight details and drive you to the airport (B).

We reserve the right to make changes to the program due to special events, force majeure or weather reasons.

Legends: B = breakfast | L = lunch | D = dinner

This trekking tour can also be booked for individual travelers at an additional cost or for your group at dates other than shown here.

German guided tour
English guided tour

Duration: 8 days
Costs: € 1.990 per person
Group size: 3 to 8 persons (all the tour dates are guaranteed with a minimum group size of only three persons)
€ 100 for single room/tent supplement

What’s included:

  • Transfer from and to the airport
  • All mentioned transfers in Tanzania with private vehicle
  • Welcome dinner
  • Accommodation and breakfast in Arusha/Moshi
  • Three meals and 3 liters of boiled drinking water on the trekking tour
  • Professional, English-speaking local mountain guide
  • Mountain crew (cook & porter)
  • All national park fees
  • Emergency telephone

Not included

  • Sleeping bag
  • All flights
  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks other than water
  • Visa fees (US $ 50)
  • Tips
  • Personal expenses
  • Personal travel insurance

Visa
For your trip to Tanzania you will need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the entire duration of your trip, as well as a visa. The visa can be applied for electronically via the website https://visa.immigration.go.tz/. Visa processing usually takes around two weeks. It is recommended that you begin the visa application process as soon as you have received the final travel documents from us online approximately four weeks before the start of your trip..

Vaccinations
No compulsory vaccinations, in particular no yellow fever vaccination, are required for direct entry from Germany / Switzerland, Austria to the mainland of Tanzania and Zanzibar. This also applies when entering a yellow fever endemic area in transit; as long as the airport is not left during the stopover and the stay is less than 12 hours. However, you should be vaccinated against tetanus, hepatitis A, diphtheria and polio. Hepatitis B and typhoid vaccinations are recommended for long stays.
We recommend that you consult your doctor in good time. Further information can be found on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.

Insurance
A travel health insurance (with rescue costs) is essential for your own safety and a prerequisite for booking our trips. In the event of an accident in the mountains or on safari that requires a helicopter, the helicopter will not take off until full coverage of the costs has been clarified.
We strongly recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance. Flights at bargain prices in particular cannot usually be rebooked or cancelled free of charge. In Tanzania there could also be complications with the weather, your health, etc., which would force you to abandon your trip.
We asked ERGO Reiseversicherung to put together different service packages for you. You can book the right travel health insurance for you at https://www.reiseversicherung.de.

It should be noted that geoDiscovery Tours only recommends that its guests book travel insurance through ERGO and assumes no responsibility for the contractual content between the travel guest and the insurance provider. It is up to each guest to book their travel insurance through ERGO or another provider.

Standard of hotels and accommodations
In Tanzania, the hotels we have booked are good and correspond to mid-western standards. The sanitary facilities are clean and functional. The hotel kitchen is adapted to Western eating habits and the food is safe to enjoy. Sometimes there can be power cuts or sometimes no hot water is available. The hotel staff is generally very friendly and makes every effort to ensure the well-being of each guest. The hotels we have booked are as follows:

Arusha: Mtoni Lodge, Mount Meru Game Lodge, Karama Lodge
Moshi / Kilimanjaro: Chanya Lodge, Weru Weru, Kaliwa Lodge, Salinero

Tour program
The travel program is optimally coordinated for all of the trips we recommend. However, it can happen that roads are closed or impassable without prior notice, that waiting times of several hours arise due to traffic jams or fuel shortages, that access to sites can be closed for various reasons, or other restrictions such as flight delays or even cancellations due to bad weather, strikes, Health of the participants, a pandemic or unfavourable conditions during trekking make the implementation of the travel program difficult or, in the worst case, impossible. However, our local guides are prepared for such situations and will endeavour to carry out all program points to your satisfaction. The inconvenience is usually limited. Nevertheless, it must be pointed out at this point that, for the reasons mentioned, program changes are possible at any time and are not the responsibility of the organizer. Any resulting costs are borne by the traveller. We ask for your understanding.

Flying in Tanzania
Domestic flights in Tanzania may be postponed for days due to limited airspace or weather conditions, or for technical or other reasons. Under these exceptional circumstances, our team will try – in cooperation with you – to relocate the tour to other regions or to organize road transport. The risk of delay and cancellation of these flights is borne by all participants.
In the event of a delay of several days, all participants are personally responsible for changing their flight home at least 48 hours in advance. We are of course happy to help you.

The domestic flights booked by us are:

  • Air Tanzania
  • Precision Air
  • Flightlink
  • Coastal Aviation
  • Auric air

Please note that our trips are not suitable for people with limited mobility.

Trip Details

  • Duration: 8 days
  • Holiday Type: Hut trekking
  • Best trekking period: Jun/Jul/Aug/Sep/Oct/Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb
  • Difficulty: Demanding
  • Max Altitude: 5.895 m
  • Group size: 3 to 8 persons (all the tour dates are guaranteed with a minimum group size of onl three persons)
  • Tour guide: English speaking, trained Tanzanian mountain guide
  • Difficulty:
  • Fitness:
  • Price: 1.990,00 €
  • Single room supplement: 100,00 €
    (only for hotel accommodation, for lodge overnight stays during the trek single accommodation is not available)
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