MARANGU ROUTE 6 Days 5 Nights
This is the main and easiest route up the mountain (Coca cola Route). It is more open and flat like soon after the forest zone than the other routes. It starts from the south-eastern side of the mountain. You will be sleeping in huts.
DAY 1
After breakfast drive from Moshi town to Marangu gate at 1976 m for registration and payment. Then walk through Montane Forest for 3-4 hours to Mandara Hut at 2700 m. Before dinner you can have chance to have a short walk to see Maundi Crater at 3000 m for acclimatization. This depends on time and weather. Stay overnight.
DAY 2
After breakfast hike through heather then moorland for 5-6 to Horombo Hut at 3720 m. Stay overnight.
DAY 3
This extra day on the mountain is spent for more acclimatization to give you greater chance for success. After breakfast hike 1 hour to Zebra Rocks or another 1 hour to the Ridge above Zebra Rocks just to expose you to high altitude around 4000 m. If it is clear you can get a view of Kibo Peak, Mawenzi Peak and the Saddle. Then back to Horombo Hut for lunch and rest. Stay overnight.
DAY 4
After breakfast you hike through Moor land then Alpine desert crossing the Saddle area between Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks for 5 hours to Kibo Hut at 4700 m. There is a spectacular view of Saddle parasitic cones. This is the base camp where you rest and prepare for summit ascent.
DAY 5
In the middle of the night, you start to climb to the summit. This will take you 6 hours to the rim Gilman’s Point at 5600 m, walking along the rim to Stella Point at 5700 also rim point. From there continue walking along the rim’s edge for 1 hour to the summit at 5895 m. Here is the Roof of Africa. After the summit you descend back to Kibo Hut for 3 hours and rest there. After lunch continue descending to Horombo Hut for another 3 hours. Stay overnight.
DAY 6
This day is spent for descending for 3 hours to Mandara Hut for lunch. After lunch continue going down for 2 hours to Marangu gate for signing out, then drive back to Moshi town
After breakfast drive from Moshi town to Marangu gate at 1976 m for registration and payment. Then walk through Montane Forest for 3-4 hours to Mandara Hut at 2700 m. Before dinner you can have chance to have a short walk to see Maundi Crater at 3000 m for acclimatization. This depends on time and weather. Stay overnight.
DAY 2
After breakfast hike through heather then moorland for 5-6 to Horombo Hut at 3720 m. Stay overnight.
DAY 3
This extra day on the mountain is spent for more acclimatization to give you greater chance for success. After breakfast hike 1 hour to Zebra Rocks or another 1 hour to the Ridge above Zebra Rocks just to expose you to high altitude around 4000 m. If it is clear you can get a view of Kibo Peak, Mawenzi Peak and the Saddle. Then back to Horombo Hut for lunch and rest. Stay overnight.
DAY 4
After breakfast you hike through Moor land then Alpine desert crossing the Saddle area between Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks for 5 hours to Kibo Hut at 4700 m. There is a spectacular view of Saddle parasitic cones. This is the base camp where you rest and prepare for summit ascent.
DAY 5
In the middle of the night, you start to climb to the summit. This will take you 6 hours to the rim Gilman’s Point at 5600 m, walking along the rim to Stella Point at 5700 also rim point. From there continue walking along the rim’s edge for 1 hour to the summit at 5895 m. Here is the Roof of Africa. After the summit you descend back to Kibo Hut for 3 hours and rest there. After lunch continue descending to Horombo Hut for another 3 hours. Stay overnight.
DAY 6
This day is spent for descending for 3 hours to Mandara Hut for lunch. After lunch continue going down for 2 hours to Marangu gate for signing out, then drive back to Moshi town