Marangu route:

Known by most mount Kilimanjaro climbers as the "Coca-Cola route", mount Kilimanjaro Marangu route is by far the most popular route to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Probably because Marangu route is the most budget Mount Kilimanjaro route, or because hiking Marangu route is possible within less days, thereby getting to the summit one day earlier than on the Machame route. This provides a shorter acclimatisation period. A climber can as well spend an extra day on the mountain for acclimatization on Marangu route.
This extends the route to a 6-day march, greatly increasing your chances of climbing success. Hut accommodation on the Marangu route forms one of the main differences, compared to the other Mount Kilimanjaro routes. It offers you the relative luxury of being able to sleep in huts along the entire Marangu route. Mineral water, soft drinks, chocolates and beers are also sold at all the camps on this Mount Kilimanjaro route. All your Mountain climbing equipment and supplies are portered and a cook prepares all your meals.

Day 1 : Nairobi Arusha
Pick up from your hotel in Nairobi at 7.30 am drive to Arusha with a stopover at the border post for imigration formalities,arrive in Arusha to be met by one of our staff followed by safari briefing,overnight in Arusha Hotel.

Day 2: Arusha - Mandara
After breakfast, drive to Moshi then on to the Marangu Park Gate, the set off point for your three hour hike to Mandara Hut in which you cover 9 km. Here, we are at 2,774m above sea level on your first overnight on Kilimanjaro.

Day 3: Mandara - Horombo
Begin your trek to Horombo hut in an average hiking time of 8 hours, lunch enroute. In clear weather Mawenzi and Kibo peaks can be seen. Dinner and overnight at the hut, altitude 3,761m.

Day 4: Horombo - Kibo
After breakfast, hike 13 km to Kibo hut, 4,732 m above sea level in an average hiking time of 6 hours. You will now encounter spectacular mountain vegetation like lobelia, giant cactus and groundsel.

Day 5: Kibo - Horombo via Gilman's Point and Uhuru Peak.
Wake up at 02.00 a.m. for a pre-down attempt of the summit. It takes 5 hours to Gilman?s Point 5,681 m above sea level. From Gilman?s it takes 1 hours to the summit Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5,896 m above sea level. Descend to Horombo hut for overnight.

Day 6: Horombo - Arusha
After breakfast, descend to the Marangu Park Gate via Mandara. You will be transferred to your Arusha hotel for overnight.

Compare with MACHAME route

Machame route is probably the most beautiful route up mount Kilimanjaro. The porter will carry your mountain climbing equipment and supplies and a cook prepares all your meals. Accommodation on Marangu route is in huts, while the Machame route offers tents only. This makes Machame, also referred to as the "Whiskey route", best destination for more mountain adventure for a mountain hiker, and offers more scenic splendor as compared to Marangu route.
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The sun sets at Shira late afternoon, to the misty revelations of  Kibo point, at the great Barranco wall. Machame route offers attractive mountain adventures to a hiker with or without mountain climbing experience. The Machame route is normally completed in a minimum of 6 days. This gives the hikers an added mountain climbing benefit, - acclimatisation. The Mount Kilimanjaro Machame route takes you high to Lava Tower (4630m) on the day 3 and brings you down by nearly 700m for an overnight at Barranco camp (3950m). This is the secret to successful acclimatisation.