6-Day Marangu (Coca-Cola) Route Kilimanjaro Climb

After breakfast, your Kilimanjaro team will pick you up from the hotel and transfer you to Marangu Gate (about a 1-hour drive). At the gate, your registration and check-in will be completed, and then the adventure begins!

You’ll start your hike through the Montane rainforest, a lush environment full of wildlife. Look out for black-and-white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, tree hyraxes, and the white-necked raven. The journey to Mandara Hut takes about 3-4 hours, with a lunch stop at the Kisambioni picnic site. After arriving at Mandara Hut, you’ll rest and enjoy your first overnight on the mountain.

Overnight at Mandara Hut.

This will be a long hiking day, covering about 11km (7-8 hours). After an early breakfast, you will begin your ascent to Horombo Hut, passing the beautiful Maundi Crater along the way. After about 20-30 minutes of hiking, you will leave the forest zone and enter the Moorland Zone, where the landscape begins to change. A lunch stop will be made, and after continuing on the trail, you will reach Horombo Hut for the night.

Overnight at Horombo Hut.

After breakfast, the hike to Kibo Hut begins. This is a 9km hike, taking approximately 5-6 hours. You’ll first walk through the moorland zone and then enter the alpine desert, where the terrain becomes much more barren and rocky. A lunch stop will be taken en route.

After arriving at Kibo Hut, you'll have time to rest, prepare for your summit night, and attend a pre-summit briefing with your guide. Dinner will be served early so you can rest before the challenging ascent.

Overnight at Kibo Hut.

This is the most important day of your Kilimanjaro climb—your summit attempt! The journey starts around midnight with a hot drink and a light snack. You will ascend in the dark to reach Gillman’s Point (5,681m/18,638ft) on the crater rim. From there, you’ll continue along the rim to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5,895m (19,341ft).

Once you reach the summit, celebrate your achievement and enjoy the incredible sunrise over the African plains. Afterward, descend back to Kibo Hut for a brief rest, then continue down to Horombo Hut. This day involves a significant 21km hike, taking approximately 15 hours. Your guide will manage the pace to ensure you stay safe and comfortable.

Overnight at Horombo Hut.

On your final day, after breakfast, you’ll begin the descent to Marangu Gate, covering about 19km. The hike down will be easier, as you are descending rather than ascending. Upon reaching the gate, you’ll enjoy a celebratory lunch.

After completing your climb, Serengeti Wildlife Safaris recommends tipping your mountain crew to acknowledge their hard work and dedication throughout the trek.

Return to Moshi or Arusha for a well-earned rest, or head straight to the airport if you are catching a flight.