MARANGU ROUTE

The Marangu Route is the original oldest route of Mt. Kilimanjaro, hence it is considered “touristy”. Nicknamed the “Coca-Cola Route” this is the only Kilimanjaro route where you get to sleep in nice & cozy sleeping huts.

It has a reputation for being the “easiest” Kilimanjaro Climbing Route. Mostly, unprepared, inexperienced climbers prefer this route. Marangu Route is the only Kilimanjaro route with dormitory-style accommodation in huts for the whole duration of the climb. The huts are well furnished with mattresses and basic amenities.

The Marangu Route Overview

The Marangu Route AKA the ‘Coca-Cola’ route is the oldest and most popular Kilimanjaro Climbing route. In addition to that this route holds a strong reputation for being the “easiest” Kilimanjaro hiking route. That’s why this route is perfect for unprepared and inexperienced climbers.

In addition to being the easiest, this is also the shortest Kilimanjaro climbing route. Which is the main cause of its poor acclimatization profile. That’s the reason despite being the easiest, the Marangu route has relatively low success rates. The elevation level of the Marangu route does not help the cause as well.

The Marangu Route summit success rate

With being the easiest Kilimanjaro climbing route, one would think the Marangu route must have a great Kilimanjaro Success Rate. But sadly that’s not the case. As this is one of the shortest Kilimanjaro routes, it doesn’t offer adequate time to acclimatize properly. That’s the reason, your chances of summiting Kilimanjaro successfully aren’t that bright.

• 6-day Itinerary- 65%.
• 5-day Itinerary- 50%.

Marangu Route tips

• On behalf of Kinesi Tours Safari, we strongly advise you to go for at least a 6-day hike and avoid the 5-day option to give yourself the best chance of acclimatization.
• On Kilimanjaro mountain, you must always take it easy. Pole pole! Don't try to rush to the top.
• The key is to stay hydrated always. Because in the end, this could be the difference between reaching the summit or not.
• Make an exclusive ‘Kilimanjaro playlist' as a part of your Kilimanjaro preparation. This will give you a much-needed respite from mental and physical exhaustion.

The Marangu Route; Ideal Itinerary

Although many people try to climb the Marangu route in less than seven days this is not to be recommended. For your safety and success, you should plan for at least a 7day hike.

How Scenic is the Marangu route?

Overall, the Marangu route is less scenic than the other Kilimanjaro routes. Mainly because you’ll follow the same Kilimanjaro walking trail for both ascend and descend. Having said that, the scenery is still pretty beautiful. You’ll be trekking through moorland, rainforest, high-altitude desert, and finally, cross an arctic zone.

The Marangu route Accommodations

The Marangu Route is the only Kilimanjaro Route with hut accommodation in Kilimanjaro. The Horombo Hut has 120 bunk beds and the Mandara and Kibo Huts have 60 bunk beds each. Even though all the accommodations come with mattresses and pillows, it’s better to bring your own sleeping bags. Kinesi Tours & Safaris offers sleeping bags to all its tourists.

And the best part about climbing Kilimanjaro via the Marangu route is you can look forward to running water and flushing toilets which is a rarity in other Kilimanjaro hiking routes.

Overall, climbing Kilimanjaro via the Marangu route is definitely achievable with the right Kilimanjaro preparation, which includes an awareness of the risks. Kinesi Tours & Safaris is the no.1 reputable operator on Mt. Kilimanjaro. With over 15000 Clients at the summit, we take great pride in our 98% Kilimanjaro Success Rate. To find out more about guided tours to Kilimanjaro and excellent Kilimanjaro Climb packages, visit our website today.