MARANGU: The Coca-Cola Route to Kilimanjaro 6days, 5nights
The Marangu (Coca-Cola) Route is the most popular route to trek up Kilimanjaro, and thus its name. It’s a well-travelled path through the rainforest at Marangu Village, into the heath and moorland, and then into the alpine desert of the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, and on to the crater rim at Gillman’s Point, which only half of all trekkers reach. It is a relatively smooth trail, winding through some beautiful scenery, which changes quite dramatically every day. The route done in six days is physically challenging for most people, because the time to acclimatize is short and the overnight trek to the summit requires mental and physical toughness. The trail from the highest hut to the summit deviates to a steeper, rockier terrain, and is challenging for most people. On this 6-day route, an extra day is taken at Horombo Hut (vs the standard 5-day route) to help with acclimatization. Accommodation is in A-frame style huts on this route, except Kibo Hut, which is a stone building with separate rooms to accommodate climbers. All sleeping huts have foam mattresses and pillows on wooden bunk beds, and all dining huts have benches and tables for meals. All huts except Kibo have running water, and all have toilets.
