Kilimanjaro Marangu Route

The Marangu route, famously known as the “Coca-Cola” route as you can get a bottle of Coca-Cola at each hut, is the original route established to climb Kilimanjaro. It is often billed as one of the easier walking routes – however, according to KINAPA, it suffers from the lowest success rate (42%) as too many climbers try to do it in only 5 days and fail because of poor acclimatization.

Approaching Mount Kilimanjaro from the southeast, the Marangu route uses the same ascent and descent route which means it is less scenic than the other routes.

For climbers who do not wish to camp, then Marangu is the only route that offers dormitory-style hut accommodation.

The huts have a communal dining room, simple washrooms, and toilets which lower down will be flushable, but as you move higher up the mountain will be “long drop” loos. Although some climbers like the idea of staying in the huts rather than camping you need to remember that on the Marangu route you will be sharing the hut with lots of other climbers in open dormitory accommodation.

The hut accommodation also means the Marangu route is one of the best routes to make the attempt on Kilimanjaro during the rainy season

The Marangu route is a good six-day hike for those who have not trekked much at high altitudes, with an effective extra day’s acclimatization, giving a better success rate. Experienced and already acclimatized mountaineers may opt for the more difficult 5-day ascent along the Marangu route.