The Marangu Route is also known as the “Tourist Route” and the “Coca-Cola Route.” This is because Marangu is the most popular route on the mountain, and thus is considered “touristy”, and because the route is the only one that offers sleeping huts, which serve beverages like Coca-Cola, on the way. This is the easiest route to the summit of Kilimanjaro, sometimes called the Coca-Cola Route.

The Marangu route takes you at a gentle pace through forests, moorlands and then across The Saddle, a high-altitude desert separating the main summit, Kibo, 5895m, from craggy Mawenzi, 5149m, to Kibo Hut. From here an early start is made for the ascent to Uhuru Point (the top of Kibo). The path zig-zags up steep scree which is easier to climb when frozen.

The views from the crater rim at Gillman’s Point at dawn can be spectacular. Uhuru Peak lies just above.