Mount Kilimanjaro

MOUNT KILIMANJARO

Located in Kilimanjaro National Park in northern Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak and the world’s tallest free-standing mountain! A Kilimanjaro climb is a challenging week or so long trek that takes you through a handful of very different ecosystems.
You start by climbing up through the acacia forest, accompanied by bird calls and other sounds of nature. You then enter a drier zone where the wind picks up and you’re surrounded by sparse vegetation including dramatic groundsels and lobelias. You then wind your way through tussocks as you cross the immense Shira Plateau. You often find yourself looking down over a bank of clouds separating you from the rest of the world. Near the top of the mountain, you enter an arctic zone, where each breath is a puff of smoke in the icy air.
There are many routes that lead to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Each of them has its own pros and cons and should therefore be thoroughly researched in order to make an informed and educated choice. Remember that this choice is very much a personal one.

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

Come, Explore And Conquer The World Free-Standing Mountain.

Enquire Now

MOUNT KILIMANJARO TREKKING ROUTES

Climb Kilimanjaro Guide has everything you need to ascend up Mt. Kilimanjaro. Find hiking tips and detailed info in our Climb Kilimanjaro Guide.

Lemosho Route

Lemosho Route has the success rate of almost 95% as it has a longer itinerary for Kilimanjaro Climbing. The Lemosho Route starts from the West at the Londorossi gate at a height of 2360 metres from the sea level. The Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route is an improved version of old Shira route.

95% Success Rate

Machame Route

Machame Route is also known as “Whiskey Route”. It also offers only fully catered camping or tent during your Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing. It approaches from south-west of Mount Kilimanjaro and descends through Mweka Gate. This route gives more time to recover and chances for “climb high and sleep low”. So the success rate is 85%.

85% Success Rate

Marangu Route

Popular as the “tourist route”, Marangu Route approaches from the south of Mount Kilimanjaro and descends through the same route during Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Famous as “Coca-cola” Route, Kilimanjaro Marangu Route is the only route that offers hut accommodations. Mandara huts, Horombo huts, and Kibo huts are the best halt places for the climbers. Its gradual slope offers a steady and comfortable walk. It is the busiest and easiest route for the summit. The success rate is 65% because of less acclimatization time and unpreparedness of hikers.

80% Success Rate

Rongai Route

The Rongai route is the only route that approaches the summit from the northern side of the mountain, near the Kenyan border. It's one of the least crowded of the seven Kilimanjaro routes. It's recommended to do the seven-day itinerary (as opposed to the six-day itinerary) as the topography of this trail doesn't afford many opportunities to 'climb high, sleep low'. The seven-day itinerary includes an acclimatisation day at Mawenzi Tarn Camp, which gives your body time to adjust to the higher elevation. Acclimatisation is important in allowing you to reach the summit.

80% Success Rate

Northern Circuit Route

The Northern Circuit Route starts from the west at Londorossi Gate and follows the Lemosho Route at the beginning. After the overpass, the Shira Plateau the path deviates north near Lava Tower, following the longer Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route. The route circles over the northern circuit slopes over to the east side of the mountain. The northern circuit is longer than other Kilimanjaro routes. It gives you more time for acclimatization.

90% Success Rate

Umbwe Route

Umbwe Route has the notorious reputation of being the most challenging route on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is considered to be the shortest, steepest, and most direct approach to Uhuru Peak. The Umbwe Route guarantees an epic thrilling adventure. It is perhaps the most challenging Kilimanjaro Route. Though it’s a steep uphill climb, the Umbwe route promises some breathtaking views of the ridges.

70% Success Rate

Western Breach Route

The Western Breach Route is the most technically challenging route to Kilimanjaro’s Summit. The Western Breach sits on the western side of Kibo and was formed hundreds of thousands of years ago by volcanic eruptions and lava flows from Kibo’s Crater. The Western Breach can be approached from many of Kilimanjaro Routes, including the Lemosho and Shira Route in the West, and the Machame and Umbwe Route in the South. The Umbwe Route is the most popular and demanding approach.

85% Success Rate

Shira Route

Shira Route starts from the western side of the mountain and can be accessible from Moshi to Shira ridge. It can be covered within 6 to 7 days, for a better Acclimatization profile, you can extend it to complete within 8 days. The Shira Route is a tough route that begins in the west, at Shira Gate. What are unique facts about this route is that the first section of the trail is not hiked, but rather driven. So for climbers using Shira will miss out on hiking up one of Kilimanjaro’s ecological zones, the rainforest.

Mount Kilimanjaro

MOUNT KILIMANJARO

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro