Mt. Kilimanjaro Routes

The Advantages and Disadvantage of
All Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes

Choosing the right Kilimanjaro route for your climb is an important decision.

There are seven Mount Kilimanjaro routes, six routes up Kilimanjaro, and one down.

(One of the ascent routes can also be used for descent, so there are two descent routes.)

Several of these trails meet after a few days climbing.

There are only three dedicated routes from the base of Kibo—the main peak—to the Kilimanjaro crater rim. (One of them, the Western Breach route, is a challenging and dangerous route and not used much.)

The routes to climb Kilimanjaro approach the mountain from different sides (map coming) and they vary considerably in length, difficulty, traffic levels and other aspects.

(Here is a detailed discussion of how those Kilimanjaro climbing routes compare regarding difficulty ratings, quality of experience, prices and success rates.)

Below you find an overview of all seven Kilimanjaro routes.

Follow the links to find a detailed route description for each or to see a picture guide of it.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of
the Different Kilimanjaro Climb Routes

Marangu | Machame | Rongai | Shira | Lemosho | Umbwe | Mweka

Marangu Route

For many years Marangu used to be the most popular Kilimanjaro route. It has now been delegated to number two by the Machame route (see below).

Duration: 5 days, acclimatization day can be added

Advantages:

• Low cost
• Accommodation is in huts, no camping equipment needed
• Supposedly the easiest route (I beg to differ)

Disadvantages:

• Lowest success rate
• Very crowded
• Camping is not allowed
• The only route that uses the same way up and down

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Marangu Route
Marangu Route Pictures

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Machame Route

The Machame route is one of the most scenic routes on Kilimanjaro. Since the budget operators discovered it, Machame is also the most popular Kilimanjaro route.

Duration: 6 or 7 days

Advantages:

• Relatively low cost
• A very scenic Kilimanjaro route
• Higher success rate than Marangu

Disadvantages:

• Higher level of difficulty
• Very crowded

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame Route
Machame Route Pictures

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Rongai Route

The Rongai route is the easiest route up Kilimanjaro. It has a reputation as a remote wilderness trail. Rongai is the only route to approach Kilimanjaro from the north.

Duration: 5 or 6 days

Advantages:

• The easiest Kilimanjaro route
• One of the quieter routes on Kilimanjaro
• Approaches the mountain from the driest side, best chances of good weather
• Ascent and descent are on opposite sides, you see both sides of Kilimanjaro. (You descend on the Marangu route.)

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost due to additional travel to reach other side
• Considered somewhat less scenic

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Rongai Route
Rongai Route Pictures

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Shira Route

The route over the Shira Plateau has several possible variations.

Duration: 6 - 8 days

Advantages:

• Less crowded
• Very scenic

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost
• Higher difficulty level
• Meets the Machame trail, hence possibly busy on the later days

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Shira Route
Shira (Machame) Route pictures (the routes join on day 3)

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Lemosho Route

Remote and beautiful, but long and expensive, this route also approaches Kilimanjaro across the Shira plateau.

Duration: 7 - 8 days

Advantages:

• Extremely scenic route
• Very low number of climbers during the first days
• Plenty of time for acclimatization

Disadvantages:

• High cost
• Higher difficulty level
• Meets the Machame and Shira trail, hence possibly crowded on the later days

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route
Lemosho (Machame) Route pictures (the routes join on day 4)

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Umbwe Route

The steepest Kilimanjaro route. Steep with a big capital S.

Duration: 5 - 6 days.

This route is not used much. The Umbwe route is only suitable for people with mountain climbing experience.

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Mweka Route

This is not a climb route, it is only used for descent. You will follow it if climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame, Shira, Lemosho or Umbwe route.

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As restricted as all this sounds, there are possible variations. Some of the routes have alternate paths for some sections, you can combine different sections of different routes, and treks can be extended to include a night in the crater itself. (Only recommended to very experienced and well acclimatized climbers. This camp is extremely high.)

Theoretically you could also walk right around the base of Kibo, something I'd love to do.

If you want to experience something different from the offered standard Kilimanjaro routes you need to find an agency willing to organize it for you, you need a special permit from KINAPA, and you need to be rich. (Which is why I haven't done any of that yet...)

Read a detailed discussion of how those Kilimanjaro climbing routes compare regarding difficulty ratings, quality of experience, prices and success rates.

Go to: What it takes to climb Kilimanjaro

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