The Best Way to Ascend Mount Kilimanjaro

This article will assist you in choosing by outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each Kilimanjaro route.

While some of Mount Kilimanjaro’s routes have excellent views, others are not as good for acclimatization, some have high summit success rates, and some are rather busy during specific seasons of the year.

This article delves deeper into the many paths that climb Kilimanjaro to reach the peak.

Routes for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Please take note that there are only six ways to reach the peak of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, and that the seventh route is only utilized for descent.

The Lemosho, Machame, Marangu, Mweka (descent only), Rongai, Shira, and Umbwe routes are among the climbing routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. The Northern Circuit and the Western Breach are further paths.

An overview of the routes up Mount Kilimanjaro

Top Routes Up Kilimanjaro

The Machame or Lemosho paths, which are on the southern circuits of Mount Kilimanjaro, are the best routes.
Kilimanjaro’s easiest way

Although there isn’t a straightforward path to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Coca-Cola Route, also called the Marangu Route, is thought to be the simplest.
An outline of each route leading up to Mount Kilimanjaro

Route Machame

When it comes to visual beauty, the Machame path on Mount Kilimanjaro is highly recommended. It also has a high success rate, particularly if you go for the 7-day schedule.

It is not advised for novice trekkers to choose the 6-day alternatives.

The Machame Route offers hikers the chance to ascend high and sleep low on day three, making it an excellent Kilimanjaro route for acclimatization. Trekkers ascend to Lava Tower at 4,600 meters from Shira Camp 2 and have lunch there. After hiking back down to Barranco Camp at 3,900 meters, they retire for the night.

The Machame path, like all Kilimanjaro routes, is a strenuous hike through four distinct climate zones that offers breathtaking views. In order to provide hikers ample rest before reaching the summit, there is a good chance to divide the pre-summit day climb by adding an additional rest day at Karanga Camp (accessible only to 7-day trekkers).

However, the Machame route has been increasingly popular in recent years, meaning it can get busy, particularly at Barranco where climbers meet up with hikers from the Umbwe, Shira, and Lemosho routes.

The Machame trail only provides campsites with full catering.

Route Lemosho

The stunning Lemosho route starts on the western slope of Mount Kilimanjaro, and it can be finished in seven or eight days with enough of time for adequate acclimatization. Because of its adaptable profile, this path is highly successful in reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro and is considered one of the best routes.

Since the Lemosho route is rather secluded and offers hikers an untamed and adventurous beginning to their Kilimanjaro experience, it is advised as the starting point. Large animals like buffalo, elephants, and antelope are uncommon to see, but not unheard of.

Trekkers can also experience hiking across the Shira Plateau, one of the largest high altitude plateaus in the world, as part of the Lemosho route, which offers unmatched and stunning views of the deep canyons that characterize Mount Kilimanjaro’s western flank.

Lemosho route hikers normally join the Machame Route on day three at Barranco Camp and follow the Barafu Camp route to the summit. However, it is now quite common for Lemosho trekkers to take a detour to the north before Lava Tower in order to join the Northern Circuit, which circles the mountain’s north face and follows Gilaman’s Point, the summit passage.

Like the Machame Route, the Lemosho is ultimately catered camping only, however hikers wishing to climb the Western Breach to the summit may also use it.

Circuit de Nord

With one of the greatest summit success percentages, the Northern Circuit is the longest climbing route on Mount Kilimanjaro. It provides enough opportunity for steep ascents, low descents, and acclimatization time. Starting from the same location as Lemosho, the route follows the Northern Circuit at Lava Tower before heading through the northern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

The route to the summit goes through Gilman’s Point.

An 8–9 day plan can be used to finish the Northern Circuit; this approach is ideal for those seeking a peaceful and uncrowded Kilimanjaro experience.

Route Rongai

Similar to the Lemosho route, the Rongai Route offers a true wilderness experience during the early stages of the climb and provides the opportunity to see large wildlife such as buffaloes, antelopes, and elephants. The Rongai Route is the only northern starting point to Mount Kilimanjaro and is located on the northeastern side of the national park.

Because the northern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro are typically drier than the southern slopes, it’s an excellent path to climb the mountain, especially in the rainy season.

The northern slopes are dryer, though, so that makes them less picturesque as well. Clear views of Kilimanjaro are a regular feature of a northern approach, although they are less common from the southern side.

The Rokai Route

The Rongai Route offers easier trekking conditions during the first few days due to its flatter terrain. It may be finished in 7 days, but there aren’t as many possibilities for steep ascents and low descents as there are on other routes to Mount Kilimanjaro, making acclimatization less likely than on other routes.

Usually, the Rongai Route follows the path that leads from School Hut to Uhuru Peak, passing through Hans Meyer Cave and Gilman’s Point.

The route has fully catered camping from the last night on the mountain—beers at Horombo Hut—since it descends via the Marangu path.

Route Marangu

Because it was once thought to be the “easiest” path to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the Marangu path—nicknamed the “Coca – Cola” route because tea houses along the route sold Coke—was frequently chosen by ill-prepared and inexperienced climbers, which contributed to the route’s lower success rate.

The Marangu route is the fastest path to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, however it has a poor profile of acclimatization, which significantly lowers the route’s success rates.

Trekkers can finish this route in six days, giving them the chance to climb high and sleep low. However, because of the modest elevation, this possibility is not as effective as it is on other Kilimanjaro routes.

Although the Marangu path has stunning views from the Saddle, its rise and descent make it less picturesque than other Kilimanjaro routes.

the Marangu Road

The Marangu route is the only one of the Kilimanjaro climbing routes that offers dormitory-style lodging in huts for the entire climb. Equipped with mattresses and basic amenities, the huts are a popular option for budget-conscious trekkers and tour operators who lack the necessary equipment to tackle the other Kilimanjaro climbing routes.

Routes for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro that are not advisable for use

Route Shira

Shira and Lemosho routes are comparable, however Shira offers a higher starting point and less acclimation. Generally speaking, this path is not advised due to its high starting point.

Umbwe Path

Some hikers on the Umbwe route choose to continue north, up to Lava Tower, and then onto the Western Breach, rather than joining the Southern Circuit at Barranco, where they join climbers from the Lemosho Shira and Machame Route. This is a short, steep path that leads to Barranco Camp.

The Umbwe route only offers fully catered camping; as a result, success rates can be low due to the route’s quick elevation and insufficient acclimatization.

Western Vulnerability

The most rewarding route to Mount Kilimanjaro is the Western Breach, which is also the most technically challenging. Typically, the Umbwe path is used to access this path, which then continues north and upward from Lava Tower.

After the deadly rock fall in 2006, the western Breach was blocked and reopened in 2007 with a safer route layout. This route is not offered by some travel operators.

Only seasoned hikers are recommended for this path; they must wear helmets, point crampons are frequently required during the rainy season, and subsurface ice might present challenges.

Since the path is often only attempted by seasoned high altitude hikers, success rates are usually moderate to high.

Summit Routes (Passages) of Kilimanjaro

There are three summit passes on Mount Kilimanjaro, and these are

Trekkers on the Lemosho, Shira, Machame, and Umbwe routes use this approach, which takes them up the southern slopes of Kibo to Stella Point and then west around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak. Since it takes just one hour to get from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak, it is the simplest summit passage.

The Second Passage reaches Uhuru Peak from the east side of Kibo, going up to Gilman’s Point before turning west and circling the crater rim. This route leads to the peak and is used by hikers on the Northern Circuit, Rongai and Marangu Route. This is a more difficult route because it takes around two hours to get from Gilam’s Point to the Summit proper.

Thirdly, hikers have the option to take the more difficult technical route to the summit via the Western Breach. To reach Crater Camp and Uhuru Peak, hikers who choose this route typically start from the Umbwe Route and ascend to Lava Tower. From there, they make a sharp ascent past Arrow’s Glacier and ascend the Western Breach. The Machame, Shira, and Lemosho Route is another route that leads to the Western Breach.

FAQ for Kilimanjaro Trail Routes

Which Kilimanjaro route is the best?

The Lemosho route, which lasts eight days, or the Machame way, which lasts seven days, is the best Kilimanjaro route. Because both routes provide excellent opportunity for acclimatization, the incidence of altitude sickness is minimal. Both of these routes have exceptionally scenic summit success percentages.

Which Kilimanjaro route is the easiest for climbing up?

The Marangu route is sometimes cited as the simplest way to climb Mount Kilimanjaro because it is the only one with hut accommodations and has the shortest length. However, because of their shorter time on the mountain, many climbers of Kilimanjaro via the Marangu route end up falling short of the summit due to altitude sickness. Make sure you select the 6-day option rather than the 5-day trip if you decide to take the Marangu route.

With regard to summit success rates, which Kilimanjaro route is the best?

Because it is the longest route and provides ample time for acclimatization, the Northern Circuit has the greatest summit success rates. Both the 7-day Machame and the 8-day Lemosho have excellent summit success rates.