the best Kilimanjaro route

No Middle men

You get middle men free prices and experience

Safety and Security

Our tour guides are all certified with years of experience

No Hidden charges

All our packages shows all the includes and excludes

Financial protection

Any payments will be refunded by if you don't travel

Which is the best Kilimanjaro route?

This is a frequently asked question. Rightfully so! Mount Kilimanjaro’s peak in Tanzania may be reached by many paths. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and should be properly examined before making an informed and educated decision.

Lemosho Route The Lemosho trail is the most picturesque on Kilimanjaro.

Machame Route Machame is the most popular Kilimanjaro route.

Marangu Route The Marangu route only offers hut accommodation

Rongai Route The Rongai is the only Kilimanjaro route that approaches from the North

Shira Route The Shira route approaches from the Western side of Kilimanjaro

Northern Circuit The Northern Circuit is the newest and longest Kilimanjaro route

Umbwe Route The Umbwe is the shortest, steepest and hardest Kilimanjaro route

Keep in mind that this is a very personal choice. Answering the question of which route is ‘best’ for Kilimanjaro is difficult because everyone has different expectations of their Kilimanjaro climb. Based on our experience, we have determined that climbers value the following four elements the most:

Acclimatisation profile and therefore success rates

The beauty and variety of terrain and scenery

How long is spent on the mountain

The entire cost of climbing

Keep these considerations in mind as you read the remainder of this article and make your choice. To prepare for your Kilimanjaro climb, let’s start with some information to help you choose the best path. Here are the seven distinct established paths on Mount Kilimanjaro:

“Choosing a route up Kilimanjaro is undoubtedly a personal decision that should be approached with caution.” Juma

Climbing Kilimanjaro route considerations

As a result, each of these seven Kilimanjaro routes has distinct benefits and drawbacks. They differ in landscape, difficulty, length, acclimatization profile, popularity, and lodging alternatives. There is a lot to think about, which might be frightening! However, if you can clearly define your priorities from the outset, the choice becomes more of an elimination process, making it pretty simple. To begin, consider the following questions while selecting a Kilimanjaro route:

What do you want to get out of your climb? Are you interested in photography, the mountain's many terrains and climatic zones, or is reaching the peak your primary objective? This will influence your route decision on Kilimanjaro.

Are you looking for a good acclimatisation profile? This is one of the most important factors to consider while selecting a Kilimanjaro route. Routes with a lot of climb, sleep, and low opportunity offer favorable acclimatization profiles. Read more about the implications and safety on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Are you looking for scenery? Some routes outperform others in terms of scenic and topographical variation. For example, the Lemosho, Northern Circuit, and Shira routes all feature beautiful scenery, however the Umbwe lacks diversity.

What is your (and your team’s) level of fitness? Do you travel alone? Do you have a specific group in mind? If you're traveling in a group, make sure you choose a route that is suitable for everyone on your team.

Do you have trekking experience? Are you an experienced hiker who has been to high elevations? Or are you a beginner trekker? If this is the case, certain routes, such as the Umbwe, will not be acceptable for you.

How long have you got for your climb? The length of each route varies according on how much time you wish to spend on the mountain. Remember that climbing Kilimanjaro is not a race, and you should spend at least seven days on the mountain to fully experience everything.

How much money can you spend on the climb? Longer trips are often more costly. Shorter trips are less expensive, but they may reduce your chances of summiting, as the once-popular Marangu route demonstrates.

What kind of accommodation do you want? Varied Kilimanjaro routes have different housing possibilities, so make sure you know if your preferred route offers camping or cottages. The Marangu is the only route with hut accommodations available.

What time of year are you available to go? You can climb Kilimanjaro at any time, although some months are better than others. If you climb during the wet season, the Rongai route may be a suitable choice since it gets less rain.

Do you want to avoid the crowds? Consider choosing a less popular route for climbers. Not all Kilimanjaro routes are peaceful, but some are more popular than others. For example, doing the Northern Circuit will result in a more relaxing ascent with less people.

What Kilimanjaro routes do Ndoto Explore recommend?

Simply said, in a perfect world, time and money should not be the key considerations while selecting a Kilimanjaro route. The Marangu method may be the cheapest option, but its low success rate (less than 50%) might be a drawback. Our purpose is not to send a large number of climbers to Kilimanjaro. Instead, we want satisfied customers who return with lasting experiences and a successful’ seven summit’ under their belt. We often offer two Kilimanjaro routes to our clients: the Machame and Lemosho paths. Overall, these are the most picturesque roads, as well as the most diverse. Furthermore, both provide excellent opportunity for acclimatization.

We’ve gone over each route separately below, including the logistics, advantages and drawbacks, and visual aids in the form of maps and graphs. If you have any more queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. The majority of the Follow Alice crew has climbed Kilimanjaro at least once, and our local leader Jiwe has summited over 300 times. We have the expertise to advise you on the best course of action.

“At first, I was a bit overwhelmed by all the possibilities! But once I recognized that I wanted the finest acclimatization profile possible, that made the decision a lot easy”. Mercy

"At first, I was a bit overwhelmed by all the possibilities! But once I recognized that I wanted the finest acclimatization profile possible, that made the decision a lot easy".

Mercy

Lemosho Route

The Lemosho route is one of the most recent Kilimanjaro routes. It was established as an alternative to the Shira route, which begins at a higher, more difficult height. Lemosho is regarded as the most popular route because to its adaptability, beautiful surroundings, and wild start.

Difficulty	Distance	Duration	Success rate
Medium	70km/43 miles	7-8 days	High

The Lemosho route is a personal favorite of ours. Lemosho is often regarded as the route with the greatest variation due to its adaptability, landscape, and dramatic start. Spotting huge species, such as antelopes, is rare, but doable! One of the most remarkable aspects of this path is that it allows hikers to traverse the Shira Plateau, one of the world’s greatest high-altitude plateaus.

“This was my first actual trip, so I wanted to find a route with a decent acclimatization profile as well as a diversity of terrain and views. “I’m delighted I chose the Lemosho!” Stefano

The western approach to Kilimanjaro is less popular compared to other popular routes. It is essentially a version of the Machame route, with just the first two days of the journey altering. The Lemosho route offers excellent acclimatization, with frequent climbs, little sleep, and high success rates. Most people do the Lemosho trek in seven days, however it may be extended by one day if necessary to allow for more acclimatization time. Camping is the sole option offered on the Lemosho route.

Machame Route

The Machame route is the most popular of the seven Kilimanjaro routes, with over 50% of climbers taking it annually. It is also one of Kilimanjaro’s most picturesque trails. It has beautiful vistas and a diverse range of topography throughout. The route approaches from the south and has a high success rate, particularly among climbers who choose the seven-day option.

Difficulty	Distance	Duration	Success rate
Medium	62km/39 miles	7-8 days	High

The Machame route is our second favorite route on Kilimanjaro. This area, along with Lemosho, is renowned for its picturesque beauty and diverse topography. As a result, it’s no surprise that it’s a popular Kilimanjaro route, with recent numbers indicating that slightly over 20,000 people climb the Machame route each year. Its popularity, sadly, is its sole drawback, since it may get extremely packed during peak season.

The Machame route provides excellent acclimatization by using the “climb high, sleep low” principle. The route approaches from the south and has a good success rate, particularly for climbers choosing the seven-day option. First-time hikers should avoid the six-day plan since it provides insufficient time for acclimatization. Machame has no shelters, thus camping is the only option.

Marangu Route

The Marangu route, sometimes known as the ‘Coca Cola’ route, has long been the most popular Kilimanjaro route. Every year, around 12,000 individuals utilize it, with the majority being on a limited budget. This is because it is the only Kilimanjaro route that provides dormitory-like lodging (yo get mattresses and other basic amenities). This makes it a popular alternative for cheap Kilimanjaro operators that do not provide camping kit. The Marangu route takes just five days to complete, making it a more cost-effective choice than other routes. However, the acclimatization profile is weak, resulting in a relatively low success rate and not providing the greatest value for money.

Difficulty	Distance	Duration	Success rate
Low	72km	5-6 days	Low

While it provides great views from the Saddle, it is less picturesque than other Kilimanjaro routes since it follows the same track for both climb and descent. Otherwise, the course is straightforward, with few to no steep sections. A rain forest part and moorlands may provide for magnificent landscape.

Rongai Route

The Rongai route is the only one that reaches the summit from the mountain’s north side, near the Kenyan border. Among the seven Kilimanjaro routes, this is the least frequented. The seven-day route is advised since the trail’s geography does not provide many opportunities to “climb high, sleep low.” The seven-day program includes an acclimatization day at Mawenzi Tarn Camp to allow your body to acclimate.

Difficulty	Distance	Duration	Success rate
Low	73km/45 miles	6-7 days	Medium

The Rongai route is a straightforward climb with a mild grade and low difficulty rating. It is the sole access path from the mountain’s northern flank and is less regularly climbed. Only around 4000 people climb it each year.

The Rongai route, like the Marangu route, offers fewer options for climbing and sleeping. Since a result, it is advised that you choose the seven-day itinerary rather than the six-day one, as the additional day will allow you to acclimate to the altitude. It’s widely regarded as a decent alternative to more congested routes like the Marangu, particularly for climbers who prefer camping to shelters.

Shira Route

The Shira route, one of the oldest Kilimanjaro climbs, is essentially similar to the Lemosho route. The only difference between them is that Shira’s starting point is higher. In actuality, the Lemosho route is the “new and better” version of the Shira route.

The Shira path reaches Kilimanjaro’s summit from the West. It begins somewhat high above sea level and is hence a less popular route due to its weaker acclimatization profile.

Difficulty	Distance	Duration	Success rate
Medium	56km/35 miles	8 days	High

The Shira route begins at a greater elevation than the Lemosho route. To access the trailhead from the western side of the mountain, take a four-hour shuttle to the Londorossi Park Gate at 2,200 m, followed by a 4×4 ride to the Simba River. Your first night’s rest break is at 3,500 meters!

Starting at a greater altitude puts you at danger of gaining altitude too rapidly at first. A pre-acclimatization walk is suggested for those planning to hike the Shira Route. This road offers camping accommodations and is calmer than others, with a great blend of beauty and less traffic.

Northern Circuit Route

The Northern Circuit is the newest and longest path to the top. The 360 route, often known as the Grand Traverse, has already gained popularity among several firms. The lengthy voyage gives participants enough acclimatization, resulting in high success rates.

Difficulty	Distance	Duration	Success rate
High	98km	9-10 days	High

Climbers seldom pick the Northern route because to its longer duration. It begins at the same spot as the Lemosho path and provides comparable spectacular vistas. Camping is the only available lodging option on the Northern Circuit.

Umbwe Route

The Umbwe route is often regarded as the most difficult on climbing Kilimanjaro. Quite properly so. The shortest and steepest Kilimanjaro route has a poor acclimatization profile. Because of this, its summit success rate is poor, and it is one of the mountain’s least traveled paths. The Umbwe reaches the top from the south, and camping is the sole lodging option. Pre-acclimatization is advised for individuals who intend to walk this route.

Difficulty	Distance	Duration	Success rate
High	53km/33 miles	5-6 days	Low

The Umbwe route is the quickest and steepest way up Kilimanjaro. It’s the least popular path, perhaps because to its poor acclimatization profile, with just 589 people climbing it each year. This approach has lower success rates than the norm. The road approaches from the south, and camping is the sole accomodation option. Pre-acclimatization is advised for people who intend to hike this route.

6 Days Zanzibar