Kilimanjaro Treks

Overview

Mount Kilimanjaro is located on the northern part of Tanzania in Kilimanjaro region. It is definitely the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. The height of Mount Kilimanjaro is 5,895m (19,341 ft), and its main summit is called Uhuru Peak. It is situated near a town called Moshi which can be accessed by plane or road via Arusha town.

Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit can be reached within 4 to 5 days but the rapid ascent may be difficult due to the higher risks of Altitude sickness.

Routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro

There are different popular routes that are used to trek Mount Kilimanjaro which are Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Rongai and the northern circuit route.

Machame route

Machame route or ‘whiskey route’ is one of the most popular routes to climb Kilimanjaro and approximately 50% of trekkers choose this route because it is very scenic and provides incredible views and landscapes. There are no any parts that need one to use technical skills to complete the trekking. The total distance is approximately 62 kilometers from the beginning to the end of the trek (gate to gate). This route can be completed in a 6 to 7 day itinerary.

Marangu route

The Marangu route, also known as the ‘coca cola route’ is the oldest and one of the most popular because it is the only route on the mountain that has huts provided for hikers. We call it the hut trek. There are bunk beds at each stop which are Mandara, Kibo and Horombo. This route can be completed in 5 days; however, it is recommended that you can take an extra day to acclimatize at Horombo Hut. The total distance covered is 69 kilometers.

Lemosho route

The Lemosho Route starts on the Western side of Mount Kilimanjaro at the Londorossi Gate and it is one of the best routes for clients as it has higher success rates to the peak due to high acclimatization time. It covers a total of 70 kilometers from gate to gate. The Lemosho route can be done in as little as six days (five nights) on the mountain. However, it is ideally tackled over eight days (seven nights) for a better acclimatization. The Lemosho Route joins the Machame Route at Lava Tower and heads down towards Barranco Valley via the Southern Circuit (see map below). As with the Machame Route, Lemosho trekkers need to transverse the Barranco Wall and then summit from Barafu Camp.

Rongai route

This route ascends Mount Kilimanjaro from the northern side along the border between Tanzania and Kenya. It is the only route that approaches Mount Kilimanjaro on the north. It is the most remote and wild route on the mountain and retains a sense of unspoiled wilderness. Being a remote route, trekkers who choose this route will experience peace and quietness mostly on the trek but will encounter few of the trekkers before arriving at the Kibo camp. This route is best for trekkers who look for solitude in the wild. Rongai route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro with a slow, steady climb, giving hikers a chance to acclimatize at a steady rate. This not only makes it one of the easier routes up the mountain, it also increases the success rate substantially. This route can be completed within 6 to 7 days. The total distance covered is approximately 70 kilometers from gate to gate.

Northern circuit route

This is the newest and the longest route on Mount Kilimanjaro which is begins from the west at the Lemosho gate. Since it is the longest route on Mount Kilimanjaro, it offers trekkers more time on the mountain and also a chance to hike across the Shira plateau and get a glimpse of both the Uhuru and Kibo peaks. This route has the highest success rate of any of the routes on Kilimanjaro since the trekkers spend much time on the same altitude and reduce the level of altitude sickness.

This route can be done in a minimum of 8 to 9 days. the total distance covered is approximately 70-73 kilometers.