Choose from our carefully selected routes to summit Uhuru Peak, each offering unique experiences and challenges
A route created as an alternative to the Shira Route, and is generally considered the most scenic path to the summit. It was made as a lower set off point for those attempting Kilimanjaro from the west. You'll begin at Lemosho Gate and have more time to gradually adjust to the altitude.
The western side is more remote, making it a further drive to the start point (two to three hours) and more expensive. This creates some great positives though - the first few days will have far fewer trekkers on the route. You're also more likely to see larger wildlife including the mighty tembo (elephant).
The Lemosho Route joins the Shira Route on Day 2 and then the Machame Route the day after. It's a longer trek spanning seven to eight days. As with Machame, climbers need to be comfortable with camping. The route offers excellent acclimatization opportunities with its gradual ascent through diverse landscapes.
From $2,050 per person
Known as the "Whiskey Route," Machame is a tougher climb that isn't for the unprepared. After Marangu, it's the second busiest route but offers a very different experience. You begin your trek in the rainforest zone at the Machame Gate to the south of the mountain.
This is a beautiful route as it moves through many ecosystems and five different climactic zones. There's a stunning view as you arrive at Shira Camp on the plateau of the Shira volcanic cone. As you leave the Shira Plateau, it's a steeper, more undulating climb than some other routes, but this offers the opportunity to trek high and sleep low - an important part of acclimatization.
Machame can be attempted in six days (summiting in the early hours of day five), but those that stretch it to seven days have a much higher success rate. This gives you a short day before the summit push. The route also takes you around the Lava Tower and over the Barranco Wall - an obstacle that looks much harder than it is.
Most summit attempts begin just before midnight so you can summit at sunrise. It's one of the most beautiful sunrises you'll ever see as you pass Gilman's Point, Stella Point and move onto Uhuru Peak. Machame descends along a different route to Mweka Camp.
From $1,850 per person
Known as the "Coca-Cola Route," Marangu is the most popular Kilimanjaro route used by about 50% of climbers. It's the only route that doesn't involve camping - instead it offers small hut accommodation throughout the journey. The huts sell bottled Coke and other refreshments, giving this route its nickname.
You begin your trek at the south-east Marangu Gate, close to Moshi town. This proximity makes it a convenient choice. The ascent and descent follow the same trail, so you'll share the route with returning trekkers. The climb isn't steep, making it ideal for inexperienced trekkers, though the summit night ascent is steep.
The route can be completed in five days but a six-day option is recommended for better acclimatization. Despite being called "the easy route," Marangu has a lower success rate because the huts are only 1000m elevation apart, which isn't ideal for altitude adjustment while sleeping. Many underestimate this route and don't train properly.
From $1,480 per person
The Rongai is the only Kilimanjaro route that approaches from the north. You register at the Nalemoru Gate and then head through to the start point on the Kenyan side of the mountain. As with other remote set off points, you get similar benefits - it's less busy and has higher chances of seeing wildlife.
This side of the mountain gets less rain than the southern section, so there's a higher potential to stay dry - great during the wet season. It's also a milder ascent with flatter sections than other routes. This is great for exertion but not ideal for "trek high, camp low" acclimatization.
The Rongai route can be attempted in six, seven or eight days. As with any climb, it's important to give yourself enough time to acclimatize. The descent goes down along the Marangu Route. It's a beautiful and gradual route - if budget isn't a consideration, this route is a great contender.
From $2,300 per person
For the first couple of days, Umbwe is the least crowded route. There's good reason for this though, as it's also considered the hardest, with the most direct route up to the summit. After registering at the Machame Gate you begin in the rainforest and make a steep trail north.
It can be done in as little as five days (six or seven is recommended) and is a pretty steep climb on the first couple of days. There isn't as much time to acclimatize on this route and it has a low success rate. Climbers attempting Umbwe should be comfortable with altitude and steep trekking.
Most guides link the route to Machame on the evening of the second day, where traffic picks up. This means you'll summit from Barafu camp. The route used to summit via the Western Breach and Arrow's Glacier but changed when some climbers were killed by a rock fall in 2006. The Western Breach is open again and is the most challenging ascent to Uhuru Peak.
This route is not for tourists and those considering should have more technical knowledge of mountain climbing before seeking a guide who will accommodate you.
From $2,400 per person
The newest of the Kilimanjaro routes begins at the Londorossi Gate in the west. The Northern Circuit follows the Lemosho Route and is the same all the way up to the Lava Tower. This is where the trail differs from Lemosho, Shira and Machame.
Instead of heading down to Barranco Camp, which is nestled under the Barranco Wall, the track moves in a different direction. Here the Northern Circuit earns its name, heading north to Moir Hut (shared by the Shira Route) before circling north-west around the northern slopes to join up with the Rongai Route variation at Third Cave.
Most summit via School Hut and descend along the Mweka Route, rejoining most other routes on their journey back. Due to the "climb high, sleep low" opportunities, this route has the highest success rate of all the Kilimanjaro routes. However, as one of the longest, it's also one of the more expensive options.
From $3,200 per person
Book Northern CircuitThis route is difficult, not because it's technically challenging but because the altitude at which you begin your climb is much higher. The Shira Gate sits at 3,500m - nearly 2,000 metres higher than the Machame Gate.
This is a massive altitude spike if you're coming from the towns below, which is accentuated by the fact that you're driven up to the Shira Gate, giving you even less time to acclimatize to the altitude. Because of this, the Shira Route has largely been replaced by the Lemosho Route. The Shira Route joins up with the Lemosho Route on the second day anyhow, and then with the Machame Route on Day 3.
The western side of Kilimanjaro is further away from Moshi, and therefore is more remote and expensive to reach. It has fewer climbers until it links up with Machame at the Lava Tower. If you're a confident hiker who has trekked at altitude before, Shira shouldn't present any significant problems. It can be done in six days but is usually stretched to eight days, which helps improve your chance of a successful summit.
From $2,600 per person
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