The trek up Kilimanjaro is probably the most popular high altitude trek in the world. The reason for Kilimanjaro’s popularity is obvious: It is the highest mountain in the world that you can simply walk up. You need no ropes, no special climbing equipment, no previous experience but that doesn’t make it a cheap one.
Mount Kilimanjaro is an everlasting magnet for adventurers and mountaineers. Nestled between the border of Kenya and Tanzania, the highest mountain of Africa and highest freestanding mountain in the world lures travelers from all corners of the globe to conquer its magnificence. We invite you to come and try Mount Kilimanjaro trekking for yourself. Experience the pride of making it to the top of Kilimanjaro, and the feeling of freedom you get when standing on the top of the world!
Kilimanjaro Shuttle is always pleased to spend time discussing with trekkers the 6 different routes that we offer up Kilimanjaro. Spread across 10 different treks, these routes have been designed to appeal to the majority of fitness and experience levels. Varying in duration from 5 to 9 days, we’re confident that we have a Mount Kilimanjaro trekking tour that’s suitable for everyone.
Each of these treks will allow you to enjoy beautiful vistas and the vastness of the surrounding landscape as well as the chance to view unique wildlife along the way.
It is possible to climb Mount Kilimanjaro all year round, but some months are distinctly more comfortable than others. There are two optimum seasons for trekking Kilimanjaro—from January to March, and from June to October. Between January and March, the weather is cooler and the routes are less crowded.The terrain of Kilimanjaro is very varied and our treks will take you through a variety of different ecosystems. The lower slopes of banana plantations and thick rainforest gradually give way to heath and moorland as we gain altitude until reaching the rocky moonscapes of Kibo Peak.
Our tour guides offers the best routes and guides to the top of Kilimanjaro;
Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the oldest, most well established route. Many favor the Marangu route because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, given its gradual slope. It is also the only route which offers sleeping huts in dormitory style accommodations.
The minimum days required for this route is five, although the probability of successfully reaching the top in that time period is quite low. Spending an extra acclimatization day on the mountain is highly recommended when climbing Klimanjaro using the Marangu route.
Known as the “Whiskey” route, the Machame route is now the most popular route on the mountain. Compared with Marangu, the days on Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. The Machame route is considered a difficult route, and is better suited for more adventurous folks and those with some hiking or backpacking experience.
The route begins from the south, then heads east, traversing underneath Kilimanjaro’s southern ice field before summiting. The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although seven days is recommended.
The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. However, due to the heavy crowds, it loses some of its spendor.
The Lemosho route is one of the newer routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. The route begins in the west and rather than simply intersecting Shira Plateau (like Machame), Lemosho crosses it from Shira Ridge to Shira Camp. Climbers encounter low traffic until the route joins the Machame route. Afterwards, Lemosho follows the same route through Lava Tower, Barranco and Barafu, known as the southern circuit.
The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although eight days is ideal.
Lemosho is considered the most beautiful route on Kilimanjaro and grants panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. It is our favorite route because it offers a great balance of low traffic, scenic views and a high summit success rate. Thus, Lemosho comes highly recommended. Most of our clients use Lemosho.
The Shira route is another path that approaches Kilimanjaro from the west, and it is nearly identical to the Lemosho route. In fact, Shira was the original route and Lemosho is the improved variation. While Lemosho starts at Londorossi Gate and treks through the rain forest to Shira 1 Camp, the Shira route bypasses this walk by using a vehicle to transport climbers to Shira Gate, located near the Shira Ridge.
On the first day on the mountain, climbers begin their hike from 11,800 feet (3,600 m) and spend their first night at the same elevation at Simba Camp. Then, the route merges with Lemosho and follows the southern circuit route.
Northern Circuit Route (RECOMMENDED)
The Northern Circuit route is the newest, most exciting route on Kilimanjaro. The trek follows the Lemosho trail in the beginning, approaching Kilimanjaro from the west. However, instead of following the southern traverse like all the other west approaching routes, the Northern Circuit traverses the mountain around the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes.
The Northern Circuit route is a nine day climb, which is the longest route in terms of time and distance travelled. The days spent at around 13,000 feet are great for acclimatization, resulting in the highest success rates for all routes on Mount Kilimanjaro.
The Rongai route is the only route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the north, close to the Kenyan border. Though gaining popularity amongst climbers, Rongai has low traffic. It is the preferred route for those looking for an alternative to the crowded Marangu route, for those who would like a more remote hike, and for those who are climbing during the rainy season (the north side receives less precipitation).
The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, and seven days are recommended.
The Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct route. It is considered to be very difficult and is the most challenging way up Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to the quick ascent, Umbwe does not provide the necessary stages for altitude acclimatization. Although the traffic on this route is very low, the chances of success are also low.
The route is offered at a minimum of six days, though seven days is recommended when attempting this route.