Kilimanjaro Routes

What is the difference between the routes?

Each route starts from a different gate and side of the mountain. The western routes (Lemosho, Shira and the Northern Circuit) cross the Shira Plateau. Machame and Umbwe climb from the south. Rongai comes in from the north near the Kenyan border. Marangu, the oldest route, climbs from the south-east and is the only one with huts instead of tents.

Most routes converge for the final ascent: the southern and western routes summit from Barafu Camp via Stella Point, while Marangu and Rongai climb from Kibo Hut via Gilman's Point. Descents usually go down the Mweka route, or the Marangu route for climbers who came up the east side.

Which route has the best chance of reaching the summit?

The route matters less than the number of days. Longer itineraries give your body more time to adapt, which is the biggest factor in feeling well at altitude. An eight-day Lemosho or a nine-day Northern Circuit gives more acclimatisation than a five-day Marangu. If you only have a week, choose a route that can be done in seven days rather than squeezing a longer route into fewer days.

No route is easy, because the altitude is the same. Routes with more days and a gradual profile, such as the Lemosho, Northern Circuit and Rongai, tend to feel easiest. Marangu has comfortable huts but is often booked on a short itinerary, which makes acclimatisation harder.

The Lemosho and Northern Circuit routes are widely considered the most scenic, crossing the Shira Plateau with long views of Kibo. The Machame route is also very scenic, especially around the Lava Tower and Barranco Wall.

The Northern Circuit and Rongai routes are usually the quietest. The Machame and Marangu routes are the busiest.