Routes to the Roof of Africa - Mount Kilimanjaro

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 A reasonable degree of fitness is sufficient for climbing Kilimanjaro for most people, provided that they can acclimatize well. 

Remote and wild.

The Lemosho Route starts on the western side of the mountain, and although it is a long drive to the starting point, your rewards are the possibility of seeing wildlife on the lower slopes and possibly being the only climbers. The route is perfect for those who want to take a slightly longer, more relaxed approach to climbing Kili. It meets up with the Machame route on Day 3.

The hike starts on the Western side of Kili and takes you through the  pristine rainforest to the Shira Plateau where it meets up with the  Machame Route traversing the pretty south side of the mountain.

The Londorosi Route is the longest route but is less crowded and  provides the most spectacular scenic views of both Shira Plateau and the  Western Breach Wall.

The Marangu route is the traditional and most straightforward route  on the mountain. It is also the busiest, and the only route where  accommodation is in communal huts as opposed to camping. The hike  follows the same route up and down and is considered an easier hike.

It generally takes five days to climb Mount Kilimanjaro along the  Marangu Route and involves walking about eighty kilometres. We offer this as a 4- or 5-night climb, with the extra night ideal for those concerned about having sufficient time for proper acclimatization.

The Machame Route is one of the most popular and scenic routes up the  mountain, taking in both the western and southern face of the mountain.  After Umbwe, this is probably the most beautiful route by which to  ascend. The route takes you past the scenic Shira Plateau and Lava Tower  before descending down to Barranco where you may enjoy impressive views  of the Kibo Glaciers before the final steep stretch up to the summit.

We recommend an additional night on the mountain for novice hikers.

The Rongai Route approaches the highest mountain in Africa from the  north and retains a sense of untouched wilderness. This is a quiet  lesser-used route, great for novice hikers, and with the likelihood that  you will have the mountain to yourself for the first few days.

It has a relatively gentle gradient and short daily stages as it  winds its way from the starting point just south of the Kenya-Tanzania  border. It passes through farmland and forest, past Alpine moorland to  the beautiful summit cone, all the while offering hikers amazing views  of Kenya stretching below and Mawenzi Peak towering above. Ascend to  Gillman’s Point from where you have great views into the Kibo Crater  before reaching Uhuru Peak.

The most scenic route, well suited to fit hikers.

Umbwe is one of the shortest routes to the southern glaciers and the western breach of Kibo. Your first two days are steeper, but shorter, than on other routes. The climb is quite taxing, primarily due to the relatively fast ascent to higher altitudes, but the rewards are plentiful; fewer people, pristine forest, greater chance of seeing wild animals and birds in the lower levels, and shorter walking distances make it a great experience for fit hikers.

 The Northern Circuit Route is the longest route on Kilimanjaro, a nine-day trip initially ascending Lemosho route on the western side of the mountain up onto the Shira Plateau before reaching the Lava Tower, then heading north and circumnavigating the main summit massif in a clockwise direction and joining up with the Rongai route. The summit is then climbed from the eastern side of the mountain and the descent is straight down via the southern Mweka route.