Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Machame Route
“The most popular classic route”
Difficulty
medium (suitable for those with some outdoor experience and good physical fitness)
Time
6-7 days (recommended 7 days for better acclimatization)
characteristic
Diverse scenery: through the tropical rainforest, alpine wilderness, glacial zone, along the way can look into the Serengeti grassland;
High climbing rate (about 60%-70%): 7 days of travel gives enough time to adapt to high altitude;
The route is well designed: it goes up in a zigzag shape to avoid altitude sickness caused by a sharp rise, and finally climbs the “Balanco Wall” (non-technical climbing with chains).
Suitable for
first time to Mount Kilimanjaro, travelers who want to balance “view + summit rate”.
Lemosho Route
“The most scenic route”
Difficulty
Moderate (slightly higher than Machem due to the more remote initial section)
Time
7-8 days (recommended 8 days, the best adaptation to altitude)
characteristic
Exclusive landscape: If you enter the mountain from the Serengeti side, you can see grassland animals (such as giraffe and zebra) for the first two days, and then enter the rainforest and glacial zone, which has the strongest landscape hierarchy;
High climbing rate (about 70%-80%): long trip + slow ascent, low risk of high reaction;
Less crowded: Fewer tourists than Machem, more private experience.
Suitable for
travelers who value the experience of the scenery and are willing to spend an extra day to ensure adaptation.
Marangu Route
“The easiest Coca-Cola route”
Difficulty
Low (the only route with cabin accommodation throughout, no camping required)
Time
5-6 days (5 days is more compact, 6 days is safer)
characteristic
High convenience: stay in a mountain cabin (with beds and canteen) all the way, no need to carry camping equipment, simple food and beverage (it is nicknamed “Coca-Cola route” because of the convenience of supplies)
Mature route: clear signs, suitable for those without outdoor camping experience.
Disadvantages: The summit rate is low (about 50%-60%); the adaptation time of 5-day trip is short, and the risk of high altitude reaction is high; the scenery is relatively simple (mainly rainforest and wilderness, with little glacier landscape).
Suitable for
first time mountaineering, average fitness, travelers who prefer “light luggage + log cabin accommodation” (it is recommended to choose a 6-day trip).
Rongai route (Longai route)
“The only route to enter the mountain from the north”
Difficulty
medium (drier climate on the north side, smoother roads)
Time
6-7 days
Suitable for
climbers (dryer on the north side) and travelers who prefer “niche routes” during the rainy season (March-May, November).
characteristic
Unique perspective: Enter the mountains near the border of Kenya, and you can look far into the Kenyan grassland. Walk on the north side of the summit section to avoid the “Balanco Wall” on the south side, and climb more gently;
Dry climate: less precipitation on the north side, dry road conditions (no mud in rainy season), suitable for travelers who are afraid of wet cold;
Fewer people: Compared to Machem and Malanga, there are fewer tourists, which is suitable for those who want to avoid crowds.
Shira Route
“Suitable for outdoor experienced challenge routes”
Difficulty
High (starting at a high altitude, starting directly from the 3600m Shira Plateau without low-altitude acclimatization buffer)
Time
6-7 days
characteristic
High altitude starting point: skip the rainforest section and go directly into the alpine wilderness. In the early stage, it is easy to cause altitude sickness due to “quick entry to high altitude”, so physical fitness and altitude sickness preparation should be done in advance;
Rugged scenery: dominated by wilderness and volcanic rock landforms, with little rainforest landscape, suitable for those who like the “primitive wilderness feeling”;
Climbing section with Machem: Finally walk the Barranco wall, which requires a chain to climb.
Suitable for
travelers with high altitude mountaineering experience (e.g. climbing snow mountains above 4000 meters) and good physical fitness.
The Umbwe Route
“”the steepest” professional route”
Difficulty
High (the whole way is steep, the altitude rises fast, no time to adapt)
Time
5-6 days
characteristic
Strong challenges: in the first two days, we quickly climb from the rainforest to 3800 meters, with high altitude risk and low summit rate (about 40%-50%);
Short but compact route: suitable for those who want to “climb fast” but have strong physical fitness and high altitude tolerance;
Landscape concentration: you can quickly traverse many terrains, but because of the tight schedule, there is little time to enjoy the scenery.
Suitable for
professional enthusiasts with rich experience in high altitude mountaineering (e.g., climbing snow mountains above 5000 meters) and excellent physical fitness (not recommended for first time to climb Kilimanjaro).
Mweka route (Mweka Trail)
used only as a down route