Kilimanjaro Hiking Routes

Kilimanjaro Routes & Which is the Best Route to Climb Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro boasts several enchanting routes, each offering a distinctive trekking experience. The choice of the best route hinges on factors such as the desired challenge level, scenic preferences, and acclimatization needs. The Marangu Route, known as the Coca-Cola Route, is favored for its comfortable sleeping huts, while the Machame Route, dubbed the Whiskey Route, stands out for its breathtaking landscapes and more adventurous terrain.

The Lemosho Route, with its gradual ascent and diverse ecosystems, is often praised for its scenic beauty and lower traffic. For a quieter trek, the Rongai Route, approaching Kilimanjaro from the north, provides a less-traveled alternative. The Umbwe Route, though challenging with steep inclines, attracts seasoned hikers seeking a direct ascent. The Northern Circuit, the longest route, offers extensive acclimatization opportunities and panoramic views. While preferences vary, the Machame and Lemosho Routes are commonly recommended for their balanced blend of scenery, acclimatization benefits, and a higher likelihood of success.

Ultimately, the best route is a personal choice, and consulting with experienced guides can help tailor the selection to individual preferences and aspirations.

KILIMANJARO HIKING HIGHLIGHTS

KILIMANJARO CLIMBING ROUTES - INFORMATION

MACHAME ROUTE

Machame route, also known as the whiskey route is the most famous route in Kilimanjaro due to its scenic landscapes. However, this mountain trail is challenging due to its steep hills and difficult path.

Thus, this route is ideal for more adventurous types of people or those who have experience in hiking, backpacking, or dealing with high altitudes. However, if you’re hell-bound to try this route, make sure that you’re physically fit to tread on this trail.

PROS IN USING THE MACHAME ‘WHISKEY’ ROUTE

Scenic landscapes
Good acclimatization
High success rates

CONS IN USING THE MACHAME ROUTE

Challenging trails
Crowded

LEMOSHO ROUTE

Choosing the Lemosho route for your trek can provide you with the most spectacular path on Kilimanjaro. This route will grant you scenic views on different sides of the famous mountain.

This is one of the newer routes in Kilimanjaro and one of the most recommended due to its beautiful scenery, high success rates, and low crowds. This route advances Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, commencing from Arusha to the Londorossi Gate.

From the Londorossi Gate, you’ll spend the first two days trekking the rain forest to Shira Ridge. This path traverses the Shira Plateau from west to east, having only a few crowds until route intersection on the Machame trail near the Lava Tower.

The route then crosses underneath the Southern Ice Field of Kilimanjaro on a trail known as the Southern Circuit. Then, descend through the Mweka route.

PROS IN USING THE LEMOSHO ROUTE

has the most spectacular panoramas
better acclimatization opportunities
higher success rates
low crowds

CONS IN USING THE LEMOSHO ROUTE

Longer trek days
more expensive than shorter routes

MARANGU ROUTE

The Marangu ‘Coca Cola’ route is the oldest, most well-established path on Kilimanjaro. Many trekkers prefer this route as this is the most straightforward course on the mountain due to its gradual slope.

In addition, it’s also the only track that offers sleeping huts in dormitory-style accommodations. Using this route will only take you five days to complete your climb.

However, the success rate of this route is pretty low due to acclimatization. Using a longer route will help your body acclimatize better to the mountain’s environmental conditions.

The route’s short time frame makes the acclimatization more difficult. This trail approaches from the southeast and is less picturesque compared to other tracks as it has the same ascent and descent route.

PROS IN USING THE MARANGU ROUTE

It’ll take five to six days to climb
The easiest and most established path out of the seven Kilimanjaro routes
The only route that offers sleeping huts
cheapest route

CONS IN USING THE MARANGU ROUTE

low success rate
need to have a better acclimatization
less scenic
Most crowded route

RONGAI ROUTE

The Rongai route is the only route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the north, close to the Kenyan border. Though gaining popularity amongst climbers, this route still experiences low crowds. Rongai has a more gradual slope than the mountain’s other routes. It is the preferred route for those looking for an alternative to the popular 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). Rongai is a moderately difficult route, and is highly recommended, especially for those with less backpacking experience.

Although the scenery is not as varied as the western routes, Rongai makes up for this by passing through true wilderness areas for nearly the entire way. Descent is made via the Marangu route.

PROS IN USING THE RONGAI ROUTE

Low crowds
Gradual slope
Highly recommended for newbie trekkers
Less rain expected on the trek

CONS IN USING THE RONGAI ROUTE

Not varied scenery

UMBWE ROUTE

The Umbwe route is deemed the most challenging track on Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to the fast ascent to high altitude, this route does not present the required steps for acclimatization.

Though the traffic of this trail is quite low, the success rate is also low. This route is very challenging to climb and is ideal only for those who can acclimatize to the altitude quickly.

PROS IN USING THE UMBWE ROUTE

Low traffic

CONS IN USING THE UMBWE ROUTE

Fast ascent
Difficult trail

NORTHERN CIRCUIT

The Northern Circuit route is one of the best routes on Kilimanjaro, offering nearly 360 degrees of beautiful scenery including the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes. As the longest route on Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit also has the most acclimatization time and the highest summit success rate. Thus, the Northern Circuit route is highly recommended.

The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge, before crossing the Shira Plateau. The route then heads north and circles clockwise from Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp to School Hut, before summiting from the east. Descend is made via the Mweka route.

PROS IN USING THE NORTHERN CIRCUIT

Better acclimatization
Scenic views
Highest success rates
Very low traffic
Highly Recommended

CONS IN USING THE NORTHERN ROUTE

Difficult trail
Long climbing days
More expensive than other short routes

You will never regret a hike, but you will always regret not going

Embark on an unforgettable adventure with our Kilimanjaro tours! Conquer the iconic peak, witness breathtaking landscapes, and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Tanzania. Our expert guides ensure a safe and rewarding journey. Book now for a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Conclusion: Our favourite route

Our favorite out of all routes, considering the scenery, difficulty, and traffic, is a combination of the Lemosho route and the Machame route. The Lemosho route takes around 8 days to trek while the Machame route takes around 7. These routes offer some of the best views of the mountain with less traffic and good acclimatization opportunities. If you need help planning your route, safari or any itineraries for your adventure in Tanzania, contact Mighty Africa Xpeditions and our team of experts will assist you every step of the way.

What customers have to say about what we do

We have been receiving reviews from our served clients, and Mighty Africa Xpeditions is rated 5/5 by customers. This honor is given to us by customers because we always remain committed to all our customers to do whatever is needed by them to make their safari fully satisfied.

Alaine D

2025-09-10

Fun Kilimanjaro Trekking & Safari We had an incredible experience on Kilimanjaro with guides Masai, Bonni and Musa of Mighty Africa Xpeditions.We joined a group of 4 other climbers and it was well planned and well taken care of from start to finish. Pick up at the airport was timely, the hotel in Moshi clean and comfortable.The Trek took us 6 days on the mountain to reach the summit and then we went on a 3 day safari to Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Manyara.I have to commend Walter for planning the whole adventure for it was flawless and also reasonably priced.

Mihkel P

2025-09-03

Fantastic! We had a great time on the day trip to Materuni waterfalls and local villages where they grow coffee. The hike to the waterfalls through the forest and bushy trail was nice, relaxing as Walter took the time to share so much information about Tanzania, culture and so many things. His charm made time pass exta fast. We found about 14 other visitors at the waterfall and it was really nice. Later we went to a village where we visited a coffee farmer, which was in bloom, afterwards we went through the coffee drying and roasting process and managed to buy very good coffee.Was a day well spent!

Linar L

2025-08-12

Top Notch Operator & A Wonderful Experience My family of six had a wonderful time on our Tanzania safari. We are grateful to the people at Mighty Africa Xpeditions and particularly the Director Walter who was exceptional as we created an itinerary that suited our needs and budget. The actual tour was seamlessly organized, with the game drives through Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro with guide Mushi. The accommodations organized were top notch as they were not only comfortable, but there was great food, a relaxing atmosphere, and really nice places. We are so happy with the overall work done in getting us a great 4x4 off-roader, securing all the permits and tickets to the parks correctly, timely transfers, and attention to the smallest details regarding our trip. I highly recommend this local tour operator.

Jokubas

2025-02-02

Great trip I had a perfect solo trek. I joined a group with 3 other climbers and the experience was awesome. The trek turned out to be tougher than I expected and without the support of our crew I would not have made it to the summit. Jabali the lead guide was assisted by Mark and Philip and they were outstanding. You could tell that they have done this assignment numerous times as they knew what to do at every juncture. All the meals on the mountain were prepared by cook Steve and he did a splendid job despite the difficult mountain conditions. I go to learn a lot about Kilimanjaro from Mark who was always close to me. He also ensured that I was comfortable with the pace and closely monitored my health with checks in the morning and evening.Despite the difficult terrain I thoroughly enjoyed the trek because of the fresh mountain air, great views and great company of the crew and fellow climbers. I rate this trip so highly for the efforts that Walter and his team have put down to have high standards of equipment, food and hygiene. It was impressive and I highly recommend Mighty Africa Xpeditions for Kilimanjaro Trekking and Photographic Safaris.

Otto

2025-01-23

Unforgettable African holiday Of all the holidays we have taken as a couple, our recent trip to Tanzania is the most remarkable. The trip took us to Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti, all fantastic places to find different wildlife species in abundance and in their natural habitat.Our guide Jack was incredible. He drove well and also knew the routes that led to places where we discovered wildlife. His patience and attention to us throughout the journey were remarkable.We booked a mix of lodges and camps, all of which were excellent accommodations.

Tatiana

2024-11-20

Incredible experience Our trip on Kilimanjaro with Mighty Africa Xpeditions was wonderful. We both owe a lot of gratitude to Juma and Calisto our guides. They gave us such an incredible experience, putting themselves out there in the cold snow and rough terrain to get us there. The journey was both challenging and rewarding, the body tired from the constant hiking over rough terrain and low oxygen levels. It was difficult for us to continue the trek despite eating well and if it wasn't for the amazing support from the crew, we wouldn't have reached the top.A big thank you to everyone involved in organizing and executing our trip.

Bert O

2024-11-08

The safari of our lives I would like to say that everything about our recent trip to Tanzania with Mighty Africa Xpeditions was absolutely amazing. Walter organized a six-day safari that can only be described as the trip of a lifetime.The safari took us to Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro with star guide Malki. He was knowledgeable and very informative about the animals and habitats we visited. The accommodations were fantastic rest areas with great food and excellent service.

Gemma Sullivan

2024-10-20

Awesome Experience This was our second time in Tanzania and we had an incredible experience during the safari. Walter had done a superb organizing this trip with his thorough attention to detail that he included everything that we wanted on the schedule, and booked all the accommodations, communicated our dietary restrictions, transport in a great Landcruiser and above all, he assigned guide Bravin to us. Bravin gave us an amazing safari, he knew all the routes in the parks well and found wildlife with ease. He freely shared information about the flora and fauna we encountered on the safari as well as keeping us safe and comfortable during the entire trip.The overall experience was awesome!!

Fawzi Hassan

2024-10-09

Very Professional Team and Excellent Arrangements We are truly grateful for the excellently organized trek on the Lemosho route. We have absolutely no regrets for having chosen to go with this amazing team. I must confess that I was a bit scared of sending all that money to a company that I had not deal with before, however they proved to be trustworthy and delivered an amazing trip.The organization was top class, smooth and we had Walter as our trip designer. The actual trek was great, they had prepared and made all the necessary arrangements. We went with a very experienced and dedicated crew who took excellent care of us.The views and overall trekking experience is unlike any other. Refreshing but very challenging. We both made it to the summit and I have nothing but praise.I highly recommend Mighty Africa Xpeditions!

Aberico G

2024-08-20

The best vacation of my life The trip was great. We planned the entire trip with Walter, who helped us create our own private itinerary. We saw all the big 5 in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. These parks are absolutely wonderful and are full of wild animals. The lodges were very nice and excellent places to rest.This was the best vacation of my life.

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NATIONAL PARKS

ZANZIBAR

MOUNTAINS

TANZANIA UNFORGETTABLE : HOLIDAY TOURS

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Kilimanjaro Hiking Routes

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Kilimanjaro Routes & Which is the Best Route to Climb Kilimanjaro?

KILIMANJARO HIKING HIGHLIGHTS

KILIMANJARO CLIMBING ROUTES - INFORMATION

You will never regret a hike, but you will always regret not going

Conclusion: Our favourite route

What customers have to say about what we do

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