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Our Scenic Kilimanjaro Routes

Whether it is your first time trekking or you’ve climbed dozens of peaks, we have the top Kilimanjaro routes for you. For an unrivaled experience on Mount Kilimanjaro, select the route that best suits you, and maximizes your comfort, enjoyment, and chance of success. We will take you every step of the way.

There are six main climbing routes on Kilimanjaro. We prefer the quieter, lesser traveled camping routes of  Lemosho, Northern Circuit, and Rongai. We believe these are the best routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. Furthermore, we recommend taking longer duration variations of these routes as they will give you the highest chance in successfully summiting. However, we do offer climbs on all major routes on the mountain.

We have a variety of group climbs scheduled weekly throughout the year, with the exception of during the rainy season (November and March – May). Group climbs have a maximum capacity of 12 people.

Group climbs are available on the following routes:

  • 10 day Lemosho
  • 11 day Northern Circuit
  • 9 day Machame
  • 8 day Rongai

Private climbs on any dates can be arranged on the above-listed routes, plus the 9 day Rongai, 8 day Machame, 8 day Marangu, 12 day Northern Crater and 9 day Lemosho. No other parties or persons are added to private climbs. The persons in your party are the only ones on the climb.

Kilimanjaro Route Overview

ROUTE DISTANCE (miles) TREKKING DAYS DESCRIPTION
Lemosho (Recommended) 46 7 or 8 The Lemosho route is regarded as one of the prettiest routes on Kilimanjaro. We begin from the west, cross the Shira Plateau, and traverse the mountain along the southern circuit.
Northern Circuit (Recommended) 54 9 The Northern Circuit Route is a relatively new route. Starting from the west, this is the only route that travels north around the mountain before the summit push.
Rongai (Recommended) 43 6 or 7 The climb begins at the remote, northern side of Kilimanjaro, near the Kenyan border. It ventures towards the jagged Mawenzi Peak, then crosses the saddle, before climbing up Kibo’s eastern crater wall.
Machame 39 6 or 7 The Machame Route is known as the “Whiskey” route. It begins at the southern part of the mountain, ascends to the Shira Plateau, and traverses along the southern circuit.
Marangu 48 6 The Marangu Route is also known as the “Coca-Cola” Route. It approaches the summit from the southeast. The route has a gradual incline to the summit and offers dormitory style sleeping huts.
Northern Crater 57 10 The Northern Crater Route is a variation of the Northern Circuit Route that adds an additional night of camping at Crater Camp.  The optional hike over to the Reusch Crater and Ash Pit is a site rarely seen by climbers.

The Lemosho Route is regarded as one of the prettiest routes on Kilimanjaro.

We begin with a long transfer by vehicle to the western gate. From there, we trek in the often wet, fertile rainforest until we reach the wildflowers of the heath ecosystem.

As we move east, we cross one of most beautiful areas on Kilimanjaro, the Shira Plateau, before traversing the mountain along the southern circuit. We hike beneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Icefield and summit via Barafu Hut. This route has a high success rate and is highly recommended.

The Lemosho Route is a 9 or 10-day trip.

10 Day Lemosho Route
8 days on the mountain.
Group or Private.

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9 Day Lemosho Route
7 days on the mountain.
Private.

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The Northern Circuit is the most amazing journey on Kilimanjaro.

Starting from the west, this is the only route that travels north around Mount Kilimanjaro.  It traverses nearly the entire mountain before the summit push. This is absolutely the most scenic path available and will have almost no other hikers on its northern face.

As a relatively new route, you can become one of the first to enjoy the Northern Circuit’s tranquility and stunning panoramic scenery. This route has a high success rate and is highly recommended.

The Northern Circuit is an 11-day trip.

11 Day Northern Circuit
9 days on the mountain.
Group or Private.

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The Rongai Route is the only trail that begins at the remote north side of Kilimanjaro, near the Kenyan border.

We hike through a true wilderness area towards the jagged Mawenzi Peak, then cross a barren desert saddle, before climbing up Kibo’s eastern crater wall.

The Rongai Route has a more gradual ascent. It is therefore preferred by those with little or no backpacking experience. However, the route is equally enjoyable for even the most hardened trekkers. Rongai is a good choice for people who are looking for a quick hike with more gentle slopes.

The Rongai Route is an 8 or 9-day trip.

9 Day Rongai Route
7 days on the mountain.
Private.

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8 Day Rongai Route
6 days on the mountain.
Group or Private.

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The Machame Route, known as the “Whiskey” route, is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro.

The path begins at Machame Gate located at the southern base of the mountain within its green, abundant rainforest. We climb to the Shira Plateau, then traverse the mountain beneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Icefield, before summiting from Barafu Hut.

The Machame Route can be crowded during the high season. Many groups share the campsites.  So this route is a good choice for people who want to enjoy a scenic hike on a challenging route, but do not mind the company of other climbers.

The Machame Route is an 8 or 9-day trip.

9 Day Machame Route
7 days on the mountain.
Group or Private.

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8 Day Machame Route
6 days on the mountain.
Private only.

8machame-tn

The Marangu Route is the original way to climb Kilimanjaro. For a long time, this was the only path that existed on the mountain.

The trail begins at the Southeastern side of Kilimanjaro. We hike through the rainforest towards the jagged Mawenzi Peak, then cross a barren desert saddle before climbing up Kibo’s Eastern crater wall.

The Marangu route has a more gradual ascent. Clients with little or no backpacking experience prefer it but the shorter itinerary can be an issue for acclimatization. It is the only route that has climbers sleeping in dormitory style huts. Marangu is a good choice for people want to climb during the rainy season and prefer a more gradual ascent.

The Marangu route is an 8-day trip.

8 Day Marangu Route
6 days on the mountain.
Private.

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The Northern Crater Route is a variation of the Northern Circuit Route that adds an additional night of camping at Crater Camp.

Crater Camp is located near Furtwangler Glacier—part of the ice cap that once crowned the entire summit of Kilimanjaro. It is located just below the peak and is at an extremely high elevation. If you are feeling up to it, you can take the short hike over to the Reusch Crater and Ash Pit. Most climbers rarely see this view. This is for the thrill seeker who wants a unique experience on Kilimanjaro.

The Northern Crater Route is a 12-day trip.

12 Day Northern Crater
10 days on the mountain.
Private.

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