LEMOSHO CLIMB
7 day private camping trekking tour + 2 nights’ hotel stay
Lemosho route starts on the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro and is one of the lesser-used routes. The route is more demanding than Rongai and Marangu, but it’s also one of the most picturesque and varied options.. It has some steep areas and passes through a larger variety of vegetation types and landscapes than other routes. You will traverse the lush green rainforest during the first two days after which the vegetation changes to moorland characterized by heather, ericas, ferns and large lichen-covered rocks. From the third day the route joins up with the Machame route and enters the alpine desert sections of the route, which rise and fall en route to the arctic summit. The Lemosho scheduled climb departs fortnightly on Thursday while a private climb can start any day.
Highlights
Day 1
Start: Lemosho Gate (2385 m)
Finish: Big Tree Camp (2780 m)
Altitude: ↑ 395 m
Walking Time: 2-3h
Hike through the lush forest. Gradually climbing along a footpath.
Day 2
Start: Big Tree Camp (2780 m)
Finish: Shira Camp 2 (3900 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1120 m
Walking Time: 7-8h
A long day with ups and downs. Great views of Kibo and Shira Ridge as you emerge from the forest.
Day 3
Start: Shira Camp 2 (3900 m)
Finish: Barranco Camp (3960 m)
Altitude: ↑ 740 m ↓ 680 m
Walking Time: 6-7h
Another long day through interesting vegetation, especially around the Lava Tower rock formation.
Day 4
Start: Barranco Camp (3960 m)
Finish: Karanga Camp (4035 m)
Altitude: ↑ 100 m ↓ 25 m
Walking Time: 3-4h
Conquering the Barranco Wall, breathtaking views of a glacier waits. More ups and downs.
Day 5
Start: Karanga Camp (4035 m)
Finish: Barafu Camp (4640 m)
Altitude: ↑ 605 m
Walking Time: 3-4h
An easy footpath through a rock-strewn moon landscape.
Day 6
Start: Barafu Camp (4640 m)
Finish: Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Mweka Camp (3080 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1255 m ↓ 2815 m
Walking Time: 10-14h
Starting at midnight, it’s a long day. The long cold uphill to Stella Point on the crater will be rewarded with awesome views, Another hour or so to the summit, before the gravelly and steep downhill descent.
Day 7
Start: Mweka Camp (3080 m)
Finish: Mweka Gate (1630 m)
Altitude: ↓ 1450 m
Walking Time: 2-3h
Easy and relatively short descent with a good path through lush rainforest to the gate.
Lemosho Route
– It is an excellent route to climb Kilimanjaro by with a high success rate.
– Allows climbers to “walk high, sleep low” enabling better acclimatization.
– Remote and spectacular approach with dramatic gorges and views of west Kilimanjaro.
– Shira route offers a higher start point. Therefore, it is less good for acclimatization.
– Fully catered camping.
RONGAI CLIMB
6 day private camping trekking tour + 2 nights hotel stay
Rongai is only available as a private climb which means that you can choose your departure date and fellow hikers in your group.
Probably the least-used route to the summit of Kilimanjaro is the Rongai route. It starts on the northern side of Mt Kilimanjaro where it can be relatively dry even in the rainy months. Rongai traverses lesser-known areas of Kili and is perfect for hikers than want a more remote route. This camping route is only available as a private climb. This means that the client will select the suitable day of departure and can make up his own group of hikers.
Highlights
Day 1
Start: Nalemoru Gate (1990 m)
Finish: Simba Camp (2625 m)
Altitude: ↑ 635 m
Walking time: 3-4h
This section goes through farms, pine trees and into the forest on the mountain slopes.
Day 2
Start: Simba Camp (2625 m)
Finish: Kikelewa Camp (3630 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1005 m
Walking time: 5-6h
The vegetation changes with the altitude and there will be more shrubs and better views of the two peaks and Kenya’s plains.
Day 3
Start: Kikelewa Camp (3630 m)
Finish: Mawenzi Tarn Hut (4310 m)
Altitude: ↑ 680 m
Walking time: 3-4h
A day of ups and downs with great views and interesting plants.
Day 4
Start: Mawenzi Tarn Hut (4310 m)
Finish: Kibo Hut (4700 m)
Altitude: ↑ 390 m
Walking time: 4-6h
Some easy gradual stretches and a tough section crossing the Saddle that links Mawenzi and Kibo peaks.
Day 5
Start: Kibo Hut (4700 m)
Finish: Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Horombo Hut (3700 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1185 m ↓ 2195 m
Walking time: 12-14h
Summit day with a long cold climb to reach to Gilman’s Point on the crater’s rim. Up to Uhuru for a 360° view. The downhill is long, steep and dusty.
Day 6
Start: Horombo Hut (3700 m)
Finish: Marangu Gate (1860 m)
Altitude: ↓ 1840 m
Walking time: 5-6h
Today’s decent is easier and the path is better. Descend into the forest.
Rongai Route
– Only northern approach route to Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit.
– Offers a true wilderness experience on the early stages of the climb.
– Very tough final summit night.
– Less natural acclimatization with no opportunities to “walk high, sleep low”.
-Fully catered camping.
MACHAME CLIMB
6 day private camping trekking tour + 2 nights hotel stay
Considered by the majority of our guides as the most beautiful route to Mt Kilimanjaro’s summit, Machame starts in the forest and has on a clear day views of the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro – Kibo peak. Machame is a camping route and is tougher than Rongai and Marangu routes as it is steeper. Machame route can be chosen as a scheduled departure (every Friday) or as a private departure (any day, with your choice of team mates).
Highlights
Day 1
Start: Machame Gate (1790 m)
Finish: Machame Camp (3020 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1230 m
Walking time: 5-6h
A long day, but great views of the cool forest.
Day 2
Start: Machame Camp (3020 m)
Finish: New Shira Camp (3845 m)
Altitude: ↑ 825 m
Walking time: 4-6h
A shorter section than yesterday with great views of Shira and the summit.
Day 3
Start: New Shira Camp (3845 m)
Finish: Barranco Camp (3960 m)
Altitude: ↑ 815 m ↓ 680 m
Walking time: 6-7h
A long day with changing vegetation along the way.
Day 4
Start: Barranco Camp (3960 m)
Finish: Barafu Camp (4640 m)
Altitude: ↑ 680m ↓ 50 m
Walking time: 5-6h
Conquer the Barranco Wall before more ups and downs. You will start to feel the altitude, drink lots of water.
Day 5
Start: Barafu Camp (4640 m)
Finish: Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Mweka Camp (3080 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1255 m ↓ 2815 m
Walking time: 10-14h
Summit day starts at midnight. Cold and steep climb to Stella Point and onwards to Uhuru Peak. Long, steep and dusty descent. .
Day 6
Start: Mweka Camp (3080 m)
Finish: Mweka Gate (1630 m)
Altitude: ↓ 1450 m
Walking time: 2-3h
Short day with gentler descent through moist forest.
MARANGU CLIMB
6 day trekking tour with accommodation in mountain huts + 2 nights hotel stay
Nicknamed the ‘Coca cola’ route, Marangu is the classic and oldest route up Mount Kilimanjaro. It is also the only route where hikers overnight in rustic huts and not in tents, so a good choice in the wet season. The ascent is constant and moderate but the section towards Uhuru peak is difficult. The route follows the same path up and down. Available as a scheduled departure (Fridays only) it can be booked as a private departure (any day) whereby you choose your own team mates.
Highlights
Day 1
Start: Marangu Gate (1860 m)
Finish: Mandara Hut (2700 m)
Altitude: ↑ 840 m
Walking time: 3-4h
The trail starts in the moist forest. Huge trees, birds and monkeys.
Day 2
Start: Mandara Hut (2700 m)
Finish: Horombo Hut (3700 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1000 m
Walking time: 5-6h
Vegetation changes with more senecia and lobelia.
Day 3
Start: Horombo Hut (3700m)
Finish: Horombo Hut (3700m)
Altitude: ↑400m ↓400m
Walking time: 4h
Hike to Zebra rocks and back. This will help against altitude sickness.
Day 4
Start: Horombo Hut (3700 m)
Finish: Kibo Hut (4700 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1000 m
Walking time: 5-6h
Less plants, more rock. Almost a moon landscape crossing the Saddle to Kibo Hut.
Day 5
Start: Kibo Hut (4700 m)
Finish: Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Horombo Hut.
UMBWE CLIMB
6 day camping trekking tour + 2 nights’ hotel stay
The Umbwe Route is a short, steep and scenic route which approachs the summit from the south. It is the least used route on the mountain and also the most demanding.
This route offers spectacular views and a fast summit approach, but due to the latter it is not the best route in terms of acclimatization.
Highlights
Day 1
Start: Umbwe Gate (1640 m)
Finish: Umbwe Cave Camp (2930 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1290 m
Walking Time: 5-6h
A long and strenuous first day through the rainforest and out onto a mountain ridge.
Day 2
Start: Umbwe Cave Camp (2930 m)
Finish: Barranco Camp (3960 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1030 m
Walking Time: 5-6h
A difficult ascent into the moorland and heather, then over the sheer Rope Roack and onto Barranco for great views of Kibo and the Barranco Wall
Day 3
Start: Barranco Camp (3960 m)
Finish: Karanga Camp (4035 m)
Altitude: ↑ 100 m ↓ 25 m
Walking Time: 3-4h
The imposing Barranco Wall lies ahead today, but it is not as bad as it looks. It is a steep climb but the views of Kibo’s southern glacier are breathtaking.
Day 4
Start: Karanga Camp (4035 m)
Finish: Barafu Camp (4640 m)
Altitude: ↑ 605 m
Walking Time: 3-4h
A relative easy day through the desolate moon-like landscape of the alpine desert.
Day 5
Start: Barafu Camp (4640 m)
Finish: Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Mweka Camp (3080 m)
Altitude: ↑ 1255 m ↓ 2815 m
Walking Time: 10-14h
Summit day starts off in the dark. You will first go to Stella Point on the crater’s rim. Another few hours to reach Uhuru peak in the early sunrise. After a few minutes at the summit, the descent is steep and long.
Day 6
Start: Mweka Camp (3080 m)
Finish: Mweka Gate (1630 m)
Altitude: ↓ 1450 m
Walking Time: 2-3h
Traditional farewell ceremony then an easy and relatively short descent with a good path through lush rainforest to the gate.
THE SHIRA ROUTE
The Shira route is unusual for having a high starting point. This can make it tough from an acclimatization point of view. We reveal the pros and cons of the Shira to help you decide if it’s a good route for you climbing Kilimanjaro.
The Shira route is one of the older Kilimanjaro routes, and is very similar to the Lemosho route. The only differences between them is the trail walked on first couple of days, and that the starting point of the Shira is higher. In fact, the Lemosho route can be considered the ‘new-and-improved’ version of the Shira route.
The Shira route approaches the summit of Kilimanjaro from the west, starting at Morum Barrier. It starts relatively high above sea level and is therefore a less frequented route as it offers a poorer acclimatisation profile. The route requires you to camp.
Shira route quick facts
Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 56 km / 35 miles
Duration: 6-7 days
Success rate: Medium
Along with the Lemosho route, the Shira route has all the qualities you could ask for in a Kilimanjaro climb, including beautiful views and varied terrain throughout. The Shira route, however, starts at an elevation that’s roughly a kilometre higher than the Lemosho route! This means that climbers tackling the Shira route are at a higher risk of developing altitude-related symptoms from the first day.
As such, we recommend opting for the Lemosho route over the Shira route. That said, we’re happy to recommend the Shira route to those who are seasoned high-altitude hikers or already live at a very high altitude.