Kilimanjaro
Climb Kilimanjaro
Africa's highest summit, at 5,895 m (19,341 ft). Choose the route and pace that give you the best chance of standing on top.
Kilimanjaro routes
Six ways up Africa's roof
Every route reaches Uhuru Peak. They differ in length, crowds, scenery and how well they let your body adjust to altitude.
- Whiskey Route
Machame Route
- Length
- 6 or 7 days
- Distance
- 62 km
- Summit
- 5,895 m
Demanding but non-technical
From$2,200per person
- Connoisseur's Choice
Lemosho Route
- Length
- 6, 7 or 8 days
- Distance
- 70 km
- Summit
- 5,895 m
Demanding but non-technical
From$2,695per person
- Coca-Cola Route
Marangu Route
- Length
- 5 or 6 days
- Distance
- 64 km
- Summit
- 5,895 m
Moderate on the legs
From$2,050per person
- Northern Approach
Rongai Route
- Length
- 7 days
- Distance
- 65 km
- Summit
- 5,895 m
Moderate to challenging
From$2,350per person
- Most Direct Route
Umbwe Route
- Length
- 6 or 7 days
- Distance
- 54 km
- Summit
- 5,895 m
Very hard: steep from the first step
From$1,980per person
- Grand Traverse
Northern Circuit
- Length
- 8, 9 or 10 days
- Distance
- 98 km
- Summit
- 5,895 m
Moderate overall: long days
From$2,690per person
Compare
The routes side by side
| Route | Duration | Distance | Summit | Sleeping | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machame Route | 6 or 7 days | 62 km / 39 mi | 5,895 m / 19,341 ft | Four-season tents at every camp | Demanding but non-technical; steady walking with one hands-on scramble |
| Lemosho Route | 6, 7 or 8 days | 70 km / 43 mi | 5,895 m / 19,341 ft | Four-season tents at every camp | Demanding but non-technical; long days eased by gradual acclimatisation |
| Marangu Route | 5 or 6 days | 64 km / 40 mi | 5,895 m / 19,341 ft | Shared dormitory huts at Mandara, Horombo and Kibo | Moderate on the legs, though the quick climb makes altitude the real test |
| Rongai Route | 7 days | 65 km / 40 mi | 5,895 m / 19,341 ft | Four-season sleeping tents at every camp, except the stone hut at Kibo | Moderate to challenging, with a gradual profile but a steep final slope on summit night |
| Umbwe Route | 6 or 7 days | 54 km / 34 mi | 5,895 m / 19,341 ft | Four-season sleeping tents at every camp | Very hard: steep from the first step, recommended only for experienced high-altitude trekkers |
| Northern Circuit | 8, 9 or 10 days | 98 km / 61 mi | 5,895 m / 19,341 ft | Four-season sleeping tents at every camp | Moderate overall: long days, but a gentle build-up in altitude |
Free guide
The Kilimanjaro Route Guide
Every route compared: distances, gates, camps, altitudes and the best months, in metric and imperial.
6
Routes compared
43
Daily stages mapped
5,895 m
Uhuru Peak (19,341 ft)
What is inside
- Every route side by side: days, distance, start and finish gates, and where you sleep
- A day-by-day table for each route with elevation and distance, in metric and imperial
- The best months to climb, shown as a month strip for every route
- What a climb typically includes, and what to ask any operator
- Straight answers to the questions climbers ask most
Who it is for. Anyone weighing up a Kilimanjaro climb who wants to compare the routes properly before choosing one.
- Free PDF, sent to your inbox
- Distances in metric and imperial
Before you climb
Know before you climb
Safari tips
A Day on Safari in Tanzania, Hour by Hour
What a typical day on safari really looks like in Tanzania, from the early wake-up call and dawn game drive to sundowners and the campfire, with honest tips on pace, rules and comfort.
Planning
Tented Camp or Lodge? Choosing Where to Stay in Tanzania
A plain guide to safari accommodation in Tanzania: how a tented camp differs from a lodge, what en-suite means in the bush, where to stay, and how to match a stay to your budget.
Culture
Tanzania Culture and Responsible Travel: A Respectful Visitor's Guide
Meet the people of Tanzania with care: the communities you may encounter, useful Swahili, photography and dress etiquette, tipping, fair craft buying and how to choose a responsible, locally rooted operator.
Planning
Green Season Safari in Tanzania: Is the Rainy Season Worth It?
A frank look at a green season safari in Tanzania: how the rains really feel, which parks work, which camps close, what to pack, and who enjoys travelling when the land is lush and quiet.
Wildlife
Chimpanzee Trekking in Mahale and Gombe: A Practical Guide
How chimpanzee trekking in Tanzania works in Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream: getting there by light aircraft and boat, the rules, the walking, the best months and what to pack.
Safari tips
Tanzania Photography Safari Guide: Kit, Light and Craft
How to photograph wildlife in Tanzania: lenses, bean bags, light, settings in plain words, vehicle etiquette, the best parks and months, and the ethics that keep animals undisturbed while you wait for the shot.
Travel info
Tanzania Travel Health, Visas and Safety Explained
Passports, e-visas, yellow fever rules, malaria advice, insurance, altitude, money and staying safe on safari, explained plainly, with clear pointers to the official sources you must check before you fly.
Wildlife
Tanzania Wildlife Guide: The Big Five and Beyond
A practical guide to the animals of Tanzania: where to see the Big Five, the cats, primates and birds that reward patience, and how guides find them, with honest expectations about what any single drive can deliver.
Honeymoon and family
Tanzania Honeymoon: Safari and Beach Planning Guide
How to plan a honeymoon or anniversary in Tanzania: safari first, then Zanzibar. Romantic touches, intimate camps, the best months, beach choices, a sample route and what to tell your operator.
Honeymoon and family
Family Safari in Tanzania with Children: A Planning Guide
How to plan a Tanzania family safari that works for children and parents alike: ages and park choice, drive lengths, rooms, health, school holiday dates, packing, food and a sample route.
Destinations
Southern Tanzania Safari: Nyerere, Ruaha and Katavi
A plain guide to the quieter south and west of Tanzania: what Nyerere, Ruaha and Katavi offer, how to reach them, when to go, and how to fit them around a northern safari or Zanzibar.
Planning
Planning a First Time Tanzania Safari, Step by Step
A plain guide to planning your first safari in Tanzania: how many days you need, which parks to choose, how a day unfolds, when to book and the mistakes that first-timers make most often.
Destinations
A Zanzibar Guide: Beaches, Stone Town and the Sea
Our Zanzibar travel guide covers Stone Town, spice farms, Prison Island, Jozani forest, the beaches by coast, the best months and how to reach the island, so you can plan a beach stay that suits you.
Planning
What Drives the Cost of a Tanzania Safari
How much does a Tanzania safari cost? It depends on park fees, where you sleep, when you go, how you travel and who guides you. Here is how each piece works, in plain words.
Kilimanjaro
How to Train for Kilimanjaro and Cope With Altitude
A practical guide to getting ready for Kilimanjaro: a 12 week training plan, boots, how altitude affects your body, spotting altitude sickness, and the route choices that give you the best chance of reaching the top.
Destinations
Serengeti, Ngorongoro or Tarangire: Which Tanzania Park Fits You?
How to choose between the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Arusha National Park, with honest notes on wildlife, seasons, distances, nights to allow and three sample itineraries.
Wildlife
The Great Migration Month by Month: Where the Herds Are
A plain guide to where the wildebeest and zebra are in every month of the year, why they move, and how to time a Serengeti trip to the part of the migration you most want to see.
Safari tips
What to pack for a Tanzania safari
A practical packing guide from a local operator: clothing colours, layers for cold dawns, sun protection, cameras, health items, light-aircraft luggage limits, Zanzibar dress, the plastic bag rule and a checklist.
Kilimanjaro
How to choose your Kilimanjaro route
Machame, Lemosho, Marangu, Rongai, Umbwe or the Northern Circuit? A straight comparison of the six routes, with days, gates, huts or tents, crowds and summit chances, so you can choose the one that suits you.
Planning
When is the best time to visit Tanzania?
A month by month guide to Tanzania's two dry and two rainy seasons, with the migration, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and the southern parks explained honestly, so you can pick the right month for your trip.
