which best route to chose when climbing mount kilimanjaro
There are seven established routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro - Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai, Northern Circuit and Umbwe. The Marangu, Machame, and Umbwe routes all approach from the south of the mountain (Mweka is used only for descent). The Lemosho, Shira and Northern Circuit routes approach from the west. The Rongai route approaches from the north. The illustrations below depict a three-dimensional view of Kilimanjaro's climbing routes and a close up of the approaches to the summit.
The Machame ("Whiskey") Route
Known as the "Whiskey" route, the Machame route is now the most popular route on the mountain. Compared with Marangu, the days on Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. The Machame route is considered a difficult route, and is better suited for more adventurous folks and those with some hiking or backpacking experience.The route begins from the south, then heads east, traversing underneath Kilimanjaro's southern ice field before summiting. The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although seven days is recommended. Also The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. However, due to the heavy crowds, it loses some of its spendor.
The Lemosho Route
Like the Shira route, the Lemosho route approaches Kilimanjaro from the west and then joins the Machame route. Hence everything that has been said about the Machame climb route also applies to the Lemosho route.The first two days on the Lemosho route take you through beautiful and very remote rainforest, with good chances of seeing wildlife. The start of the trail is also known as the Lemosho Glades.Lemosho is usually a longer trek, seven or eight days, and there are many variations of it. Which one you take depends on the operator. (A really good operator will also time their departure and stagger their camps in a way that avoids the heaviest traffic on the Machame trail.)The length, the remoteness and the added transport cost make Lemosho a rather expensive option.However, the longer itinerary and the fact that there are no budget operators (you can't do this route on a budget) lead to excellent success rates on this route and it has become quite a popular one.It is a route for people who are confident in their ability to hike in difficult terrain and camp out for extended periods, who want a superb wilderness experience and for whom cost is not the main consideration.
The Marangu route
The Marangu Route (also known as the ‘Coca Cola Route’) is the oldest and most established route on Kilimanjaro and used to be the most popular. It’s considered to be the easiest way up in terms of gradient and terrain. It is also the only route on the mountain that has huts to sleep in.
However the ascent and descent are done on the same pathway which can mean the route gets busy and the huts can get quite full. However it’s a very useful trail for families and groups looking for the comfort and convenience of a hut, and avoiding having to use the mountain tents. It’s a useful route to do in the rainy season if only to avoid having wet clothes inside a tent.
It’s an easier route with no real difficulties on the path but it doesn’t share the distinctive difference in scenery that you see on the other tracks, The early days on the huge plateau covers open ground and scrub all the way until the final hut below the summit massif. The summit day itself is just the same level of difficulty though, with the same amount of elevation to cover to reach the crater rim at Gilman’s Point and then Uhuru Peak.
The Rongai Route
The northern Rongai route offers a relatively "easy" climb, a high success rate, a gradual and steady ascent, plus wildlife watching in the wilderness (look our for big game such as buffalo, antelope and elephant).
The main draw of this Kilimanjaro route is the chance to get away from the crowds, so you can enjoy the incredible scenery. The six-day route via Mawenzi Tarn staying in well-staggered camps also means you'll have more time to acclimatise and less risk of altitude sickness.
Breakdown of the Rongai RouteThe Rongai route is the only Kilimanjaro route that approaches the mountain from the north. The trail starts from the northeast and passes through the Saddle, between Kibo and Mawenzi Peak.
This route uses Gilman’s Point to approach the summit and then descends via the Marangu Route, so you get the opportunity to see both sides of the mountain.
Although considered to be less scenic than the Lemosho and Machame routes, there are still oases of wilderness, especially on the later days of the hike and the camp beneath Mawenzi Peak is noted as one of the most scenic on the mountain.
An additional benefit of the Rongai route is than the northern side of Kilimanjaro tends to be drier, so weather conditions are more favourable for climbing and camping. This is a big plus to consider if you're trekking during Tanzania's wetter seasons.
The Umbwe Route
The Most Difficult Route The Umbwe Route involves a rapid ascent to Barranco Camp, reaching the camp on the second night, rather than the third or fourth as per alternative routes. The route is very steep and exposed – and not suitable for people who are scared of heights.This is the most demanding of all seven routes, with poor acclimatization opportunities and shouldn’t be taken on unless you have experience in mountain climbing.