Which Route Do You Want To Take?
Kilimanjaro Routes
Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa, offers seven different routes to the summit. Each route has its own unique features and challenges, making it important to choose the right one for your abilities and preferences. The Marangu route is the most popular and easiest, while the Machame route is the most scenic and challenging. The Lemosho route is the longest and most remote, while the Rongai route is the only one that approaches from the north. The Shira route is similar to the Lemosho but starts at a higher elevation, while the Umbwe route is the shortest and steepest. No matter which route you choose, climbing Kilimanjaro is an unforgettable experience that requires proper preparation and guidance.
7 Day Machame Route
Machame route is widely considered to be the most scenic of all of the routes up Mount Kilimanjaro, providing unique and varied landscapes to pass through on each and every day. The trail starts on the south side of the mountain, passes underneath the Southern Ice Field and makes its summit approach from the Barafu Camp. For travelers who have a few extra days in their schedule, Machame route is an excellent option.
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Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 62 km
Duration: 6-8 days
Success rate: High
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Itinerary
Day 1
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
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The first day of the Machame Route involves a steep ascent through the rainforest, which can be quite challenging. However, the reward is worth it, as you emerge from the forest to stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
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On the first day of the Machame Route, you will start at an elevation of around 6,000 feet and climb to around 9,800 feet. The vegetation zone you will pass through is the rainforest, which is lush and green. The duration of the hike on the first day is typically around 5-7 hours, depending on your pace and the group's fitness level.
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Day 2
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
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On day 2 of the Machame route, hikers will ascend to an elevation of approximately 12,500 feet. This is where the vegetation changes from rainforest to heathland. The duration of day 2 is typically around 6-7 hours of hiking.
Day 3
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp
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On day 3 of the Machame Route, hikers will ascend to Shira Camp at an altitude of 3,840 meters. The trail will take them through a rocky terrain and a moorland zone, offering stunning views of the Shira Plateau. The hike is challenging but rewarding, and hikers will have the opportunity to acclimatize to the altitude.
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 5,400ft to 9,400ft
Hiking Time: 6 to 7 hours
Distance: 11 km/7 miles
Habitat: Rain Forest
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 9,400ft to 12,500ft
Hiking Time: 4 to 6 hours
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Habitat: Health and Moorland
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 12,500ft to 13,000ft
Hiking Time: 6 to 8 hours
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Habitat: Semi Desert
Day 4
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
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After breakfast, you will climb the famous Barranco Wall before continuing on to Karanga Camp. The hike will take approximately 4-5 hours. Dinner and overnight at Karanga Camp.
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 13,000ft to 13,100ft
Hiking Time: 3 to 5 hours
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 5
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
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After breakfast, you will climb towards Barafu Camp, the base camp for summit night. This is a half day climbing so you have plenty of time to rest before the summit day. The hike will take around 3-5 hours. After lunch and a rest, you will prepare for the summit attempt. Dinner and overnight at Barafu Camp.
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 13,123 ft to 15,288 ft
Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: 3 km/2 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 6
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
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You will start the summit attempt just before midnight. The climb will take around 6-8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. By dawn, you arrive near the rim at Stella Point, at an altitude of 18,652ft and be greeted by the most magnificent sun rise you could imagine. From here you have about 1 hr hike to the Uhuru Peak. After a short celebration, and pictures, you will start descending to Mweka Camp through scree and rock formations. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp.
Day 7
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
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After breakfast, you will descend to Mweka Gate, where you will receive your summit certificates. A vehicle will be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Moshi for a hot shower and rest. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 15,300ft to 19,345ft
Hiking Time: 7 to 8 hours ascent & 4 to 6 hours descent
Distance: 8 km/5 miles ascent & 11km/7 miles descent
Habitat: Arctic
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 10,000ft to 5,400ft
Hiking Time: 3 to 4 hours
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Habitat: Rain Forest
8 Day lemosho Route
The Lemosho Route is the longest and arguably most scenic route to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Tour operators offer a range of package options, but most commonly the Lemosho Route takes 7-8 days to complete. The Lemosho Route starts with a long drive to the Londorossi Gate and then heads west across the Shira Plateau. From here, the route joins up with the Machame Route and climbers descend via the Mweka Route.
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Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 70 km
Duration: 7-8 days
Success rate: High
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Day 1
Londorossi Gate to Big Tree Camp
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The Lemosho Route begins at Londorossi Gate, you'll complete entry formalities and drive to the beginning of the Lemosho trailhead. From here, you'll embark on a relatively gentle hike through pristine rainforest until you reach Big Tree Camp (also known as Mti Mkubwa).
This is one of the shorter days on the climb and is designed to help your body acclimatize to the altitude. You'll cover approximately 7km during this stage of the climb and gain around 700m in elevation.
Day 2
Big Tree Camp to Shira Camp 1
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On day two, you'll continue your ascent through lush forest landscapes before emerging into moorland areas with stunning views over Shira Plateau. This is a more challenging day, with a steep climb up to Shira Ridge and then a descent to your camp for the night, Shira Camp 1.
Day 3
Shira Camp 1 to Moir Hut​
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On day three, you'll walk through Shira Plateau exploring the beauty of the moorland meadows and towards Shira 2 Camp. We will divert from the mail route and head towards Moir Hut which is located at the base of Lent Hills. This site is less used and you'll have some opportunities to t
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 7,742 ft to 9,498 ft
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 6 km/4 miles
Habitat: Rain Forest
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 9,498 ft to 11,500 ft
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 8 km/5 miles
Habitat: Health
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 11,500 ft to 13,800 ft
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 11 km/7 miles
Habitat: Health
Day 4
Moir Hut to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
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Today you will be hiking up to Lava Tower, and then down to Barranco Camp. Once you reach Lava Tower, you will then descend through the beautiful Senecio Forest to Barranco Camp. Even though this hike begins and ends at the same elevation, it still provides many benefits for acclimatization. This hike also allows you to take in some of the amazing scenery that Kilimanjaro has to offer.
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft to 13,044
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours and descent 2-3 hours
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 5
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
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You'll be hiking through an alpine desert environment and a variety of terrain, beginning with a descent into a ravine and then a climb up the non-technical but steep Barranco Wall.
You'll continue on your hike by crossing a series of hills and valleys before descending sharply into Karanga Valley. From here, the final climb up to Karanga Camp begins. This day is typically shorter than others on the route and is meant for acclimatization. At Karanga Camp, you will have lunch and settle in for the night.
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 6
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
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Hike from Karanga Camp to Barafu Hut, where you will spend the night and make your final summit attempt. You will be surrounded by lava towers, glaciers, and snow-capped peaks. Mawenzi and Kibo peaks are visible from here. The views will certainly motivate you to keep going and remind you of the incredible benefits of having undertaken such a journey. Once you reach Barafu Hut, take the rest of the day to relax and take in the surroundings before your summit attempt in the morning.
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: 4 km/2 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent and 4-6 hours descent
Distance: 17 km/10 miles
Habitat: Arctic and Rain Forest
Day 7
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
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The summit attempt is the most challenging part of the Shira Route. Starting around midnight, hikers will ascend more than 5,000 feet over a distance of 5 miles to reach Uhuru Peak (19,341 ft). Along the way, hikers will witness one of the most magnificent sunrises at Stella Point (18,900 ft). As you continue up the steepest section of the climb, trekking poles can be incredibly helpful as the trail is very rocky. Once you reach the peak, take some photos of your accomplishment and shortly, you will begin the descent straight down to Barafu for lunch. From there, you will make your way to Mweka Camp where dinner and sleep will be enjoyed at the end of the day. Keep in mind that Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
Day 8
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
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On the final day of the Kilimanjaro trek, you'll begin your descent from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate. This section usually takes about 3-4 hours, as the trail is mostly downhill and well-maintained. At Mweka Gate, you will receive your Kilimanjaro certificate for completing the Shira Route. This is a great moment to pause and reflect on your accomplishment! From here, you'll board a vehicle for your ride back to the hotel in Moshi.
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Hiking Time: -4 hours
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Habitat: Rain Forest