Which is the best route to climb Kilimanjaro?
There are main six Mount Kilimanjaro climbing routes. These routes vary not only in length, cost and scenery; they also have different difficulty levels and different success rates. Selecting a Kilimanjaro climb route is one of the most important decisions you have to make. There is no single best Mt. Kilimanjaro climb route. Which route up Kilimanjaro is the best for you depends on several factors. The time and money you have available, previous experience and fitness, the time of the year, personal preference.
Here below are different Kilimanjaro Routes Pros and Cons
Marangu route:
- This route is also known as the “Coca-Cola” route.
- The only Kilimanjaro climb route that offers hut accommodation
- The route is popular for its comfort while undertaking this classic trek.
- Regarded as the least difficult of routes, Marangu is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro.
- Gentle slope; It has a gentle slope for the first several days, prior to the tough summit attempt from Kibo Hut.
Machame route:
- The most popular climbing route up Kilimanjaro
- Forest; It is richest forested area on the mountain.
- Lush and beautiful; but also gets very muddy during the wet season
Lemosho route:
- The eight days trek itinerary allows for maximum time for acclimatization.
- Improved chances of reaching the summit & allows time to enjoy variety of scenery in the different climatic zones.
- The most beautiful Kilimanjaro climb route, but expensive
- Shira Cathedral
- Less travelled Lemosho route
- High Success Rate 98%
- Traversing beautiful forests and moorlands
Rongai route:
- The Rongai route is a more gradual ascent and is therefore preferred by those with little or no backpacking experience.
- The easiest route on Kilimanjaro
- Less traffic
Umbwe route:
- It gets very challenging route and very muddy especially during the rainy season.
The Northern Circuit route:
- This is one of the best routes on Kilimanjaro, offering high degrees of beautiful scenery including the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes.
- As the longest route on Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit also has the most acclimatization time and the highest summit success rate.
- You must have enough time and money
NUMBER OF CREW ON KILIMANJARO:
Tour operators are expected to comply with KINAPA guide and porter regulations. Porters are responsible for carrying trekkers gear as well as key items like tents; water and cooking supplies. The number of crew depends also on the number of trek days. The longer the route the more the number of porters. The shorter the route the less the number of porters. Also there are other factors like the weight of your luggage (we recommend to pack not more than 15kg/13Lbs) and addition of facilities like a private portable toilet.
You can refer to the chart to see how the number of crew members corresponds to the number of climbers.
