What is the best route to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
What is the best route to climb Mount Kilimanjaro: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, attracting thousands of trekkers each year looking to conquer Africa’s tallest peak at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet). As the highest free-standing mountain in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro offers a variety of climbing routes, each with its unique terrain, difficulty level, acclimatization profile, and success rate. These include the Northern Circuit route, Lemosho, Marangu, Machame, Rongai, and Umbwe. Choosing the right route is crucial to your summit success, as factors like altitude adjustment, trek duration, and physical preparation play a significant role in reaching Uhuru Peak.
Whether you’re looking for a scenic and gradual ascent or a fast-paced, challenging climb, understanding the pros and cons of each route will help you make an informed decision. In this blog post, we take you through the different Kilimanjaro climbing routes, providing insights into their difficulty levels, average success rates, and the best options for beginners and experienced climbers alike;
Mount Kilimanjaro Routes and Their Success Rates
Northern Circuit Route
The Northern Circuit is the newest and longest route on Mount Kilimanjaro, offering a 360-degree journey around the mountain. This path provides trekkers with unparalleled panoramic views and a unique perspective of the less-traveled northern slopes. The route takes 9 days to reach the summit, however, because of its length, it is the safest and most successful way up Kilimanjaro, with an average summit success rate of approximately 95%! The extended duration facilitates excellent acclimatization, resulting in safe and successful treks. The Northern Circuit route is ideal for hikers who have the time and wish to avoid the usual busier routes.
Lemosho Route
Renowned for its breathtaking scenery, the Lemosho Route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the south-west. Trekkers traverse through verdant rainforests, across the Shira Plateau, and merge with the Machame Route, offering a rich and varied trekking experience. It is often a 7 to 8-day trek, however, the 8-day itinerary boasts a summit success rate of around 90%, while the 7-day option maintains a commendable 85% success rate.
Despite starting at a greater altitude than other routes, the Lemosho route provides excellent acclimatization and a climb-high, sleep-low profile. Trekkers via this route are treated to spectacular landscapes including the Shira Plateau and Lava Tower. Moreover, there is less traffic, providing a quieter trek.
Machame Route
What is the best route to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Dubbed the “Whiskey” route, the Machame Route is celebrated for its challenging terrain and rewarding vistas, making it the most popular climbing route up Mount Kilimanjaro. Starting from the southern base, the route offers trekkers a journey through diverse climatic zones, enhancing the overall climbing experience. The course may be done in 6 or 7 days and features stunning views and surroundings including the scenic Barranco Wall and Karanga Valley. However, the 7-day trek offers a success rate exceeding 85%, whereas the 6-day option has a success rate of approximately 73%. Nonetheless, both routes have a great climb high, sleep low profile, and the summit success rate as a result, particularly for climbers who take the extra day to acclimate.
Rongai Route
The Rongai Route is unique as it approaches Kilimanjaro from the north, near the Kenyan border. Known for its gentler gradients and drier conditions, it’s an excellent choice during the rainy season and for those seeking a less strenuous climb. Like the Machame route, the Rongai route is also a 6 to 7-day hike. However, the 7-day trek has a success rate of approximately 85%, while the 6-day option sees about a 70% success rate. The Rongai path is one of the most distant and wild trails on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Despite this, the route has several benefits for trekkers, making it a tempting alternative for those seeking a one-of-a-kind experience on Africa’s highest mountain. The route features a long, steady climb, allowing climbers to acclimatize gradually. Trekkers on this route can enjoy a quieter experience, offering a peaceful trekking environment and potential wildlife sightings at the start.
Marangu Route
What is the best route to climb Mount Kilimanjaro: Also known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu Route is the oldest and only path offering hut accommodations on Mount Kilimanjaro. This route remains the most established and immensely popular trekking path since it is the only route on the summit that provides hikers with hut accommodations. Its consistent ascent profile and shorter duration have made it a popular choice, though it offers fewer scenic variations compared to other routes. While the Marangu route is often regarded as the ‘easiest’ trekking path to the summit, most summit success rate data say the contrary, with rates significantly lower than any other route.
The Marangu route is a 5 to 6-day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, making it the shortest trek. Nonetheless, the 6-day itinerary improves acclimatization, resulting in a success rate of around 60%, while the 5-day trek has a significantly lower success rate of approximately 27%. This is because it does not offer room for climbers to adequately acclimatize. Marangu Route is popular among many travelers since it is a rapid turnaround that requires no camping gear. Moreover, the shorter duration appeals to trekkers with time constraints.
Umbwe Route
What is the best route to climb Mount Kilimanjaro: The Umbwe Route is the steepest, most direct, and most physically demanding route to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Known for its rapid ascent and minimal acclimatization time, this route is best suited for experienced climbers with excellent physical fitness and high-altitude trekking experience. Unlike other routes that allow gradual acclimatization, Umbwe has a steep and continuous elevation gain, making it one of the least popular yet most adventurous routes.
Despite its challenges, the Umbwe Route rewards climbers with stunning, untouched landscapes and an off-the-beaten-path experience. The 6 to 7-day hike to the summit is one of the least crowded routes, offering unparalleled solitude and raw wilderness as you ascend through dense rainforests, dramatic ridgelines, and rugged terrains. However, due to its extreme difficulty and low success rate, most trekkers attempting Umbwe either need to be highly acclimatized or opt for a longer itinerary to increase their chances of summiting Uhuru Peak. Thus, the Umbwe Route has a lower success rate compared to other routes.
Several Factors Influencing Summit Success Rates
Acclimatization
Acclimatization plays a key role in summit success on Mount Kilimanjaro. Since Kilimanjaro is a high-altitude trek, climbers must allow their bodies to adjust to lower oxygen levels to avoid altitude sickness. Symptoms such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue can force climbers to turn back if not properly managed. The best way to acclimatize is by choosing a longer route, maintaining a slow and steady pace, drinking at least 3 to 4 liters of water per day, and following the “climb high, sleep low” principle. Some trekkers take Diamox (Acetazolamide) to help with acclimatization, but it is not a substitute for a proper ascent strategy.
Physical Fitness and Mental Preparation
Physical fitness and mental stamina are also crucial for a successful Mount Kilimanjaro climb. While the trek is not a technical climb, it still requires good cardiovascular endurance and leg strength to withstand 5 to 7 days of continuous trekking. Regular training, including hiking, running, and strength exercises, can help prepare your body for the demands of the climb. But mental resilience is just as important, especially on summit night, when fatigue and extreme cold can make the final push to Uhuru Peak particularly challenging. You will need a determined mindset, coupled with proper training to increase your chances of reaching the summit.
Duration of your trek
The duration of your trek also directly impacts summit success rates. For instance, shorter itineraries (5 to 6 days) have lower success rates (50 to 70%) because they do not allow enough time for acclimatization, increasing the risk of altitude sickness. Longer itineraries on the other hand (7 to 9 days) have higher success rates (80 to 95%) because they provide a gradual ascent, giving climbers enough time to adjust to the altitude. If your goal is to maximize your chances of success, selecting a longer Mount Kilimanjaro trek is the best strategy.
An experienced support team
Another essential factor is the experience and expertise of your guide and support team during your trek. A professional Kilimanjaro guide ensures you maintain a safe pace, stay hydrated, and recognize early signs of altitude sickness. The support team, which includes porters and cooks, also plays a crucial role in keeping climbers well-fed, rested, and motivated throughout the journey. Booking your climb with a reputable trekking company that employs certified guides increases the likelihood of reaching the summit safely.
Camping Gear
Proper gear and clothing are also vital for a successful Kilimanjaro climb. Since the mountain spans five climate zones, from tropical rainforests to arctic conditions, climbers need to be well-equipped for freezing temperatures, strong winds, and unpredictable weather. Wearing layered clothing, investing in insulated gloves, waterproof boots, and high-quality sleeping bags, and carrying trekking poles can make a significant difference in comfort and endurance. Without the right gear, climbers risk hypothermia or exhaustion, reducing their chances of summit success.
Staying hydrated
Hydration and nutrition are equally important for maintaining energy levels and preventing altitude sickness. Dehydration exacerbates the effects of high altitude, so drinking at least 3 to 4 liters of water per day is crucial. Eat nutrient-dense meals, including carbohydrates and proteins to ensure the body has enough fuel for the demanding trek. Many climbers bring hydration tablets, energy snacks, and electrolyte powders to stay hydrated and maintain stamina.
Weather conditions
The best months to climb Kilimanjaro are the dry seasons from January to March and June to October, when the weather is more stable, with clear skies and lower precipitation. Climbing during the rainy seasons (April to May and November) increases the difficulty of trekking due to muddy trails, slippery paths, and poor visibility, which can make the ascent more challenging. Choosing the right season improves the overall trekking experience and increases the chances of a successful summit attempt.