Kilimanjaro Trips

There are 7 main Mount Kilimanjaro routes which lead to the summit, Uhuru peak, one of which starts on the Northern side of the mountain and the rest on the Southern side. After making the decision to climb Kilimanjaro, you’ll need to choose your route.

1. Northern Circuit Route
2. Lemosho Route
3. Shira Route
4. Machame Route (“Whiskey” Route)
5. Rongai Route
6. Marangu Route (“Coca-Cola” Route)
7. Umbwe Route
The one question we are asked more often than any other is “which is the best route to climb Kilimanjaro”. And the answer depends on what you want. Here are our winners

Highest success rate and overall best route to climb Kilimanjaro

If you want the highest chance of summiting the best route to climb Kilimanjaro is the Lemosho route and Machame route over 7 or 8 days – excellent acclimatization and an easier summit night make these winners by a long way. And as reaching the top is the most important thing for most of our climbers we make this our overall winners as best route to climb Kilimanjaro.

Most scenic route to climb Kilimanjaro

The Lemosho route approaching from the West wins hands down for the best views with spectacular vistas in all directions.

Quietest route to climb Kilimanjaro

If keeping away from the crowds is your top priority the Rongai route has to be your choice as the best route for your Kilimanjaro climb. But be warned the success rate is lower.

Most challenging route to climb Kilimanjaro

If you are looking for an adventure and a really unique wilderness experience the crater camp option is the best route to climb Kilimanjaro for you- less than 1 % of climbers get to do this and all our climbers who do it rave about it.

Our summary of the advantages and disadvantages of each route is below

» Machame route

• Highly recommended, best success rate.
• Allows “walk high, sleep low” for better acclimatization.
• Stunning scenery climbing through five diverse climatic zones.
• Ascent and descent is via different routes.
• Fully catered camping.

» Lemosho Route

• An excellent route to climb Kilimanjaro by with a high success rate.
• Allows climbers to “walk high, sleep low” enabling better acclimatization.
• Remote and spectacular approach with dramatic gorges and views of west Kilimanjaro.
• Shira route offers higher start point therefore is less good for acclimatization.
• Fully catered camping.

» Marangu Route

• Shortest route to the summit which means less time to acclimatize.
• Much lower success rate.
• Dormitory style accommodation which can be noisy.
• Less scenic due to ascent and descent on same route.

» Rongai Route

• Only northern approach route to Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit.
• Offers a true wilderness experience on the early stages of the climb.
• Very tough final summit night.
• Less natural acclimatization with no opportunities to “walk high, sleep low”.
• Fully catered camping.

» Umbwe Route

• Steep, short route with very low success rate.
• Poor acclimatization due to rapid ascent.
• Very remote and quiet for the first two days.
• Fully catered camping.

Which route is best to climb Kilimanjaro?

When you are planning your Kilimanjaro climb there are 6 factors that you need to take into consideration in deciding which is the best route to climb Kilimanjaro for you.

• Acclimatization
• Difficulty of the summit night
• How busy the route is
• What are the accommodation options
• Safety
• What is the success rate

Acclimatization on Kilimanjaro

When climbing to altitude the golden rule is walk high and sleep low. Following this rule minimizes the risk of altitude sickness and improves you chance of summiting. The best routes to climb Kilimanjaro for acclimatization are the Machame and Lemosho routes as these naturally allow you to walk high and sleep low.

Difficulty of the summit night

The toughest summit nights are on the Rongai route and the Marangu route: they reach the crater rim of Kilimanjaro on the North, opposite Uhuru Peak and more than 2 hours from the summit itself. The best routes to climb kilimanjaro to avoid this are the Machame and Lemosho routes as they reach the crater at Stellar point less than an hour’s walk from the summit. An extra hour on what is already a very long day is often the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

How busy the route is

The amount of climbers on the mountain varies a lot depending on the season and on the day of the week but even taking this into account if you want to have the mountain more to yourself the best route to climb Kilimanjaro is the Rongai route. This route starts in the North and is used by a lot less climbers than the very popular southern routes.

Accommodation on the climb

The only route that you do not have to camp on is the Marangu route so if you hate tents this is the best route to climb Kilimanjaro for you. Be warned though the huts are very basic and noisy.

Kilimanjaro Routes Safety

We consider all of the routes except the Arrow Point route to be relatively safe if walked sensibly. We do not offer climbs on the Arrow Point route as the risk of falling rock is unmanageable . This is definitely not the best route to climb Kilimanjaro.

Which route has the highest Summit Success rate

As a result of the better acclimatization offered and the easier summit night the best route to climb kilimanjaro in terms of summit success rate is the 9 Day Northern circuit ,Lemosho route over 8 days followed by the Machame route over 7 days.

Guides & Porters

At Tanzitreks we take our responsibility to our guides and porters very seriously. There are countless reports of porters not being paid a living wage, of them having little to no cold-weather gear, inadequate food, and sleeping in crowded, uncomfortable conditions. The Tanzania Porters Organization was set up to counteract this unethical treatment and we aim to exceed their guidelines.

Having a high guide-to-client and porter-to-client ratio means that porters are not overloaded, carrying more weight than they should be, in an attempt to keep prices low.

Sleeping conditions, adequate gear, and food are just as important for porters. Our guides perform the same health checks for the porters every day, to ensure no one is suffering from altitude sickness or other complaints.

When you see how hard your porters work, you’ll be thankful that you climbed with a company that makes it our mission to ensure staff welfare.

Your Safety & Well being

Climbing Kilimanjaro is tough. And it can be dangerous. For your safety and comfort, at the very least, you’ll want.

• Well trained, experienced English-speaking guides who know what to do in an emergency
• Proper procedures in place
• Well maintained, good quality equipment
• Nutritious, varied meals that are tasty
• Safe drinking water

Kilimanjaro National Park Fees

Kilimanjaro National Park imposes fees on both visitors and crew. These can be broken down into the following:

• Conservation Fees – The Kilimanjaro authority collects fees per day you spend inside the park. Example On an 7 day Machame climb, the conservation fees total $490 ($70 x 7 days).
• Campsite Fees on Machame route, Lemosho route, Rongai route , Northern circuit (or huts on Marangu route) fees – $50 to $60 per night per person. Example On a 7 day Machame climb, the camping fees are $300 ($50 x 6 nights).
• Rescue fees – $20 per person per trip (this doesn’t include helicopter rescue, and we don’t rely on the National Park rescue service)
• Guide & Porter Entrance Fees – $2 per staff person per trip
• Taxes & VAT – 18% of services.  The Tanzanian government charges 18% VAT to all Kilimanjaro operators.

The cost to an operator can easily be around $160-200 per climber, per night, in Park Fees alone. So if it’s too cheap, where are they making savings?

Staff Wages

Staff wages amount to around $80-$150 per climber per day depending on the group size.

Staff wages are a considerable cost and making savings here directly takes money out of the pockets of the lowest-paid people on the mountain. Making sure the porters and guides have proper gear and training is a significant cost to any Kilimanjaro regulator.

Every year we hear stories of unscrupulous operators relying on the high unemployment rate in Tanzania to staff their climbs with desperate porters who agree to work for no salary, in the hope of a tip at the end. (see Kilimanjaro potters)

Food, Water and Transportation cost

Food shopping costs about $10-$20 per climber per day includes food for staff and Transportation costs are about $100 per Kilimanjaro trip depending on the route choice

While the cost of food in Tanzania is not high, it still has to be carried up the mountain, stored in safe and sanitary conditions and prepared by well-trained mountain chefs. On the longer routes, we may need to resupply with fresh produce a few days into the trek.

We don’t compromise on food quality to save money. We understand different dietary requirements and how to fulfill them.

Equipment

Gear and equipment on the mountain takes a battering. You want to be sure that your operator maintains all gear to a high standard, replacing it frequently. When you choose a climb, you want to be sure you’re getting:

• Solid, well-maintained 4-season tents, suitable for mountain conditions.
• Proper dining tent with table and chairs
• Toilet and toilet tent (if applicable)
• Spare gear in case of damage

You’ll also want to know that your crew are have proper trekking gear and sleeping conditions.

Guide to Climber & Porter to Climber Ratio

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a specialist outfitter dedicated to leading clients on Mount Kilimanjaro. We provide one professional, trained mountain guide for every two climbers. This ratio allows for safe monitoring of all our climbers and good management in and around camp. We’ve seen groups of 8 climbers with one guide, which might save money but possibly at the higher cost of safety.

When you see the amount of equipment that needs to be carried up the mountain, from the tents to the kitchen equipment, toilet facilities and food you’ll realize why we need a very large team of porters.

There are strict weight limits imposed by the National Parks Authority on how much an individual porter is allowed to carry. This is quite often ignored, in an attempt to cut costs, and results in porters being overloaded. As part of our commitment to porter welfare, we strictly limit the loads they carry.

Usually, there are around 3-4 porters per climber. This ratio varies depending on the route and the length of the climb.

Your Safety

Guide Training

Experience is important, but so is training. Your guide needs to know how to conduct daily health checks, recognize the early signs of altitude sickness, and know how to use everything in their medical kits.

Top-quality guides know their worth and don’t come cheap. An attempt to save money by employing untrained guides can be catastrophic in the event of an emergency.

Medical Kit & Evacuation Procedure

Essential, well-maintained safety equipment, and proper processes in place in the case of an emergency:

• Pulse Oximeter for daily monitoring
• Training in the use of the Lake Louise Scoring System for Altitude symptoms
• Emergency oxygen & how/when to use it
• Stretcher for evacuation if a climber can’t walk
• Medical kit, replenished regularly
• Knowledge of when to call for helicopter rescue and how to stabilize a patient before they arrive

A note on Teamwork

Teamwork is very important, particularly in the case of an emergency. Building a team of porters and guides who all work well together ensures the efficient running of the camp, and in the event of an emergency, a well-rehearsed evacuation procedure.

Your Comfort

The quality of equipment and food has a big impact on your comfort, and enjoyment of your climb. If you can’t sleep because you’ve got an old tent that leaks and the food you’ve eaten is sub-standard and unappetizing, this will compromise your chances of summit success.

Days on the trail can be tough, and part of your recovery is being able to relax and be comfortable in camp. Camping needn’t be a hardship, but it starts by investing in the right equipment and gear.

Environmental & Personal Impact

With the rise in tourism on Kilimanjaro, there’s also the environmental impact. All rubbish has to be carried off the mountain, and this comes at a cost. Part of a well-run operation is educating the crew about conservation and having rigorous policies about reducing waste and “leave no trace” principles.

The increase in popularity of climbing Kilimanjaro has brought opportunities for employment to the area, but with this has led to some unscrupulous employment practices. A happy crew equals a happy climber.

Gear cost

See Climbing kilimanjaro gear list for everything you’ll need to bring with you. Chances are, you’ve got some items in your closet already, but if you’ve never been hiking before you’ll be starting from the beginning.

Keeping an eye on REI, moosejaw, Backcountry and Amazon for sales, buying last year’s kit from Steep & Cheap are some ways to save money. Renting kit that you’re unlikely to use again is a good idea for expensive items such as sleeping bags, or down jackets.

Depending on what you’ve got already and how good you are at hunting down bargains, you’ll probably need to budget $500-800 for good quality trekking gear.

Airfares & Visa Fees

How to get to kilimajaro is another expense. We recommend you book well in advance to secure your airline tickets, and check your visa so there are no last-minute surprises. Visas for most overseas visitors are not free, so you’ll either need to arrange one in advance or pay at the airport (if possible).

Medical Checkup & Vaccinations

Tanzania requires all travelers to have a yellow fever certificate if arriving from a country at risk of the disease. You’ll need to make an appointment at your local travel clinic, or with your physician to determine what vaccinationsyou’ll need.

You might also need malaria prophylaxis, and the recommended brand, Malarone, is often surprisingly expensive.

Travel Insurance cost

You’ll need adequate travel insurance to cover you for all eventualities including cancellation, lost luggage, and most importantly medical evacuation and treatment in the event of an emergency on the mountain.

Kilimanjaro helicopter service operates out of Moshi to provide emergency evacuation in the case of injury on the mountain, altitude sickness or other illness. Your travel insurance needs to cover you for trekking to 6,000 meters and emergency evacuation.

Kilimanjaro Tours Prices

NB; Prices are per 1 persons.