Kilimanjaro - Choose Your Route

The Kilimanjaro Ambition

Rising abruptly from the Tanzania plain, Mount Kilimanjaro (5,892 m) is an awe-inspiring sight. A climb of Kilimanjaro is a rewarding adventure, taking you to the roof of Africa. Depending on the pace of your group and the route plotted, it's possible to get to the Uhuru summit and back within five days, staying overnight in huts and camps on the mountain. But trek durations vary. For example, the Lemosho route takes between 6 and 8 days and the Marangu route takes between 5 and 6, depending on the rest days incorporated.

The idea that Kilimanjaro trekking routes can be completed in five days (rather than seven or eight) is part of the reason why so many summit attempts fail. Guides frequently have to tell people on a Kilimanjaro trekking holiday to slow down, since ambition and over-exertion can make the difference between reaching the summit or not. It's worth considering: why rush anyway? Taking a slower approach on a Kilimanjaro climb will be less tiring and consequently more enjoyable. A steadier pace is more likely to lead to a successful summit, as well as giving you more time in a beautifully foreign environment.

The importance of acclimatisation cannot be overstated. People react differently to the unfamiliar conditions at altitude, and even very fit people might experience symptoms like headaches and nausea. The key is to take things gradually on a Kilimanjaro climb, incorporating time to for your body to adapt.

Some Kilimanjaro trekking holiday itineraries begin with a preparatory and enjoyable climb of the neighbouring Mount Meru. At 4,566 metres, Mount Meru is a good appetizer and acclimatizer. A few days climbing this moon-shaped volcano will allow you to see the safari wildlife of the surrounding Arusha National Park, and from the summit, you can see 'Kili' thirty miles to the east, towering into the horizon.

Kilimanjaro Trekking Routes

There are seven well-established routes for trekking up Kilimanjaro - Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Mweka, Shira, Rongai and Umbwe - with several of the routes overlapping and sharing the same trail further up the mountain.

Approaching Kilimanjaro from the East is the Marangu trail. This is the oldest and one of the easier routes, and consequently it has a well-established infrastructure to assist climbers. However, its popularity can be detrimental to the experience; known as the 'Coca Cola' route, the huts along the Marangu sometimes struggle to accommodate the traffic. Some claim its scenery is not as interesting as on other Kilimanjaro trekking routes.

The Machame "Whisky" route is also very popular. It approaches Kilimanjaro from the south and then turns east towards the summit. This is more difficult than the Marangu and takes longer, but trekking Kilimanjaro via this route brings the rewards of beautiful forests and great views of the glaciers on the south face.

If you are able to commit more time to your trekking Kilimanjaro adventure, the Lemosho route is recommended. It takes longer than the other routes and is by no means easy, but its gradual approach, with more rest stops and steadier acclimatization makes reaching the summit successfully more likely. Furthermore, this route is newer and less used than the others and is relatively unspoiled.

Lemosho approaches from the west. Trekking Kilimanjaro via this route provides you with views of the mountain from a variety of angles, taking you through forests with alpine flowers and along a ridge past a collapsed volcanic crater: a stunning scenic trek.

Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company that specialises in Kilimanjaro trekking and trekking holidays in various destinations including North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.

By Jude Limburn Turner