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Kilimanjaro route planner

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Kilimanjaro route planner

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Which route fits

Eight days fits Lemosho. The extra night on the Shira plateau is why it acclimatizes better than a seven-day route.

Machame

The most popular scenic route. You climb high and sleep lower on day three, which is the best acclimatization pattern on a seven-day trek.

Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, Machame route Machame Gate Machame Camp Shira Lava Tower Barranco Karanga Barafu Uhuru Peak Mweka Mweka Gate

South-facing view. The gold line is the walking route and the dots are the camps, in order. Mawenzi is the rocky peak on the right.

Day by day

  1. 1
    Machame Camp 2,835 m From Machame Gate through the rainforest.
  2. 2
    Shira Camp 3,750 m Onto the moorland and the Shira plateau.
  3. 3
    Barranco Camp 3,960 m Up to Lava Tower at 4,630 m, then down to sleep.
  4. 4
    Karanga Camp 3,995 m Over the Barranco Wall. A shorter day.
  5. 5
    Barafu Camp 4,673 m Base camp. Rest, then an early summit start.
  6. 6
    Uhuru Peak 5,895 m Summit, then descend to Mweka Camp.
  7. 7
    Mweka Gate 1,640 m Walk out through the forest.

Lemosho

A longer approach from the west. The extra day on the Shira plateau is why many climbers choose Lemosho over Machame.

Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, Lemosho route Londorossi Mti Mkubwa Shira 1 Shira 2 Lava Tower Barranco Karanga Barafu Uhuru Peak Mweka Mweka Gate

South-facing view. The gold line is the walking route and the dots are the camps, in order. Mawenzi is the rocky peak on the right.

Day by day

  1. 1
    Mti Mkubwa 2,750 m Forest camp after Londorossi Gate.
  2. 2
    Shira 1 3,500 m First view across the plateau.
  3. 3
    Shira 2 3,900 m A useful acclimatization day.
  4. 4
    Barranco Camp 3,960 m Via Lava Tower at 4,630 m, then down.
  5. 5
    Karanga Camp 3,995 m Barranco Wall, then a short valley day.
  6. 6
    Barafu Camp 4,673 m Rest before summit night.
  7. 7
    Uhuru Peak 5,895 m Summit and descend to Mweka.
  8. 8
    Mweka Gate 1,640 m Final descent.

Marangu

The only route that sleeps in huts. You go up and down the same trail, so the six-day version with a rest day at Horombo matters.

Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, Marangu route Marangu Gate Mandara Horombo Kibo Hut Uhuru Peak

South-facing view. The gold line is the walking route and the dots are the camps, in order. Mawenzi is the rocky peak on the right.

Day by day

  1. 1
    Mandara Hut 2,700 m Rainforest from Marangu Gate.
  2. 2
    Horombo Hut 3,720 m Moorland and the first big height gain.
  3. 3
    Horombo Hut 3,720 m Acclimatization day. Walk toward Mawenzi and sleep at the same hut.
  4. 4
    Kibo Hut 4,703 m Alpine desert and base camp.
  5. 5
    Uhuru Peak 5,895 m Summit via Gilman's Point, then back to Horombo.
  6. 6
    Marangu Gate 1,860 m Descend the same trail.

Rongai

The northern side is drier and less crowded. You descend on the Marangu trail, so the scenery changes on the way down.

Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, Rongai route Rongai Gate Simba Second Cave Kikelewa Mawenzi Tarn Kibo Hut Uhuru Peak Horombo Mandara Marangu Gate

South-facing view. The gold line is the walking route and the dots are the camps, in order. Mawenzi is the rocky peak on the right. A dashed stretch is on the far side of the mountain.

Day by day

  1. 1
    Simba Camp 2,650 m A steady first day from Rongai Gate.
  2. 2
    Second Cave 3,450 m Moorland and open views.
  3. 3
    Kikelewa Cave 3,600 m A shorter day before the tarn.
  4. 4
    Mawenzi Tarn 4,330 m Important sleep-high night.
  5. 5
    Kibo Hut 4,703 m Cross to the Marangu base camp.
  6. 6
    Uhuru Peak 5,895 m Summit, then down to Horombo.
  7. 7
    Marangu Gate 1,860 m Descend the south-east side.

Umbwe

The steepest and shortest usual route. It is a direct ridge with little time to adapt. Enjoyable Tour suggests it only for fit climbers.

Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, Umbwe route Umbwe Gate Umbwe Cave Barranco Karanga Barafu Uhuru Peak Mweka Mweka Gate

South-facing view. The gold line is the walking route and the dots are the camps, in order. Mawenzi is the rocky peak on the right.

Day by day

  1. 1
    Umbwe Cave 2,850 m A steep forest ridge from Umbwe Gate.
  2. 2
    Barranco Camp 3,960 m A long, steep gain.
  3. 3
    Karanga Camp 3,995 m Short day after joining the southern circuit.
  4. 4
    Barafu Camp 4,673 m Base camp.
  5. 5
    Uhuru Peak 5,895 m Summit and descend to Mweka.
  6. 6
    Mweka Gate 1,640 m Final walk out.

Northern Circuit

The longest route on the mountain. After the Shira plateau you traverse the quiet north side before joining the summit path.

Mount Kilimanjaro from the south, Northern Circuit route Londorossi Mti Mkubwa Shira 1 Shira 2 Moir Hut Buffalo Third Cave School Hut Uhuru Peak Mweka Mweka Gate

South-facing view. The gold line is the walking route and the dots are the camps, in order. Mawenzi is the rocky peak on the right. A dashed stretch is on the far side of the mountain.

Day by day

  1. 1
    Mti Mkubwa 2,750 m Same forest start as Lemosho.
  2. 2
    Shira 1 3,500 m Onto the plateau.
  3. 3
    Shira 2 3,900 m Acclimatization day.
  4. 4
    Moir Hut 4,200 m The northern traverse begins.
  5. 5
    Buffalo Camp 4,020 m A little lower, which helps.
  6. 6
    Third Cave 3,870 m Quiet northern slopes.
  7. 7
    School Hut 4,800 m Summit base on the east side.
  8. 8
    Uhuru Peak 5,895 m Summit via Gilman's Point, down to Mweka.
  9. 9
    Mweka Gate 1,640 m Final descent.

Compare the routes

RouteDaysSleepBest for
Machame 7 Camping First-time climbers who want a scenic route
Lemosho 8 Camping Climbers who want the best scenery and a quieter start
Marangu 6 Huts Climbers who prefer huts and a gentler trail gradient
Rongai 7 Camping Climbers who want a quieter northern approach
Umbwe 6 Camping Strong hikers who have climbed at altitude before
Northern Circuit 9 Camping Climbers who can spare nine days and want the calmest summit odds