A 2025 Beginner’s Guide to Climbing Kilimanjaro
A 2025 Beginner’s Guide to Climbing Kilimanjaro: Packages, costs, Reviews, and Reservations.
We offer private Kilimanjaro Climbing safaris with one to seven-day itineraries to Mountain Kilimanjaro. The Things You Didn’t Know About Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari on this page. While Mount Kilimanjaro undoubtedly draws the majority of our guests to East Africa, many trekkers take advantage of the opportunity to spend some time on a wildlife safari either before or typically after their Kilimanjaro ascent.
Did you know? – Tanzania is considered to be the best safari destination on earth. – Since you traveled so far, it would be a waste not to take advantage of the wildlife viewing chances. here see all our Tanzania safari packages
We provide one- to seven-day private Kilimanjaro safaris. Whether you’re planning a quick trip or a lengthy vacation, Kabira Safaris and Tours Africa® offers a schedule that meets your needs. Our knowledgeable guides take you right to the action, whether it’s in the Serengeti savannas or the depths of Ngorongoro Crater.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
The Complete Guide to the Best Kilimanjaro Routes
Find out everything you need to know to pick the best Kilimanjaro route for your trip!
Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. There are 8 different ways to get to the top. Any one of the Kilimanjaro routes has its own advantages, such as a faster ascent, more beautiful views, hut stays, or a calmer hiking experience. We’ll help you pick the best way for your trip in this guide.
The “roof of Africa” is reached by eight different Kilimanjaro routes. The following are on the list: Machame, Marangu, Rongai, Northern Circuit, Umbwe, Kilema, and Western Breach.
On top of that, there are different Routes with different schedules. For instance, the Lemosho route can be done in 6, 7, or 8 days. Each of these versions has a slightly different profile for getting used to the altitude. It might not seem important to choose between a shorter or longer schedule, but the longer ones usually have much higher success rates because they give people more time to get used to their surroundings. If you want to climb Kilimanjaro but aren’t sure which route and schedule is best for you, we’ll go over the pros and cons of each route.
Have you ever thought about how busy Kilimanjaro’s routes are? Kabira Safaris’ study showed the total number of hikers who used all of the popular trails from January to September 2023. Most likely, this information is 98% or more correct. We’ve added the numbers for each route, along with any changes, to the list below.
8 Kilimanjaro Climbing routes
Here is a list of Kilimanjaro routes that you can take, along with our thoughts on each one:
Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Itinerary
5 Days Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Itinerary. The Marangu Route is also known as the “Coca-Cola” or “tourist” route. It is the easiest and shortest route to the summit.
Machame Route Kilimanjaro Itinerary
6 Days Machame Route Kilimanjaro Detailed Itinerary and Price. Day 1: Moshi-Machame gate-Machame Hut/camp. Day 2: Machame camp-Shira Camp.
Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Itinerary
6 Days Marangu Route Kilimanjaro Climb Itinerary & Prices. The Marangu Route is also known as the “Coca Cola” or “tourist” route
Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro
Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro 7 Days Itinerary & Prices. The Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro is one of the newer routes on the mountain, and a superb choice for your climb.
Machame Route 7 Days Itinerary
Machame Route 7 Days Itinerary Prices. Day 1: Machame Gate (1,800m/5,905ft) to Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft). Day 2: Machame Camp (3,000m/9,840ft)
Rongai Route Kilimanjaro Itinerary
7 Days Rongai Route Kilimanjaro Itinerary. The Rongai Route is the only route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the north, near the Kenyan border.
Shira Route Kilimanjaro Itinerary
7 Days Shira Route Kilimanjaro Itinerary. Londorossi gate – Shira camp (3600m). Shira two camp (3840m). Barranco (3950m). Karanga Valley (4000m).
8 Days Lemosho Route Itinerary
8 Days Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro & Success Rate. Lemosho Route is the longest of the standard routes and is without doubt the most beautiful.
Northern Circuit: The Newest And Longest
There are eight well-known ways to climb Kilimanjaro, and the Northern Circuit is the newest. The only way to see Mount Kilimanjaro from all four sides is to go up this path, which is also the longest on the mountain. Some tour companies say that the Northern Circuit route is the easiest of all the Kilimanjaro routes because it takes longer and moves more slowly.
Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Reviews
Life Time Experience
Me and my wife we booked the 8 day Lemosho hike. With Kabira Safaris Motta Baraka was our lead guide, he visited us at hotel the day before our hike to brief us and check our equipment for the hike. day one before Gudluck arrived early to pick us up and introduced us to Kisima (assistant guide) and the rest of the team joining us for the hike. During the hike we wanted to change the itinerary from an 8 day to a 7 day, Gudluck provided us with several options of how we could achieve this. So we ended up completing the hike in 7 days. Both Baraka and Kisima were approachable and supportive through the duration and provided daily briefings. Throughout the 7days the food was amazing and never in short supply so if you think you’ll loose weight doing this hike then think again as we were constantly fully fuelled from pancakes to popcorn and curries to fish and chips It was all amazing Hats off to our chef. Our safety and well-being were always the teams priority and baraka and kisima we’re constantly checking in to see how we were mentally and physically and offering suggestions to assist. In addition to all of this, the perfect end to every evening was a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag.I felt so safe but also pushed to the limit on this trek. I cannot recommend this enough and if you booked with Kabira Safaris you know you’ll be in the best team on the mount Kilimanjaro they also offer to best price with the best service they also have insurance which will help you in case you face any problem in the mountains i highly recommend them
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via Lemosho 8 Day Route!
Amazing Adventure, Kilimanjaro climbing Lemosho route, just do it !
We did the 7 day Lemosho Route with Kabira Safaris a local company in Tanzania. In total we were 5 trekkers (we as a couple + three solo travelers) and 18 crew members. Our guide Justine is very experienced, climbing Kilimanjaro for more than 8 years. He knows every single stone and corner on the mountain. At all times we felt 100% secure and in best hands, Justine is very professional and so is his crew! Twice a day we had a medical check. We had a briefing before and a debriefing after the trek. During the briefing our equipment was checked in detail to make sure that nothing is missing. On the first trekking day missing equipment you can also rent from them. They also provide a quality sleeping bags for free , the sleeping bags and tent were of high quality new and warm enough for Kilimanjaro weather. The communication with Elias was great, He also advised us on gear, route challenges, weather, schedule, and also directly assisted with heavier items when needed. Everyone welcomed us and made us feel like family for one week! The crew motivated us on summit night and sang local songs. Without them it would have not been possible to make it to the top! They were a huge motivation and positive vibe booster! We did not only learn so much about the Kili but also a lot about Tanzanian culture and tradition. The food was great! Everyday they came up with something new and delicious, there was always more than enough. We recommend booking a portable toilet due to limited infrastructure. To sum up: Great experience with Kabira Safaris providing the best price-performance ratio! Highly recommended!
Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route (7 days)
Best Time to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro
The interaction of trade winds with Kilimanjaro’s geology has a significant impact on the mountain’s climate. Over the Indian Ocean, the southerly trade winds provide a lot of precipitation. They are propelled upwards as they strike Kilimanjaro in March, resulting in clouds and rain. This makes the months of March, April, and May the wettest on Kilimanjaro. At this time of year, the southern slopes are most vulnerable to precipitation.
We recommend the Rongai route if you can only climb in April or May because it leaves from the northern end of Kilimanjaro and is typically drier than the southern route options at that time of year.
What is the best route to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
If you want a quick answer, the Kabira Safairs Team and our clients like the Lemosho path the most. Based on our data from the last 10 years, Lemosho has the best acclimatisation profile, the most beautiful views, and the highest success rate. But this beautiful Kilimanjaro route has become very famous in the last few years, and it’s now one of the three busiest routes. The 7-day Rongai route plan is a good choice if you want a more private experience. It’s more than 10 times less busy than the popular routes, but it’s not as beautiful or has as many interesting animals as Dendrosenecio kilimanjari.
What is the easiest route to climb Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro’s steep hills and long daily hikes are not what make it hard. It’s the high elevation. The “easiest” routes might be the ones that offer the best acclimatisation profiles. We might want to point out Lemosho 7-8 and Rongai 7 again. Machame 7 and Northern Circuit are close behind.
The 7-day Lemosho path is the easiest way to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for a number of reasons. Since it starts at an elevation of 3500 metres, there is no need to climb to that height during the walk. Short walks every day at first keep you from getting too tired, so your body can focus on getting used to the higher elevation. Everywhere you stay the night is at least 3500 metres, which also helps you get used to the altitude. The path from the Barafu Camp to the top is also the fastest, which saves about an hour of travel time.
Because you spend more days on the mountain, the Northern Circuit is a great way to get used to the altitude, but it’s best for walkers who are ready for longer hikes every day. For first-timers, Lemosho, Rongai, and Machame might be easier choices with a better chance of reaching the top. If you think you need more time to rest and get used to the altitude, you can add an extra day at any of the camps to your plan.
Which Kilimanjaro route has the highest summit success rate
Kabira Safaris says that the 7- and 8-day Lemosho routes have the best success rate at reaching the top, at about 98%. The vast majority of climbers who follow those Lemosho walk plans make it to the top. Want to know why that’s the case? “Climb high, sleep low” is a great way to get used to the altitude, and staying there for a long time is another good reason. On the other hand, most mountain plans that last 7 days or more also have high success rates for reaching the top.
Keep in mind that the success rate at peak varies from operator to operator. You might not be able to safely reach Uhuru Peak if you go with a cheap tour company with bad tools and amateur guides. In fact, their success rate is much lower than 95%, even though they often say it is.
A trustworthy guide, on the other hand, will do everything possible to make sure you have the best chances of reaching the top and enjoy every part of the experience. With success rates of up to 98% on roads like Lemosho 7 and 8, Altezza stands by its promise to always do the best.
Which Kilimanjaro route has the least crowds
People say that Rongai and Northern Circuit have the fewest people. Also, the first few days in Umbwe will treat you to beautiful scenery without a lot of tourists.
It’s best to avoid the busy times, which are July through September and January through February. If you want to avoid groups, the best times to climb are right before or after the busy seasons. For example, the weather is still nice in the beginning of March, the beginning of June, or the end of October.
