Routes to the summit of Kilimanjaro
This route is one of the least popular on the mountain and therefore is quieter than others. Like the Lemosho route, it starts from the west and crosses the Shira Plateau. It follows a vehicle track for the first few days and misses out on the forest zone.
This route runs from west to east and crosses the Shira Plateau, which is a volcanic crater that has collapsed. This route along with the Shira route has more wildlife although it tends to stay away from the trail and from people so is not easy to spot. There are a number of variations that can be taken with this route. It merges with the Machame route higher up.
This has become the most popular route on the mountain. This route starts on the south-western side of the mountain and takes at least 6 days to reach the summit. This trail is classed as one of the most enjoyable on the mountain for some if the features it passes. It has a higher success rate than the Marangu Route.
This route is the shortest and steepest route on the mountain and therefore is classed as the most difficult. Due to this it’s also one of the least popular and quieter routes. It has some of the most dramatic scenery on the mountain as it climbs up a ridge to join up with the Machame route.
This is the descent route for many of the other ascent routes.
This was known as the coca-cola route as it was the busiest and most popular although the Mechame route has taken this honour. However, it is also the route which has the least success rate due to it only taking 5 days to reach the summit. This route can be climbed all year round as overnight accommodation is in huts.
This trail approaches from the north and is becoming increasingly popular. This route is drier, more parched and barren than the other routes although there is the possibility that you may see some wildlife.
