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Route overview

All 7 official routes up Kilimanjaro, compared at a glance. Click any route for the full camp-by-camp breakdown.

Marangu Route

Personal

The "Coca-Cola Route" — Kilimanjaro's oldest, gentlest path, and the only one with huts instead of tents. Climbed over 6 days.

6 days·~72 km round trip·3 camps

Machame Route

Researched

The "Whiskey Route" — Kilimanjaro's most popular path to the summit, climbing the southwest flank through four climate zones before the final push from Barafu.

7 days·~62 km·6 camps

Lemosho Route

Researched

One of Kilimanjaro's most scenic routes — two days of rainforest walking lead to the wide-open Shira Plateau, giving better acclimatization than its cousin Shira.

8 days·~70 km·7 camps

Rongai Route

Researched

The only route approaching Kilimanjaro from the north, near the Kenyan border — drier, quieter, and less crowded than the southern routes.

7 days·~65–73 km·6 camps

Umbwe Route

Researched

The steepest, most direct, and least-used route up Kilimanjaro — real acclimatization risk if you rush it.

7 days·~50–53 km·5 camps

Shira Route

Researched

Nearly identical to Lemosho from the Shira Plateau onward — except you're driven to the start instead of walking in, which has real acclimatization consequences.

8 days·~56 km·6 camps

Northern Circuit Route

Researched

Kilimanjaro's longest route and — by reputation — its highest summit success rate, crossing the mountain's quiet northern slopes near the Kenyan border.

9 days·~65–90 km depending on itinerary·7 camps