Which Kilimanjaro route to choose in 2024?

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Kilimanjaro Climbing Route

Start a perfect journey to Kilimanjaro’s summit, Uhuru Peak warrants careful consideration of the seven established routes. With one starting from the Northern side and the others from the Southern side, each route possesses unique characteristics. Let’s unravel the mysteries and unveil the winners across various categories, catering to diverse preferences and priorities.

Routes Overview:

1. Northern Circuit Route
2. Lemosho Route
3. Shira Route
4. Machame Route (“Whiskey” Route)
5. Rongai Route
6. Marangu Route (“Coca-Cola” Route)
7. Umbwe Route

Best Route for Highest Success Rate:

• Winner: Lemosho and Machame Routes (7 or 8 days)
• Characteristics:
  • Excellent acclimatization.
  • Easier summit night.
  • Lemosho stands out for its high success rate.

Most Scenic Route:

• Winner: Lemosho Route
• Characteristics:
  • Spectacular vistas in all directions.
  • Remote and dramatic approach with gorges and views of west Kilimanjaro.

Quietest Route:

• Winner: Rongai Route
• Characteristics:
  • Offers a true wilderness experience.
  • Lower success rate, but solitude for those seeking a quieter ascent.

Most Challenging Route:

• Winner: Crater Camp Option
• Characteristics:
  • An adventure and unique wilderness experience.
  • Less than 1% of climbers opt for this challenging route.
  • Rave reviews from those who embrace the adventure.

Route Overview and Considerations:

Machame Route

• • Highly recommended with the best success rate.
  • “Walk high, sleep low” for better acclimatization.
  • Stunning scenery through five diverse climatic zones.
  • Ascent and descent via different routes.
  • Fully catered camping.

  Lemosho Route
  

  • Excellent route with a high success rate.
  • “Walk high, sleep low” for better acclimatization.
  • Remote and spectacular approach with dramatic gorges.
  • Shira route offers a higher start point, less suitable for acclimatization.
  • Fully catered camping.

  Marangu Route

  • Shortest route to the summit, resulting in less time for acclimatization.
  • Lower success rate.
  • Dormitory-style accommodation that can be noisy.
  • Less scenic due to ascent and descent on the same route.

  Rongai Route

  • The only northern approach route to the summit.
  • Offers a true wilderness experience in the early stages.
  • Very tough final summit night.
  • Less natural acclimatization with no opportunities to “walk high, sleep low.”
  • Fully catered camping.

  Umbwe Route

  • Steep, short route with a very low success rate.
  • Poor acclimatization due to rapid ascent.
  • Very remote and quiet for the first two days.
  • Fully catered camping.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Kilimanjaro Route:

Acclimatization:

• Best routes: Machame and Lemosho.
• “Walk high, sleep low” principle for better acclimatization.

Difficulty of the Summit Night:

• Toughest summit nights: Rongai and Marangu.
• Best routes to avoid difficulty: Machame and Lemosho.

Crowd Level:

• Quietest route: Rongai.
• Season and day of the week influence the number of climbers.

Accommodation Options:

• Only non-camping route: Marangu.
• Basic hut accommodations but noisy.

Safety:

• All routes except Arrow Point considered relatively safe.
• Arrow Point route excluded due to unmanageable risk of falling rocks.

Summit Success Rate:

• Best routes: 9-Day Northern Circuit, Lemosho (8 days), and Machame (7 days).

In conclusion, as you plan your Kilimanjaro climb, prioritize factors such as acclimatization, summit night difficulty, crowd preferences, accommodation options, safety, and summit success rates. The route you choose becomes the narrative thread of your Kilimanjaro adventure, weaving through diverse landscapes and challenges on your quest for the summit.