Who hasn't dreamed of standing on the roof of Africa? On a trip to Tanzanie, you can experience this extraordinary adventure by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the African continent (5,895 meters). But before you set out, you need to organize your journey. Fortunately, we've prepared a list of the main routes to take when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. All that's left is for you to choose…

1. The Marangu Route

Also known as the "Coca-Cola Route" or "Normal Route," the Marangu route is the oldest and most popular path for climbers attempting Mount Kilimanjaro. And for good reason—it's considered the easiest and most affordable route. The Marangu route also offers the advantage of providing refuge accommodations rather than tent camping. It's therefore ideal for travelers who want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro without difficulty and with a minimum of comfort.

The only drawbacks? The Marangu route offers less landscape diversity compared to other routes. The ascent begins on the southeast side of the mountain, and both the climb and descent follow the same path.

Number of hiking days: Allow approximately 6 days of hiking in total. Note that it can be completed in 5 days, but the itinerary frequently includes an acclimatization day at altitude, which we strongly recommend to ensure a successful summit attempt!

Difficulty level: Relatively easy despite some steep sections.

2. The Machame Route

Known as the "Whisky Road," the Machame route is also among the most popular trails for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Increasingly, more visitors prefer it to the Marangu route. And for good reason: this itinerary, which begins on the southwest side of the mountain, offers many advantages. First, it's better suited to acclimatization, which increases your chances of reaching the summit successfully. Second, the trail allows you to discover an extraordinary variety of landscapes and panoramas: the Shira Plateau, the lunar landscape of Barafu, and the glaciated peak of Uhuru Peak.

Accommodation is in tents. Due to its popularity, the Machame route can be quite crowded during peak season.

Number of hiking days: Allow at least 6 days of hiking to complete the Machame route. However, we recommend taking 7 days.

Difficulty level: The Machame route has a moderate difficulty level.

3. The Rongai Route

The Rongai or Loitokitok route is the only itinerary that allows you to climb Mount Kilimanjaro from the north. You can begin the trail from the Kenyan border or from the Tanzanie side. It's one of the least crowded routes and one of the most pristine and wild trails. The scenery is not as varied as other routes, but the Rongai route does allow you to see Mount Kilimanjaro from both sides since the descent follows the Marangu route.

Note that the Rongai route is the wisest choice if you're climbing during the rainy season, as the northern face of the mountain receives less precipitation.

Number of hiking days: The Rongai route can be completed in six to seven days of hiking in total.

Difficulty level: It's one of the easiest routes to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.

4. The Umbwe Route

The Umbwe route is considered the most spectacular path to reach Mount Kilimanjaro. It offers stunning views, particularly of the Barranco Valley. While it's the shortest route to the summit, it's also the most difficult and demanding. This route features steep slopes, significant daily elevation gains, and slippery terrain. Moreover, the final ascent takes place at night.

For all these reasons, the Umbwe route is reserved for climbers in good physical condition with strong acclimatization abilities.

Number of hiking days: Plan for 6 to 7 days of hiking in total to climb Mount Kilimanjaro via the Umbwe route.

Difficulty level: This is the most difficult route to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. It's recommended for experienced mountaineers.

5. The Lemosho Route

The Lemosho route is a relatively new trail that was specifically designed for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. This path is renowned for being secluded, uncrowded, and for its magnificent panoramas. Some say it's the most beautiful route to reach Mount Kilimanjaro. It's also one of the few itineraries that starts from the western side of the mountain. Although it's long and fairly challenging, the Lemosho route offers a high success rate because it allows extensive acclimatization time.

The only drawback is that the Lemosho route is more expensive than other trails due to its length and the location of its starting point (additional transport costs).

Number of hiking days: The Lemosho route requires 6 to 9 days of hiking in total.

Difficulty level: The Lemosho route is moderately challenging.

Good to know: Save time with the Shira route

Often confused with the Lemosho route, the Shira route is another trail that allows you to access Mount Kilimanjaro from the west. But unlike the Lemosho route, which begins at the Londorossi gate at 2,360 meters altitude, the Shira route starts at the Shira gate, situated at 3,600 meters altitude. Additionally, you'll be driven by vehicle to the Shira gate, which allows you to skip some initial climbing stages but may also mean less time for acclimatization…

Florine Dergelet