Mount Kilimanjaro (/ˌkɪlɪmənˈdʒɑːroʊ/) is a dormant volcano in the United Republic of Tanzania, 5,895 meters (19,341 ft) above sea level.
There are several routes by which to reach Kibo, or Uhuru Peak, the highest summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, namely: Marangu, Rongai, Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe, and Machame.
One of the most popular mountains in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro is visited yearly by roughly 50,000[1] trekkers who aspire to reach its summit, with the average summit success rate across all climbers and routes being 70-80%. However, summit success rate heavily depends upon the route, as routes vary considerably in terms of acclimatization profile and climb duration.
Kilimanjaro has a number of official climbing routes. These are: Northern Circuit, Machame, Marangu, Rongai, Londorossi Lemosho, Umbwe, Shira, and Mweka (descent only).
| Route | Description | Days | Length | |
| Northern Circuit | Newest route on Kilimanjaro. Very low traffic due to very long time on the mountain, traverses nearly the entire mountain including the north side. Long route with great views. | 9 | 90km (60miles) | |
| Lemosho | Long access drive, remote, less frequented forested traverse to Barafu, camping | 8 (-1) | 56km (35miles) | |
| Machame | Second most popular route. Forested traverse to Barafu. | 7 (-1) | 49km (30miles) | |
| Marangu | Very popular (crowded). Gentle gradients and long sections up to 4700m (2.9 mi). Not a very scenic route as compared to Machame and Lemosho, comfortable but basic huts.[2] The six-day variant provides good time for acclimatization due to a rest day at Horombo Hut. | 6 (-1) | 64km (40miles) | |
| Rongai | Long access drive, remote, less frequented, some fine, wild, least scenic, camping. Good for acclimatization. | 5-6 | 65km (40miles) | |
| Umbwe | Shortest and steepest route, very physically taxing and requires serious endurance. Dangerous route. | 6 (-1) | 37km (23miles) |
The Marangu Route (also known as the "Coca-Cola" route) is the easiest ascent of Kilimanjaro.[3] Climbs can be done over 6 days. It crosses The Saddle, a 5km (03miles) wide, high-altitude, semi-desert that separates craggy Mawenzi from the main summit Kibo. From the summit, glaciers, screes, cliffs, afro-alpine moorland, and forests lead down to the cultivated foothills.
The Marangu route is popular for beginners as it is one of the shortest routes and requires no camping gear to be carried. For this reason, it is often the cheapest option. Because of its short profile, the Marangu route has the lowest summit success rate out of any route.
Trekkers sometimes spend an extra day to acclimate to the altitude at Horombo Hut. Also, trekkers often start the final ascent to Uhuru Peak early from Kibo Hut because the scree is easier to climb when frozen, and they can get a dawn view from the crater rim.
Route Outline