Mount Kilimanjaro climbing routes

Mount Kilimanjaro climbing routes

There are several routes by which to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, namely, Marangu, Rongai, Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe and Machame. Of all the routes, Machame is by far the most scenic albeit steeper route up the mountain. The Rongai is the easiest camping route and the Marangu is also easy, but accommodation is in huts. As a result, this route tends to be very busy and ascent and descent routes are the same.

Current climbing conditions

After the Western Breach route was closed in January 2006, many expeditions that had intended to use this route have instead used the Lemosho/Barafu route. As the Western Breach route, this route starts to the west and goes up the Shira Ridge towards Lava Tower. Instead of going up to Arrow Glacier camp and the breach, however, this route goes around the southern edge of Kili towards Barafu Camp. From Barafu Camp, around 15,200 feet (4,633 m) altitude, a nighttime summit is usually attempted. As of December 2007, the Western Breach was re-opened, but it sparsely used by Kilimanjaro outfitters due to its inherent risks.

Climbing description

The climb to Uhuru Peak is considered to be a relatively straightforward endeavour; however, ample time must still be provided for proper acclimatization to prevent altitude sickness. The three shortest routes, Marangu, Rongai and Machame are less challenging and are often climbed by individuals with limited mountaineering experience. Many climbers employ altitude-sickness medication, including acetazolamide.

An ascent of Mawenzi requires rock climbing and/or snow/ice climbing skills.

Route travel times range from 5 to 9 days to summit and return to the base of the mountain. Huts with cooking facilities, bathrooms, and electricity are available on the Marangu route, and camps with less facilities are available on many other routes. All huts and many camps have rangers stationed at them with rescue facilities (modified wheelbarrows to transport climbers stricken with altitude sickness to lower altitudes).

Summit attempts are generally undertaken at night, because the scree is frozen together, making the climb significantly easier. Climbers on the Marangu route first encounter Gilman's Point on the rim of the crater, which is roughly a 1½ hour hike from Uhuru. Another route is the Western Breach, much more technical in nature and attempted by serious mountaineers. Annually, approximately 15,000 people attempt to climb the mountain, of whom 40% reach the summit.

The rapidly retreating Furtwängler Glacier is near the summit.

At the summit, there is a sign posted by the Tanzanian government. The sign (printed in English only) reads "Congratulations! You are now at Uhuru Peak, Tanzania, 5,895 m. AMSL. Africa's Highest Point. World's Highest Free-Standing Mountain. One of World's Largest Volcanos. Welcome." The sign is covered in travel stickers from past trekkers who have left their mark on the top of the peak. Near this famous sign is a box containing a log that many climbers have signed. As of January 2007 this box has either been removed or buried.

Climbing routes

Forest along the Marangu climbing route.

File:JRO-climber.jpg

Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs with a guide at the summit.

Kilimanjaro has several official climbing routes. These are:

• Northern Circuit

• Machame

• Marangu

• Rongai

• Londorossi Lemosho

• Umbwe

• Shira

• Mweka (descent only)

Summary of routes

Route	Description	Days	Length
Northern Circuit	Newest route on Kilimanjaro. Very low traffic, traverses nearly the entire mountain including the north side. Long route with great views.	9	90km
Lemosho	Long access drive, remote, less frequented, beautiful forests, scenic traverse to Barafu, camping. Excellent for acclimatisation.	8 (-1)	56km
Machame	Second most popular route. Beautiful forest, very good for acclimatisation, scenic traverse to Barafu.	7 (-1)	49km
Marangu	Very popular. Gentle gradients and long sections up to 4700m. Beautiful forests and moorlands, comfortable but basic huts. The 6 day variant provides good time for acclimatisation.	6 (-1)	64km
Rongai	Long access drive, remote, less frequented, some fine, wild, high-altitude mountain scenery, camping. Good for acclimatisation.	6	65km
Umbwe	Shortest and steepest route, tough. Beautiful forest, spectacular ridge, bad for acclimatisation, scenic traverse to Barafu, camping. Dangerous route.	6 (-1)	37km

A three-dimensional Google-Earth route map can be seen here.

Northern Circuit

This is the newest route on Kilimanjaro. It begins from the north, then traverses nearly the entire mountain counter clockwise before approaching the summit from the east. This route offers the most diverse views which makes it the most scenic route available. There is very little traffic on this route.

The route takes 9 days on the mountain.

Outline Programme

1. Drive 4 hours to Rongai Gate. Walk to First Cave at 2650m, 2 ½-3hrs.
2. Walk to Second Cave at 3450m, 3 ½ hrs, and continue to Third Cave at 3800m, 2 hrs.
3. Ascend to junction then begin little used northern circuit route to Buffalo Camp at 4100m, 5-7 hrs.
4. Continue the circuit to Moir Hut at 4200m, 4-5 hrs. Acclimatization hike options available.
5. Walk to Lava Tower at 4500m, 4-6 hrs.
6. Descend to Barranco Valley at 3940m, before climbing Barranco Wall and walking to Karanga Camp at 4000m, 5-7 hrs.
7. Hard ascent to Barafu Hut at 4600m, 3-5 hrs. Rest for early morning summit.
8. Early morning walk to Uhuru at 5895m, then descnt to Millenium camp at 3800m, 11-15 hrs.
9. Continue descent to Mweka Gate at 1600m, 4-6 hrs.

Detailed description:

Lemosho Route

This is an unspoilt, remote, less-used and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. Climbers sometimes use it to ascend the Western Breach route, or follow it with the Kibo South Circuit to ascend by the easier Barafu Route. The first day of the route is rich in game animals, and armed rangers may accompany a climbing group temporarily.

The standard route takes 7 days on the mountain, and is sometimes extended to 8 days with a stay at Karanga Valley.

Outline Programme

1. Drive from Moshi or Arusha to Londorossi Park Gate (2250m, 2 hours). From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades (2100m, 11km, 45 minutes) and a possible campsite (park fees are not paid to camp here). Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite, (2750m, 3 hours).
2. The trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. Several streams are crossed then it gains the Shira Ridge at about 3600m and drops gently down to Shira 1 camp located by a stream on the Shira Plateau (3500m, 5 hours). This campsite could be omitted.
3. A gentle walk across the plateau leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream (3850m, 1.5 hours). A variety of walks are available on the Plateau making this an excellent acclimatisation day.
4. Continue east towards Kibo passing the junction, then east towards the Lava Tower. Shortly after this, you descend to Barranco hut (3940m, 4 hours).
5. A short scramble to the top of the Great Barranco and then a traverse over scree and ridges to the Karanga Valley (4000m, 3 hours), beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. After climbing out of the Karanga Valley the trail ascends a ridge to the Barafu Hut, a bleak location with little vegetation at 4600m, (3 hours walking).
6. An early start for the ascent to the rim of the Kibo Crater between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers, (4 hours); the last section before the rim can sometimes be snow-covered and an ice-axe or ski stick is useful for balance. From here a further hour leads to Uhuru Peak, from where there are often fine views of Meru to the west and the jagged peak of Mawenzi to the east. Descend to the Barafu Hut for a rest and lunch before continuing on down to camp at Mweka Hut in the giant heather zone on the forest edge. Those with energy on the summit may wish to descend to the Reutsh Crater and visit the dramatic ice pinnacles of the Eastern Icefields.
7. A 3-4 hour descent through beautiful forest brings you to the Park gate and your waiting transport.

A travelogue of the Londorossi Lemosho route can be viewed here.[1]

Detailed description:

Machame route

The Machame route as of 2006 is described here. The route is typically done on a six or seven day hike.

The campsites and gates (with corresponding elevations) are as follows: [2]

• Machame Gate (start of trek) (5718 ft/1738 m)
• Machame (9927 ft/3018 m)
• Shira (12355 ft/3756 m)
• Barranco (13066 ft/3972 m)
• Karanga (optional camp, used by 6-day climbers)
• Barafu (high camp before summit) (15239 ft/4633 m)
• Mweka (descent) (10204 ft/3102 m)
• Mweka Gate (end of trek) (5423 ft/1649 m)

(The given altitudes are sourced from a GPS device and are accurate to a few hundred feet)

One benefit of the Machame route is its quick rise to relatively high elevations (~10,000 ft/~3,040 metres), and a short ascent to the Lava Tower site (~15,000 ft/~4,560 m) before descending back to Barranco Camp (12,700 ft/3,870 m) on the same day. This follows the climber's adage 'climb high, sleep low', and helps altitude acclimation. The initial steep ascent also helps climbers acclimate better.

The Machame route starts from Machame Gate and travels upwards through the montane rainforest, characterized by dense vegetation, a muddy trail and short sections of steep climbs. The first campsite, Machame Camp, is right after the dense tree cover in an area with lower but still thick bushlands.

The second day continues through increasingly sparse trees and bushes into moorlands. Picturesque hanging mosses often cover trees and offer an ethereal quality to the landscape. The day finishes with Shira Camp, which is on a small plateau in the high moorlands, and features views of Kibo in the northwest and Mount Meru towards the east. White necked ravens can be seen throughout the day. There is also a set of small caves a short walk from the campsite known as the Shira Caves.

Garden of the Senecios, with part of Kibo in the background.

The third day starts in the moorlands and moves into alpine desert, with fewer trees and more rocks. The highest point is the base of the Lava Tower, after which the trail descends into the Barranco Valley. More vegetation is present in this zone, especially the area just before the campsite. This area is called the 'Garden of the Senecias' which features many of the huge senecio plants. Shorter lobelia plants are also present.

The fourth day starts with the ascent of the Barranco Wall, which is considered a scramble in climbing terms. The top of the Wall has attractive vistas of Kibo and the surrounding landscape. The trail continues with many up and down sections across small streams and rivulets, and finally crosses the Karanga River to the Karanga campsite.

The fifth day follows the path up and across a rocky zone, finishing at the high camp Barafu. Very little vegetation can be found on the inhospitable terrain. A field of sedimentary rocks litters the ground like many broken mirrors. (Note - the six day trek omits the Karanga campsite, and climbers continue directly to Barafu on the same day.)

The summit is usually attempted on the very early morning of the 6th day (around midnight). Barafu is also used as a summit campsite for the Umbwe route. Climbers typically take somewhere between five and seven hours to ascend, using headlamps and cold weather gear. Making the ascent on a full moon or shortly thereafter can make the headtorch unnecessary and the night ascent a beautiful experience. The first milestone, generally reached shortly after dawn, is Stella Point (18,652 ft/5,685 m), which is on the crater rim. Following Stella Point, the trail continues for another 30 mins to the summit - Uhuru Peak.

The descent back to Barafu takes roughly four hours. Some climbers 'scree slide' down the slope, which entails skidding/running down the loose gravel at medium speed. From Barafu, climbers typically take a short break, and continue downwards through the alpine desert and ensuing moorlands to Mweka Camp.

The seventh and final day has trekkers continue through the montane forest to Mweka Gate. Troops of black-and-white colobus monkeys can often be seen in the dense growth.

Detailed description:

A travelogue of the Machame route can be viewed here.[3] A trip report of the Machame route can be viewed here.[4]

Marangu Route

The Marangu Route (also known at the 'Coca-Cola' route) is the easiest ascent of Kilimanjaro, although any ascent can be challenging. It crosses The Saddle, a 5km 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.

Climbers sometimes spend an extra day to acclimate to the altitude at Horombo Hut. Also, climbers often start the final ascent to Uhuru Peak early from Kibo Hut, since the scree is easier to climb when frozen, and dawn views from the crater rim are often spectacular.

Outline Programme

1. Drive to Marangu Gate. Walk through the rain forest to Mandara hut (2743m), about 3 hours.
2. Leave the forest and cross open moor land to Horombo hut (3760m).
3. Rest and acclimatisation day at Horombo Hut. Day walk to Zebra Rocks or to Mawenzi Hut. This day can be missed out making a 5 day itinerary; however, the less accimilatized climbers are, the less likely they will be able to summit.
4. Walk through moorland then alpine desert to "The Saddle" between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. From here you will walk for about an hour to reach Kibo hut (4730m).
5. Very early start for the summit on steep scree up to Gillman's Point (5681m) which is on the crater rim. Continue around the rim (which will take about two hours if you are fit) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) the highest point in Africa. Descend to Kibo Hut for tea and biscuits or soup and then down to the thicker air an relative warmth of Horombo hut.
6. Descend to Marangu gate.

Detailed description:

Rongai Route

Outline Programme

1. Drive 4 hours to the Rongai Gate. Walk to Simba Camp at 2650m, 2½-3 hrs. The walk is initially through plantations then rain forest and finally bush country.
2. Walk to 2nd Cave at 3450m, 3½ hrs. A gentle day through bush then heathers.
3. Gentle rising traverse through moorland over several ridges to Kikelea Caves, 3600m, 3 hours.
4. Moorland then screes to Mawenzi Tarn Hut, 4330m, 3-3½ hrs.
5. Easy angled screes slopes lead across the Saddle to Kibo Hut, 4700m, 4½-5 hrs.
6. Very early start for the summit on steep scree up to Gillman's Point (5681m) which is on the crater rim. Continue around the rim (which will take about two hours if you are fit) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) the highest point in Africa. The views of the sunrise over Mawensi to the East is stunning. Descend to Kibo Hut for tea and biscuits or soup and then down to the thicker air an relative warmth of Horombo hut.
7. Descend to Marangu gate.

Climbers often omit the 2nd Cave during ascent, although the climb is more difficult. Detailed description:

Umbwe Route

Southern Icefields viewed from Umbwe Route (Barranco Camp)

The Umbwe route is often considered the hardest but most spectacular and direct way to reach Uhuru Peak.

Outline Programme

1. Drive to the Umbwe Roadhead at 1800m. The route initially follows a forestry track winding up through the natural rain forest. It then narrows and steepens to climb the ridge between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers. The first campsite is in the forest by some rock overhangs at 2940m, (5-6 hours walking).
2. Shortly after leaving the camp the forest ends and the path continues along a narrow spectacular ridge. Above, the sheer 1000m of the Breach Wall appears and disappears as the afternoon mists roll up the Great Barranco. From the Umbwe ridge the route descends slightly to the Barranco Hut and our camp in the valley floor at 3900m, (5-6 hours walking).
3. A short scramble to the top of the Great Barranco and then a traverse over scree and ridges to the Karanga Valley (4000m, 3 hours), beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers.
4. After climbing out of the Karanga Valley the trail ascends a ridge to the Barafu Hut, a bleak location with little vegetation at 4600m, (3 hours walking).
5. An early start for the ascent to the rim of the Kibo Crater between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers, (4 hours); the last section before the rim can sometimes be snow-covered and an ice-axe or ski stick is useful for balance. From here a further hour leads to Uhuru Peak, from where there are often fine views of Meru to the west and the jagged peak of Mawenzi to the east. After a short time on the summit you descend to the Barafu Hut for a rest and lunch before continuing on down to camp at Mweka Hut in the giant heather zone on the Mweka route.
6. A 3-4 hour descent through beautiful forest brings you to the Park gate.

Detailed description:

Rock climbing routes

The rock on Kilimanjaro is generally unsuitable for rock climbing; however, there are several good snow and ice routes that are rapidly vanishing due to glacial recession. Mawenzi's peaks provide a few rock routes on loose rock.

Until recently, glacial recession has made it harder to ascend the Umbwe Route followed by the Heim Glacier. Just left of the glacier, the Breach Wall was considered the hardest route on Kilimanjaro (featuring a 100m high vertical icicle). Further left again, the Western Breach (Arrow Glacier) Route provides an easy scrambling route to the crater.

Park authorities and outfitters require special arrangements and often disclaimers to climb these routes. Although it is only a scramble, the Western Breach route falls into this category on account of rock fall danger.

Selected rock climbing routes

• Heim Glacier: A Nelson, H J Cooke, D N Goodall, 1957. Grade III+, 12 hours.
• Western Breach: Grade I, 6 hours. The easiest rock-climbing way on the south-west side of the mountain.

Other climbing routes:

External links

• Kilimanjaro Climbs: Free Advice and Information for anyone looking to climb Kilimanjaro.
• Climbing Kilimanjaro: Information on climbing Kilimanjaro.
• Kilimanjaro Routes: Itineraries of common Kilimanjaro routes