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Mount Kilimanjaro

Stand on the roof of Africa

At 5,895m, Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing peak on earth - and the moment you reach Uhuru Peak stays with you for life. As Arusha-based mountain specialists, we run every major route and plan each climb around your fitness, your acclimatisation and your best chance of the summit.

Choose your route

Machame, Lemosho, Marangu or Rongai

Six ways up the mountain, each with its own character. We'll help you choose the route that matches your fitness, timeframe and taste for solitude.

Machame Route

Good acclimatisation

Days
7
Difficulty
Moderate-Hard
Start
1,800 m

The scenic "Whiskey Route", dramatic and popular, with excellent acclimatisation.

Enquire about Machame
2,0003,0004,0005,0006,000Machame Gate, 1,800 mDay 1: Machame Camp, 2,835 mD1Day 2: Shira Cave Camp, 3,750 mD2Lava Tower, 4,600 mDay 3: Barranco Camp, 3,900 mD3Day 4: Karanga Camp, 3,995 mD4Day 5: Barafu Camp, 4,673 mD5Uhuru Peak, 5,895 mUHURU PEAK 5,895 MDay 6: Mweka Camp, 3,100 mD6Day 7: Mweka Gate, 1,640 mD7
  1. StartMachame Gate 1,800 m
  2. Day 1Machame Camp 2,835 m
  3. Day 2Shira Cave Camp 3,750 m
  4. Day 3via Lava Tower (4,600 m) to Barranco Camp 3,900 m
  5. Day 4Karanga Camp 3,995 m
  6. Day 5Barafu Camp 4,673 m
  7. Day 6via Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) to Mweka Camp 3,100 m
  8. Day 7Mweka Gate 1,640 m

Approximate camp altitudes for the usual itinerary; yours is planned with you.

Lemosho Route

Excellent acclimatisation

Days
8
Difficulty
Moderate
Start
2,100 m

The most beautiful approach, crossing the Shira Plateau, with a long, gradual climb profile.

Enquire about Lemosho
2,0003,0004,0005,0006,000Londorossi Gate, 2,100 mDay 1: Mti Mkubwa Camp, 2,650 mD1Day 2: Shira 1 Camp, 3,610 mD2Day 3: Shira 2 Camp, 3,850 mD3Lava Tower, 4,600 mDay 4: Barranco Camp, 3,900 mD4Day 5: Karanga Camp, 3,995 mD5Day 6: Barafu Camp, 4,673 mD6Uhuru Peak, 5,895 mUHURU PEAK 5,895 MDay 7: Mweka Camp, 3,100 mD7Day 8: Mweka Gate, 1,640 mD8
  1. StartLondorossi Gate 2,100 m
  2. Day 1Mti Mkubwa Camp 2,650 m
  3. Day 2Shira 1 Camp 3,610 m
  4. Day 3Shira 2 Camp 3,850 m
  5. Day 4via Lava Tower (4,600 m) to Barranco Camp 3,900 m
  6. Day 5Karanga Camp 3,995 m
  7. Day 6Barafu Camp 4,673 m
  8. Day 7via Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) to Mweka Camp 3,100 m
  9. Day 8Mweka Gate 1,640 m

Approximate camp altitudes for the usual itinerary; yours is planned with you.

Marangu Route

Huts, not tents

Days
6
Difficulty
Moderate
Start
1,860 m

The classic "Coca-Cola Route", the only trail with comfortable hut accommodation.

Enquire about Marangu
2,0003,0004,0005,0006,000Marangu Gate, 1,860 mDay 1: Mandara Hut, 2,720 mD1Day 2: Horombo Hut, 3,720 mD2Zebra Rocks, 4,020 mDay 3: Horombo Hut, 3,720 mD3Day 4: Kibo Hut, 4,703 mD4Uhuru Peak, 5,895 mUHURU PEAK 5,895 MDay 5: Horombo Hut, 3,720 mD5Day 6: Marangu Gate, 1,860 mD6
  1. StartMarangu Gate 1,860 m
  2. Day 1Mandara Hut 2,720 m
  3. Day 2Horombo Hut 3,720 m
  4. Day 3via Zebra Rocks (4,020 m) to Horombo Hut 3,720 m
  5. Day 4Kibo Hut 4,703 m
  6. Day 5via Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) to Horombo Hut 3,720 m
  7. Day 6Marangu Gate 1,860 m

Approximate camp altitudes for the usual itinerary; yours is planned with you.

Rongai Route

Quietest approach

Days
7
Difficulty
Moderate
Start
1,950 m

Approaches from the quieter north, ideal in the wetter months. Remote and gentle.

Enquire about Rongai
2,0003,0004,0005,0006,000Rongai Gate, 1,950 mDay 1: Simba Camp, 2,625 mD1Day 2: Second Cave, 3,450 mD2Day 3: Kikelewa Camp, 3,630 mD3Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn, 4,330 mD4Day 5: Kibo Hut, 4,703 mD5Uhuru Peak, 5,895 mUHURU PEAK 5,895 MDay 6: Horombo Hut, 3,720 mD6Day 7: Marangu Gate, 1,860 mD7
  1. StartRongai Gate 1,950 m
  2. Day 1Simba Camp 2,625 m
  3. Day 2Second Cave 3,450 m
  4. Day 3Kikelewa Camp 3,630 m
  5. Day 4Mawenzi Tarn 4,330 m
  6. Day 5Kibo Hut 4,703 m
  7. Day 6via Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) to Horombo Hut 3,720 m
  8. Day 7Marangu Gate 1,860 m

Approximate camp altitudes for the usual itinerary; yours is planned with you.

Northern Circuit

Longest on the mountain

Days
9
Difficulty
Moderate
Start
2,100 m

The longest and quietest route, and the most gradual ascent profile on the mountain.

Enquire about Northern Circuit
2,0003,0004,0005,0006,000Londorossi Gate, 2,100 mDay 1: Mti Mkubwa Camp, 2,650 mD1Day 2: Shira 1 Camp, 3,610 mD2Day 3: Shira 2 Camp, 3,850 mD3Day 4: Moir Hut, 4,200 mD4Day 5: Buffalo Camp, 4,020 mD5Day 6: Third Cave, 3,870 mD6Day 7: School Hut, 4,750 mD7Uhuru Peak, 5,895 mUHURU PEAK 5,895 MDay 8: Mweka Camp, 3,100 mD8Day 9: Mweka Gate, 1,640 mD9
  1. StartLondorossi Gate 2,100 m
  2. Day 1Mti Mkubwa Camp 2,650 m
  3. Day 2Shira 1 Camp 3,610 m
  4. Day 3Shira 2 Camp 3,850 m
  5. Day 4Moir Hut 4,200 m
  6. Day 5Buffalo Camp 4,020 m
  7. Day 6Third Cave 3,870 m
  8. Day 7School Hut 4,750 m
  9. Day 8via Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) to Mweka Camp 3,100 m
  10. Day 9Mweka Gate 1,640 m

Approximate camp altitudes for the usual itinerary; yours is planned with you.

Umbwe Route

Steep and direct

Days
6
Difficulty
Hard
Start
1,600 m

Steep, direct and challenging, for fit, experienced trekkers seeking a raw ascent.

Enquire about Umbwe
2,0003,0004,0005,0006,000Umbwe Gate, 1,600 mDay 1: Umbwe Cave Camp, 2,850 mD1Day 2: Barranco Camp, 3,900 mD2Day 3: Karanga Camp, 3,995 mD3Day 4: Barafu Camp, 4,673 mD4Uhuru Peak, 5,895 mUHURU PEAK 5,895 MDay 5: Mweka Camp, 3,100 mD5Day 6: Mweka Gate, 1,640 mD6
  1. StartUmbwe Gate 1,600 m
  2. Day 1Umbwe Cave Camp 2,850 m
  3. Day 2Barranco Camp 3,900 m
  4. Day 3Karanga Camp 3,995 m
  5. Day 4Barafu Camp 4,673 m
  6. Day 5via Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) to Mweka Camp 3,100 m
  7. Day 6Mweka Gate 1,640 m

Approximate camp altitudes for the usual itinerary; yours is planned with you.

Sunrise on the summit of Kilimanjaro
Before you climb

Everything you need to reach the summit

Uhuru Peak rises to 5,895m, the highest point in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain on earth. Reaching it asks less for raw fitness than for heart, patience and the right team beside you, and we have guided climbers to that dawn-lit summit sign for years.

  • Have you ever watched the sunrise break above the clouds?
  • Could you stand on the highest point in all of Africa?
  • Are you ready to discover what you are truly capable of?
  • What story will you bring home from the Roof of Africa?
Plan my trip
Upcoming trips

Join a scheduled group climb

Share the trail (and the cost) with a small international group. Pick a departure below and reserve your place - every climb is guided by our own Tanzanian mountain crew.

24 Oct
24th Oct - 30th Oct
Rongai Route
Filling fast, 3 left
13 Nov
13th Nov - 19th Nov
Rongai Route
Open for booking, 7 places
2 Dec
2nd Dec - 8th Dec
Machame Route
9 places available
16 Dec
16th Dec - 24th Dec
Northern Circuit
Only 3 places left
Climb with confidence

Why climb with us

A safe summit is a well-planned one. Here is how we get more of our climbers to the top, and all of them home safely.

Safety first

Daily health checks, pulse oximeters, emergency oxygen and a rescue plan on every climb.

Ethical mountain crews

Fair wages, proper gear and enforced load limits for the porters and guides who carry every climb.

Acclimatise properly

We favour longer routes and "climb high, sleep low" days, the single biggest factor in reaching the summit.

Ready-made treks

Kilimanjaro packages

Fixed departures and private climbs on every major route.

Kilimanjaro questions

Good to know before you climb

Kilimanjaro is a trek, not a technical climb - no ropes or mountaineering skills are needed. The real challenge is altitude, which is why route choice and acclimatisation days matter so much. With good preparation, most reasonably fit people can summit.
Longer routes win. The Northern Circuit (9 days) and Lemosho (8 days) give your body the most time to adjust, and our success rates on them exceed 98%. Shorter routes like the 6-day Marangu have lower averages.
Focus on cardio endurance and long hikes with a daypack, ideally over hills. Practising several consecutive days of walking is more useful than raw speed. We send every climber a full training guide.
Park fees, professional guides, a full mountain crew, all meals and camping or hut accommodation, quality tents and safety equipment, and airport transfers. Personal gear, tips and travel insurance are excluded.
Side by side

Which route is actually right for you?

The cards above tell you what each route is like. This tells you how they differ, in the four things that decide whether you enjoy the week: time on the mountain, where you sleep, how gently you gain height, and how many other people you share the trail with.

Kilimanjaro routes compared by duration, distance, accommodation, acclimatisation and how busy they are
RouteDaysDistance SleepingApproach AcclimatisationHow busyFrom
Lemosho First-timers who want the best odds and the best scenery. 7-8 70 km Tents West Best Quiet early $2,300 8-day trip
Machame Fit trekkers happy to share the trail for a dramatic route. 6-7 62 km Tents South-west Very good Busy $1,800 6-day trip
Northern Circuit Anyone with the time. The longest route and the gentlest on the body. 9 90 km Tents West then north Best Very quiet On request
Rongai The wetter months - the north side is the driest approach. 6-7 73 km Tents North Good Quiet On request
Marangu Climbers who want a bed and a roof, and are short on days. 5-6 72 km Huts South-east Limited Busy $1,390 5-day trip
Umbwe Experienced trekkers only. Steep, direct and unforgiving. 6 53 km Tents South Hardest Very quiet On request

More dots means more time for your body to adjust, or a quieter trail. We do not publish a summit percentage here, because the figure means nothing without knowing how an operator counts it. Ask us and we will talk you through our own record on the route you are considering.

Your body, and your bag

What the altitude does, and what to carry

Kilimanjaro is a walk, not a climb. Almost everyone who struggles struggles with the air, not the path, so this is the part worth reading twice.

At 5,895 m there is about half the oxygen

Every breath at Uhuru Peak carries roughly half the oxygen of the same breath in Arusha. Your body can adapt to that, but only at its own pace, which is why we walk pole pole - slowly, slowly - and why a longer route beats a fit pair of legs.

  • Headache, appetite loss and broken sleep are common and usually fine.
  • Dizziness, vomiting, breathlessness at rest or confusion are not. Tell your guide immediately.
  • Altitude sickness is not about fitness or age. It can affect anyone, and the only reliable cure is going down.

Before you fly

  • See your doctor about altitude medication. Do not self-prescribe.
  • Yellow fever certificate if you are arriving from a country where it is present.
  • Travel insurance that explicitly covers trekking to 6,000 m and emergency evacuation.
  • Break your boots in at home. A blister on day one is a long week.

What we carry for you

  • Four-season tents, sleeping mats and all camp kitchen equipment.
  • Every meal on the mountain, plus filtered drinking water each day.
  • Park fees, rescue fees and camping or hut fees.
  • A guide carrying a pulse oximeter and emergency oxygen, with daily health checks.

What you bring

  • Layers, not bulk: base layers, fleece, insulated jacket, waterproof shell.
  • Broken-in waterproof boots, plus camp shoes for the evening.
  • Headtorch with spare batteries - summit night starts around midnight.
  • Sleeping bag rated to -10 C, sun cream, lip balm, sunglasses.

Sleeping bags, jackets and poles can be hired in Arusha. Tell us what you are missing and we will have it waiting.

Start your adventure

Ready to reach the summit?

Tell us your dates and fitness level and we'll recommend the ideal route - then guide you every step to Uhuru Peak.

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