I Climbed KilimanjaroThe short version
- Days matter more than the route. Book seven at least; eight if you can.
- Most first-timers: Lemosho (8 days) or Machame (7 days).
- Want quiet and the best odds? The Northern Circuit.
- Want a bed? Marangu is the only hut route. Book six days, never five.
- Avoid on a first climb: five-day anything, Umbwe, and the Western Breach.
How many days to book
The single biggest factor in whether you reach the summit is how long you give your body to adjust. Kilimanjaro puts ordinary people at 5,895 m faster than almost any mountain on earth, and more nights on the way up mean more time to acclimatise. The same extra days lower your risk of serious altitude illness — one of the rare decisions where safety and success point the same way.
These are Kilimanjaro National Park's figures from around 2006, grouped by itinerary length rather than route — the only official numbers ever published. Modern estimates run higher across the board, but no source in twenty years has contradicted the shape: each day added between five and eight buys a large jump in your odds. An extra day costs about $140 in park fees, and a few hundred dollars all told. It is the best-value thing you can buy for this climb.
| Days you have | What to book |
|---|---|
| 5 | Nothing. Wait, save and come back with more days. |
| 6 | Marangu or Machame over six days, reluctantly — fine if you're already acclimatised. |
| 7 | Machame for scenery, or Rongai for quiet and the rainy season. |
| 8 | Lemosho — the best all-round itinerary for most climbers. |
| 9 | The Northern Circuit — the best acclimatisation and the emptiest trails. |
Every route at a glance
| Route | Days to book | Distance | Starts | Sleep | Crowds | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemosho | 7–8 | ~70 km | West | Tents | Quiet, then busy | Most first-timers |
| Machame | 6–7 | ~62 km | South-west | Tents | Busiest | Scenery on a tighter budget |
| Northern Circuit | 8–9 | ~90–98 km | West | Tents | Quietest | Best odds, solitude |
| Rongai | 6–7 | ~73 km | North-east | Tents | Quiet | Rainy season, fewer people |
| Marangu | 6 | ~72 km | South-east | Huts | Busy | Anyone who wants a bed, not a tent |
| Umbwe | 6 | ~53 km | South | Tents | Very quiet | Experienced altitude trekkers |
| Shira | 7–8 | ~56 km | West (by vehicle) | Tents | Quiet, then busy | Rarely the best choice now |
| Western Breach | — | — | West | Tents | Very quiet | Not a first climb |
Distances are the commonly published figures; operators' own measurements differ by a few kilometres on every route. Crowd rankings are operators' estimates — Machame is usually put at a third or more of all climbers — so trust the order more than any percentage. The park reports total visitor numbers in the region of 60,000 a year.
Route by route
Lemosho
Starts in remote western forest and crosses the Shira Plateau before joining Machame. Excellent acclimatisation profile and some of the best scenery on the mountain. A strong default.
Climbers who came up by Lemosho →Machame
The most popular route for good reason: varied, beautiful and well paced with the Lava Tower climb-high-sleep-low day and the Barranco Wall scramble. Take seven days, not six.
Climbers who came up by Machame →Northern Circuit
The longest route, circling the quiet northern slopes. More days mean the best acclimatisation and the highest summit rates, at a higher price.
Climbers who came up by Northern Circuit →Rongai
Approaches from near the Kenyan border on the drier north side. Gentler and less crowded, with less varied scenery. Descends by Marangu, so you see two sides of the mountain.
Climbers who came up by Rongai →Marangu
The only route with dormitory huts, up and down the same path. Often sold as the easy option in five days — that is exactly why its summit rates are low. Book six.
Climbers who came up by Marangu →Umbwe
Steep and direct, gaining height fast through the forest. Poor acclimatisation for its first days. Not a first-timer's route.
Climbers who came up by Umbwe →Shira
Starts by driving to around 3,400 m, which means beginning the walk high without having acclimatised. Lemosho covers similar ground with a better start.
Climbers who came up by Shira →Western Breach
A steep summit variant with rockfall risk from retreating glaciers. It has been closed repeatedly, including after fatal accidents. Confirm current status with the park before considering it.
Climbers who came up by Western Breach →Machame or Lemosho?
They are the two routes most people end up choosing between, and they share the second half of the climb. From around Shira Camp 2 they follow the same path, by Lava Tower and the Barranco Wall, to Barafu Camp and the summit.
| Lemosho | Machame | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual length | 8 days (7 possible) | 7 days (6 possible) |
| First days | Remote forest and the Shira Plateau, few people | Busy from the first morning |
| Acclimatisation | Excellent, especially over 8 days | Good over 7 days, compressed over 6 |
| Crowds | Quiet until it joins Machame | The busiest route on the mountain |
| Cost | Typically $500–600 more than 7-day Machame with the same operator | The cheaper of the two |
If the budget stretches to the extra day, Lemosho is the better choice for most people. If it doesn't, seven days on Machame is far better than six on either.
Success rates, honestly
Most route-by-route success rates you will see online are operators' own figures, and they rarely agree. The same route can be quoted 10 to 20 percentage points apart on different sites, and very few explain how they counted. Treat any "98% success" claim as marketing.
What the numbers do agree on is the pattern: longer itineraries succeed more often, and short Marangu and Umbwe climbs succeed least. No operator's figure is independently audited, so a company that tells you how it counts — which climbers, which routes, to which point — is being more honest than one with a bigger number. And turning back is a normal, sensible outcome, not a failure.
The three summit points
Every route ends on the crater rim at one of two points, then follows the rim to the true summit.
- Stella Point, 5,756 m — where the routes from Barafu Camp (Machame, Lemosho, Umbwe, Shira) reach the rim.
- Gilman's Point, 5,685 m — where Marangu, Rongai and the Northern Circuit reach the rim.
- Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m — the summit, roughly an hour round the rim from Stella Point and an hour or two from Gilman's.
Each earns a park certificate. What the different colours mean is explained on gold or green.
Sources and where to check things yourself
- Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA)Official route status, including the Western Breach, and park regulations.
- UIAA Mountain MedicineConsensus guidance on ascent rates and acclimatisation, written by mountain physicians.
Common questions
What is the best route up Kilimanjaro?
For most first-timers, Lemosho over eight days or Machame over seven. Both have good acclimatisation profiles and outstanding scenery. If you want quiet and the best odds, the Northern Circuit; if you want huts instead of tents, Marangu over six days.
How many days do you need to climb Kilimanjaro?
Book seven days or more. Historical park figures show summit success rising sharply with itinerary length, from around a quarter of climbers on five-day climbs to most climbers on eight-day climbs. The extra day costs a little and changes your odds a lot.
What is the easiest route up Kilimanjaro?
No route is easy, because the difficulty on Kilimanjaro is altitude, not terrain. The routes that feel easiest are the longest ones, because they give your body the most time to adjust. Marangu is often called the easy route, but its short itineraries give it some of the lowest success rates.
Machame or Lemosho?
They share the second half of the climb. Lemosho starts further west, is quieter for the first days and is usually walked over eight days, which helps acclimatisation. Machame is busier from day one and is often walked in six or seven. If the budget stretches to the extra day, Lemosho is the better choice for most people.
Been up and come back down?
Everything on this site comes from people who have done the climb. Add your summit to the register with one line for the next climber — the route, the guide who got you there, the thing you wish you'd known. Free, no account needed.