Kilimanjaro to Uhuru is one of the easier mountains to climb as its summit can be reached without ropes and mountain climbing equipment. It takes on average, 6 days to complete but extra days can be added for acclimatization. Kilimanjaro can be ascended via 6 routes; Machame, Marangu, Lemosho, Umbwe, Shira or Rongai, each one offering their own unique scenery and sights en-route, and each varying in difficulty. The easiest and fastest ascent is via Marangu, but the most scenic, is Machame. To further aid acclimatization, many people do a pre-climb of Mt Meru, Kilimanjaro sister volcano.

The Kilimanjaro Machame is  one of the most scenic route up Kilimanjaro. It follows the concept of climb high, sleep low. The ascent is from the western side of Kilimanjaro, with the descent down the southern face along the Mweka route. One passes through changing vegetation from a tropical forest, to scrubland, to alpine desert and onwards to the summit .

You will start your trek at Kilimanjaro Machame Forest and head through the lush forest, hanging with moss and lichen with its enormous forest canopy, gradually up the Machame Camp for the first night. Next day, the route heads into a scrubland with giant Lobelia and daisy bushes up toward Shira Camp before heading into the alpine desert towards Lava Tower and back down to Barranco. From here on in the terrain remains like an alpine desert, with the glaciers reaching down the mountain like long fingers, to about 4800m. You will hit the snow line at about 5700m, maybe higher.

The Kilimanjaro Marangu is a popular route up Kilimanjaro as it is not only the quickest route but also the most direct and often deemed, easier route. Instead of sleeping in tents, one stays in huts. The ascent is via the eastern face of the mountain and covers about 80km. The descent is via the same route as the ascent.

The Kilimanjaro Rongai up Kilimanjaro is also seldom travelled, beginning on the Kenyan side of the mountain. The drive to the starting point is long, albeit scenic. Park rules require that the descent route is via the Marangu route.

The Kilimanjaro Umbwe is one of the shortest and less used of all the routes. Although it is not a technical climb, it is a lot steeper and recommended for very fit hikers.

The Kilimanjaro Lemosho is often considered one of the more scenic in terms of game viewing. This is not as much the case as it was several years back when game was more abundant, although there is still the chance to see game on the first 2 days. These two days are also a lot quieter on the route, until it joins in with the standard trail from Machame and Shira routes.

Day 1
Leave Nairobi to Arusha by shuttle bus and on to Moshi. Overnight at Mountain Inn.

Day 2
Transfer to Marangu gate for climbing - Commence ascending walking through the rain forest to Mandara Hut - lying at 9000ft/2750m.

Overnight at campsite.

Day 3
Leave the glades of forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to Horombo Hut - lying at 12000ft/3700m.

Overnight at camp.

Day 4
Ascending you pass the "Last Water" walking on to the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi arriving at Kibo Hut at 15000ft/4700m.

Spend your overnight at camp.

Day 5
Early start for the summit on steep and heavy scree up to Gilman's point at 18640ft/5681m, which is on the greater rim. Ascending up to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 19340ft/5896m.

From here you descend going straight down to Horombo Hut. Stay overnight at hut.

Day 6
The day spent in descending down to the park gates. Drive to Moshi and stay overnight at Mountain Inn.

Day 7
After breakfast depart for Moshi and on to Nairobi via Arusha.

African Safaris and Adventures is a specialized in mountain hiking and climbing the main mountains in Tanzania & Kenya. The mt climbing safari packages we offer are flexible and the routes go from easy to complicated. We are direct tour operators of mountain adventure with years of experience. This makes us able to offer different tours within Tanzania like: hiking, camping, high and low mountain climbing, rafting, acclimatization, expeditions in the jungle, glacier school,