At 19330ft, Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro, marks the highest point in Africa.

This is one of the most climbed of the worlds big mountains, and an iconic feature of the East African landscape.

Kilimanjaro is a freestanding volcanic cone, meaning that it does not belong to a mountain range, but rises majestically from the great Masai Steppe with her sister peak, Mount Meru, a short distance away, and rising to 14980ft. Kilimanjaro is the highest volcanic feature of its type in the world.

Kili is an attractive climb prospect for many who have never attempted a big mountain, and is generally served by a comprehensive fraternity of climb outfitters and specialist guides. There are many who say that Kilimanjaro is an easy mountain to climb, and although it is true that there are no technical aspects to summiting this great mountain, those who have done, even seasoned mountaineers, will admit that it is no walk in the park.

There are a variety of approaches to the summit of Kilimanjaro, with the easiest usually regarded as being Marangu Route, and the most challenging being the Western Breach. In between there is Lemosho Route, Machame Route and Rongai Route, each of which offers unique perspective of Kilimanjaro, and each a superb trekking experience in some of the worlds most beautiful and best preserved tropical highland habitat.

MEM Africa offers several Kilimanjaro Route Options, with longer or shorter versions depending on your preference. Check out the trip options for details.

Machame Route

This is an intermediate route, not the easiest, but also not the most challenging. It is the most popular of the ‘outfield’ routes, beginning near Machame Village, some 20 miles north of Moshi. It is widely regarded by Kilimanjaro aficionados as the most scenically attractive of a cluster of superb route options, and is indeed a trekking experience comparable to any other in the world.

The highlight of Machame Route is a long trek through the pristine cloud forest that cloaks the lower slopes.

Machame Route is a 7-day climb, with 5 of those days directed at the summit. Its main advantage lies in its rush to high altitude in the first two days, and then another two days at a broadly even altitude that allows for a measured adjustment to conditions of altitude.

The trail follows the Southern Circuit, joining with Lemosho Route at Shira 2 Camp, and then continuing eastwards around the southern flanks of Kibo until the summit is reached via Barafu Camp situated on the southeastern slopes.

MEM Tours Africa offers several Machame Route options, with longer or shorter versions depending on your preference. Contact us directly or check out the trip options for details…

Lemosho Route

Lemosho is the longest of the regular Kilimanjaro trails, typically covering 8-days from start to finish, with six of those days aimed towards the summit.

The trail approaches from the western quarter of Kilimanjaro, covering some of loveliest highland countryside in East Africa, with the separate eco-zones of Kilimanjaro clearly evident as the forest gives way to heathland, moorland, and eventually the barren high desert of the summit regions.

Lemosho is an excellent trail for those uncertain of their abilities, and who want to allow for extra time to adjust to altitude, as well as to enjoy shorter walking days over a generally forgiving gradient.

MEM Tours Africa offers several Lemosho Route Options, with longer or shorter versions depending on your preference. Contact us directly or check out the trip options for details.

Marangu Route

They say that Marangu Route is the easy route, and although it is true that Marangu Route is an even, unhurried and fairly direct route, no climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro can be regarded as easy.

Marangu is a typically a 5-day climb, with three of those days directed at the summit. The most popular feature of this trail is the fact that it is serviced by hutted camps where climbers can find a degree of comfort under cover of communal huts with bunk beds available for those that make camp early.

A point worth noting is that many seasoned climbers regard Marangu is being a deceptive trail. The trek to the summit is too short for optimum altitude adjustment, and a high percentage of climbers succumb to AMS at the higher altitudes and do not make the summit. Always consider a longer version of this trail if you have the time.

This is the route that most closely follows the early attempts to summit Kilimanjaro, and was more or less the route used by Hans Meyer who summited Kibo for the first time in October 1889.

The trail begins at Marangu Gate and climbs steadily through the iconic Kilimanjaro cloud forest before emerging into heathland, and continuing on at a steady gradient until the last punishing summit day.

This trail usually returns back the way it came, but some trips offer the usual alternative return route that emerges at Mweka Gate for and easy ride back to Moshi.

MEM Tours Africa offers several Marangu Route Options, with longer or shorter versions depending on your preference. Contact us directly or check out the trip options for details.

Rongai Route

Rongai is the least trammeled of all the Kilimanjaro routes, and the reason for this is the distance to travel from either Arusha or Moshi to commence the climb. It is also the least developed of the main trails and allows for an enhanced sense of oneness with the mountain when there are fewer people to share it with.

Typically Rongai is a 7-day climb, with 5 of those days directed at the summit. The early stages of the climb, as the trails leaves the narrow band of forest and begins its long traverse of the dry northern heathland, accommodation is within or alongside a series of deep caves, until the trail merges with Marangu Route at Kibo Huts.

Expect less ecological variety on this trail, and a lot of human impact along the forest fringe. From Kibo huts the trail continues on to Gilman’s Point, and then the summit, returning to base either via Marangu Route or Mweka Route to Mweka Gate.

MEM Africa offers custom Rongai Route climb dates by arrangement. Contact us for details and specific arrangements…