Kilimanjaro trekking: The routes up the mountain

One of the first and most important decisions is choosing the right route up Mount Kilimanjaro. Currently, the "Kili" be climbed 5 main routes from all directions. Each has its own charm - and different challenges.

By far the most visitors opt for Kilimanjaro trekking for the Marangu route (68 km) from the east. It is sometimes called before, "Coca-Cola route", and is certainly the easiest, safest and most comfortable of all the possibilities. But simple or easy is relative: The Marangu route is a challenging mountain trek of at least 5, usually 6 days. Overnight accommodation is invariably fixed in huts. The trails are all well developed.



Safe on holiday - a holiday without stress and obstacles -
Also I went the Marangu route and will describe them in detail in future articles. Here is now an overview of the other four options:

Rongai Route (70 km)
The starting point of this 6-day route in the north, near the border with Kenya. On the first 3 days which overlooks the Kenyan highlands to the Amboseli National Park. The journey is often about Kenya, so Mombasa or Nairobi. Overnight in tents carried, the Rongai Route is very diverse and it is often possible animal encounters (elephant, buffalo, monkeys, etc.).

The Rongai route is the Marangu route to the lightest: no technical difficulties, no real climbs. The summit takes place over the Gilman Point, identical to Marangu route. Likewise, the descent to the Marangu Gate, past the huts.

Lemosho route (approximately 72 km)
Many believe that the Lemosho route for the most scenic of all the Kilimanjaro routes. It starts in the west, and is far from being frequented as strong as the first two. It takes at least 6 days, here you can also perform longer Kilimanjaro trek and plan the best possible acclimatization.

The highlight of this route is to climb the Barranco Wall, which, however, requires a very good condition. Another good alternative is the possibility of a Akklimatisierungstages to about 5,700 m at the crater floor near the glacier. So save yourself the long (boring) and exhausting night climb to the summit and have fantastic photo opportunities.

Machame route (approximately 64 km)
This route from the south is called now and then "whiskey route". No idea why, but it is considered a classic and secret tip. At the Machame route also must overcome the Barranco Wall. Here, too, there and back are different, which is of course appealing. It is completely stayed in tents.

The landscape that is traversed is very varied, in part, the paths are very rocky. The highest summit, Uhuru Peak, can be reached from a different direction, past the Rebmann Glacier on Stella Point.

Umbwe (about 50 km)
This southern route is by far the hardest thing of Kilimanjaro has to offer - a classic 5-day route that you should not try without prior acclimatization and experience. The first two days are extremely steep, muddy and very tiring. Alleged attempt on this route only 2% of all climbers.