Shira Route 7 or 8 days Trekking

Number of days needed: 7 or 8 (recommended)
Total walking distance: 56km

Starting elevation: 2250m (Londorossi Gate)
Price: $$$

Similar to the Lemosho route, the Shira route takes a western approach up the mountain. This route is considered to be one of the most difficult. This is partly due to the high altitude in which you start climbing. The first part can be driven (up to an altitude of ~3,500m) with no hiking in the rainforest of the lower part of Mt. Kilimanjaro. We recommend this route only to experienced climbers who want a challenge and are confident that they will be able to handle the altitude changes quickly and acclimatize. This route eventually pairs up with Machame at the Lava Tower and down to Barranco Camp and descends down the Mweka Route. The itinerary below (7 Day) has a few variations, which you will see with the bold.

Lemosho Route 7 or 8 days

Number of days needed: 7 or 8 (recommended)
Total walking distance: 56km

Starting elevation: 2250m (Londorossi Gate)
Price: $$$

The Lemosho route is one of the longer hikes and has a higher success rate. Usually done in 7 to 8 days, this route takes a western approach. Due to the remote start and the longer climb time, this route does tend to be a bit more expensive than the others. Because it is a bite more remote with a long drive out to the trailhead, it is less crowded than the other routes. The environment around the trailhead is also quite unique. Because of its placement inside the forest, most of the houses you pass are made of wood and is quite something to see after being in Moshi or Arusha. Lemosho is also considered one of the more scenic routes with exposure to different landscapes including forest, rainforest and the rocky Shira plateau. After crossing the plateau, the route does link up with the Machame route (at the Lava Tower or at Barranco) where things can start to get a bit more crowded. Descent from the mountain is done via Mweka route. There are a few different variations to this route with different acclimatization days available. See the bold OPTIONS in the 8 day itinerary below.

Machame route 6 or 7 days

Number of days needed: 7 or 8 (recommended)
Total walking distance: 56km

Starting elevation: 2250m (Londorossi Gate)
Price: $$$

Machame, alongside Marangu route, is one of the most popular routes on the mountain. This route takes a south-southwest approach up the mountain and has a very high success rate due to the path the route takes. On the path you climb high and sleep low, assisting with acclimatization. It is also considered the most scenic route, offering spectacular views of Kilimanjaro. Interesting points on this climb are the Barranco wall and Lava tower. Ascent is done on the Machame route but climbers descend down Mweka. This makes it less crowded and allows for climbers to see more of the mountain. The path is a bit steeper on this route and the days are longer as climbers take the “polepole” slow pace up the mountain to each camp. This route can be done in as little as 6 days but 7 days is recommended.

Marangu route 5 or 6 days

Number of days needed: 5 or 6 (recommended)
Total walking distance: 56km

Starting elevation: 2250m (Londorossi Gate)
Price: $$$

The Marangu Route is the most established route on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Taking a southeast approach up the mountain, this route is one of the more popular routes. This is partially due to the short amount of days needed to climb, the shortest of all the routes, which is considered more budget friendly. Though the climb can be done in as short as 5 days, we do recommend 6 days to increase your chances of success in summiting. Accommodation on this route is also different than all other routes. Climbers stay in dormitory style mountain huts equipped with bunk beds, mattresses and pillows. This makes it an especially popular choice during the rainy season. Climbers take the same route back down the mountain and during high season this can make the route a bit crowded. The route below shows the 5 day itinerary. The extra day that can be added to make the climb 6 days is shown as the bold OPTION.

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