The Marangu route is often considered the easiest route on Mount Kilimanjaro, but don’t be fooled, as no route on Kilimanjaro is “easy”. You are given this rating as you travel greater distances each day, which means that the ascent per day is more gradual. Unlike the other routes on the mountain, Marangu can be completed in five days and is one of the shortest routes. Accommodation is in shared dormitory style mountain huts compared to all other routes, which use tents.
The disadvantage of Marangu is that it offers little chance of acclimatizing according to the “go high, sleep low” principle. Also, because of its “easier route” status, it is often selected by people who are less fit and consider it the easy option to get to the top. Unfortunately, the result is that the number of people reaching the top is less than on most other routes. Another factor to consider is that the ascent and descent are carried out by the same route, which limits the variation of the landscape.
To make the Marangu route a success, it is advisable to add a day of acclimatization hike from Horombo Huts to Zebra Rocks, and back to Horombo Huts for the night.
The Rongai route is also known as the ‘Loitokok’ route or what used to be called, the old ‘Outbound Route’. The trail starts near the Kenyan border and climbs north. Rongai’s ascent profile is similar to that of the Marangu route and is considered the second easiest route. It meets the Marangu route at Kibo Huts, where the paths meet and lead to the top.
It also doesn’t offer much by way of the ‘climb high, sleep low’ principle, so adding an extra day to the hike is beneficial if you want to increase your chances of success.
One of the benefits of the route is that it is a very quiet and less populated route. Accommodation is in tents and the descent from the summit is directed by the Marangu Route.
The Machame route starts from the Machame forest on the opposite side of the mountain from the Rongai route. The path ascends through the thick forest in a southwesterly direction, taking a total of 6 days to reach the top. The beauty of the Machame route is that after the forest area, the route heads east, giving you incredible views of the Shira volcano. It is considered one of the steepest routes to the summit, but it is very scenic. One night is spent at the Baranco camp on the third night, which is at a lower altitude than the camp on the second night, which guarantees better acclimatization. Accommodation on the Machame route is in tents.
The starting point for the Shira and Lemosho routes is at the western end of the mountain. Like Machame, both routes are classified as very scenic. However, the ascent profile of the Shira route on the first day is steep, as it climbs up to 3,500m from 2,200m. The road then winds its way through the Shira plateau, where it finally joins the Lemosho and Machame routes near the Lava Tower. The rest of the route follows the same paths as the Machame Route and accommodation is in tents.
Unlike Shira and Machame, the Lemosho route covers a greater distance for the first two days, and more time is spent in the rainforest. Therefore, it is best to do this route between seven and eight days. Like Rongai, it is a quieter route for the first few days until it joins the Shira and Machame routes. Accommodation is in tents.
The Umbwe route is the most difficult and steepest route to the top and should not be undertaken by anyone who is not fit or used to steep hikes. The route heads straight up north to the Baranco Wall where it joins the Shira, Lemosho and Machame routes. It has a steep ascent profile and offers fewer opportunities to acclimatize properly.
The Northern Circuit route is the newest road to open on Kilimanjaro and is often called ‘Route 360’ or the ‘Great Journey’. Like Shira and Lemosho, it starts on the western side of the mountain at almost 3000m.
The hike can be done in seven days, but is best completed in eight days. Of all the routes, it offers a good acclimatization since the altitude gain every day is very low. It is also very quiet as the route is little used and often its only companions in the camp are voles. Only when you join the Rongai Route at “Third Cave Camp” and later at “Kibo Huts” do you see other people. The final road to the summit joins the Marangu route and then descends on the Mweka route.
Choosing the route that suits you best will depend on what you want to get out of the hike, taking into account things like fitness, scenery, amount of time, cost, and whether you’re happy sleeping in a tent or not. . As the saying goes, “all roads lead to Rome”, and in this case, all roads lead to the top of Kilimanjaro. The route you choose is up to you.
