Location
Northern Tanzania, 128 km (80 miles) from Arusha

Size
1668 sq km 641 sq miles

Elevation
The three prominent peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro

• Kibo – 5,895 m (19,340 ft.)
• Mawenzi – 5,149 m (16,896 ft.)
• Shira – 3,962 m (13,000 ft.)

Route

1. Marangu
2. Machame
3. Rongai
4. Lemosho

Temperatures
Temperatures on the mountain vary widely; it may be in the 70s-90s (F) or 20s-30s (C) in the rainforest and -5˚F or -20˚C in the crater near the summit. Above the tree line, most days are in the 30s-50s (F) or -1˚C to 10˚C, but the weather often changes dramatically without warning.

Activities
Trekking / Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Route Information Table:
Trekking / Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

About Mount Kilimanjaro:

One of Africa’s true icons, Kilimanjaro is the continent’s best-known and highest mountain and appears on nearly every adventurers’ list of ‘must-dos’. And once you see the snow-capped peak of this majestic mountain, you’ll understand why. A number of routes to the summit are available, and you can choose according to how much time you have, how fit you are and how far ‘off the beaten track’ you want to get. We at Easy Travel can advise you of the best route for you, as well as taking care of all the complex and important arrangements, essential to giving you the best Kilimanjaro experience.

Although no specialist climbing expertise or equipment is required, the ascent of ‘Kili’ does demand a reasonable level of fitness and some steely determination. It should never be underestimated, nor undertaken with anyone other than a reputable operator. But the rewards for trekkers are undoubtedly worthwhile, for this is much more than a mere mountain. Formed through the coming – together of three now – extinct volcanoes, Mount Kilimanjaro passes through a number of distinct vegetation zones on its way skywards. The diversity of forest, moorland, alpine and arctic landscapes guarantees the intrepid climber the chance to admire a fascinating variety of mammals, insects and plant life – welcome distractions, perhaps, from the hard work of climbing.

Marangu Route: Also known as the “Coca-Cola route”, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the oldest, most well established route. Many favor the Marangu route because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, given its gradual slope. It is also the only route which offers sleeping huts in dormitory style accommodations.

The minimum days required for this route is five, although the probability of successfully reaching the top in that time period is quite low. Spending an extra acclimatization day on the mountain is highly recommended when climbing Klimanjaro using the Marangu route. We recommend, six days for this route for climbing with ease.

However, despite its immense popularity, we avoid leading climbs on the Marangu route. The route has the least scenic variety of all the routes because the ascent and descent are done on the same path and it is the most crowded route for that reason. Marangu is favored only during the rainy season, where the hut accommodations are preferred over wet ground, or for those who only have five days to climb Kilimanjaro (which we do not recommend anyhow).

Machame Route: Also known as the “Whiskey route”, the Machame route is now the most popular route on the mountain. Compared with Marangu, the days on Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. The Machame route is considered a difficult route, and is better suited for more adventurous folks and those with some hiking or backpacking experience.

The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although seven days is recommended. The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied. However, due to the heavy crowds, it loses some of its spendor.

Rongai Route: The Rongai route is the only route that approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the North, close to the Kenyan border. Though gaining popularity amongst climbers, Rongai has low traffic. It is the preferred route for those looking for an alternative to the crowded Marangu route, for those who would like a more remote hike, and for those who are climbing during the rainy season, as the north side receives less precipitation.

The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, but seven days are recommended. Although the scenery is not as varied as the western routes, Rongai makes up for this by passing through true wilderness areas for days before joining the Marangu route at Kibo camp. This route descends down the Marangu route. Rongai is a moderately difficult route, and is highly recommended, especially for those with less backpacking experience.

Lemosho Route: The Lemosho route is one of the newer routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. The route begins in the west and rather than simply intersecting Shira Plateau (like Machame), Lemosho crosses it from Shira Ridge to Shira Camp. Climbers encounter low traffic until the route joins the Machame route. Afterwards, Lemosho follows the same route through Lava Tower, Barranco and Barafu, known as the Southern Circuit.

The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although eight days is ideal and also recommended. Lemosho is considered the most beautiful route on the mounntain and grants panoramic vistas on various sides of Kilimanjaro. It is our favorite route because it offers a great balance of low traffic, scenic views and a high summit success rate. Thus, Lemosho comes highly recommended, also most of our clients use Lemosho for trekking Kilimanjaro.