Find your
Summit
Find the perfect path for your Kilimanjaro adventure. Whether you're seeking a challenging trek or a more gradual ascent, we offer a selection of routes that cater to different experience levels and preferences. Each route is designed to showcase the unique beauty of the mountain, with varying degrees of difficulty, scenic highlights, and acclimatisation opportunities. Discover the journey that best suits your goals, and prepare to embark on an unforgettable climb tailored just for you.
Our Routes
Machame
The Machame Route, also known as the "Whiskey Route", is a popular route on Mount Kilimanjaro, offering a diverse and challenging trek to the summit. It's generally a 6 or 7-day itinerary that begins at Machame Gate and traverses through various ecosystems, including rainforests, moorlands, and alpine deserts, before culminating at Uhuru Peak.
Difficulty:
Medium
Duration:
6 or 7 days
Scenery:
Excellent
Traffic:
Very High
Lemosho
This long, little-used route parallels the lower part of the Shira Route. Uncharted Summits leads treks up the Lemosho Route. The Lemosho Route is an unspoiled, remote, little-used, and beautiful way up to the Shira Plateau. Above the plateau, you approach Kilimanjaro's great western Breach, and then follow the south circuit to reach the easier Barafu Route.
Difficulty:
Medium
Duration:
7 or 8 days
Scenery:
Excellent
Traffic:
Medium
Northern Circuit
The Northern Circuit route is one of the best routes on Kilimanjaro, offering nearly 360 degrees of beautiful scenery including the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes. As the longest route on Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit also has the most acclimatisation time and the highest summit success rate. Thus, the Northern Circuit route is highly recommended.
Difficulty:
Easy
Duration:
8 or 9 days
Scenery:
Very Good
Traffic:
High
Marangu
Many favor Marangu because it is considered to be the easiest path on the mountain, given its gradual slope and direct path. However the short time frame of the route makes altitude acclimatisation fairly difficult.
Difficulty:
Comparatively Easy
Duration:
5 or 6 days
Scenery:
Good
Traffic:
High
Rongai
The Rongai route is the only route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the north, close to the Kenyan border. Though gaining popularity amongst climbers, the Rongai route still experiences low traffic. Rongai 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 (the north side receives less precipitation).
Difficulty:
Relatively Easy
Duration:
7 Days
Scenery:
Good
Traffic:
Low
Ready for the experience of
a lifetime?
FAQ
Is Previous hiking experience necessary?
Not at all. Whilst we would never recommend someone who has zero fitness to just rock up and attempt to summit, no prior experience is required. You will be walking route dependent anywhere between 5km and 11km a day at a very slow pace, so it’s a good question to ask yourself. Could you go out now and walk 5km comfortably? For most climbers they will embark on long walks prior to coming to the mountain to be ready. It is also advised to break your walking boots in anyway, so its win, win.
What kind of support will I have during the climb?
Uncharted Summits work to a ratio of 3 porters to every climber, in some cases 4. This means that everyone will have all the support and more that they need during their time on the mountain. Everything will be taken care of, so you can focus on your goal, reaching the summit. Our ground team has many years of extensive experience, with our chief guides have summited the mountain over 600 times, it really is their back garden. They are so highly thought of that they have also had the honour of leading the Tanzanian Royal Family up Kilimanjaro for the last 4 years in a row. You will truly be in safe and very special hands.
How do you handle altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness affects everyone in different ways. You can be the fittest person on the planet, or the un-fittest, it affects everyone individually. There are 5 key components that help any climber deal with the potential of altitude, and the onset of altitude sickness.
- Gradual ascent, or as you will hear on the mountain pole, pole, which means slow, slow. The slower you go the better this is for your body and will give it the time required to acclimatise to the ever-increasing altitude you will experience each day as you get closer and closer to the summit.
- Hydration, drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated. A normal water intake each day would typically be between 3 and 4 litres.
- Eating plenty of food. Carbs, carbs, carbs. Altitude has a huge effect on your appetite. The higher you ascend, the less hungry you feel, so eating as much food as you can each and every day, is imperative and will help your body stay nourished, energized and operating at its best.
- Sleep. This goes without saying, and is vital whether you are on a mountain or in the comfort of your own bed. Sleep ensures that your body is acclimatising when you’re dreaming of the summit, and the more you can get on the mountain the better.
- Positivity – cliché we know, but it really, really does matter. A positive mental mindset is vital.
By marrying the 5 key points above, this will ensure that you are in the best position to deal with altitude on the mountain. There is also medication like Diamox, that is commonly used to help deal with altitude, but we recommend seeking proper medical advice before commencing any medication. Uncharted Summits ground teams are medically mountain trained and we will provide a full briefing on mountain safety and altitude.
What should I pack for the expedition?
We have an extensive kit list that is available on our website that will give you detailed information about what kit will be required to undertake this challenge.
How fit do I need to be to climb Kilimanjaro?
You do not need to be a professional athlete if that’s what you are thinking. However, you will be spending a long time on your feet covering various terrains as you ascend to the summit. Some days can consist of over 10km and whilst the pace is slow, it can still be tiring. So, we do recommend some physical capabilities and advise at least 3 months training in order to be comfortable and in shape to enjoy your trek. This training should ideally consist of cardiovascular exercise, such as long walks, running or cycling.
Read more in 'News from the summit'
