The routes up Kilimanjaro

Ascending Kilimanjaro

There are six ascent trails leading up to the foot of Kibo peak. These are (running anti-clockwise, beginning with the westernmost trail): the little-used Shira Route, the Lemosho Route, Machame Route, Umbwe Route, Marangu Route and, running from the north, the Loitokitok (Rongai) Route. Each of these six routes eventually meet with a path circling the foot of the Kibo cone, a path known as either the Northern Circuit or the Southern Circuit depending on which side of the mountain you are. (It is possible and very worthwhile to walk right around Kibo on this path, though this needs to be arranged beforehand with your agency, takes a long time, and permission from KINAPA - the Kilimanjaro National Parks Authority - may need to be sought before embarking on such an expedition.)

To see a comprehensive and accurate PDF map of the routes on the summit, please click on the icon:

Three trails then lead up from this circular path to Kibo’s crater rim: the Western Breach Route (also known as the Arrow Glacier Route, and which is now closed), Barafu Route, and the nameless third path which runs up from Kibo Huts to Gillman’s Point, and which we shall call the Kibo Huts Route. Which of these you will take to the summit depends largely upon which of the six paths you took to get this far: the Shira, Lemosho, Machame and Umbwe routes used to be able to use either the difficult Arrow Glacier Route or the easier (but longer) Barafu Route, though with the (temporary but long-term) closure of the former, now all those routes use the Barafu Route to the summit. The Marangu and Rongai trails use the Kibo Hut Route. You can deviate from this rule and design your own combination of trails to take you to the summit, but it will require special permission from KINAPA and the agencies will charge a lot more to organize such a trek.

A brief description of each of the six main trails can be found on the following pages. Please note that in the book we have comprehensive descriptions of each of the routes up the mountain, including detailed sketch maps covering every stage of every path.

Descending Kilimanjaro - the designated descents

In an attempt to control the number of people walking on each trail, and thus limit the amount of soil erosion on some of the more popular routes, KINAPA introduced regulations regarding the descent routes and which ones you are allowed to take. In general, the main rule is as follows: those ascending Kilimanjaro from the south or south-west (ie by taking the Machame, Umbwe, Lemosho or Shira routes) must take as their descent route the Mweka trail; whereas if you have climbed the mountain from the south-east or north (ie on the Marangu or Rongai/Loitokitok trails) you must descend by the Marangu Route. Those trekkers who wish to deviate from these rules should first seek permission from KINAPA.

<< How to get to Kilimanjaro

Marangu Route >>

Machame Route >>

Rongai Route >>

Umbwe Route >>

Shira and Lemsoho Routes >>