When planning to climb Kilimanarjo, choosing the right route for you is one of the most important decisions you can make for a successful summit. With over 20 years of experience in climbing Kilimanjaro, we offer the best Kilimanjaro hiking routes designed to maximise your chances of reaching the top. Our groups have an impressive 95% summit success rate, supported by meticulous acclimatisation, highly experienced local guides and a dedicated team. Here’s everything you need to know about each route before you take on Kilimanjaro (5,895m), including feedback and advice from previous KE travellers.

The scenic Rongai Route offers a more gradual approaches to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, guiding trekkers through a changing landscape of farmland, forest and open moor. Unlike many other Kilimanjaro hike tours, KE's Rongai includes an additional night at the idyllic Mawenzi Tarn set beneath imposing rock spires. If you’ve only got one week available to climb Kilimanjaro, then this is the one for you.

Spending an extra night on the mountain does increase the overall Mount Kilimanjaro hike cost due to additional park fees and support staff requirements. However, the added time at altitude allows your body to acclimatise more effectively, significantly improving your chances of reaching the summit. The route can take a minimum of six days, but for many trekkers, that extra day makes all the difference to be able to stand on the roof of Africa.

“Seven days of trekking the Rongai Route brought us from the lush African rainforest at Simba Camp, where colobus monkeys leapt through the trees above us, to the wide-open expanse of the Shira Plateau, where the sky seemed impossibly vast and the clouds drifted beneath our feet. We crossed stark alpine deserts, camped beneath the jagged silhouette of Mawenzi Peak — Kilimanjaro’s beautiful sister — and observed the magic of the alpine desert as we climbed toward the Roof of Africa. On August 22nd at 6:04 in the morning, I summited Mount Kilimanjaro.” – Ben from Colorado on the Rongai Route.

The Northern Route Traverse and Circuit is one of Kilimanjaro’s least-walked paths, offering a quieter and more personal experience. You’ll spend nine days on the mountain, maximising acclimatisation and, in turn, giving you the best possible chance of reaching the summit.

You’ll start along the Lemosho Route and up to Lava Tower before trekking around the northern flanks of the mountain. This route briefly touches the Rongai Route before summiting via Gilman’s Point. You’ll descend on the Marangu Route. Few companies travel this route when climbing Kilimanjaro, so it's the quietest on the mountain, which is a treat compared to busier routes. This combined with the length of acclimatisation creates a brilliant route choice for those with the time, budget and appetite for a unique Kilimanjaro climb.

“All of our party summited, which gave us all a great sense of achievement. Our guide Onex led his team well and was an excellent judge of abilities and pacing. The grading is fair at level 8 and I needed all the time to acclimatise.” - Paul from Malmesbury on Kilimanjaro Northern Route Traverse and Circuit.

For a varied route climbing Kilimanjaro, the Lemosho Route is a great choice as it’s the quietest and most varied of all routes, trekking across the Shira Plateau and Karanga Valley over eight days. This is one of KE’s longest itineraries and therefore has gained the highest summit success rate of all KE’s Mount Kilimanjaro climbing tours.

The route begins at the Londorossi Gate (2,360m) on Kilimanjaro’s western base, and starts within lush rainforest before emerging onto the sparse landscape of the Shira Plateau (3,900m). Over eight days, you traverse multiple climatic zones, with your summit attempt made via Stella Point and your descent along the scenic Mweka Route. It’s widely considered one of the most beautiful ways to climb Kilimanjaro. While the extra days increase park fees and overall costs, the extended time on the mountain gives your body crucial acclimatisation, dramatically improving your chances of summit success.

If you’re looking to push yourself achieve climbing Kilimanjaro while still maximising your summit success - then the Lemosho Route is the climb for you.

“The approach route is carefully considered to acclimatise to altitude and briefings on equipment, water needed and sun protection are all designed to increase chances of success. All said the summit night and walk out is demanding and not to be underestimated - again the support from Onex and his team was always there; and very much appreciated with our whole group getting to the top. In summary this was a trip of a lifetime and KE played a huge pert in its success - in particular Onex as the lead guide with his team made this experience. I recommend the trip and route and to enjoy it properly and maximise your chances of success make sure you prepare thoroughly.” - Peter from the UK on the Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route.

On the Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro Summit Ascents adventure, you can prepare by first climbing Mont Meru (4,556m), a spectacular dormant volcano that is far less visited, before taking on its neighbour: Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Meru is the fifth-highest mountain in Africa, and sunrise from its crater rim in the shadows of Mount Kilimanjaro is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Mount Meru is more than just a spectacular climb, it’s the perfect proving ground before the main event: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. With valuable acclimatisation, you’ll set out on the Machame route which involves 6 days trekking. You will climb onto the Shira Plateau, and join the Lemonsho Route near the Shira Caves, before continiuing to Lava Tower and the Great Barranco Wall. From here, there is a final push via Stella Point to the legendary summit.

If you’re looking for more than just climbing Kilimanjaro – if you want a tougher, wilder build-up that few trekkers experience – this twin-peak challenge is the route for you.

“This holiday is certainly not for the faint hearted but the guides and the porters were of such high quality that a good time was had by all. I would recommend this trip and of course KE as I am now something of a regular with the company and will be booking my next one with KE very soon.” - Fergus from Aberdeen on the Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro Summit Ascents adventure.

This twin-peak trekking holiday is the ultimate East African mountain challenge, as you’ll aim to summit both Mount Kenya (4,985m) and Kilimanjaro (5,895m). On no other Mount Kilimanjaro climbing tours can you witness the sunrise from the highest mountains in both Kenya and Tanzania - and from the very top of Africa itself.

Mount Kenya is no easy feat and does prepare your body for Kilimanjaro, but it’s a highlight in its own right. You’ll undertake a six-day traverse via the Chogoria and Sirimon routes, tackling rugged ridges, dramatic valleys and high-altitude terrain. After this essential acclimatisation, you’ll climb Kilimanjaro on the six-day Machame Route, passing the iconic Lava Tower and the Great Barranco Wall, with your descent via Mweka on the south side of the mountain.

If you’re after a serious challenge to tackle a peak few have climbed and combine it with Africa’s highest summit, then this twin-peak adventure is made for you.

"Mount Kenya is relatively quiet. We only saw 4 other trekking groups the mountain, and we only shared the 1st camp at Chogoria Gate. We had the mountain to ourselves. Mount Kenya peaks were my favourite. On Kilimanjaro, the camps were busy with everyone following the same route but the atmosphere was great with different porter groups singing songs. Shira camp and Barranco camps were specular with amazing views of the mountain. The combined Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro itinerary meant we had only 6 days on the mountain compared with 7 for most others. Go extra prepared for holiday." - Paul from Warrington on the Climb Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro.