Which Kilimanjaro Route Has The Highest Success Rate?

Picking the right route on Kilimanjaro is one of the most important things for your climb. The route you pick is going to determine whether you will reach the summit successfully. And it will also affect how much you will enjoy the entire journey.

So which Kilimanjaro route has the highest success rate? There are 7 routes on Kilimanjaro. These 4 routes have the highest success rates — Lemosho Route, Machame Route, Northern Circuit Route, and Rongai Route. It is estimated that the success rates on these routes are above 80%.

But the success rates are also affected by the number of days allocated for the climbs on these routes. Just cutting back a day will reduce the success rates significantly.

Additionally, there are many differences between these 4 routes. You should keep them in mind when selecting your preferred route. Read on to find out more.

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Success Rates of All Routes on Kilimanjaro

Just looking at the overall success rates of the routes may not give you the full picture. As mentioned earlier, the success rates also depend on the duration of the climb. So here’s a more complete picture of the success rates of all 7 routes:

	5 Day	6 Day	7 Day	8 Day	9 Day
Lemosho Route	–	60% — 70%	80% — 90%	–	–
Machame Route	–	60% — 70%	80% — 90%	–	–
Marangu Route	< 50%	60% — 70%	80% — 90%	–	–
Northern Circuit Route	–	–	–	90% — 95%	90% — 95%
Rongai Route	–	60% — 70%	70% — 80%	–	–
Shira Route	–	60% — 70%	70% — 80%	–	–
Umbwe Route	–	60% — 70%	70% — 80%	–	–

Duration For Lemosho Route, Machame Route, Northern Circuit Route And Rongai Route

Generally, tour operators will offer several options for these routes.

Find out How To Find The Best Kilimanjaro Tour Operator with this 60-Point Checklist.

To increase your chances of reaching the summit, AVOID the 6-day options. Climbers taking the 7-day options tend to do well. Climbers taking the 8 to 9-day options are doing even better.

	6 Day	7 Day	8 Day	9 Day	10 Day
Lemosho Route	✓	✓	✓	✓	–
Machame Route	✓	✓	–	–	–
Northern Circuit Route	–	–	–	✓	✓
Rongai Route	✓	✓	–	–	–

What Other Factors To Consider Besides Success Rates?

Other than the success rates of these routes, it will be useful to also consider these other factors:

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Duration

How many days do you want to spend climbing?

Do you want to take an extra day for acclimatization?

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When going up Kilimanjaro, faster is certainly not always better. As mentioned earlier, even among these 4 routes, reducing a day for the climb will greatly impact your chances for reaching the summit.

Having that extra day would mean that the elevation you have to climb up each day is reduced. Your body has more time to acclimatize to the higher elevation before you move to an even higher one. Less time to acclimatize means more chances of getting altitude sickness.

Distance

A shorter distance usually translates into a steeper climb. Which brings us to the next point…

Level Of Difficulty

Do you prefer a gentle climb or something a little more challenging?

Are you comfortable with steep terrains?

The routes with a more gentle incline up the mountains would naturally take longer. This would also mean more costs.

A steeper climb will get you up to the summit sooner but again giving you less time for acclimatization.

Views And Scenery

How important are the views to you during the climb?

You will be spending a week or more on the mountains. Having some scenic views can motivate you to keep going through fatigue and pain.

All the routes start off from different sides of the mountains and take different routes. Some routes are going to offer way better views than others.

Want to capture this unforgettable experience? Get some inspiration from these 40 Mountain Photography Ideas: Gorgeous Photos For Your Next Climb.

Elevation Of Starting Point

Do you want to start high or low?

For some routes, you may have the option of taking a car up to a higher starting point. This allows you to skip the earlier sections of the climb. This is a good way to save energy and time. But it would also mean that your body has less time to acclimatize to a higher altitude. You might be more prone to altitude sickness.

Sleeping In Huts Or Tents

Are you comfortable with sleeping in tents?

Only one route on Kilimanjaro offers huts throughout the climb. For all other routes, camping is the only option.

Read: How To Improve Sleep When Climbing At High Altitude

Traffic

Are you comfortable with climbing on crowded routes or prefer more peace and quiet?

Some routes are more popular than others. This would mean that you will spend most of your climb bumping into other climbers. Slower climbers may hold you up. And you will also be sleeping in crowded and noisier camping areas.

Some routes are more popular because they are cheaper than others. So if you are looking for quieter routes, they might be more costly options.

Cost

What is your budget?

Some routes are less accessible or less popular. They may be more costly since there are no economies of scale.

Choice Of Tour Operators

Not every tour operator offer climbing packages for all routes. This is especially so for the newer Northern Circuit Route. It is currently only offered only by a few operators.

Opportunity To “Climb High And Sleep Low”

“Climb high and sleep low” is a climbing philosophy for high altitude climbing. This means sleeping at a lower elevation than the altitude you have ascended during the day.

This is only possible if the routes have an up and down profile through valleys and ridges. You may find yourself ascending during the day and then descending to a lower area to set up camp for the night.

Read: How High Can You Climb Before You Need Oxygen?

Selection Of Tour Operators

Selecting the right tour operator is as critical as selecting the right route.

There are many things that a tour operator could do to compromise your successful summit:

Offering you cheaper packages by cutting down the number of days in your climb

Providing inexperienced or unqualified guides

Providing an insufficient number of guides for a large group

Providing low quality equipment such as leaky tents

Providing low quality food

Some of these compromise your safety while others are bad for morale. Climbing Kilimanjaro is going to be physically and mentally draining. It helps when you have the right support.

The success rates are also going to be very different between the various tour operators. And many operators are going to claim that their success rates are higher than the average.

Thus, it’s important to understand more about each of the routes on Kilimanjaro. You can then check the validity of those claims.

Find out How To Find The Best Kilimanjaro Tour Operator with this 60-Point Checklist.

What Are The Routes On Kilimanjaro?

There are 7 routes used to ascend Kilimanjaro. All routes lead to Uhuru Peak which is the tallest point at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters).

Among the 7 routes, the Marangu Route is also used for descent. There is another route, the Mweka Route, which is used only for descending.

Let’s find out more about each of the 7 routes on Kilimanjaro.

1. Lemosho Route

The Lemosho route is a relatively new route which starts off through a remote rainforest before combining with the Machame Route halfway through.

What you should know about Lemosho Route:

Success rates	7 day: 80% to 90% 6 day: 60% to 70%
Starting point	West
Typical duration	6 to 9 days
Elevation of starting point	7,380 feet (2,250 meters) This is a higher altitude than most routes.
Distance	42 miles (68 kilometers)
Views	Scenic views through a remote rainforest at the start of the climb. Panoramic views at higher elevations.
Cost	Mid to high end range
Traffic	Quiet in the first half. Crowded after it combines with the Machame Route halfway through.
Huts or tents	Tents
Difficulty	High. Difficult terrains. Involves climbing a steep wall (Barranco Wall).
Climb high sleep low	Possible.
Descending route	Mweka Route

2. Machame Route

The Machame Route is also known as the Whisky Route. It is called Whisky Route because it is tougher than the Coca Cola Route (Marangu Route).

What you should know about Machame Route:

Success rates	7 day: 80% to 90% 6 day: 60% to 70%
Starting point	South
Number of days	6 to 7 days
Elevation of starting point	5,380 feet (1,640 meters)
Distance	39 miles (62 kilometers)
Views	One of the most beautiful routes with panoramic views and varying scenery.
Cost	Budget options are available.
Traffic	One of the most popular routes, extremely crowded.
Huts or tents	Tents
Climb high sleep low	Possible.
Level of difficulty	High. Steep terrains with numerous ascents and descents across valleys and ridges. Involves climbing a steep wall (Barranco Wall).
Descending route	Mweka Route

3. Marangu Route

The Marangu Route is the oldest and most established route up Kilimanjaro. It is also known as the Coca Cola Route due to the hut accommodations provided along the route which also sells drinks and snacks.

What you should know about Marangu Route:

Success rates	7 day: 80% to 90% 6 day: 60% to 70% 5 day: less than 50%
Starting point	Southeast
Number of days	5 to 7 days
Elevation of starting point	6,100 feet (1,860 meters)
Distance	44 miles (70 kilometers)
Views	The views are not as varied as the same route is taken up and down the mountain.
Cost	Budget options are available. Possibly the cheapest route since the route is the shortest and no additional porters are required to carry tents.
Traffic	One of the most popular routes, extremely crowded. The route is used for ascending and descending.
Huts or tents	Huts (the only route with hut accommodation. Camping is not allowed). The huts are not private rooms but set up like dormitories.
Climb high sleep low	Possible for 6 or 7 day options.
Level of difficulty	Medium. One of the easier routes with a very steady, gradual slope for most parts of the climb.
Descending route	Marangu Route

4. Northern Circuit Route

The Northern Circuit Route is the newest and longest route on Kilimanjaro. It follows the Lemosho Route for the first part of the climb before going around the northern slopes on the mountain. It is the only route approaching the summit from the North.

This newer route might not be offered by many tour operators.

What you should know about Northern Circuit Route:

Success rates	9 day: 90% to 95% 8 day: 90% to 95%
Starting point	West
Number of days	9 to 10 days
Elevation of starting point	7,380 feet (2,250 meters)
Distance	55 miles (88 kilometers)Longest route.
Views	Varying scenic views. Unique views from the northern slopes.
Cost	High end. Costly due to the longer duration of the route.
Traffic	Quiet with low number of climbers
Huts or tents	Tents
Climb high sleep low	Possible.
Level of difficulty	High. Difficult terrains.
Descending route	Mweka Route

5. Rongai Route

The Rongai Route is the only route that approaches from the north. It descends along the southeast side of the mountain which allows climbers to catch the views on two different sides of the mountain.

The northern side is also drier and ascending via Rongai Route is a good idea during wet seasons.

What you should know about Rongai Route:

Success rates	7 day: 80% to 90% 6 day: 60% to 70%
Starting point	North
Number of days	6 to 7 days
Elevation of starting point	6,400 feet (1,950 meters)
Distance	45 miles (72 kilometers)
Views	Unique views of true wilderness areas along the ascend. Beautiful views at higher elevations, though not as varied as the western or southern routes.
Cost	Mid to high-end range. Higher cost due to its further starting point.
Traffic	Not too crowded
Huts or tents	Tents
Climb high sleep low	Not much opportunity. Might be possible for the 7-day option.
Level of difficulty	Medium. One of the easier routes with an easy, gradual inclination. There are no steep climbs and no major ascents and descents.
Descending route	Marangu Route

6. Shira Route

The Shira Route is the original approach from the west before Lemosho Route came along as an “improved” route.

The Shira Route is almost identical to the Lemosho Route. It runs parallel to the Lemosho Route for the first section of the climb before merging with the Machame Route halfway through (same as the Lemosho Route).

The parallel route is a four-wheel drive route which allows climbers the option to take a car to a higher elevation to skip the rainforest area. This could lead to altitude sickness due to the lack of time for acclimatization. This is perhaps the main reason how the Lemosho Route came about as an “improvement”.

What you should know about Shira Route:

Success rates	7 day: 70% to 80% 6 day: 60% to 70%
Starting point	West
Number of days	6 to 7 days
Elevation of starting point	11,800 feet (3,600 meters)
Distance	42 miles (68 kilometers)
Views	Scenic, panoramic views.
Cost	Mid to high-end range. Costly due to the transport required to reach the starting point.
Traffic	Quiet in the first half. Crowded after it combines with the Machame Route halfway through
Huts or tents	Tents
Climb high sleep low	Unlikely.
Level of difficulty	High. Difficult terrains.
Descending route	Mweka Route

7. Umbwe Route

The toughest route on Kilimanjaro with a steep ascent.

What you should know about Umbwe Route:

Success rates	7 day: 70% to 80% 6 day: 60% to 70%
Starting point	South
Number of days	6 to 7 days
Elevation of starting point	5,250 feet (1,600 meters)
Distance	32 miles (52 kilometers)
Views	Panoramic views and varying scenery.
Cost	Mid to high-end range.
Traffic	Low
Huts or tents	Tents
Climb high sleep low	Unlikely.
Level of difficulty	Very high. The most challenging route on Kilimanjaro with a steep and direct ascent. Some sections require scrambling on your hands and feet. Involves climbing a steep wall (Barranco Wall).
Descending route	Mweka Route

Comparison Of The 7 Routes

Route	Recommended Min No of Days	Elevation of starting point	Total Distance of Route	Difficulty	Traffic	View	Issues with acclimatization	Cost
Lemosho Route	7	7,380ft (2,250m)	42 mi (68 km)	High	Medium	Excellent	Unlikely with 7 day option	Mid to high end
Machame Route	7	5,380ft (1,640m)	39 mi (62 km)	High	High	Excellent	Unlikely with 7 day option	Budget options available
Marangu Route	7	6,100ft (1,860m)	44 mi (70 km)	Medium	High	Good but lacking variety	Unlikely with 7 day option	Budget options available
Northern Circuit Route	9	7,380ft (2,250m)	55 mi (88 km)	High	Low	Excellent	Unlikely with 9 day option	High end
Rongai Route	7	6,400ft (1,950m)	45 mi (72 km)	Medium	Low	Good	Unlikely with 7 day option	Mid to high end
Shira Route	7	11,800ft(3,600m)	42 mi (68 km)	High	Medium	Excellent	Likely due to the steep ascent	Mid to high end
Umbwe Route	7	5,250ft(1,600m)	32 mi (52 km)	Very high	Low	Good	Likely due to the steep ascent	Mid to high end

There are a variety of reasons why you would prefer some routes over others.

I find any of the 4 routes with high success rates to be good options for climbing Kilimanjaro.

If cost is the main concern for you, taking the Machame Route will be the best option.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind paying a bit more to avoid the crowds and go for the Lemosho or Rongai Routes.

And if you have spare cash to splurge and don’t mind spending a couple of extra days camping in the mountains, just go for the Northern Circuit Route.

How Are The Success Rates Determined?

As far as I know, there are no official records of the success rates on Kilimanjaro.

These numbers are based on several online sources. They vary quite widely between different sources.

The numbers are more anecdotal than hard facts. They are just a useful way to compare the different routes.

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the tour operator plays a big part in your climb. The success rates can vary significantly between different tour operators.