The Marangu Route is the most popular route for mount Kilimanjaro trekking. On this route, one of the difference is that, instead of camping, climbers sleep in huts, which gives people the impression that it makes the climb easier. Because of this the route has been nicknamed the Coca-Cola route because it is so "easy" (in relative terms...). This has led to many trying to climb the route in 5 days instead of 6 or 7. Now for the facts: The Marangu Route starts at approx 6000ft, just like every other route. It also finishes at the summit just like every other route.
We propose this route as a set departure and would strongly recommend you consider this route for the successful Kilimanjaro trekking. If you have your heart set on climbing this route, we advise you to book this tour. We will take care of you and make sure that you get a fantastic trip.
Are you looking to summit Africa's famous mountain, Kilimanjaro, but without the crowds? The Lemosho route is considered Kilimanjaro’s most scenic trail, and also one of the quietest, although it does include some steep passages! Join us for a 7-day trek along the beautiful Lemosho route.
We will use different ways for ascent and descent, to get the most of the scenery. At night, we'll set up camp and sleep in tents in campsites along the route. All campsites are in direct radio contact with the management of the national park.
The first two days are spent trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge. On an enjoyable, reasonably flat walk, the Lemosho path spans the entire Shira Plateau from west to east. Crowds are poor until the road near Lava Tower joins the Machame route. Then the road travels on a trail known as the Southern Circuit under Kilimanjaro’s Southern Ice Field before climbing from Barafu. During the ascent, you often have excellent views of Mt. Meru, west of Kilimanjaro, and Kenya. The descent is via the Mweka road.
Book this 7 Days Lemosho Route, relax, and let our team do everything for you, from the arrangements of the whole tour to the end. If you need any assistance from us, such as hotel reservations or transportation, please let us know and we will be very happy to assist you.
Trekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel, Tent
Age Range
15-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kilimanjaro Lemosho route, Mount
Kilimanjaro Lemosho route, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Lemosho Big Tree Camp, Shira Camp Two, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, Mweka Camp, Arusha
I recently completed the 7-day Machame Route hike to Mount Kilimanjaro with Kilisa Tours & Safaris, and it was truly the adventure of a lifetime.
From beginning to end, the trek was exceptionally well-organized. The guides demonstrated deep knowledge, patience, and unwavering support—particularly during the summit ascent, where their encouragement and steady pacing proved invaluable. They maintained a consistent "pole pole" (slowly, slowly) rhythm and continuously checked in to ensure we were acclimatizing properly and feeling well.
The Machame Route itself offers breathtaking diversity. Each day revealed new landscapes—from the lush rainforest on day one to the dramatic Shira Plateau, the exhilarating Barranco Wall, and the stark beauty of the alpine desert approaching Barafu Camp. The route’s acclimatization profile is excellent, and I am confident it contributed significantly to our group’s high summit success rate.
The support crew—porters, cooks, and camp staff—exceeded expectations. We were warmly welcomed at each camp with hot meals and comfortable resting areas. The quality of the food was remarkable for a mountain expedition—nutritious, hearty, and far above what I had anticipated.
Reaching Uhuru Peak was both emotional and exhilarating. Witnessing the sunrise from the Roof of Africa was a deeply rewarding moment and one of the proudest accomplishments of my life.
For anyone considering a Kilimanjaro climb, I highly recommend the 7-day Machame Route. It offers the perfect balance of challenge, scenic variety, and effective altitude adaptation. I strongly encourage choosing Kilisa Tours & Safaris as your operator—they deliver an outstanding and unforgettable experience.
Book this seven-day, guided trip with us and summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, via the Shira route. The starting point of this route is the Shira Gate, which is located at a higher elevation than the Londorossi Gate, used by travelers heading for the top of the mountain through the Lemosho route. However, what is unique about the Shira route is that the first section of the trail is not covered by foot but driven. Therefore, climbers using this route will miss out on hiking through one of Kilimanjaro’s ecological zones, the rainforest.
Your journey starts in Moshi, from where we will drive you to the Londorossi Gate. An off-road vehicle will then transport you to the Shira Gate, located 3,600 metres above sea level, from where you will then hike up to Simba Camp on the first day of the climb. Please note that those who spent the previous night in Moshi will experience a sizeable gain in elevation today and might face complications due to the lack of acclimatisation.
From Simba Camp, your journey to the top continues via Shira 2 Camp, Lava Tower and Barafu Camp. Although it might be difficult for those who cannot deal with a sudden increase in elevation, this route is much more scenic than other routes to the top as it crosses the spectacular Shira Plateau and then joins the Machame route, thereby allowing climbers to experience beautiful sights around the southern circuit as well. Plus, you will experience a low traffic on this route until it joins the Machame.
The Shira is ideal for those who are confident in their ability to acclimatise fast and deal with sudden elevation increases. Along with this, travelers should also be able to trek through steep trails over an extended period of time.
Please note that the tour price also includes two night's accommodation in Moshi, one night each before and after the climb. For more details, please scroll down.
Trekking and HikingClimbing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Tent, Hotel, Hut
Age Range
7-79 yrs
Operated in
english, french, german, spanish
Destinations
Kilimanjaro, Moshi, Mount Kilima
Kilimanjaro, Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Simba Camp, Shira Camp Two, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, Mweka Camp
The Rongai route is the only trail that starts from the northern, or Kenyan, side of Mount Kilimanjaro. Because of its remote location, this route offers trekkers a relatively unspoilt wilderness experience whereby climbers can see large wildlife like antelopes, elephants and buffalos. Additionally, since the northeastern side of the mountain receives significantly less moisture than the southern slopes, climbers are less likely to encounter rain and there is a high chance of enjoying clear, unclouded views of the mountain.
Join us on this seven-day, guided journey to the top of Africa through the route less taken. We will pick you up on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive you to your hotel in Moshi. Your journey starts on the second day with a drive from Moshi to Marangu Park Gate.
The trek starts in earnest from the Rongai trailhead. Ascend to the top via Simba Camp, Kikelewa Cave, Mawenzi Tarn Camp and Kibo Hut. Although the Rongai route is flatter than other Mount Kilimanjaro routes, the push to the summit from Kibo Hut is steep and follows the same path taken by those using the Marangu route. Once you have summited the mountain, the descent is made through the Marangu route.
Please note that the tour price also includes two night's accommodation in Moshi, one night each before and after the climb. For more details, please scroll down.
Trekking and HikingClimbing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Tent, Hotel, Hut
Age Range
7-79 yrs
Operated in
english, french, german, spanish
Destinations
Kilimanjaro Rongai route, Kilima
Kilimanjaro Rongai route, Kilimanjaro, Moshi, Simba Camp, Second Cave, Kikelewa Cave, Mawenzi Tarn Camp, Kibo Hut, Horombo Hut
Rongai route approaches Kilimanjaro from the north-eastern section of the mountain, not far from the Kenyan border. It is considered quite remote but has seen a surge in trekkers in recent years. On this route, the drive to the trailhead at Nale Moru is long but the road is tarmac most of the way. With a starting point in Arusha, the routes on the souther or western side are more popular because of accessibility. On this route, we camp at the base of Mawenzi Peak before walking across the Saddle to perch ourselves in the the busy camp of Kibo in readiness for the summit assault.
This route over 7 days allows for an extra night at Mawenzi Tarn with acclimatisation walks during the spare day. Doing this will increase the chance of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro.
Brace yourself to conquer the highest mountain in Africa. Our 7-day Mount Kilimanjaro trek will not only take you to the highest point in Africa but will also provide you with the opportunity to see some of the most important natural landmarks in the area.
Take the Marangu route to the summit. The route is popular among hikers mainly because it is the only route with travellers' huts along the way. Spend two days acclimatizing, including spending a day in Horombo.
Travel around the base of Maundi Crater, past moorlands, and take a detour to see Kibo Crater. See some unique natural fauna along the way, including the giant lobelia.
Enjoy our full-board service all the way to the top of Africa.
Embark on an unforgettable 7-day Tanzanian safari adventure where you'll experience the Great Migration in opulent style. Starting at Kilimanjaro International Airport, this journey offers seamless luxury and adventure as you travel through iconic locations such as the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, and Tarangire National Park. Witness over 1.2 million wildebeests, zebras, and gazelles on their epic journey, marvel at extraordinary wildlife, and immerse yourself in Maasai culture. Relax in top-tier accommodations like Four Points by Sheraton and Serengeti River Camp, ensuring you're pampered amidst the wild. Baboo's touch of ethical pricing ensures most of your trip's cost benefits local communities.
Bicycle tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Serengeti
Kilimanjaro, Arusha, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park
Conquer Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame route during this seven-day, guided trek. Dubbed the ‘whiskey route’, Machame is longer than most of the other routes. However, the opportunity to walk high and sleep low along with the distance to the top mean better acclimatisation for travelers along with a high success rate.
Your climb begins at Machame Gate, located at an elevation of 1800 metres. Hike through a majestic rainforest on the first day of this trip, before continuing up the mountain to reach Shira Camp, where the Lemosho route joins from the west. From here you traverse the southern side of the mountain to reach Barranco and climb the Barranco Wall on your way to Barafu Camp. Having summited the mountain, you will descend via the Mweka trail rather than retracing your steps down the Machame route.
The Machame route is a good seven-day hike for travelers with no experience of trekking in high altitudes. However, experienced mountaineers comfortable with high elevations may opt for the more difficult six-day ascent using the same route.
Please note that you will be joining a group during this tour.
Take the lesser-known route to the top of Africa's highest mountain during this seven-day, private, guided trip. Your journey to the top starts after we pick you up in Arusha on the first day of the trip and drive you to Londorossi Gate. From there, your journey continues through Big Tree Camp, Shira Camp 2, Barranco and Barafu camps to reach the top of the mountain.
The Lemosho route, which starts on the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro, is the lesser-known of all the routes to the top of the mountain. However, it is increasingly being preferred by travelers for the beautiful scenery it offers along with a high summit success rate. Most of our travelers who have used this route love it.
Unlike the popular Machame route, which simply intersects the Shira Plateau, the Lemosho route crosses the entirety of the plain from west to east during a pleasant, relatively flat hike. An added bonus is that climbers will encounter low traffic until the route converges with the Machame route and takes you through Lava Tower, Barranco and Barafu, all of which fall in the southern circuit.
We will make our descent via the Mweka route. For more details, please go through the itinerary below.
Trekking and HikingClimbing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel, Tent
Age Range
12-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kilimanjaro Lemosho route, Kilim
Kilimanjaro Lemosho route, Kilimanjaro, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania, Lemosho Big Tree Camp, Shira Camp Two, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, Mweka Camp, Arusha
Tanzania is blessed with some of the most spectacular peaks and hiking points around eastern Africa. The most intriguing of them all is the hike up Uhuru peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Mount Kilimanjaro attracts a lot of visitors annually who seeks the adventure of conquering the highest peak in Africa, and the highest free standing mountain in the world. Mount Kilimanjaro has different routes to the peak at 19340feet (5895meters) above sea level. One of these is the Machame Route which this tour will take.
Machame is a Zigzag route up and down trail. You will be hiking up and then hiking a bit down again to sleep low, which is very good for acclimatisation. Due to this reason, by taking this 7 days Machame Route your chance of reaching Mt. Kilimanjaro's summit will also be higher as you will be better acclimatized.
One of the most challenging points on the Machame route is the Baranco wall. We will pass it slowly and safely so there is not need to worry about this point. One of the highlights of this is of course reaching Uhuru Peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro, but, in fact, the entire climb and tour is a highlight.
On the way down, we will descent via the Mweka route. The sleeping mode on the Machame Route is camping.
For a day-by-day itinerary, please see the itinerary tab.
