Climbing a mountain such as Mount Kilimanjaro is not a task to be taken lightly. Every year climbers attempt to ascend to the summit of this mountain and fail to make it to the top, sometimes risking their lives to do so. However, if you want to attempt to climb the mountain, you should make sure you are prepared and take the climb that is best suited to your abilities.
Routes for Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro
There are approximately seven different routes to choose from for a Mount Kilimanjaro climb. The routes range from easy to difficult to dangerous climbs. The seven routes that lead to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro include:
- Lemosho
- Machame
- Marangu
- Northern Circuit
- Rongai
- Shira
- Umbwe
You can select the route based on what you would like to see when climbing or the level of difficulty. There are many companies that offer climbing tours, some of which last as long as nine days. However, there are shorter trips that will only take five to six days to travel.
Route Selection
If you are planning to climb the mountain with a group, you should pick the route based on the abilities of all of your group’s members. If you have novices in the group, you may want to pick out an easier path that will include gradual ascents up the mountain. If your group is more experienced, they may enjoy one of the more difficult routes that include steeper inclines for their Mount Kilimanjaro climb.
Lemosho
If you are looking for a route that offers peacefulness and few people, then the Lemosho route may be the one you wish to look into. It is one of the least traveled routes that begins on the west side of the mountain and offers a gradual climb, which allows your group to acclimatize better to the changes in altitude. This is a difficult route, so the members of your group should have some climbing experience.
Machame
For those who wish to visit the rainforest during their Mount Kilimanjaro climb, the Machame route travels through the rainforest and up the mountain. Many of those who have been to Mount Kilimanjaro claim it is the most scenic route, but it is a bit of a steeper climb. Some climbing experience would be best for the members of the group as it is considered a difficult route.
For Beginners
If you or other members of your group are climbing novices, then the Marangu route would be the best one to take. It is popular with tourists because it offers easy ascents and it goes through the rainforest, as well as the moorlands in the park. It can get crowded, but you can always brag you did climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
