Routes

This is the best looking and clearest map of routes that I have found - besides having a bit of perspective, it shows the various huts and stopping points on the way up.

Choosing my route up Kili has been kind of tricky, as I'm wildly indecisive. I wanted to go with the Machame route - had planned on it for quite some time. It is longer (better for acclimatization), with a higher success rate. However, the final ascent is much steeper than that of the more travelled Marangu route.

Here is a quick guide to the most common routes:

Marangu Route (5 days): This is the route that most climbers take to the summit. It starts at the town of Marangu, southeast of the mountain, and ascends gradually to the summit. There are overnight huts at several places along the route.

Umbwe Route (5 days): A wild and steep route, often heralded as the most beautiful of all Kilimanjaro routes. Unlike the other more popular routes, this one requires a scramble to the summit. It is slightly more technical.

Mweka Route (5 days): This is a more direct route to the Kibo summit than is the Marangu Route. It ascends the mountain's south side, and is a very steep walk-up on rough terrain.

Machame Route (1 week): This is a long winding route that traverses the mountain's south side as it slowly ascends. Its length allows better acclimitization, and climbers following this route have a higher success rate than climbers on the other routes. It also provides more dramatic views than do the more direct routes.