Reach the top with us!
Which different routes are there to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? Find out below!
About Our Packages
Golden Dream Safaris offers a variety of tour packages, all promising that added personal touch. Our trips guarantee an action-packed itinerary, while delivering a truly knowledgeable and authentic travel experience. We want you to reach the summit and will do anything in our power to have it so!
Our packages include accommodation (tents and camping equipment), meals, transportation & drinking water for on the road. Our porters will take care of the heavy lifting for you so you don't have to worry about that. Airport transportation can be arranged upon request. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs upon your reservation and we'll assure that everything is taken care of. Prices depend on route & season.
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Rongai Route: the easier one
6 Days & 5 Nights OR 7 Days & 6 Nights
This route approaches Kilimanjaro via the North, and descends via the south-east (similar to the Marangu route); allowing the climbers to see both sides of the mountain. Via this route it is still possible to spot wildlife. It has beautiful scenery and the gradual slopes combined with the absence of steep climbs gives this route a high success rate. The Northern side of Kilimanjaro also has the advantage of being a lot drier. This route has a 6 and 7 day version.
Day 1: Rongai Start Point (1996m) – Simba camp (2626m), 6.7 km, 4 hours
Day 2: Simba camp (2626m) – Kikelewa camp (3679m), 11.8 km, 6-7 hours
Day 3: Kikelewa camp (3679m) – Mawenzi Tarn camp (4303m), 3.7 km, 3 hours
Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn camp (4303m) – Kibo hut (4730m), 9 km, 5 hours
Day 5: Kibo hut (4730m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Horombo hut (3705m), 5.4 km ascent (7-8 hours) + 15km descent (6-8 hours)
Day 6: Horombo hut (3705m) – Marangu Gate (1860m), 19.7 km, 6 hours
Shira Route: the one with great heights on day one
6 Days & 5 Nights OR 7 Days & 6 Nights
This route starts from the west and then joins the Machame Route. The first day follows a drive route: you have the option of walking alongside the road or you can opt to drive as far as possible (acclimatization time should be taken into account). This route has more difficult terrain, like the Machame route, and accommodation is at campsites throughout. This route has a 6 and 7 day version.
Day 1: Londrossi Gate (2100m) – River camp (3050m), 7 km, 4 hours
Day 2: River camp (3050m) – Shira Camp (3875m)), 12 km, 6-8 hours
Day 3: : Shira Camp (3875m) – Lava Tower (4642m) – Barranco camp (3984m), 10.3 km, 8 hours
Day 4: Barranco camp (3985m) – Karanga camp (4040m), 6 km, 6 hours
Day 5: Karanga camp (4040m) – Barafu camp (4681m), 3.4 km, 4 hours
Day 6: Barafu camp (4681m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Millenium camp (3820m), 5 km ascent (7-8 hours) + 10.8 km descent (6-7 hours)
Day 7: Millenium camp (3820m) – Shira Gate , 20 km, 5 hours
Lemosho Route: the scenic one
6 Days & 5 Nights OR 7 Days & 6 Nights
This route also approaches Kilimanjaro from the west to then join the Machame route. The first two days will be hiked through rainforest where wildlife can still be spotted. This is a longer trek with many variations, and a high success rate. Be prepared for difficult terrain. This route has a 6 and 7 day version.
Day 1: Londrossi Gate (2100m) – Mti Mkubwa camp (2821m), 5.4 km, 3.5 hours
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa camp (2821m) – Shira Camp (3875m), 15.6 km, 8 hours
Day 3: Shira Camp (3875m) – Lava Tower (4642m) – Barranco camp (3984m), 10.3 km, 8 hours
Day 4: Barranco camp (3984m) – Barafu camp (4681m), 9.4 km, 8 hours
Day 5: Barafu camp (4681m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka camp (3090m), 4.5 km ascent (7-8 hours) + 10.8 km descent (6-8 hours)
Day 6: Mweka camp (3090m) – Mweka Gate (1641m), 8.5 km, 4-6 hours
Umbwe Route: the spectacular and demanding one
6 Days & 5 Nights OR 7 Days & 6 Nights
This route is not technical yet very demanding. It is very steep and very direct.
On the second night the Umbwe route joins the Machame route near the Barranco camp. The Machame route only gets here by night three or four! You should be an experienced, physically fit climber that is comfortable with heights since you will be hiking on a ridge. This route is the most difficult of all routes.
Day 1: Umbwe gate (1614m) – Umbwe Cave camp (2850m), 10.3 km, 6 hours
Day 2: Umbwe Cave camp (2850m) – Barranco camp (3985m), 6.3 km, 6 hours
Day 3: Barranco camp (3985m) – Karanga camp (4040m), 6 km, 6 hours
Day 4: Karanga camp (4040m) – Barafu camp (4681m), 3.4 km, 4 hours
Day 5: Barafu camp (4681m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka camp (3090m), 4.5 km ascent (7-8 hours) + 10.8 km descent (6-8 hours)
Day 6: Mweka camp (3090m) – Mweka Gate (1641m), 8.5 km, 4-6 hours
Marangu Route: the one with hut accommodation
6 Days - 5 Nights
The Marangu Route, the ‘Tourist Route’ or ‘Coca Cola Route’ is the only route that has hut accommodation. This route uses the same path up and down and is therefore the most crowded route. The walking path is very steady with gradual slopes, making the climb relatively easy.
Day 1: Marangu Gate (1860m) - Mandara hut (2715m), 8.1 km, 5 hours
Day 2: Mandara hut (2715m) – Horombo hut (3705m), 11.6 km, 6 hours
Day 3: Horombo hut (3705m) – Acclimatiation day (possible 4.5 hour hike)
Day 4: Horombo hut (3705m) – Kibo hut (4730m), 9.6 km, 6 hours
Day 5: Kibo hut (4730m) – Uhuru peak (5895m) - Horombo hut (3705m), 5.4 km ascent (7-8 hours) + 15 km descent (6-8 hours)
Day 6: Horombo hut (3705m) – Marangu Gate (1860m), 19.7 km, 6 hours
Machame Route: the popular one
6 Days & 5 Nights OR 7 Days & 6 Nights
The Machame route, or the ‘Whiskey Route’ is the tougher version of the Coca Cola route. It has steeper climbs with more ups and downs. The accommodation is at campsites. This route is considered the most scenic route, with views of the Shira Plateau, the Lava Tower, the Barranco Wall,… and is therefore the most popular route. You’ll descend via a different path. This route also has a 7 day version.
Day 1: Machame Gate (1828m) – Machame Camp (3020m), 5.2 km, 6 hours
Day 2: Machame Camp (3020m) – Shira Camp (3847m), 5.2 km, 6 hours
Day 3: Shira Camp (3847m) – Lava Tower (4642m) – Barranco camp (3984m), 10.7 km, 7 hours
Day 4: Barranco camp (3984m) – Barafu camp (4681m), 9.4 km, 8 hours
Day 5: Barafu camp (4681m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka camp (3090m), 4.5 km ascent (7-8 hours) + 10.8 km descent (6-8 hours)
Day 6: Mweka camp (3090m) – Mweka Gate (1641m), 8.5 km, 4-6 hours
