Climbing Kilimanjaro is the ultimate adventure and there are many routes to help you reach the summit.
In this article, our main focus will be on the more off-the-beaten-track options that offer an alternative to the six traditional Kilimanjaro routes.
The six traditional routes are: Machame, Marangu, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai and Umbwe.
You can read more about these on this blog.
However, if you are interested in taking some of the more adventurous or offbeat routes, then the main ones we focus on in this blog are the Northern Circuit, Grand Traverse and even some of the traditional routes that also include detours to Lava Tower or Crater Camp.
Some of the routes we discuss in this blog also include a pre-acclimatization climb to either Mount Kenya or Mount Meru. Mount Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania and is located in Arusha, an hour’s drive from Kilimanjaro. This mountain is often referred to as Kilimanjaro’s little brother.
On the other hand, Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and at 5,199 meters it is the second-highest in Africa after Kilimanjaro and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
A pre-acclimatization climb of either mountain provides you with a unique opportunity to warm up and pre-acclimatize to the high altitude before attempting to scale Africa’s highest mountain.
However, the routes which include these pre-acclimatization climbs are only recommended for very fit climbers who can handle long days of hiking on different mountains.
Regardless of which route you take, there are a number of other things you need to consider before you climb, such as the altitude profile, length and difficulty.
In this blog, we will discuss why altitude acclimatization is one of the most important considerations when selecting a route, and then we will look at some of the easiest Kilimanjaro routes, outside of the six traditional ones, followed by the most challenging.
Read on to discover everything you need to know when choosing an offbeat route to climb Kilimanjaro.
What to consider before selecting a Kilimanjaro route
No two routes are the same.
So it is important to be clear on what your expectations and abilities are before choosing a route.
The importance of choosing a Kilimanjaro route with a good altitude profile
As previously mentioned, altitude profile is one of the most important considerations when selecting a route. For example, some of the routes such as the Northern Circuit and the Grand Traverse give you more time to acclimatize. On the other hand, challenging 5 or 6 day routes such as the Umbwe route, are only recommended for people experienced mountaineers that are used to hiking at high altitude.
However, if you are not an experienced mountaineer, or you are not used to high altitude climbing, then we recommend you climb for at least 7-8 days.
So you may be wondering, what is altitude sickness and why is it such an important consideration when it comes to choosing a Kilimanjaro route?
Although most climbers will be affected by altitude sickness in some way, there are ways to reduce its impact.
What are the best offbeat routes for an authentic wilderness experience?
If you are after a more challenging and true wilderness experience, then the Northern Circuit is one of the best routes you can take.
The Northern Circuit is the longest route on Kilimanjaro, so it gives you plenty of time to acclimatize.
Together with the Grand Traverse, the Northern Circuit is the only route that circumvents the peak on the northern slopes, providing the most authentic wilderness experience away from the crowds and offers 360° degree views of the peak and afar.
The route offers plenty of opportunities to acclimatize to the high altitude and therefore also has a very high summit success chance. Even though it is the longest route, it might as well be one of the easiest!
For an even more challenging twist to this climb, the Northern Circuit can be combined with a detour to Lava Tower or Crater Camp, which will also give you longer to acclimatize. For truly adventurous and physically fit climbers, the Northern Circuit can also be combined with Mount Meru and Mount Kenya.
Grand Traverse
Choosing between the Northern Circuit and Lemosho
Best route for the ultimate adventure
The recommendations below are not an exhaustive list but will give you an idea of what routes are available for the most adventurous and strongest climbers that are accustomed to high altitude climbing.
Challenging routes to avoid
Conclusion
The suggestions above are not exhaustive and there are many other variations on the routes we have discussed so far. For many of these routes, the duration can either be extended or shortened and pre-acclimatization climbs can be added, depending on your preferences and physical abilities.
There are also many other options to customize your climb.
With so many options available, how do you find your best Kilimanjaro route? Well, one of the most important considerations is your physical fitness and experience.
If you are looking for the ultimate adventure and you are used to high altitude climbing, then some of the most challenging routes may give you the kind of experience you are looking for.
Strong climbers who are particularly adventurous may also benefit from a pre-acclimatization climb to Mount Meru or Mount Kenya as part of their Kilimanjaro climb.
For more inexperienced climbers, we recommend the longer routes with a better altitude acclimatization profile.
There are plenty to choose from, so it’s important to know what your preferences are in terms of scenery, popularity, duration and difficulty.
We’ve covered some of the more challenging and offbeat routes in this blog, but we’ve also covered the six traditional routes in a separate blog, which you can read our guidance.
To learn more about some of our most recommended routes, visit our website.
Finally, for further information about the different routes, Kilimanjaro tours and itineraries, be sure to visit our Climb Kilimanjaro Experience page.
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