Kilimanjaro routes compared: Marangu or Machame

The short answer

Marangu is the only route with huts to sleep in, and it goes up and comes down the same path. Machame is a camping route with more varied scenery, and it climbs high and drops lower again on the way, which helps your body adjust to the altitude. Machame is usually the more popular choice for a first summit attempt.

Marangu route

Marangu starts at Marangu Gate on the south-eastern side and climbs through rainforest and moorland to the huts at Mandara, Horombo and Kibo before the night push to the summit. The huts make it the most comfortable option, which is why it is often called the easiest route. The catch is the steady, direct gain in height, which leaves less time to acclimatise.

On our map the Marangu line from the gate to Uhuru Peak covers about 33.4 km.

Machame route

Machame starts on the south-western side and camps the whole way. It crosses the Shira Plateau, climbs to the Lava Tower and drops back into the Barranco Valley before tackling the Barranco Wall, then follows the southern circuit to Barafu Camp for the summit night via Stella Point. Climbers come down by the Mweka route rather than the way they went up.

On our map the Machame line from the gate to Uhuru Peak covers about 36.9 km.

Mount Meru, the warm-up

Mount Meru is Kilimanjaro's neighbour in Arusha National Park, and at 4,566 m it is a popular acclimatisation climb before the big one. The route starts at Momella Gate and passes the Miriakamba and Saddle huts on the way to Socialist Peak.

On our map the Momella route from the gate to Socialist Peak covers about 16.9 km.

Keep the climb

Every route is printed on the real terrain, so the mountain rises off the wall in 3D with your line raised in colour. Add your name and summit date and it becomes the record of the climb.