Kilimanjaro National Park · Northern Tanzania · 3°S
Five climate zones
in eight days of walking.
The highest free-standing mountain on earth, and the only 5,895-metre summit a fit walker can reach without ropes. Route choice and acclimatisation profile decide whether you get there.
5,895m
Uhuru Peak
6–9
Days on route
~65%
Overall summit rate
Jan–Mar, Jun–Oct
Best windows
Most booked
7 nights · 2–12 trekkers · From $2,450 pp
Group departs 4 Dec
Machame Route
Best odds
8 nights · 2–12 trekkers · From $2,850 pp
Group departs 20 Dec
Lemosho Route
6 nights · 2–14 trekkers · From $2,050 pp
Group departs 18 Dec
Marangu Route
9 nights · 2–10 trekkers · From $3,450 pp
Group departs 14 Dec
Northern Circuit
7 nights · 2–12 trekkers · From $2,650 pp
Group departs 4 Dec
Rongai Route
Route comparison
Five routes, five sets of odds.
Days on the mountain is the single biggest lever on whether you summit. Everything else — fitness, gear, weather — matters less than the acclimatisation profile you buy.
| Route | Days | Distance | Sleep | Acclimatisation | Trail traffic | Summit rate | From | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lemosho Our pick West approach · Every zone, Shira plateau, Barranco wall | 8 | 70 km | Tents | Excellent | Medium | 96% | $3,650 | Enquire |
| Northern Circuit West → north approach · 360° loop, northern slopes almost nobody walks | 9 | 98 km | Tents | Best on the mountain | Low | 98% | $4,350 | Enquire |
| Machame South-west approach · Rainforest, Lava Tower, Barranco wall | 7 | 62 km | Tents | Good | High | 90% | $2,950 | Enquire |
| Rongai North-east approach · Dry northern side, Mawenzi views, wilderness | 7 | 73 km | Tents | Moderate | Low | 85% | $3,150 | Enquire |
| Marangu South-east approach · Same trail up and down, forest to saddle | 5 | 72 km | Huts | Poor | High | 65% | $2,450 | Enquire |
Summit rates are Janel-guided climbs over the last 36 months, not park-wide averages. Park fees, crew wages and rescue fees are inside every price.
The mountain, from above
Where each route actually goes.
Five approaches to one summit. Tap a route to trace it camp by camp — the gates sit at the forest edge, the summit crater in the middle.
Summit odds
What are your chances?
Six answers, weighted against our own climb records. It tells you the number and, more usefully, what would move it.
Days on the mountain
Your age
Hiking experience
Highest altitude reached
Training before you fly
Mt Meru warm-up climb
Scheduled departures
Join a group
Fixed dates, a small group and a shared vehicle. You pay the per-person rate, which sits well under the private one.
4
Dec
Last minute · Save $200 pp$2,490 $2,290
per person
Saves $570 vs private
Ends in 4 weeks
- Trekking
- Group or private
4
Dec
Last minute · Save $200 pp$2,570 $2,370
per person
Saves $630 vs private
Ends in 4 weeks
- Trekking
- Driest route
14
Dec
$3,180
per person
Saves $760 vs private
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
18
Dec
$2,180
per person
Saves $520 vs private
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
20
Dec
$2,742
per person
Saves $638 vs private
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
6
Jan
$3,180
per person
Saves $760 vs private
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
8
Jan
$2,180
per person
Saves $520 vs private
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
12
Jan
$2,490
per person
Saves $570 vs private
- Trekking
- Group or private
12
Jan
$2,570
per person
Saves $630 vs private
- Trekking
- Driest route
18
Jan
$2,742
per person
Saves $638 vs private
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
6
Feb
$2,742
per person
Saves $638 vs private
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
12
Feb
$2,180
per person
Saves $520 vs private
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
14
Feb
$2,570
per person
Saves $630 vs private
- Trekking
- Driest route
18
Feb
Machame Route
18 – 25 Feb 2027
$2,490
per person
Saves $570 vs private
- Trekking
- Group or private
20
Feb
Northern Circuit
20 Feb – 1 Mar 2027
$3,180
per person
Saves $760 vs private
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
6
Mar
$2,570
per person
Saves $630 vs private
- Trekking
- Driest route
8
Mar
$2,180
per person
Saves $520 vs private
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
14
Mar
Machame Route
14 – 21 Mar 2027
$2,490
per person
Saves $570 vs private
- Trekking
- Group or private
14
Mar
$2,742
per person
Saves $638 vs private
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
20
Mar
Northern Circuit
20 – 29 Mar 2027
$3,180
per person
Saves $760 vs private
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
12
Jun
Machame Route
12 – 19 Jun 2027
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,490 $2,240
per person
Saves $570 vs private
Ends in 2 months
- Trekking
- Group or private
16
Jun
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,742 $2,492
per person
Saves $638 vs private
Ends in 2 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
16
Jun
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,570 $2,320
per person
Saves $630 vs private
Ends in 2 months
- Trekking
- Driest route
18
Jun
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,180 $1,930
per person
Saves $520 vs private
Ends in 2 months
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
18
Jun
Northern Circuit
18 – 27 Jun 2027
Early bird · Save $250 pp$3,180 $2,930
per person
Saves $760 vs private
Ends in 2 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
4
Jul
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,742 $2,492
per person
Saves $638 vs private
Ends in 3 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
4
Jul
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,570 $2,320
per person
Saves $630 vs private
Ends in 3 months
- Trekking
- Driest route
7
Jul
Machame Route
7 – 14 Jul 2027
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,490 $2,240
per person
Saves $570 vs private
Ends in 3 months
- Trekking
- Group or private
18
Jul
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,180 $1,930
per person
Saves $520 vs private
Ends in 3 months
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
20
Jul
Northern Circuit
20 – 29 Jul 2027
Early bird · Save $250 pp$3,180 $2,930
per person
Saves $760 vs private
Ends in 3 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
4
Aug
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,180 $1,930
per person
Saves $520 vs private
Ends in 4 months
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
12
Aug
Northern Circuit
12 – 21 Aug 2027
Early bird · Save $250 pp$3,180 $2,930
per person
Saves $760 vs private
Ends in 4 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
14
Aug
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,742 $2,492
per person
Saves $638 vs private
Ends in 4 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
16
Aug
Machame Route
16 – 23 Aug 2027
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,490 $2,240
per person
Saves $570 vs private
Ends in 4 months
- Trekking
- Group or private
18
Aug
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,570 $2,320
per person
Saves $630 vs private
Ends in 4 months
- Trekking
- Driest route
6
Sep
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,742 $2,492
per person
Saves $638 vs private
Ends in 5 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
8
Sep
Machame Route
8 – 15 Sep 2027
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,490 $2,240
per person
Saves $570 vs private
Ends in 5 months
- Trekking
- Group or private
8
Sep
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,180 $1,930
per person
Saves $520 vs private
Ends in 5 months
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
8
Sep
Northern Circuit
8 – 17 Sep 2027
Early bird · Save $250 pp$3,180 $2,930
per person
Saves $760 vs private
Ends in 5 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
16
Sep
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,570 $2,320
per person
Saves $630 vs private
Ends in 5 months
- Trekking
- Driest route
6
Oct
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,742 $2,492
per person
Saves $638 vs private
Ends in 6 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
8
Oct
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,180 $1,930
per person
Saves $520 vs private
Ends in 6 months
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
14
Oct
Machame Route
14 – 21 Oct 2027
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,490 $2,240
per person
Saves $570 vs private
Ends in 6 months
- Trekking
- Group or private
16
Oct
Northern Circuit
16 – 25 Oct 2027
Early bird · Save $250 pp$3,180 $2,930
per person
Saves $760 vs private
Ends in 6 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
20
Oct
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,570 $2,320
per person
Saves $630 vs private
Ends in 6 months
- Trekking
- Driest route
4
Dec
Early bird · Save $250 pp$3,180 $2,930
per person
Saves $760 vs private
Ends in 8 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
6
Dec
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,570 $2,320
per person
Saves $630 vs private
Ends in 8 months
- Trekking
- Driest route
12
Dec
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,742 $2,492
per person
Saves $638 vs private
Ends in 8 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
18
Dec
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,490 $2,240
per person
Saves $570 vs private
Ends in 8 months
- Trekking
- Group or private
20
Dec
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,180 $1,930
per person
Saves $520 vs private
Ends in 8 months
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
4
Jan
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,570 $2,320
per person
Saves $630 vs private
Ends in 9 months
- Trekking
- Driest route
8
Jan
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,180 $1,930
per person
Saves $520 vs private
Ends in 9 months
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
8
Jan
Early bird · Save $250 pp$3,180 $2,930
per person
Saves $760 vs private
Ends in 9 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
12
Jan
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,742 $2,492
per person
Saves $638 vs private
Ends in 9 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
14
Jan
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,490 $2,240
per person
Saves $570 vs private
Ends in 9 months
- Trekking
- Group or private
16
Feb
Machame Route
16 – 23 Feb 2028
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,490 $2,240
per person
Saves $570 vs private
Ends in 10 months
- Trekking
- Group or private
16
Feb
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,742 $2,492
per person
Saves $638 vs private
Ends in 10 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
16
Feb
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,180 $1,930
per person
Saves $520 vs private
Ends in 10 months
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
18
Feb
Northern Circuit
18 – 27 Feb 2028
Early bird · Save $250 pp$3,180 $2,930
per person
Saves $760 vs private
Ends in 10 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
18
Feb
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,570 $2,320
per person
Saves $630 vs private
Ends in 10 months
- Trekking
- Driest route
8
Mar
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,180 $1,930
per person
Saves $520 vs private
Ends in 11 months
- Trekking
- Huts, not tents
8
Mar
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,570 $2,320
per person
Saves $630 vs private
Ends in 11 months
- Trekking
- Driest route
16
Mar
Northern Circuit
16 – 25 Mar 2028
Early bird · Save $250 pp$3,180 $2,930
per person
Saves $760 vs private
Ends in 11 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
18
Mar
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,742 $2,492
per person
Saves $638 vs private
Ends in 11 months
- Trekking
- Highest success rate
20
Mar
Machame Route
20 – 27 Mar 2028
Early bird · Save $250 pp$2,490 $2,240
per person
Saves $570 vs private
Ends in 11 months
- Trekking
- Group or private
Nothing scheduled that month. Try another, or ask us to open a date.
When to go
The mountain, month by month.
Two dry windows and two rainy ones. Full-moon summit nights book out first; the shoulder weeks either side of the rains are the quietest on the mountain.
Jan
100%
Dry, clear
Feb
100%
Dry, clear
Mar
50%
Rains build
Apr
25%
Long rains
May
25%
Long rains
Jun
75%
Drying, cold
Jul
100%
Dry, busy
Aug
100%
Dry, busy
Sep
100%
Dry, best
Oct
75%
Dry, warm
Nov
50%
Short rains
Dec
75%
Improving
What decides the summit
Factors, not luck.
Weighting we use when advising clients. Route length matters more than fitness, which surprises most people.
Route length
90%
Daily pace
85%
Hydration
75%
Prior altitude
60%
Base fitness
55%
Age
20%
Where you sleep
Before and after the climb.
Arusha · ★★★★★
Gran Meliá Arusha
From $320 per night
Machame gate · ★★★★
Kaliwa Lodge
From $240 per night
Machame · ★★★★
Aishi Machame Hotel
From $180 per night
Karatu · ★★★★
Rhotia Valley
From $210 per night
Moshi · ★★★
Ameg Lodge
From $120 per night
Moshi · ★★★★
Kilimanjaro Wonders
From $150 per night
Worth knowing
Three things we tell everyone.
01
Add days, not fitness
The single biggest predictor of summiting is how many nights you spend acclimatising. Eight days beats six by a wide margin.
02
Summit night starts at midnight
Six hours in the dark at minus fifteen. Your kit list is not optional and we check it the day before.
03
Porter welfare is a real question
Ask any operator what they pay and how much weight they carry. We publish ours and follow KPAP guidelines.
Ready to plan Mount Kilimanjaro?
Tell us your dates and we will send a costed itinerary within one working day.
