Kilimanjaro Success Rate By Route Estimated From 27% to 85%
Kilimanjaro Success Rate – How Many People Reach the Summit.There is a 70-80% success rate for summiting Kilimanjaro. This, however, varies greatly depending on the specific Kilimanjaro route you take.
Kilimanjaro – The route with the highest success rate (Londorosi Route)
See our breakdown below to pick the Kilimanjaro route with the best success rate.
Kilimanjaro Success Rate by Route
Machame Route Success Rate
About half of all hikers choose to ascend Kilimanjaro through the Machame route, making it the most popular route. The trip may be finished in Machame Route 6 or Machame Route 7 days and offers breathtaking views along the way.
Climbers who take an extra day to acclimate to the altitude will find that the 6 and 7 day routes both have a high climb high, sleep low profile and summit success rate.
According to our discussions with various industry leaders, the average summit success rate for the 7-day Machame is above 85%, while the average success rate for the 6-day option is only 73%.
Rongai Route Success Rate
The only way up the mountain that begins on its northern side is the Rongai path. Like the Machame, it can be done in either 6 or 7 days.
The Rongai route is more challenging than the Machame because it does not provide a suitable climb high, sleep low profile. Since the 6-day option is challenging, an extra day on the mountain is of great value.
Our endorsed tour companies claim an 85% summit success rate for the 7-day itinerary and a 70% success rate for the 6-day route.
Lemosho Route Success Rate
The Lemosho Route is one of our top choices for climbing Kilimanjaro and is quickly gaining in popularity.
Beautiful and secluded, the Lemosho route offers a south-western approach to the summit that converges with the more popular Machame route on day four.
It usually takes 7 or 8 days to finish, however some companies, looking to cut costs, advertise it as taking only 6 days.
The route’s higher starting altitude is offset by the benefits of acclimatization and a favorable climb-high, sleep-low profile.
The Lemosho method has a high percentage of success, often about 90% for the 8-day option and 85% for the 7-day version. The average summit success percentage for the less common 6 day option is around 75%.
Northern Circuit Success Rate
This is the most recent path up the mountain, and it goes all the way around the Northern Slopes. It takes 9 days to complete the Northern Circuit, making it the longest route overall.
With a success rate of over 95%, it is the safest and most popular way to reach the top of Kilimanjaro. This is your best bet if you’re want to avoid the crowds on the more popular routes and have some more time on your hands.
Marangu Route Success Rate
Climbing Kilimanjaro (Marangu Route) with @CarolineLeon the Highest Mountain in Africa
The Marangu path up Kilimanjaro has been used by climbers for the longest period of time. The fact that it’s the quickest way up and that you can stay in huts the whole time has contributed to its immense appeal.
Although it is widely believed to be the ‘easiest’ trekking path to the summit, its success percentages are consistently the lowest of any other route, frequently falling below 60%.
The reason for this is that the majority of climbers take the route on the condensed 5 day plan, which does not allow for adequate acclimatization.
Since the Marangu Route does not need overnight camping, it is a favorite with local operators.
If you choose the Marangu route, the 6-day itinerary offers substantially higher summit success rates than the 5-day one.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Success Rate
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many people.
It’s also an expensive endeavor (for details, check how much it costs to climb Kilimanjaro), so it’s important to know how likely you are to succeed and which routes will get you there.
Almost every service provider will disclose their ‘official’ summit success rate; nevertheless, this statistic is sometimes deceptive.
Let me explain…
Kilimanjaro Tour Operator Success Rates
In all honesty, Kilimanjaro travel operators are stuck in a moral bind.
Do they force guides to put clients in danger in order to reach the summit? Or, they can stick to their strict safety standards, even if it means a lower success rate for reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro.
The latter is the obvious choice for any competent operator.
It lowers the success percentage of reaching the summit, though, as we mentioned. Even worse, some businesses will fudge their numbers.
How to increase your chance of Kilimanjaro summit success?
While we can’t tell for sure which company has the highest summit success rates, we can say with confidence that a moderate, steady ascent gives climbers the best chance of success.
Spending more time on the mountain increases your chances of reaching the peak. Giving your body additional time on the mountain allows it to acclimate to the higher altitude. The longer you spend on the trail, the better off you’ll be.
If you want to maximize your chances of reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro, for instance, you should spend some time acclimatizing on Mt. Meru beforehand.
Climb high and sleep low is a common profile for recommended itineraries, and all reputable tour companies know this. To allow your body a chance to acclimate, you should go to the higher areas during the day and sleep on the lower sections.
Cheaper companies will take you up the mountain via the most direct path available, which may not be safe or even legal.
See our guide to training and preparing for Kilimanjaro.
