The short answer
Machame and Lemosho share the same spectacular upper mountain, so the choice comes down to the first few days. Pick the 7-day Machame if you want the classic, sociable route, a day less on the mountain and a lower price — from $2,700 per person. Pick the 8-day Lemosho, from $3,050, if you want a quieter, wilder start, the best scenery and slightly better acclimatisation. For first-timers who can spare the extra day and the extra ~$350, we lean Lemosho.
It's the most common decision our climbers face: Machame or Lemosho? The good news is there's no wrong answer — both are superb, non-technical routes that merge high on the mountain and finish the same way. The differences are all in the first half of the climb, and they're real. Here's the honest side-by-side, from an operator that runs both every season.
See both climbs & prices →The quick verdict
If you want the classic Kilimanjaro experience, a lively trail and one less day on the mountain, choose the 7-day Machame route. If you'd rather start away from the crowds, get the finest scenery and a touch more acclimatisation, choose the 8-day Lemosho route. For a first-timer who can spare the extra day and wants to maximise their summit odds, we usually nudge towards Lemosho.
Machame vs Lemosho, side by side
Both routes are camping-only, non-technical and share the Lava Tower, Barranco Wall and southern summit approach. Here's where they differ. If neither convinces you, the full route comparison covers all seven, and the 9-day Northern Circuit beats both on summit odds.
| Machame (7-day) | Lemosho (8-day) | |
|---|---|---|
| Days on mountain | 7 | 8 |
| Start side | South | Remote west |
| Early-day crowds | Busier | Quieter |
| Acclimatisation | Very good | Excellent |
| Est. summit rate | 85–93% | ~90% |
| Scenery | Excellent | Arguably the best |
| Price (from, 1–2 climbers) | $2,700 | $3,050 |
Got a question while you read? Ombeni answers personally — usually within a few hours.
See both climbs & prices →Where they're identical
From the Shira Plateau upwards, Machame and Lemosho are essentially the same climb. Both cross to Lava Tower at around 4,600 m, descend to Barranco, scramble the Barranco Wall, and stage their summit push from Barafu before the pre-dawn climb to Uhuru Peak. The descent to Mweka Gate is shared too. So whichever you pick, the hardest and most spectacular parts of the mountain are the same.
Where they differ — the first few days
Machame starts on the busy southern side and climbs straight into rainforest; it's sociable and scenic from the off, but you'll share the trail. Lemosho starts further west at Londorossi Gate, crossing the wild Shira Plateau over an extra day — quieter, more remote, and with that extra night doing real acclimatisation work before the routes converge.
That extra Lemosho day is the crux of the decision. It buys you a gentler altitude profile and more solitude, which is why we estimate its 8-day success rate at around 90%. Machame answers with the 7-day version at an estimated 85–93% — very close, at one day less.
So which should you choose?
Still torn? Tell us your dates, fitness and how you feel about crowds versus solitude, and we'll give you an honest recommendation — we run both routes every season, so we've no reason to push one over the other.
- ›Choose Machame (7-day) if: you want the classic route, don't mind crowds, and prefer one less day on the mountain
- ›Choose Lemosho (8-day) if: you want a quiet, wild start, the best scenery, and the extra acclimatisation day
- ›First climb, maximising summit odds, extra day available: lean Lemosho
- ›Tighter on time, want the iconic experience: Machame
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by
Ombeni — Founder & Lead Guide
Ombeni founded Trust Tours & Safaris in Arusha in 2008 and has personally guided hundreds of Kilimanjaro climbs and Tanzania safaris. TALA-licensed Tourism Agent (Class A). More about Ombeni →
