Western Breach Route Kilimanjaro

There are many ways up Kilimanjaro, but only one goes straight through the wall of the volcanic crater. That's the Western Breach, a route that skips the gradual climb for a steep, direct and technical push to the summit. It's not the easiest and it's not the safest, but for experienced climbers it's a very special way to reach Africa's highest peak.

Unlike Machame or Marangu, the Western Breach isn't a full route on its own. It's a way to the summit that you combine with Lemosho, Shira or Umbwe. What makes it different is the last part: a steep scramble over boulders and loose scree, past the glacier-edged crater, to Crater Camp, the highest campsite on Kilimanjaro.

The Western Breach is a gap in Kilimanjaro's crater wall, formed by volcanic activity long ago. It rises steeply above the Lava Tower and gives you a quieter, steeper route to the summit. Climbers usually choose it for:

• The adventure and the challenge
• The chance to sleep in the crater at over 5,700m
• The views of the inner crater and the glaciers
• A direct, scenic and technical summit attempt

But it's not for everyone. The Western Breach was closed for a while after a fatal rockfall in 2006. It's open again, but some tour companies only take clients this way if they meet strict conditions. That's because the risks are higher: rockfall, extreme altitude and steep scrambling.