Mt. Kilimanjaro - Height of Kilimanjaro

It may surprise you to hear that Mount Kilimanjaro's height has changed several times.

Well, maybe the actual height of Kilimanjaro hasn't, but the offical figure for it has.

Even today there are several numbers to choose from for the altitude of Kilimanjaro.

5895 m, 5893 m or 5892 m.

Read how it came to that, and then take your pick!

Sign at Uhuru Peak, stating the height of Mt. Kilimanjaro

It all started in 1889, when Dr. Hans Meyer on his third attempt finally became the first person to conquer the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. (It should take another 20 years before a second climber would climb the full height of Kilimanjaro.)

Well, when Hans Meyer returned from his climb he went on to tell the world that he had climbed to 19,833 ft or about 6045 m. We do know that that height is exaggerated. The colonial authorities in Germany adjusted the figure to 5892 metres and that was the official height of Kilimanjaro until 1952.

That year Kilimanjaro was mapped by British cartographers. The new official Mt. Kilimanjaro altitude was 5895 metres or 19340 ft.

This is the Kilimanjaro height written on the sign at Uhuru Peak itself. And it is also the figure that you will find in most resources and information materials about Kilimanjaro, including this website.

Except, the UNEP/WCMC (United Nations Environment Programme/World Conservation Monitoring Centre), in their official fact sheet (PDF) about Kilimanjaro National Park, states the height of Kilimanjaro as 5893 metres...

Since 1952 technology has obviously improved somewhat. So a team of specialists re-measured the height of Kilimanjaro in 1999, using the newly available GPS technology.

GPS technology that had made Mt. Everest shrink a few metres, and Mt. Kilimanjaro met the same fate... 5892.55 metres was the result.

Kilimanjaro had shrunk by 2.45 metres.

Technology evolves fast, so 2008 the exercise was repeated. And wouldn't you know it, GPS and gravimeter methods tell us Kilimanjaro is now only 5,891.8 metres high! (19,330 ft).

It is reasonable to assume that this latest reading is the most accurate.

What is not clear is whether the height loss is a result of actual shrinking or just the result of the less accurate technology available in previous years. Maybe a combination of both.

Clear is, so far everybody is still referring to Mount Kilimanjaro as being 5895 metres high.

If that Kilimanjaro height is good enough to appear on the UNESCO world heritage listing for Kilimanjaro National Park, then it is good enough for me. I shall go with the flow...

Official Mount Kilimanjaro height: 5895 metres or 19340 ft - used by nearly everyoneMore accurate Mt. Kilimanjaro height: 5892.55 metres - 19332 ft - used for example in the UNEP/WCMC fact sheetLatest Mount Kilimanjaro height: 5891.8 m - 19330 ft - according to Kilimanjaro 2008 Precise Height Measurement Expedition
Mawenzi: 5,149 m or 16,890 ft (the third highest peak in Africa after Mount Kenya.)Shira: 3,962 m or 13,000 ft

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Add Adventure Trips to Kili Trek for Trip of a Lifetime

Add Adventure Trips to Kili Trek for Trip of a Lifetime

For many people, a trip to Tanzania to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro is a trip of a lifetime – most people don’t make that trip twice. So while they’re planning a big trip to Kili, many also include more adventures within Africa. Including several different stops on an Africa tour is a great way to turn one trip of a lifetime into the trip of several lifetimes.

If it’s African wildlife you’re excited about seeing, you’re in luck in that you’ll already be in a country with some excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. When you’re looking at a list of the adventure trips in Tanzania, they’re essentially broken down into two categories – Kili treks or safaris – so it’s really easy to combine the two into one trip to Tanzania. You can book safari trips through the Serengeti at any time of year, but obviously the animals that you’ll see will vary depending on when you go. And even though there are rough estimates of when animals will be in certain places, they don’t operate on a calendar – so for things like the great African wildebeest migration, if that’s on your wish-list, you’ll have to plan to be fairly flexible with how long you stay in the area.

In addition to climbing treks on Kili and safari trips through the Serengeti, there are other fantastic once-in-a-lifetime adventures you can add to your Africa trip. From Tanzania, it’s not too far to head north into Kenya for a Nairobi to Victoria Falls adventure. You’re also not far from Rwanda and Uganda, both of which are known for their gorilla treks. If, after a trip up Kilimanjaro, you want something really different, there’s always the island nation of Madagascar off Africa’s coast. A wildlife tour on Madagascar is sure to delight kids of all ages.

Before you can experience any of the natural wonders of the continent, however, you’ve got to get there first. Here’s where to look for flights to Africa.

photo by appenz

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Mount Kilimanjaro Routes - Which Climb Route Is The Best?

Choosing the right Kilimanjaro route for your climb is an important decision.

There are seven Mount Kilimanjaro routes, six routes up Kilimanjaro, and one down.

(One of the ascent routes can also be used for descent, so there are two descent routes.)

Several of these trails meet after a few days climbing.

There are only three dedicated routes from the base of Kibo—the main peak—to the Kilimanjaro crater rim. (One of them, the Western Breach route, is a challenging and dangerous route and not used much.)

The routes to climb Kilimanjaro approach the mountain from different sides (map coming) and they vary considerably in length, difficulty, traffic levels and other aspects.

(Here is a detailed discussion of how those Kilimanjaro climbing routes compare regarding difficulty ratings, quality of experience, prices and success rates.)

Below you find an overview of all seven Kilimanjaro routes.

For many years Marangu used to be the most popular Kilimanjaro route. It has now been delegated to number two by the Machame route (see below).

Duration: 5 days, acclimatization day can be added

Advantages:

Low costAccommodation is in huts, no camping equipment neededSupposedly the easiest route (I beg to differ)

Disadvantages:

Lowest success rateVery crowdedCamping is not allowedThe only route that uses the same way up and down

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Marangu Route
Marangu Route Pictures

The Machame route is one of the most scenic routes on Kilimanjaro. Since the budget operators discovered it, Machame is also the most popular Kilimanjaro route.

Duration: 6 or 7 days

Advantages:

Relatively low costA very scenic Kilimanjaro routeHigher success rate than Marangu

Disadvantages:

Higher level of difficultyVery crowded

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame Route
Machame Route Pictures

The Rongai route is the easiest route up Kilimanjaro. It has a reputation as a remote wilderness trail. Rongai is the only route to approach Kilimanjaro from the north.

Duration: 5 or 6 days

Advantages:

The easiest Kilimanjaro routeOne of the quieter routes on KilimanjaroApproaches the mountain from the driest side, best chances of good weatherAscent and descent are on opposite sides, you see both sides of Kilimanjaro. (You descend on the Marangu route.)

Disadvantages:

Higher cost due to additional travel to reach other sideConsidered somewhat less scenic

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Rongai Route
Rongai Route Pictures

The route over the Shira Plateau has several possible variations.

Duration: 6 - 8 days

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

Higher costHigher difficulty levelMeets the Machame trail, hence possibly busy on the later days

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Shira Route
Shira (Machame) Route pictures (the routes join on day 3)

Remote and beautiful, but long and expensive, this route also approaches Kilimanjaro across the Shira plateau.

Duration: 7 - 8 days

Advantages:

Extremely scenic routeVery low number of climbers during the first daysPlenty of time for acclimatization

Disadvantages:

High costHigher difficulty levelMeets the Machame and Shira trail, hence possibly crowded on the later days

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route
Lemosho (Machame) Route pictures (the routes join on day 4)

The steepest Kilimanjaro route. Steep with a big capital S.

Duration: 5 - 6 days.

This route is not used much. The Umbwe route is only suitable for people with mountain climbing experience.

This is not a climb route, it is only used for descent. You will follow it if climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame, Shira, Lemosho or Umbwe route.
As restricted as all this sounds, there are possible variations. Some of the routes have alternate paths for some sections, you can combine different sections of different routes, and treks can be extended to include a night in the crater itself. (Only recommended to very experienced and well acclimatized climbers. This camp is extremely high.)

Theoretically you could also walk right around the base of Kibo, something I'd love to do.

If you want to experience something different from the offered standard Kilimanjaro routes you need to find an agency willing to organize it for you, you need a special permit from KINAPA, and you need to be rich. (Which is why I haven't done any of that yet...)

Read a detailed discussion of how those Kilimanjaro climbing routes compare regarding difficulty ratings, quality of experience, prices and success rates.

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Trekking on Kilimanjaro - What does it take?

Trekking on Kilimanjaro is popular. It's probably the most popular high altitude trek in the world.

The reason for Kilimanjaro's popularity is obvious:

It is the highest mountain in the world that you can simply walk up. You need no ropes, no special climbing equipment, no previous experience.

But that doesn't mean it's a walk in the park!

(Here you can get an overview of what it takes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.)

On this page I want to talk a bit more about the experience aspect.

Everybody says that you need no experience to climb Kilimanjaro.

That is correct as in that you need no climbing experience. There is no technical skill required at all. It really is nothing more than a walk, a normal uphill walk.

Fourth day of trekking up Mt. Kilimanjaro, not far from Kibo Peak now...

But trekking on Mt. Kilimanjaro is still a very demanding adventure. Even if it takes no special mountaineering skills, I believe that previous trekking experience makes a huge difference to your chances to reach the summit.

I also think that people who have climbed mountains before will find trekking on Kilimanjaro easier than people who have never climbed a mountain in their lives.

The main problem when trekking up Kilimanjaro is the altitude: the fact that it takes many days to get to the top and the low oxygen levels at height.

People who have climbed mountains before have the advantage that they learned to pace themselves. They learned to judge the demands of such a trek and adjust their pace so that it allows them to walk for many, many hours.

And they have learned to find a steady rhythm, slowly putting one foot in front of the other, without stopping. If the path gets steeper, your steps get smaller, the rhythm stays the same. That pace and rhythm lets you cover amazing distances and heights, without even noticing.

Trekkers have also learned that even if the path looks endless, even when you feel you have no energy left, as long as keep putting one foot in front of the other, you ALWAYS get to the top. And you ALWAYS have enough left to make just one more little step.

If you have never done anything like this then you will not understand how big a difference the steady pace and the right mindset makes. And you probably can not imagine that it can be difficult to... just walk slowly.

Trekking on Mount Kilimanjaro

But I always notice this when walking behind other people. It's easy to tell who hase climbed mountains before and who hasn't. It's impossible to walk behind novices and find a steady rhythm, because they break theirs every five to ten steps, as they are talking, as they are looking around...

I you are used to trekking in the mountains you will talk and look around, but all the while your legs will maintain that steady - and slow! - rhythm.

Before you know an hour or two have passed, you stop for a real break, and you look down, and... it never ceases to amaze me how fast you can gain altitude, without even noticing and without exerting yourself.

Find that rhythm, a comfortable rhythm where your body switches to autopilot and the brain into neutral... It is the most efficient way for your body to cope and it requires the least energy and the least oxygen.

If you take more breaks but walk faster in between, or if you constantly vary your speed, stopping here and there, catching up again, you may cover the same distance in the same time, but it will feel longer and it WILL take more energy.

You will also use more oxygen while you are catching up, your blood oxygen level drops further than it would otherwise, and that can mean the difference between developing altitude sickness symptoms or not.

Your Kilimanjaro trekking guides will try to teach you this from day one: "pole pole" is the Kishuaheli word for slow and steady. You will hear it all day, every day...

The other aspect on Kilimanjaro where trekking experience comes in very handy is the camping.

People who are used to it, used to sleeping in tents, used to making do with minimal facilities, they won't mind it. Most of us love it. I sleep better on hard ground in a tent on an uneven mountain slope than I do at home in my bedroom. Much better.

Fourth night of camping on a Kilimanjaro trek

If you are NOT used to it, you may not sleep so well. Trekking on Kilimanjaro is physically demanding and you need to get that sleep. Not getting enough for four nights in a row is not going to help you during your summit attempt.

If you want to go trekking on Mount Kilimanjaro, and you have no previous mountain, trekking and camping experience at all, don't despair.

Thousands of people tackle their Kilimanjaro trek with no experience whatsoever, and many of them still reach the summit. But there is no doubt that you will be at a disadvantage compared to people who are used to trekking.

If you don't like that idea, go camping :-). At least go hiking as much as possible in the time leading up to your Kilimanjaro trek.

Don't worry about the gym workouts and acquiring some iron man fitness levels... That's nonsense. Just get used to walking uphill, for hours at a time, at that steady pace where you don't even notice you're actually exercising...

As I said on the Kilimanjaro training page:

If you can walk in hilly country for 6-8 hours, and then get up and do it again the next day, and then return to the office on Monday feeling fine, then you are more than fit enough to go trekking on Kilimanjaro.

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What it takes to climb Kilimanjaro

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Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame Route

To climb Mount Kilimanjaro on the Machame route means sharing the mountain with a lot of other trekkers.

Ever since the budget operators discovered it, traffic on the Machame route has been growing. It has now overtaken the Marangu route as the most heavily trafficked climb route on Mount Kilimanjaro.

The reason is not only that prices have been dropping. The Machame route is considered the most scenic route up Kilimanjaro.

However, that's not really true. The Machame route is a very scenic route, but not the only one. Both the Shira route and the Lemosho route share the same path as the Machame route after the first day or two. But they are less trafficked and ideally longer, so they are more expensive.

It would be more correct to say Machame is the most scenic Kilimanjaro route you can climb with a budget operator.

(If it's a good idea to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with a budget operator, that's of course a different question.)

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame is considered to be more difficult than on the Marangu route or Rongai route.

Hence it's jokingly called the "Whiskey Route", a tougher climb than the "Coca Cola route" (Marangu). Now before you hit the back button to check out Marangu, consider that although the Machame route is supposed to be more difficult, the succes rates are higher on Machame than on Marangu!

Climbing the Machame route is more difficult, but not technically difficult.

Mostly it is simply a longer and often times steeper trek. It covers more ground and involves more ups and downs. It wears you out more, takes more energy, not more skill. But it offers much better acclimatisation!

Some people are terribly worried about climbing the Barranco Wall. Don't worry. It's not a cliff face and it's not a climb. It's mostly a very steep path that requires you to use your hands every now and then. A bit of a scramble in a couple of places...

(If you are concerned, either about the scrambling or about the demands on your fitness, then you should consider the Rongai route.)

As for the Kilimanjaro climb on the Machame route, read the detailed description below.

Machame Route Itinerary | Machame Route Detailed Description
Compare Route Difficulty | Machame Route Pictures

The itinerary below describes the six night/seven day Kilimanjaro climb on the Machame route.

To shorten it to six days you skip the night in the Karanga Valley and instead walk straight from the Barranco Huts to the Barafu Huts in one day.

Theoretically you could also extend the trek to increase your summit chances, but if you can afford a longer trek then the Shira or Lemosho route are better options. They share the same scenic path for the last four days to the summit, but offer real wilderness and solitude on the first couple of days.

For experienced mountaineers there is also a challenging and dangerous specialist version via the Western Breach.

(Note: altitudes and distances are approximations. Different sources will give you different numbers.)

Starting Point: Machame Gate (1830 m/6000 ft)

Duration: 6-7 days

Day 1 - Machame Gate (1830 m/6000 ft) - Machame Huts (3030 m/9940 ft)
Walking distance: 5.5 km/3.5 miles
Walking time: 5-7 hours
Altitude gain: 1200 m/3940 ft

Day 2 - Machame Huts - New Shira Camp (3850 m/12630 ft)
Walking distance: 5.5 km/3.5 miles
Walking time: 4-6 hours
Altitude gain: 820 m/2690 ft

Day 3 - New Shira Camp - via Lava Tower (4640 m/15220 ft) - Barranco Huts (3985 m/13070 ft)
Walking distance: 10 km/6.2 miles
Walking time: 5-7 hours
Altitude gain: 135 m/440 ft (790 m/2590 ft to Lava Tower)

Day 4 - Barranco Huts - Karanga Camp (4040 m/13255 ft)
Walking distance: 5.5 km/3.5 miles
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Altitude gain: 55 m/185 ft

Day 5 - Karanga Camp - Barafu Huts (4680 m/15360 ft)
Walking distance: 3.5 km/ 2.2 miles
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Altitude gain: 640 m/2105 ft

Day 6 - Summit attempt via Stella Point (5752 m/18871 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5895 m/19340 ft) and descent to Millenium Camp (3820 m/12530 ft) (or to Mweka Hut)
Walking distance: 5 km/3 miles ascent + 10 km/6.2 miles descent
Walking time: 5-6 hrs + 1-2 hours up, 5-6 hours down (the overall walking time may vary from 10 - 16 hours)
Altitude gain: 1072 m/ 3511 ft (Stella Point) or 1215 m/3980 ft (Uhuru Peak)
Descent: 2075 m/6810 ft

Day 7 - Millenium Camp - Machame Gate
Walking distance: 20 km/12.5 miles
Walking time: 5 hours
Descent: 1990 m/6530 ft

The cloud forest at the beginning of the Machame Route

Your first day on Kilimanjaro starts with the transfer from your hotel to the village of Machame and the Machame gate. The drive from Moshi takes about 50 minutes.

Hopefully you will be able to drive to the gate, because heavy rain can make the last few kilometres impassable for vehicles. And then you'd have to walk...

Whichever way you get to the gate, once you arrive you will meet your guides and porters, you need to complete the registration formalities, and then you are off...

Your equipment has been distributed amongst the porters and they are already ahead of you. (If not, they'll overtake you soon.)

The rainforest isn't called rainforest for nothing. This side of the mountain sees a lot of rain, and this climate zone gets 96% of all rain on Kilimanjaro!

Even if it's dry in the morning, chances are you will get a shower in the afternoon. You absolutely need excellent boots and rain gear from day one, as well as good protection for the stuff in your packs. And if you are unlucky you will be slogging through slippery mud to start with. (While the western routes see as much rain, the Machame route is the worst of all for mud underfoot.)

The first few kilometres you are following a four wheel drive track, but that soon becomes a neat, wide footpath.

The forest is beautiful, a real fairytale forest, lush and deep and green, if misty... (that's why it's also called "cloud forest". It's always in the clouds.)

Moss and lichen are dangling from the tall branches, tree ferns shelter underneath and impatiens and violas are flowering on the ground.

It's about two and a half hours to a lunch stop in a clearing near a stream. And after lunch the same again, much through the same terrain, until you get to the Machame Huts, your stop for the night.

The forest has gradually opened up. If you are lucky you have clear weather and you get your first peek at the Kibo peak.

Between Shira Huts and the new Shira Camp, photo by Stig Nygaard.

The Machame Huts marked the altitude where the montane forest gives way to the giant heathers of the moorland zone. The vegetation has opened up and, weather permitting, you will have great views. You can see Kibo, Mt. Meru in the distance and also Machame way down below as you make your way up towards the Shira Plateau.

By the way, the Shira Plateau is what's left of Kilimanjaro's third peak, the other two being Kibo and Mawenzi.)

This is also the first day that you will find the giant senecios and lobelias growing along the path.

The trail is much steeper today, especially until you reach your lunch stop.

Luckily it's a short day. After lunch it should take only an hour or so to reach the edge of the Shira Plateau, and from there your camp is not far.

You covered little distance but a fair bit of height today. Some people may start to feel the latter.

The taller vegetation has all but disappeared and the scenery is starting to look barren, more like a real mountain...

Your tent tonight will definitely be "a room with a view": Kibo, the Western Breach, the Shira Cathedral, the Needle... And whether it's coincidence or not, many of the best sunset shots from Kilimanjaro seem to have been taken from here...

Today is a long day. The first part of the day is spent climbing up towards the Lava Tower, a 100 m/300 ft volcanic plug, left over from times when Kilimanjaro was volcanic. It's a gentle slope and as you climb towards it the landscape becomes sparser still. Even the short heather disappears altogether to reveal the rocky ground of the lava ridges.

Though not as steep as yesterday's, the climb is often experienced as more strenuous. After all, you'll be climbing up to over 4500 m and your body will sure notice the the lack of oxygen!

After a much deserved lunch break near the Lava Tower you descend into the beautiful Barranco Valley, the result of a massive landslide some 100,000 years ago. The valley is sheltered by towering cliffs and is much greener. The senecios and lobelias are back. You have great views across the plains way below and you also get your first glimpse of the Barranco Wall. You will climb it tomorrow...

The Barranco Camp is without a doubt the most spectacular campsite of this route, with fantastic views of Kibo, the Western Breach and the first of the southern glaciers, a fitting reward after a strenuous day.

Don't be surprised if you have slight symptoms of altitude sickness. You have been quite high today, but by climbing high and sleeping low you are giving your body the best chances to adapt. Don't be disheartened about the loss of hard earned altitude. This was an important day for acclimatisation.

Whether climbers reached the Barranco Camp via Machame, Shira, Lemosho, or even on a special route around the northern circuit, from this point onwards all climbers follow the same trail...

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Machame Route, Part II

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All Kilimanjaro routes

Return from Kilimanjaro, Machame Route to Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro home page

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Climbing Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route

To climb Mt. Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route is a relatively new option, one that quickly became popular once established.

Strictly speaking not all of Lemosho is new. It is a variation of the Shira route.

Many trekking agencies even call the Lemosho Shira, to stress that you walk across the Shira Plateu.

Read their detailed route description to find out which route exactly you will be on.

Only the first two to three days of the two routes are different. But what a difference!

The Lemosho Route is the most scenic Kilimanjaro route, from the first day to the last.

The trail begins north of Shira, also on the western side of the mountain. But unlike the Shira Route, where for the first day you walk on a wide 4 WD road, Lemosho is a narrow wilderness trail right from the beginning, passing through pristine and remote rainforest with good chances of seeing wildlife.

It then crosses the Shira Plateau before joining the Machame Route near the Lava Tower.

Luckily, despite its growing popularity (especially with second time Kilimanjaro climbers), Lemosho sees a very low number of people. It's all relative. There is still a massive gap between Marangu Route and the the Machame Route, the two really crowded routes, and all the others...

There is an obvious reason why the numbers on Lemosho will always remain much lower than on Marangu or Machame: it's not the cheapest option...

Starting your climb on the western side means paying for extra transport.Using a longer trail means paying for an extra day or several on the mountain.And climbing a less trafficked route means higher prices due to less competition from budget tour operators.

Lemosho is also a fairly demanding route, due to both the nature of the terrain and the duration of the trail.

On the plus side Lemosho offers the best chances of any route to acclimatize to the altitude and with that much better summit chances. The fact that you are likely to climb this route with a quality Kilimanjaro tour operator also means your success chances are much better than average.

And if your operator has developed your itinerary in a way that avoids the big traffic surges on the Machame trail (some operators do) you will have a great climb all the way, on the most scenic route, without the crowds that plague the popular trails.

Below are some more detailed notes about what to expect during a Kilimanjaro climb on the Lemosho Route.

Lemosho Route Itinerary | Lemosho Route Detailed Description
Compare Route Difficulty | Lemosho/Machame Route Pictures

There are several possible variations to the Kilimanjaro Lemosho route, so don't be surprised if you see an intinerary that mentions different camps and different heights...

The itinerary below describes a seven night/eight day Kilimanjaro climb on the Lemosho Route.

Like Machame this trek can be shortened if you skip the night in the Karanga Valley and instead walk straight from the Barranco Huts to the Barafu Huts in one day.

Some operators also skip the second night at Shira One, making it a VERY strenuous six day trek.

The trek can be extended by adding an extra night at Moir Huts for acclimatisation.

For experienced mountaineers there is also a challenging and dangerous specialist version via the Western Breach.

(Note: altitudes and distances are approximations. Different sources will give you different numbers.)

Starting Point: Londorossi Gate (2100 m/6900 ft)

Duration: 7-8 days

Day 1 - Londorossi Gate/Lemosho trail head - Big Tree Camp (Mti Mkubwa) (2650 m/8695 ft)
Walking distance: 6 km/3.7 miles
Walking time: 2-3 hours
Altitude gain: 550 m/1795 ft

Day 2 - Big Tree Camp - Shira I (3480 m/11420 ft)
Walking distance: 8 km/5 miles
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Altitude gain: 830 m/2725 ft

Day 3 - Shira I - Shira Huts (3850 m/12630 ft) via Shira Cathedral
Walking distance: 11 km/6.8 miles
Walking time: 6-8 hours
Altitude gain: 370 m/1210 ft

Day 4 - Shira Huts - via Lava Tower (4640 m/15220 ft) - Barranco Huts (3985 m/13070 ft)
Walking distance: 9 km/5.6 miles
Walking time: 6-8 hours
Altitude gain: 135 m/440 ft (790 m/2590 ft to Lava Tower)

Day 5 - Barranco Huts - Karanga Camp (4040 m/13255 ft)
Walking distance: 5.5 km/3.5 miles
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Altitude gain: 55 m/185 ft

Day 6 - Karanga Camp - Barafu Huts (4680 m/15360 ft)
Walking distance: 3.5 km/ 2.2 miles
Walking time: 4-5 hours
Altitude gain: 640 m/2105 ft

Day 7 - Summit attempt via Stella Point (5752 m/18871 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5895 m/19340 ft) and descent to Millenium Camp (3820 m/12530 ft) (or to Mweka Hut)
Walking distance: 5 km/3 miles ascent + 10 km/6.2 miles descent
Walking time: 5-6 hrs + 1-2 hours up, 5-6 hours down (the overall walking time may vary from 10 - 16 hours)
Altitude gain: 1072 m/ 3511 ft (Stella Point) or 1215 m/3980 ft (Uhuru Peak)
Descent: 2075 m/6810 ft

Day 8 - Millenium Camp - Lemosho Gate
Walking distance: 20 km/12.5 miles
Walking time: 5 hours
Descent: 1990 m/6530 ft

Misty rainforest on the Lemosho Route, photo by Telethon.

The starting point for the Lemosho Route is the Londorossi Gate. It is a two to three hour drive to get there and on this first day you may well spend more time driving and waiting around at the gate than you will be walking.

Londorossi (name for the village and the park gate) looks like something pulled out of a cheap Western. The place is entirely made out of wood. The high timber fences you see are supposed to keep the wildlife out.

That already indicates the advantage of taking this less trafficked route. You do indeed have a better chance to see some wildlife on the first days.

In fact, you very well may right then and there: a troop of the beautiful black and white Colobus monkeys have taken up residence in the trees right next to the park ranger quarters. Check them out while you are waiting for the registration and permits to be organised... The usual start of a Kilimanjaro climb!

After the registration at the gate you have to return the way you came, about ten minutes through some fields and cypress plantations, to get to the trail head. Some call it Londorossi, some Lemosho Glades, some Simba.

Another gate, another fee—paid to the forest authority for maintainig the road.

You follow the muddy road for another 20 minutes until you finally get to the real trail head.

Your trek begins in dense, misty rainforest. The forest is beautiful, like out of a fairy tale. It is full of smaller wildlife, colobus and blue monkeys being the most conspicuous. In the early days, shortly after the route was established, you had to be accompanied by an armed ranger here because of the water buffaloes. The much larger number of climbers these days means bigger animals are are rarely seen.

This very first day on the Lemosho Route has several steep sections to get the pump pumping, but it only takes two to three hours to reach your fist campsite, the Big Tree Camp or Mti Mkubwa. (The official name is Forest Camp but nobody calls it that.)

It's a lovely camp, located, as the name says, under a big tree and with plenty of monkeys and birds around. Even if you don't see them, you should hear them in the evenings and mornings.

Lunchtime view on Day 2 on the Lemosho Route, photo by La Chiquita.

The second day may be "only" a four to five hour walk, but it won't be a short day. The trail is very steep today and you will take many breaks.

Once you reach the first major ridge, you leave the forest behind and enter the moorland with its giant heathers, as you work your way up towards the Shira Plateau.

There are a couple more steep ridges, offereing great views, a well deserved break, and a descent in the valley on the other side.

Eventually, some time after lunch, the path flattens out. (Did I mention the path is steep?) Before you know it you are standing on the edge of the Shira Plateau at 3612 m (11840 ft): Kibo is straight ahead of you, the Shira Ridge to your right and you are overlooking the plateau below.

Yes, below. It's all downhill from here. Your next camp, Shira I, is at 3480 m (11420 ft).

If all this sounds strenuous don't be put off. You have all the time in the world. Many climbers name this as their favourite day of the walk.

Sign on a junction along Lemosho Route, photo by Telethon.

There are many different possibilities on day three, many variations to the route. The more common version takes you directly across the plateau. The walk leads steadily uphill but is nowhere near as steep as yesterday.

After one to one and a half hours you reach the junction of the Lemosho Route and the four wheel drive track that is the beginning of the Shira Route. This is the location of the Simba Cave Campsite (3590 m/11780 ft) on the side of the Simba River.

Another hour to hour and a half, and you reach your most likely final destination, the Shira Huts camps.

People trekking with a higher end operator may instead take the turn off half way between the route junction and the Shira Huts, and spend the night at the quieter Fischer Campsite(3885 m/12745 ft), which is some way off the main trail.

Some companies may even use Fischer as a lunch stop only and continue to Moir Huts (4140 m/13579 ft).

There is also the option to stay at Shira Huts and make the detour to Moir Huts tomorrow.

This was the more common straight route. There is another, much more interesting and longer option for day 3: a detour to the southern edge of the rim and the Shira Cathedral, including a climb to its summit (3720 m/12200 ft).

Yes, it makes for a much longer day, but it is a very scenic and varied walk, with great views all the way, and don't forget the benefits of the additional acclimatisation you get by climbing to the top of the Cathedral.

Find an operator who takes the detour. It's worth it.

Assuming you camped at Shira Huts, the fourth day starts with a good two and half hours of walking mostly gently uphill (and scrambling a bit for two short sections). Following the slope of the Lemosho Plateau you gradually leave the heather and moorland behind and enter the mostly barren alpine desert region, enjoying breathtaking views all the way.

Soon you come across the first junction. One option is to add an acclimatization day here and continue your trek to Moir Huts (4140 m/13579 ft), thirty minutes off the main trail. This is a scenic and quiet campsite in a valley surrounded by steep slopes, possibly the quietest camp on the mountain. If your operator takes you here you will arrive around lunch time and spend the afternoon exploring the Lent Hills, including an acclimatization walk to 4700 m.

The other climbers continue on the main trail. After some bends and ups and downs you reach the junction with the busy Machame Route. Shortly after you come to another junction. You have the options to either head towards the Lava Tower as a detour or even for another extra night, or to continue straight on towards Barranco.

(Climbers tackling the summit via the difficult and dangerous Western Breach route will turn off towards the Lava Tower Camp.)

The Lava Tower is a 100 m/300 ft volcanic plug, left over from times when Kilimanjaro was volcanic. The path towards it is a gentle slope and as you climb towards it even the short heather disappears altogether to reveal the rocky ground of the lava ridges.

The climb is often experienced as strenuous. After all, you'll be climbing up to over 4500 m and your body will sure notice the the lack of oxygen!

After a much deserved lunch break near the Lava Tower you descend into the beautiful Barranco Valley, the result of a massive landslide some 100,000 years ago. The valley is sheltered by towering cliffs and is much greener. There is vegetation again, most notably the giant senecios and lobelias. You have great views across the plains way below and you also get your first glimpse of the Barranco Wall. You will climb that tomorrow...

The Barranco Camp is without a doubt the most spectacular campsite of this route, with fantastic views of Kibo, the Western Breach and the first of the southern glaciers, a fitting reward after a strenuous day.

Don't be surprised if you have slight symptoms of altitude sickness. You have been quite high today, but by climbing high and sleeping low you are giving your body the best chances to adapt. Don't be disheartened about the loss of hard earned altitude. This was an important day for acclimatisation.

Whether climbers reached the Barranco Camp via Machame, Shira, Lemosho, or even on a special route around the northern circuit, from this point onwards all climbers follow the same trail...

You can read the detailed description of this part of the Lemosho/Shira/Machame routes here.

(Note that this version of the Lemosho route is one day longer, so day 4 on that page becomes day 5 for Lemosho etc.)

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All Kilimanjaro routes

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How to Climb Kilimanjaro

This page tells you how to climb Kilimanjaro.

It starts with picking the right time, getting yourself to Tanzania, then to the mountain.

You can read about the cost, selecting a trekking agency, selecting a route, and of course I discuss all the issues of the Kilimanjaro climb itself: training, fitness, altitude sickness...

Every issue that I mention here is explained in detail on another page, often several pages, but here you can get a good overview of what it takes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Sign at Uhuru Peak, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is located in northern Tanzania in East Africa, not far from the border to Kenya.

(Map of Tanzania | Map of Kilimanjaro area)

With a height of 5895 meters (19340 ft) Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free standing mountain in the world (i.e. it's standing there all by itself in a plain, it's not one peak of many in a mountain range.)

To climb Kilimanjaro you have to do some planning and some preparation.

Planning and preparation are crucial to
the success of a Kilimanjaro climb!

And when I say success, I mean not only your chances to reach the summit. Planning and preparation will determine how you experience the whole trek, from start to finish.

Will you love it from the first minute to the last, enjoy the challenge, and cherish the memories for the rest of your life? Or will it be a dreadful slog all the way...

You only climb Kilimanjaro once. Don't waste the experience of a lifetime. Let's make sure you get this right!

You need to make three major decisions before you can climb Kilimanjaro:

You have to decide on a date.You have to decide on the climb route and length (how many days/nights).You have to decide on a trekking agency/climb operator.

The best times to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro are the driest months of the year, especially Jan, Feb and Aug, Sep. But any time between Jan—mid March and June—October offers reasonable chances of good weather on Kilimanjaro.

There are several climb routes up Kilimanjaro. They vary in length and difficulty. All except one require you to camp. If you climb Kilimanjaro on the Marangu route your accommodation is in huts and camping is not allowed.

Five days is the absolute minimum duration for a Kilimanjaro trek, six is better. If climbing the Machame route six days is the minimum, seven days is recommended.

Taking an extra day for acclimatisation will greatly improve your chances to reach the summit. There are longer treks available for those who can afford them.

Mount Kilimanjaro is protected by the Kilimanjaro National Park. Access is restricted and the steep Kilimanjaro park fees make a Kilimanjaro climb rather expensive.

But before you go hunting for a cheap Kilimanjaro climb, read the page about the true cost of climbing Kilimanjaro.

You can only climb Kilimanjaro with a registered guide/trekking agency. A good climb operator will supply guides, a cook, porters, food, water, and camping equipment if you are camping.

There is no need, indeed no opportunity, for you to worry about the details. You don't need to carry anything but your day pack, you don't need to cook or put up your tent or anything. You just choose your Kilimanjaro tour operator.

Most people book their Mount Kilimanjaro climb from overseas. For the majority of climbers this is certainly recommended over selecting a climb operator in the last minute when you get there.

The selection of Mt. Kilimanjaro tours to choose from is overwhelming. The quality varies wildly, from irresponsible "cowboy" outfits to luxury climb operators who just about carry you to the top.

What you should be looking for is a quality and responsible operator who also treats their staff well. Do NOT pinch pennies on Kilimanjaro. Do NOT climb Kilimanjaro with a lower end budget operator.

You need to do some preparation before you can climb Kilimanjaro:

You need to book your flights.You need to organise your visa.You need to get the required vaccinations.You need to buy or rent the necessary equipment.You need to get yourself into shape.

If you book your Kilimanjaro climb from overseas then your trekking agency will likely also organise your Kilimanjaro flight for you. If not, then you have to do that.

The closest airport to Mt. Kilimanjaro is, yep, Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO). Kilimanjaro Airport is situated half way between Arusha and Moshi, and most people land there. (More about Kilimanjaro Airport coming soon.)

Mt. Kilimanjaro itself is closer to Moshi. Many trekking agencies are located there, though you also find a good number in Arusha. (Arusha is also the "safari capital" of Tanzania and the gateway to Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire etc.)

If you are planning an extended Tanzania trip you may also want to fly to/from one of the other main airports in the area: Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or even Nairobi.

You need a visa to enter Tanzania and a passport that's valid for at least another 6 months.

If your country of residence does have a Tanzanian embassy, phone them or check their website to find out how to obtain your visa.

If your country does not have a Tanzanian embassy, you can buy a visa upon arrival in Tanzania.

You may also need a yellow fever certificate and there are a number of other vaccinations recommended. Some of them need to be started months in advance, so talk to your doctor soon.

Depending on your travel plans you may also want to take anti-malaria medication. Talk to your doctor about it.

If you booked with a quality operator then quality camping equipment is included in the price.

Many Kilimanjaro climb operators also offer other gear for rent, gear that you may not want to purchase for one time use only or may not want to lug around Tanzania on an extended trip.

Equipment you can often rent includes walking poles, sleeping bags, insulation pads, down jackets, and high quality rain gear.

Beyond that you will also need very good quality, thermal under and upper layers of clothing, gloves, warm hat, good sunglasses, sunscreen (for the lips, too!), a day pack, rain protection for everything, water bottles/camel back and more.

Most importantly you need high quality hiking boots and they need to be well broken in!

Here is a list of essential Kilimanjaro equipment and here are more tips on packing for Kilimanjaro.

Mt. Kilimanjaro is a popular climb because Kili requires no special expertise or mountaineering equipment. In fact, it is not a climb, it's a hike. You can walk all the way to the top.

That sounds easy but isn't!

Read about training for Kilimanjaro and beating altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro. The more you can do in the time leading up to your Kilimanjaro climb, the better.

Kilimanjaro may not require special mountaineering experience, but long distance trekking and hiking experience sure helps! It also helps if you are used to camping out and roughing it, because you will certainly have to rough it when you climb Kilimanjaro...

Only about 50% of the people who climb Kilimanjaro make it to the top. Don't let that put you off! There are operators who boast with client success rates of 80% to 90%, and they aren't lying. (Ok, some may exaggerate a bit, but with the right preparation it is possible to tackle Kili with a higher than 90% success chance.)

In nearly all cases of failed summit attempts the reason for failure is altitude sickness. Before you climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, read up on beating altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro.

Whether you reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is not a matter of luck, not of age, not of previous fitness or experience. It's entirely up to you. You need to be willing to do the research and to invest the time and money it takes.

If my mom can climb Kilimanjaro, anybody can!

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Mount Meru in Arusha National Park, Tanzania

Mount Meru is an active (but dormant) volcano located north of Arusha in Tanzania.

At 4562 metres it is Tanzania's second highest mountain and the fourth highest mountain in Africa.

Mt. Meru became well known mainly because it is only 70 km from Mount Kilimanjaro:

Mount Meru has become a popular "warm up" trek for Kilimanjaro climbers.

The cloud filled crater of Mt. Meru, with the Saddle Huts in the bottom left corner.

And Mt. Meru is indeed the perfect preparation for a Kilimanjaro climb. It offers you a taste of what you can expect on Kili:

You trek in a group with porters, cook and guides,you climb through different vegetation zones over several days,you start your summit attempt around midnight and reach the peak around sunrise,and you then descend an awesome 2000 metres on the same day, very similar to your Kilimanjaro summit day.

Most importantly, at a height of 4562 metres (14967 feet) Mt. Meru requires your body to make changes to adapt to the altitude.

It's called acclimatisation and as a result you will be much better prepared for you Kilimanjaro climb. That altitude acclimatisation is the main reason why people climb Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro together.

I think it is a shame that so many people who visit Tanzania and Kilimanjaro view Mt. Meru only as a warm up trek for Kilimanjaro.

Mount Meru is a very rewarding trek in its own right!

And it is also a challenging climb. Do not underestimate Mount Meru!

The height is certainly enough to bring on altitude sickness if you ascend too fast. And bad weather can make the trek along the knife edge ridge of the crater rim a positively dangerous undertaking.

But when the weather plays along then the Mt. Meru crater rim walk is one of the most spectacular and exhilarating walks you can do in Africa.

Resting on the knife edge crater rim of Mount Meru

Even just hiking and camping on the slopes of Mt. Meru or visiting the ash cone in the much lower crater, those are walking safaris that I can warmly recommend. You will be amazed by the amount of wildlife you can find on this mountain, the vegetation is stunning all the way, and Mt. Meru simply isn't as overrun as Kilimanjaro is.

(For people who are doing walking safaris on the lower slopes or in other areas of Arusha National Park there are several campgrounds. And for those wanting to do a safari in style there are a couple of very comfortable lodges just outside Arusha National Park.)

Arusha National Park is about an hour's drive from Arusha, and Momela Gate (1514 m/4967 ft), the start of the Mount Meru climb, is about 15 km from the national park entrance.

Most Kilimanjaro tour operators and trekking agencies in Arusha organize Mt. Meru climbs.

(Mt. Meru differs from Mt. Kilimanjaro in that you don't HAVE to trek with a licensed operator. But organising all the food, equipment, permits, transport, porters, a ranger and a guide yourself will likely not work out any cheaper, and the hassle just isn't worth it.)

If you want to climb to the summit of Mt. Meru you need two or three nights on the mountain. You ascend about 1000 m/3300 ft per day. The third night does NOT give you extra time to acclimatise to the height. It is spent on the way down.

It is possible to skip the third night by descending over 3000 metres (9850 ft) in one single day, all the way from the summit back down to Momella Gate (where your transport should be waiting), but I would not recommend that.

It is cruel on the knees. You will also be so tired that the whole descent is just a painful slog, when it could be a very enjoyable trek through some of the best forests Tanzania has to offer. And believe me, the jungle on the slopes of Mt. Meru looks totally different when viewed coming down than when you climb up. You see so many things you never noticed on the way up!

Having said that, skipping the third night does save you money...

The choice of climb route is much easier than choosing a Kilimajaro route. On Mt. Meru there is only one climb route.

Accommodation for climbers on Mt. Meru is in two very well appointed, big huts, the Miriakamba Huts at 2514 m (8248 ft) and the Saddle Huts at 3570 m (11712 ft).

Mount Meru also has a second peak, called Little Meru.

The peak of Little Meru with the main Mount Meru crater in the background.

Little Meru (3801 m/12533 ft) is usually visited on an acclimatisation walk on the afternoon of your second day on Mt. Meru. You walk from the Saddle Hut to Little Meru and back.

Oh, and you get two certificates. One for reaching Little Meru, and one for making it to "Socialist Peak", the main Mt. Meru peak.

(A detailed description of a four day/three night Mt. Meru climb is coming soon, and so are more pictures of Mt. Meru.)

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Mount Kilimanjaro Map - Explore the Interactive Map of Kilimanjaro

On this page you find an interactive Mt. Kilimanjaro map to play with.

You can follow all the individual climb routes, see the glaciers and the ash cone... Or you can see how you get to Kilimanjaro in the first place.

Below that you can find a list of other Kilimanjaro maps:
Some printable maps, maps of Kilimanjaro that you can buy, topographical maps, tourist maps...

(At least I hope to add those soon.)

If you are not sure where Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania, here is an overview map of Tanzania to put things into perspective.

Use the little arrows to move around, or just click on the map and drag it. Double click on any location to centre the map on that location.

The (+) and (-) buttons let you zoom in and out.

Click on the "Satellite" button to get a real life bird's eye view, and on the "Hybrid" button to have the satellite image overlaid with the map.

Have fun playing with it!

If you switch to hybrid view and zoom in close enough, you can actually follow all the individual Kilimanjaro climb routes to the crater and peak. You see the glaciers, the ash cone, the location of the bigger camps and huts...

Unfortunately that detail is only shown once you get in real close, so this map is not much good as a Kilimanjaro route map.

What you can see here is the whole area around Kilimanjaro National Park:

The green area is obviously the national park (Arusha national park, the location of Mount Meru, is also shown.

So is Amboseli National Park in Kenya, the park from where all those classic Kilimanjaro pictures were taken. (You know, the photos with elephants or giraffe in front of Kilimanjaro...)

You can see the two major towns Arusha and Moshi. You also see Machame and Marangu, the two best known villages and national park gates, starting points of the Machame route and Marangu route, respectively.

To the north, on the Kenyan border, is Loitokitok (called Oloitokitok on this map.) That's the beginning of the Rongai route.

The beginning of the Shira route and Lemosho route is not so obvious when looking at this scale, but it's to the west, to the left of the "Kilimanjaro" writing.

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Mt. Kilimanjaro Weather - When to climb Kilimanjaro?

The Mount Kilimanjaro weather affects your climb and your success chances.

When to climb Kilimanjaro is an important decision.

Bad weather on Kilimanjaro not only makes for a miserable trek and ruins your photos, most importantly it simply makes the climb twice as hard!

You are a LOT more likely to reach the summit if the weather on Kilimanjaro is good.

Mount Kilimanjaro is near the equator. In the tropics there is no such thing as summer and winter. There are only dry and rainy periods. Or "dry seasons" and "wet seasons".

Climbing Kilimanjaro during the wet season means you have to slog through very deep mud during the first days. At higher altitude you have fog and drizzle, and slowly but surely the moisture will creep into your clothes, your gear, your bones...

And at the top you may have to fight your way through ice and snow.

But there are other aspects to consider as well. The temperatures, the views, and of course the number of people on the mountain.

So lets look at the Kilimanjaro weather details over the year.

The main rainy season lasts from the end of March through to mid June. As elsewhere in the world, when exactly it rains and when it stops is impossible to predict. It's the warmest time of the year in Tanzania, but those months are so wet that many operators simply do not offer climbs in April/May at all.

The rain gradually decreases, and so do the temperatures on Kilimanjaro. The weather on Kilimanjaro is fairly dry and clear but the nights will be bitter cold. June is quiet, but the number of climbers increases as the year progresses.

August and even more so September is the peak climbing season on Kilimanjaro. The weather is good with many clear days and warmer than in June/July. You may, however, get clouds blanketing the forest/moorland zone, and on the southern routes you may get rained on on the first days. But once you leave the rain forest behind all is good! The good conditions last into about mid Occtober when the build up for the short rains begins.

The weather on Kilimanjaro becomes more unstable and the number of climbers drops. As in all tropical regions of the world, the wetter time of the year announces itself with afternoon clouds and occasional thunderstorms. As long as you are equipped to withstand the occasional shower, this should not present any major problems.

November is the small rainy season, and the rain lasts into mid December. The temperatures have dropped and the rain brings with it all the hazards that I described at the top of the page. Not the best time to climb Kilimanjaro...

The four to six weeks around Christmas and New Year are the second peak climbing season on Kilimanjaro. Traffic is extremely high despite there still being a good chance of rainfall and thick clouds in the lower regions. It's not a time I would choose...

Mid January to mid March is not a bad time to climb Kilimanjaro. The weather is reasonable, not too cold, not too wet, and there aren't as many climbers. The days are mainly dry, beautifully clear with few clouds and occasional brief showers. In March the chances of rain gradually increase as you approach the long rainy season. See above...

There are a few more things worth mentiong about the weather on Kilimanjaro.

You may decide to climb at a less than perfect time, be it because you want to avoid the main rush or because that is the only opportunity you have to take the time off from work. If that's the case, consider the Rongai Route. The northern side of the mountain is much drier than the other Kilimanjaro routes.

And if you want the best weather on Kilimanjaro but hate crowds, then the same applies. Choose your route wisely. There is less traffic on Rongai, Shira and Lemosho, than on the overcrowded Machame and Marangu routes.

The other thing are the temperatures. Photos of people in short sleeves during the climb, or without hats and gloves on the summit, may leave a wrong impression.

The day and night temperatures can be vastly different. In that respect the alpine desert is no different to other deserts in the world. Above 4000 metres a sunny day may be above 30°C (85F), the nights are still below zero.

One question that nearly everybody asks: just how cold is it on the summit? Or rather, during that night climb? The temperatures during summit night can drop to -20°C (-5F), but be aware that with the additional chill factor of wind the felt temperature may be as low as -40 (curiously, both in degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit).

Prepare for the worst case scenario, and then enjoy that everything turns out much easier than expected!

What it takes to climb Kilimanjaro

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Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro: This Free Guide Gets You To The Summit!

So you are thinking about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro?

And you wonder if you're gonna make it?

When it comes to climbing Kili, the most important question that everybody asks themselves is:

Let me show you something...

On the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak

See the lady on the right? She is 64 years old in that photo. She is by no means fit, not at all. And she smokes!

As you can see, she made it to the summit.

But that's not all. She also thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it and insists it was not hard or difficult at any stage. And then she had a cigarette at the top!

How do I know all that?

Well, the lady is my mother (that's me on the left). And the reason that her Kilimanjaro climb was such a huge success is NOT her fitness level. It was the preparation and planning.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will always be a challenge, but it does NOT need to be a dreadful slog all the way.

On the crater rim of Mount Kilimanjaro

There are many things you can do to increase your chances to reach the summit and to make sure you enjoy the trek.

You'll be spending so much time and so much money getting ready for this, don't take any chances. Make sure it will be an experience that you will recount many times and that creates memories you will cherish for the rest of your life.

If mom can do it, so can you, and I will show you how:

How To Climb Kilimanjaro
On this page you can get a good overview of what it takes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Every issue that I mention here is explained in detail on another page, often several pages, but this is the place to start!

Mt. Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes
There are seven Mount Kilimanjaro routes and they vary in length and difficulty. Read about their advantages and disadvantages.

Mount Kilimanjaro Tours
One of the most important decisions you have to make is to pick a Mt. Kilimanjaro tour operator or trekking agency. This page tells you what to look out for.

The Cost Of Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Climbing Kilimanjaro is expensive. This page tells you where the money goes, and why it's money well spent.

Training For A Kilimanjaro Climb
What training do you need for a Kilimajaro climb? And when should that training start? What should you do? And how much of it?

Kilimanjaro And Altitude Sickness
It is not the lack of fitness that prevents people from reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro, it's altitude sickness!

Kilimanjaro Pictures
Not only pictures, but information as well. The many Kilimanjaro photos in this gallery are a picture guide to climbing Kili and to travel beyond.

Free Kilimanjaro Climbing Guide
A printable version of the Mount Kilimanjaro Guide is coming...

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Sometimes people write in to ask where I live. I live in a remote corner of Australia, in a climate very similar to Tanzania's. If you want to know more about that, check out my website about the region I live in:
The Kimberley, Australia (the Gibb River Road)

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A journey along the Northern Circuit of Kilimanjaro…

The quest for alternative routes on Kilimanjaro grows daily as the crush increases and more and more companies spring up offering new and unique climb packages. In reality there are few of these.

In most cases a handful of routes are used that cram the budget climbers along heavily trammeled trails and into littered and congested campsites. Kilimanjaro increasingly these days is becoming a venture travel machine.

I was very fortunate in Sept of 2009 to be invited on a little experimental climb to explore the seldom used Northern Circuit of Kilimanjaro. This turned out to be one of the rarest experiences on the mountain – five days of almost completed undisturbed hiking in a remote and unexpectedly beautiful quarter of the Kilimanjaro National Park.

Rongai is certainly back-end of Kilimanjaro, and with a complex entry arrangement and a long journey to the gate, it is not particularly popular with budget outfitters. This is the main drawback, but another is the fact that the scenic tableau is not quite as dramatic as on the more popular Southern Circuit. Another factor that weighs heavily against Rongai is that after a couple of days it links up with the Marangu Route at which point it becomes a zoo.

The Northern Circuit, however, peels off at about 2 o’clock and veers westward to circumnavigate Kibo Crater along it northern extremity. From that point we saw not another soul. Our group, three old climbing buddies and a last minute addition, enjoyed three nights at superbly located campsites entirely by ourselves. The clean campsites and narrow trails all attested to the fact that very few people make this particular journey.

The landscape of the Northern Circuit differs distinctly from the south It is drier, more moon-like and on occasions bleakly forbidding. To the north the countrysides diminishes through a slow progression of undulations towards the vast expanse of the Masai Steppe and Ambroseli and Tsavo National Parks in Kenya. Kibo Crater is ever present with almost no sign of the glaciers that overflow the southern slopes. Fields of paper dry everlasting daises are almost all can adapt to grow on these hostile boulder fields and lifeless plains of slate and dry stone. Water is hard to find and campsites are widely spaced. There is a deep and eerie silence everywhere that is broken abruptly as the trail swings suddenly southwards and we stumble into Moir Camp.

Here the trail from Shira to Lava Tower passes, and suddenly there are hundreds of porters like a huge flock of starlings moving forwards and back along a meter wide channel that is the trail. Lava Tower Camp has that all to familiar stink of human excrement and is crowded with tents, seething with porters and festooned with litter. Strangely it hardly matters. At this point our minds are focused less on the aesthetics than the hard business of altitude and fatigue, and the pending challenge of the Western Breach.

The summit experience begins at Lava Tower, and continues at Arrow Glacier just a few hundred meters and a kilometer or so distant. The Western Breach seems less than it is. Through the most all that is visible is a nearly perpendicular skree that is obscured by perspective. When we begin the climb it is a case of one step in front of the other. Pole-pole…the defining mantra of any meaningful Kilimanjaro climb. A few selected porter pass up and continue upwards towards Crater Camp. Seven hours of solid but unremarkable climbing see us over the lip of the crater and at the end of the Furtwangler Glacier.

At this altitude the sun shines, it is surprisingly warm and the porters, although a little less gregarious, are still joyfully exuberant. A few of them are collecting water from the glacier runoff and they congratulate us as we pass by on our way towards Crater Camp.

For me this was the only real disappointment of the expedition. Crater Camp was a shit-hole…see my article on The Beginning of the End of Crater Camp. It was a case of grin and bear the horror for the last few hundred meters to the summit, a little tomfoolery for the sake of photographs, and a scramble down to collapse in the sunshine and try and level the metabolism gasping at 19000ft…

We had big plans to explore the Ash Pit but as dawn broke on our penultimate day the temperature was horrifying and the lack of basic motivation at such altitudes had us directing our noses south and plunging down towards the more accommodating altitude of Mweka Camp….

In conclusion I would recommend Rongai Route to anyone. If you can afford a few dollars more, and do your homework to make sure you sign up with a good outfitter, it is the way to climb this beautiful mountain. Get in touch with me if you need any more info on this climb, or any other pointers in getting up and down Kilimanjaro…

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