Super User 22 July 2023

Best Travel Guide To Mount Kilimanjaro Hiking/Climbing In Tanzania

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a feat topping the bucket list of the bold—to reach the lofty Uhuru Peak is to stand atop the highest mountain in Africa.

Towering above the African bushlands of Tanzania and Kenya, hiking Kilimanjaro is sure to be the adventure of a lifetime. Of the mountain’s three volcanic cones—Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira—it’s Kibo that harbors the highest point in Africa, extending into the sky until its end at Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro, standing at 19,340 feet (5,895 meters).

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. The snow-capped peak of Africa is a dormant volcano and can be found inside the Kilimanjaro National Park of Tanzania. Seven main Mount Kilimanjaro routes lead to the summit, Uhuru Peak, one of which starts on the Northern side of the mountain and the rest on the Southern side. The routes are Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai, Northern Circuit, and Umbwe.

It takes between 5 - 9 days to reach Mount Kilimanjaro peak and then descend to the finishing point. The more days spent on Mount Kilimanjaro the more likely you will successfully summit, as you will become more acclimatized to the altitude and will be less fatigued.

Kilimanjaro is an extreme altitude mountain trek. Measuring 19,341 feet, or 5,895 meters, you will need to prepare well and train before attempting to climb Kilimanjaro. There’s no way around it—hiking Kilimanjaro is tough. Though a strenuous experience for most, the great challenge of reaching Uhuru Peak is non-technical, meaning no technical mountaineering experience or special equipment is needed.

Though you’ll be walking uphill from the start of the climb, the first few days on the trail are fairly relaxed, covering a variety of rocky, varied terrain at a slow pace, which porters call “pole-pole.” Each day requires around three to eight hours of hiking, aside from the summit day, which will have you up and on your feet for more than 16 hours. Most climbs are Porter-supported, allowing participants to devote their full energy to reaching the summit.

Gaining the summit of Kilimanjaro is no easy feat. While there are several more obscure and technical routes to the top, if you’re a casual mountaineer, hiker, or traveler, it’s recommended to tackle the Marangu, Rongai, or Lemosho.

Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes;

Marangu Route

Miles: 48.2 Round Trip

Elevation Gain: 13,340 feet

Typical Length of Trip: 5-10 Days Total

The only climb up Mount Kilimanjaro to offer accommodation, the hut-to-hut Marangu route is of the shortest paths to the peak and among the most comfortable. This six-day climb begins at the Marangu gate and each evening, climbers stay in picturesque A-frame huts with incredible views of Kilimanjaro National Park’s most rugged scenery. This hike is best for those who need a quicker way to the top and have more experience in high-altitude zones. Departing Kibo Hut in the middle of the night, hikers usually reach the summit in time for sunrise over Uhuru Peak.

Rongai Route

Miles: 45 Round Trip

Elevation Gain: 12,940 feet

Typical Length of Trip: 5-10 Days Total

Of all the trails to Kilimanjaro’s peak, the Rongai route is the only path approaching Kilimanjaro from the north. Beginning near the Kenyan border, this seven-day climb is often regarded as the quieter, wilder path to the summit. Eventually merging with the Marangu route for the final summit night at Kibu hut, Rongai has a more gradual slope than the mountain’s other routes and is recommended for climbers with less backpacking experience. Also making an alpine start from Kibo Hut, hikers reach the summit in the same timeframe as those hiking on the Marangu route—just as sunrise makes its way above the horizon and Uhuru Peak’s snowy saddle turns to gold.

Lemosho Route

Miles: 47.5 Round Trip

Elevation Gain: 12,340 feet

Typical Length of Trip: 7-11 Days Total

The Lemosho route offers one of the longest paths to the top of Kilimanjaro, allowing ample time for acclimatization. Typically taking eight days to summit, this route begins on the western side of the mountain and is one of the least traveled paths to the top. Access begins in Moshi or Arusha, requiring a check-in at the Londorossi Gate. Beginning in a lush rainforest then weaving through juniper and pine trees, climbers reach the Shira Plateau and the gateway to the 300-foot Lava Tower, a picturesque volcanic rock formation and one of the highlights of the route. After traversing Shira Plateau and the Southern Circuit, a nocturnal wake-up call at Kosovo basecamp is the precursor to the final, seven-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak

Book with Ultimate Wild Safaris for this Trek;

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mobile: +256 705 087 906 / 906 282 342