It is human nature to want to try and conquer the seemingly impossible. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, which is Africa’s highest peak and one of the world’s most famous destinations for adventure climbing enthusiasts and professionals, is a challenge many are excited to overcome.
Ironically, Mount Kilimanjaro doesn’t demand technical mountaineering skills. It stands 19,341 feet high, but people who climb it don’t need harnesses or axes to aid their ascent on a steep mountain face, nor do they need rock climbing training to reach the peak.
Kilimanjaro is a “walk up” mountain because people can reach the top simply by walking. Its routes are safe and doable for those without prior mountain climbing training. The weather doesn’t get extreme, unlike on other mountains whose peaks are at higher elevations, such as Aconcagua in Argentina and Mount McKinley in Alaska. For these reasons, Mount Kilimanjaro is known as “Everyman’s Everest.”
However, that’s not to say that climbing season in Kilimanjaro is a walk in the park. Despite the walkable routes, the trek to Kilimanjaro is physically and mentally demanding. Trekkers must be in peak condition, reasonably fit, and have high endurance to reach the summit.
For more tips and information, like how long it takes to climb Kilimanjaro, check out our FAQs below.
Checking an item off your bucket list is extremely satisfying, especially if it is as exciting as the Tanzania Mount Kilimanjaro climb. If you’re looking for a memorable and enjoyable experience on the mountain, we highly recommend joining a group tour.
Trekking with a group is ideal for many reasons, including the following:
It usually makes for a more fun experience.
The group encourages and boosts everyone’s morale whenever someone feels tired or is ready to give up.
You can share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with your family or close friends.
You can make new friends who share similar interests as you.
Our guided Kilimanjaro group climb is limited to 10 trekkers per group. You’ll be able to talk to your guide and learn more about the mountain, such as its natural environment, the locals living in and around the area, or any subject you’re curious about that our guides can discuss. More importantly, our small party allows our guides to be more in tune with everyone’s safety and well-being. You won’t be just another face in a crowd who might be easily forgotten.
Make the most of your trip and visit Mount Kilimanjaro during the climbing season. Even better, join a Kilimanjaro group climb with your family, friends, and other people eager to conquer the world’s largest mountain.
Grab the chance to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania! Your friends, family, and colleagues will surely be impressed with your stories, pictures, and videos of the experience.
Brilliant Adventures and Safaris offer guided group tours during the climbing season in Kilimanjaro:
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. When measuring from a mountain’s base to its peak, the tallest mountain in the world is Mauna Kea in Hawaii. However, the highest peak when measuring from the mean sea level – the starting point for all elevation measurements on the Earth – belongs to Mount Everest in Nepal.
So, Mount Kilimanjaro is not the tallest mountain in the world, but it is the largest freestanding mountain that’s not part of a mountain range in the world.
How long does it take to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed anywhere between five to ten days, depending on the route taken and the hiker’s pace. Some exceptionally daring people have even managed to complete it in a single day! The time and distance of treks vary widely. Gradual slopes tend to be the slowest in terms of the rate of ascent. Climbers need that time to acclimate to the higher altitude as they progress. The success rate of reaching the peak is also higher on the longer hikes.
The Marangu route, which takes five to eight days to complete, is widely regarded as the easiest way to reach the summit. Those who want to take the Lemosho route should plan on spending between six and eight days on the trek. The Northern Circuit is the newest and longest circuit available. The northern slopes of Kilimanjaro are less crowded, but you’ll still need at least nine days to complete the trek. The Machame trail is a 6-day journey across five distinctly different climate zones.
If you’ve finally made up your mind to climb the highest mountain in Africa, then next, you must decide when, in terms of weather, trekking conditions, and crowds, you will attempt to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania can be climbed at any time of the year; however, some months are better than others because of the weather.
It is generally agreed that the best time to visit Mount Kilimanjaro is during the dry seasons. The best periods include December through the middle of March and June through the end of October. However, bear in mind that even though these are the months with the finest weather for mountain climbing, they are also the busiest.
If anyone tells you that Kilimanjaro is simple to summit, it won’t be us. Climbers have struggled to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro for over 130 years. A few unfortunate mountaineers were sucked in and spat out, forcing them to trudge all the way back to the base. Reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro can be challenging. However, you are capable of simplifying matters. By learning as much as you can about acclimatization, packing the appropriate hiking and climbing gear, and investigating your route alternatives, you have a higher chance of summiting.
Climbing Kilimanjaro could prove challenging for those who are extremely elderly or young. That said, the youngest person to summit Kilimanjaro was just six years old. Conquering Uhuru Peak if you’re extremely obese or severely physically impaired could be complicated; as such, our trekking experts can help you locate a custom Kilimanjaro climbing trip. Generally fit people have no problem reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro.
Many airlines travel to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Near the Kilimanjaro National Park are the cities of Arusha and Moshi, which are the main starting points for any Kilimanjaro adventure. International flights that fly to Kilimanjaro Airport are KLM Royal Dutch, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airways, Turkish Airlines, Condor Air, Rwanda Air, and Kenya Airways. As an alternative, you might research flights to Dar es Salaam (DAR) in Tanzania or Nairobi (NRO) in Kenya. It’s easy to get to Moshi or Arusha from Nairobi, and flights there are probably cheaper, even during peak season.
The Lemosho and Machame routes, which can be completed in 7 or 8 days, offer the best chance of reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro, thanks to superior acclimatization and a less challenging summit night. Since the summit is the ultimate goal, this route has been chosen as the greatest Kilimanjaro route overall.
How many days your climb will be and what route you pick can greatly affect the final cost. You’ll learn in a later section that daily rates are used to determine costs for hut stays and conservation programs. Climbers who are especially swift can complete the ascent in 5 days; however, taking your time is highly encouraged. Due to this, you won’t have to worry about getting altitude sickness, increasing your chances of success.
Prices for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro range from $2,000 to $6,000.
Camping equipment, park entrance fees, camping fees, rescue fees, guides’ and porters’ salaries, all meals, and transportation to and from the airport are all included.
You don’t have to be an expert mountaineer or rock climber, but you should be reasonably fit to climb from start to finish. Exercise and endurance training before your climb will be highly beneficial.
Having a good level of physical fitness will make your ascent easier and more pleasurable, but it doesn’t mean you need to go to the gym every day. Many people who are not in peak physical condition have successfully scaled this peak. Even though the routes are lengthy and challenging, they are not technically demanding and require no special expertise.
If you can comfortably walk for six or seven hours uphill at a rate of one thousand meters, you should be physically capable of climbing Kilimanjaro. If you’re already a dedicated walker who clocks regular miles and can keep up with an hour-long cardio class at the gym, you’re well on your way to achieving your fitness goal.
Local porters will be on hand to help carry your gear, but you’ll still be required to walk with a daypack weighing in at 30 to 40 liters. The last ascent is made up entirely of scree and loose boulders, but the trails are often well-defined except when rainy. Even with the most supportive pair of walking boots, your ankles and knees will get tired after a while.
Being mentally prepared is just as important as being physically fit. For a walking schedule of up to seven hours per day, seven days a week, the “feed, walk, sleep, repeat” mantra is a need. Your appetite may decrease at high altitudes, but it’s still important to make sure you get enough to eat and drink. You’ll need all the mental fortitude you can muster to make it through this walk.
Our extensive knowledge of Mount Kilimanjaro will help you achieve your goal of summiting the highest point in Africa. Our lightning-fast service and unrivalled knowledge of Mount Kilimanjaro is yours. Contact us to start planning your Kilimanjaro climb.
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