It is a massive 5,895m tall and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Everest is much higher overall but it starts at about 4,000m.
Kilimanjaro is also the highest mountain in Africa so is part of the very special club that mountaineers call the “Seven Summits” – the highest mountains on each continent.
Even with these awesome credentials, you can leave work on a Friday, climb to its summit and be back at work a week later. And more than anything this accessibility is what makes it so popular. So book your Kilimanjaro climb now with the number one Kilimanjaro operator. If you climb with us, you are in safe hands – we have now helped over 10,000 climbers summit successfully.
WHICH IS THE BEST ROUTE TO CLIMB KILIMANJARO?
Having helped over 10,000 people climb Kilimanjaro we know that for every one of them, the best route was the route which gave them the best chance to stand on the top of this awesome mountain. So there are just four routes up Kilimanjaro that we recommend: the Machame Route, Lemosho route, Rongai route and the Northern Circuit.
MACHAME ROUTE
This is our favourite route for a short climb as it offers a high chance of success over just 7 days. It has an interesting approach through all of Kilimanjaro’s diverse climate zones. Its downside is that everybody likes it, so in peak periods it can be very busy.
LEMOSHO ROUTE
Stepping up in cost and adding an extra day, this is the best 8 day route on the mountain. It has fantastic views and a really interesting approach from the West of the mountain.
NORTHERN CIRCUIT
If money and time are not an issue then it is worth checking out the Northern Circuit. It has the same attractive approach as the Lemosho but then heads North where you will find yourselves nearly alone.
RONGAI ROUTE
This route approaches Kilimanjaro from the north of the mountain close to the Kenyan border. It is a very quiet route, and is not normally our first choice as there is very little vegetation as it has much less rainfall. This means it is a good route to choose in the rainy season and it is always generally quiet.
When is the best time to plan Kilimanjaro climb ?
The short answer is to either go between May and October, or December and March. You can read lots more about the weather on Kilimanjaro here.
Simply put, Kilimanjaro has a long monsoon season in April and May, and a shorter monsoon season in November. During these periods there is a high probability of rain every day. Outside these periods the weather is mainly dry and clear.
Of course, most people want to climb when it is dry, so if you choose one of these two periods you can expect to meet a lot of other climbers. To mitigate this, choose one of the less popular routes. The Northern Circuit is a great choice at this time of year. If you want to climb when it is quieter, or during one of the rainy seasons, then look at the Rongai route. It lies in Kilimanjaro’s rain shadow and is much drier all year round.
Full Moons | Kilimanjaro
Some people really want to climb Kilimanjaro under a full moon as it means it is much lighter on the overnight hike to the summit. If that is what you would prefer the full moon dates are above. Again, you shouldn’t be surprised to find that full moon dates are busier than other times of the month. And for astronomers, the full moon means almost zero stars and the night sky on a new moon is really spectacular.
Frequently asked questions
Mount Kilimanjaro Difficulty
For experienced climbers, Mount Kilimanjaro will take around 5 to 6 days to reach the top. But it is important to understand the while the trek is shorter than others, the length of the trek doesn’t mean it is any easier. In fact, Mount Kilimanjaro is incredibly difficult because of its short trek.
You ascend rapidly up the mountain, which means your body needs to acclimate to the changing conditions very quickly. Thus, can lead to acute mountain sickness and if you aren’t prepared for that, you can have to turn back to get help.
Mount Kilimanjaro Climb Difficulty
With an average of half of all climbers suffering from acute mountain sickness, Kilimanjaro is classified as an extreme altitude mountain trek. Because you scale the 19,341 feet, or 5,895 meters, so quickly and the angle is so great, you will need to prepare and train before attempting the climb.
Is It Hard To Climb Kilimanjaro?
On average, it takes eight hours alone to reach the summit on the last stage of the trek. This is because it is 4,084 feet or 1,245 meters of climbing at extreme altitudes over 18,000 feet and greatly increasing your risk of getting acute mountain sickness.
How Difficult Is It To plan Kilimanjaro climb
If you are properly prepared for altitude sickness and know how to combat it, the trek up Kilimanjaro is relatively straightforward. If you don’t properly prepare your body for the altitude, you can come down with acute mountain sickness and have to turn around and head back to the base. But otherwise, the trek up Kilimanjaro is relatively easy with multiple routes and designated spots to camp and rest.
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro Difficulty
The actual trek up Kilimanjaro is very straightforward and requires little climbing skills. This makes it an ideal climb for people of different ages and skill levels, provided that they prepare for and prevent altitude sickness as much as possible.
Do you think to Plan Kilimanjaro climb Difficulty?
The actual to Plan Kilimanjaro climb is less like your standard mountain climb, and more like a hike. But while easier in terms of climbing skills, you can have just as much difficulty climbing Kilimanjaro as other, more complicated climbs. This is because of the higher altitude and greater risk of acute mountain sickness.
