Kilimanjaro Trekking: An Exciting Guide to the Roof of Africa

The Mother continent of Africa is blessed with a vast plethora of landscapes and wildlife. If you plan on visiting Africa, you would never want to miss the beautiful Tanzanian wilderness. Though there are a variety of places to visit, Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the major tourist attractions in Tanzania, on the east coast of Africa.

To this date, Mount Kilimanjaro has been the major limelight for tourists who visit Tanzania. In addition to the vividly wildlife-laden landscape of Kilimanjaro national park, trekking to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro has always been a milestone for trekkers around the globe.

Are you planning on scaling this ruggedly exquisite piece of the landscape? Don't worry, we've got your back. We'll tell you why you should climb Kilimanjaro, how to trek efficiently, and take your trekking adventure to a whole new level.

Why Should You Hike Mount Kilimanjaro?

Located near the border of Kenya, standing over 5,895 meters above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is the world's tallest freestanding mountain. It is also the tallest volcano on any continent. It definitely lives up to its name "The Roof of Africa".

Mount Kilimanjaro is a section of the Kilimanjaro National Park. Often, people confuse the national park with the mountain summit. Both the national park and summit are excellent tourist attractions. However, for adventurers and daredevils who crave an adrenaline rush, trekking Kilimanjaro to the summit is definitely an adventure of a lifetime.

Another fact is that Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the most highly scalable risk-free mountain peaks to summit. This means that anyone, from a teen to the elderly, will be able to easily scale mount Kilimanjaro. Starting your journey from grassy savannas to ice-covered mountain caps, trekking in terms of terrain and climate, Kilimanjaro offers a variety of transitions. 

Along with its exquisite flora, Kilimanjaro houses a variety of endangered fauna like several cats, aardvarks, and duiker. For more information, read our article on why climbing Mount Kilimanjaro should be on your bucket list.

What Do You Need to Keep in Mind Before the Trek?

Although Mt. Kilimanjaro is easily scalable, conquering it is not an easy task. You need to be physically and mentally sound to make the ascent. Warm up by engaging in physical activities and training at least two months before the climb to assist you to be well-prepared. Mostly, tourists who go on treks and hikes prefer to travel in groups. Whereas, professional mountaineers and trekkers prefer going alone to experience the true potential of the journey. There will be mountain guides and porters to guide you on your expedition. They will guide you in ways to trek, to camp, and help you have the best time of your journey. 

Usually, it takes around 6-8 days to complete the journey. However, it changes depending on the weather and the route taken. Try not to push yourself too much, because appropriate rest and relaxation help rejuvenate your body and make the ascent slow and steady. Also, make sure to take precautions against altitude sickness and nausea as they commonly prevent tourists from getting the full experience of their adventure.

Since your trekking adventure will take about a week, you will need some camping gear. Although you might not need high-altitude trekking gear like crampons and ice axes, you will definitely need waterproof equipment like solid hiking boots and a sleeping bag.

What Route Should I Take for the Finest Experience? 

Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the seven summits of the world and is made up of three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. There are seven routes to ascend Mt. Kilimanjaro. You can choose the right route based on your preferences, climate conditions, and the days it takes to reach the summit.

We will explain each route so you can choose the route which suits you best.

• The Marangu Route

This route starts from the south and is mostly preferred by tourists since it provides a steady gradual climb and is the only route where you can stay in huts. If you want to choose an easier route, this is one of the best choices for you. After ascending, this route also traces the same past to descend. 

• The Machame Route

This is also a southern route similar to the Marangu route. The Machame route is one of the most popular routes to reach the summit. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, and it takes you through different climate zones from grasslands to icy peaks. 

This route contains the Barranco Wall, which makes the climb a bit challenging. Although the climb is a little tougher than the Marangu route, it has a higher success rate compared to the Marangu route. 

Scaling this route is a 7-day expedition, which gives you an additional day to complete the trek, giving you more time to recuperate and protect yourself from altitude sickness.

• The Lemosho Route

The Lemosho route takes you through the west side of the Kilimanjaro range with beautiful scenery. This route reaches the Machame route through the Uhuru Peak via Stella Point.

This trekking adventure is a 7-8 day trip that gives you plenty of time to complete the journey. However, this is one of the longest routes which makes it slightly expensive compared to the other routes. This route has a major success rate, and it is considered to be the easiest route to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

• The Shira Route

This route also begins on the western side of Mount Kilimanjaro, but with a slightly higher starting point. This passage offers both a manual trek and a four-wheel drive.

Like the Marangu route, this route also has shorter acclimatization times. So, this trail is less preferred by tourists and is, therefore, less crowded.

• The Rongai Route

This is the only route that starts on the northern side of the mountain through the wilderness consisting of buffaloes and elephants. This passage is the easiest of the seven routes. It provides a steady ascent and more time to acclimatize. As a result, it has a higher success rate compared to other routes.

This route reaches the summit through Gilman's point and descends via the Marangu route. However, this route is much drier (suitable for the rainy season!) and has fewer scenic views compared to the other routes.

• The Umbwe Route

This southern route is considered one of the hardest and nearly impossible to climb. This trail is steep and takes a 5-7 day journey to complete the trek. Though this route is very steep, it has immensely beautiful scenery. This hard maneuver landscape is highly challenging and more preferred by mountaineers and daredevils.

• The Northern Circuit Route

This route is one of the longest routes with an average climb of 8-9 days. The journey starts on the western side of the mountain but circles to the northern side so you can get an all-around view of the mountain range.

Having to circumnavigate leads to the excess time taken to climb the mountain, making it a bit expensive compared to other routes. This slower route has the highest success rate because of its slower ascent, making it easier for climbers to ascend the mountain range easily.

These are the 7 available routes for you to trek the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Each route has its own pros and cons. So choose the route that suits your purpose, has the proper weather conditions, and time taken to complete the challenging Mount Kilimanjaro trek.

What is the Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro?

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a feat that can be achieved all around the year. But there are certain seasons and timings that are considered the best time to trek the mountain range.

The months between December-February (warmest months) and July-September (driest months) are considered the best months to go on Kilimanjaro treks because of clear skies and sunny evenings. However, these are also the busiest months on the mountain. If you like to avoid the crowds as well as bad weather, try March or October. A less preferred time to visit Kilimanjaro is the months of April and May. During this season, rain tends to make the landscape muddy and slippery making it hard for people to scale and explore the scenic beauty of the landscape.

What Does it Cost to Conquer the Summit?

The average cost to complete the Mount Kilimanjaro trekking is around $2000 to $6000. However, the costs may vary depending on the route you decide to take, the number of days you will be trekking, and how many people you will be climbing with. You can also choose your type of safari based on your liking. 

You can choose if you will be a solo traveler who wants to scale the peak like a lone wolf, a professional photographer trying to capture the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, or a married couple on your honeymoon trying to explore your hearts and the landscape together.

Apart from the costs, it takes a huge deal of heart and courage to conquer this captivating piece of wonder. 

Final Thoughts

"The best view comes after the hardest climb". Trekking Kilimanjaro and conquering it has been one of the major life-changing events for many people. It might be yours, too.

Along with that, you can also enjoy the amazing experience of the iconic wildlife grasslands of Serengeti and the tropical islands of Zanzibar.

At Sababu Safaris, we give you the liberty to contact us and let us know your expectations and budgets. This way, we can plan and fit the right time, duration, and places for what will be one of the most exciting journeys of your lifetime.