Mount Kilimanjaro

About Mount Kilimanjaro

Rising 5 895 meters (19 341 ft) above the surrounding landscape, Mount Kilimanjaro holds the dual records of being Africa’s highest and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. With habitats ranging from rainforest to alpine desert, it is an ecologically diverse environment blessed with outstanding scenic beauty. As a non-technical, yet challenging climb, it is easily accessible via the nearby towns of Arusha and Moshi, close to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Whether novice or experienced, seen from its base or the summit, Mount Kilimanjaro promises a rewarding experience equal to the challenge of scaling its weathered, sheer slopes. Dubbed the “Coca-Cola” route, it is popular with inexperienced climbers who’d prefer to stay in huts than tents. This leads to a false belief that it is easier, when in fact, the short duration allows little time for acclimatisation, and a subsequent low summit success rate. To improve chances, it is recommended to tackle over 6 days. Starting on the southeast of Kilimanjaro, the trail progresses from forest to moors, before taking on a more alien, rugged appearance. The gradient is relatively gentle until the last day, when it gets very steep until the summit. Trekkers use the same path up and down the mountain, limiting the scenery. Nicknamed the “Whiskey Route”, it is definitely a stiffer challenge than the Marangu Route. However, the extra day or two for acclimatisation to altitude and the ‘climb high, sleep low’ nature of the route makes all the difference and the higher summit success rate is testimony to this. There are some steep sections, but even the fierce-looking Barranco Wall is manageable with the right preparation. Starting in the southwest of the mountain the trek passes through forests, moors and 4 distinct climatic zones to reach the beautiful lunar landscape of the Shira Plateau and famed Lava Tower en route to the summit. Both the most scenic and the most expensive route (due to the longer duration), the Lemosho Route begins west of Kilimanjaro, running parallel to the Shira Route. It then heads across the Shira Plateau and up the Barranco Wall before the challenging summit day to Uhuru Peak. The descent is via the Mweka Route on the south of the mountain. The trail begins with two days of forest trails before heading over moorlands to the Shira Plateau and the spectacular rock formations that follow. With views of distant Mount Meru, it is regarded as possibly the most breath-taking for its diverse scenery.