Want to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
Summiting Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is a major ‘Bucket List’ dream adventure for many hikers. As Africa’s tallest mountain (and the world’s highest freestanding mountain), the Uhuru peak rises to more than 19,330’/5892 m!
So while it is not a technical hike, due to the extreme altitude, not surprisingly, only around 65% actually make it to the summit.
The main reason is not for lack of training, but rather because in an effort to save money, ambitious (or money saving) hikers try to climb ‘Kili’ too quickly and their bodies don’t properly acclimatize to the decreased oxygen at such high altitudes.
Thus, I recommend that if you want to maximize your chances of summiting Kilimanjaro, that you not only train properly (see below) but also climb the slower, more gradual (and more beautiful) 8 day Lemoto Route to bring your chances up to 90%!
If you are going to go through all the time and expense to climb Kilimanjaro, do yourself a favor and climb Lemosho AND use a quality tour company!
I recommend my affiliate, Active Adventures. You will have quality, experienced guides and porters that are properly taken care of by Active (many sadly, are NOT). Their 10 day tour, with comfortable lodging before and after your 8 day Lemosho Route hike is a great way for you to cross ‘Climbing Kilimajaro’ off of your Bucket List! If you email me, I can send you an exclusive Active Adventures discount Promo Code (they won’t let me publish it).
It takes more days to climb the Lemosho Route, which makes it more expensive, BUT you have the best chance of acclimatizing and therefore having the best chance of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. And with Active Adventures, you will have great support, food and fun as you do so!
When to Climb Kilimanjaro
The hiking season begins in June and runs until early October during the dry season. It has a tropical savannah climate, with mild temperatures during this time. However, of course, as you climb progressively higher, it will be colder so you need to be prepared for all four seasons.
How Hard is it to Climb Kilimanjaro
The trail itself is not that hard and the Lemosho Route in particular is gradual enough to allow most people to properly acclimitize. BUT, because you are climbing so high, it is rated a difficulty rating of 5 out of 5 as the oxygen levels drop so much you will have difficulty catching your breath. It is super important to hike SLOWLY and to stay hydrated. I would also ask your doctor about prescibing altitude medicine.
Check out my show and website on ‘How to Train for Altitude’ on my companion Adventure Travel Show podcast. and website.
Lemosho Route Hiking Stages
DAY ONE : Lemosho Forest Camp
Elevation: Lemosho Camp – 2860 metres (9385 feet)
Hiking Distance: 7 kilometres (4 miles), 4-6 hours
Elevation Gain: 550 metres (1805 feet)
DAY TWO : Shira Camp
Elevation: Shira Camp – 3560 metres (11,680 feet)
Hiking Distance: 7 kilometres (4 miles), 5-7 hours
Elevation Gain: 960 metres (3149 feet)
DAY THREE : Moir Camp
Elevation: Moir Camp – 4099 metres (13,451 feet)
Hiking Distance: 10 kilometres (6 miles), 4-5 hours
Elevation Gain: 590 metres (1936 feet)
Optional Hike Up and Back to Lookout: 3 kilometres (1.9 miles), 1-2 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 250 metres (820 feet)
DAY FOUR : Barranco Camp
Elevation: Barranco Camp – 3900 metres (12,800 feet)
Hiking Distance: 11 kilometres (7 miles), 7-9 hours
Elevation Gain: 400 metres (1312 feet)
Elevation Loss: 700 metres (2296 feet)
DAY FIVE : Karanga Camp
Elevation: Karanga Camp – 4099 metres (13,450 feet)
Hiking Distance: 5 kilometres (3 miles),4-5 hours
Elevation Gain: 500 metres (1640 feet)
Elevation Loss: 700 metres (2296 feet)
DAY SIX : Barafu Camp
Elevation: Barafu Camp – 4602 metres (15,100 feet)
Hiking Distance: 4 kilometres (2.5 miles), 4-5 hours
Elevation Gain: 678 metres (2224 feet)
DAY SEVEN : SUMMIT DAY!!! Mweka Camp
Elevation: Mweka Camp – 3100 metres (10,171 feet)) (All meals)
Hiking Distance: 18 kilometres (11 miles), 14-16 hours
Elevation Gain: 1222 metres (4009 feet)
Elevation Loss: 2795 metres (9170 feet)
Uhuru Peak (Summit) Altitude: 5895 metres (19,341 feet)
DAY EIGHT : Finish hiking down and return to Arusha for a SHOWER!!!
Hiking Distance: 10 kilometres (6 miles), 3-4 hours
Elevation Loss: 1460 metres (4790 feet)
The Barranco Wall
The Lava Tower
Last view of Mount Kilimanjaro on Day 8
Active Adventures’ tour begins by picking you up at the Arusha airport and taking you to get a good night’s rest at the comfy Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge in Arusha. At the end of your hike, you will also be transported there to clean up and have a celebratory dinner with your group. After a well deserved night’s sleep there, you will be taken back to the airport after breakfast, comcluding your ten day adventure.
Be sure to EMAIL ME for an exclusive Active Adventures discount Promo Code (I am not allowed to publish it).
This discount code is good for ANY Active Adventures tour! And now that they have merged with Austin Adventures, you can also use it there, too.
Getting to Arusha, Tanzania
Your Kili climb will start and end at Arusha. Many flights arrive at the Kilimanjaro Airport(KIA) in the middle of the night, so make arrangements (this is included with the Active Adventures tour) to get to your lodging to rest up before your hiking adventure begins. I personally would plan to arrive at least a couple of days beforehand so that you can adapt to the time change. When my friend Mickey and I went, we first flew to Istanbul and stayed three days, not just to explore that beautiful city, but also to get my body used to the time difference and break up a long flight.
If you go to this airport link, scroll down to see which airlines fly directly from where, and then work from this to figure out your best route to Arusha.
Time difference example: 8am Eastern EST is 4 pm in Istanbul. 8 am Eastern EST is 3 pm in Arusha. Amsterdam and Zurich are other good gateway cities to Arusha.
At the End of your Kilimanjaro Hike:
Consider adding on a safari while you are in Tanzania. My safari adventure remains one of the top trips of my life! You’ve never seen sooooo many exotic animals!!!
If you want to relax a the beach, head over to Unguja, also known as Zanzibar Island.
Listen to the Safari podcast and see pics HERE.
The Senecio Kilimanjaro Trees
Listen to my interview with Cindy below
A self described overweight couch potato who made up her mind that she was going to climb Kili. It’s a very inspirational story about fortitude, self discipline and endurance. Climbing Kili changed Cindy’s life.
Is Hiking Kilimanjaro Pretty? What do you see Climbing Kilimanjaro?
Because you are climbing through FIVE ecosystems as you reach the summit, you will be seeing a wide variety of flora a fauna.
Day One: You’ll be hiking through the Afromontane forest where you are liable to see colobus and blue monkeys (if not, you’ll probably hear them this evening:)
Day Two: The forested slopes of Lemosho turn into podocarps and junipers before you eventually break past the tree line. Then you’ll see heaths and reach the extinct volcanic crater known as the Shira Plateau. This World Heritage site boasts deep valleys and the remains of weathered lava flows.
Day Three: One of the prettiest days! You’ll be crossing the Shira Plateau. You’ll see giant lobellia popping up around the Erica shrubs. You will really start to feel the altitude today.
Day Four: Today you’ll cross the slopes of Kibo, one of the three volcanic cones that make up Kilimanjaro. The terrain transforms into a semi-desert and rocky landscape. You’ll have your lunch at Lava Tower before descending down lower for the night.
Day Five: You’ll hike up to Barranco Wall and then hike over spectacular glacial valleys. Tonight’s sunset spot is world famous!
Day Six: You’ll see the Southern Glaciers to your left as you ascend further up in the moon-like alpine desert. Tonight you should have a fantastic view of Mawenzie Volcano!
Day Seven: You begin hiking in the middle of the night with the goal of reaching Stella Point on the crater rim by dawn for a breathtaking sunrise before your summit attempt to Uhuru Peak at19,340’/5895 m! CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Day Eight: After yesterday’s summit, you hiked down to 10,171’/3100m to sleep and today you conclude your hike joining up with the Machame route.
Sunrise on Summit Day
Black and White Colobus
Climbing Down Kili has its Challenges!
To avoid ‘traffic jams’, the routes are one way, so you come down a different route. One the way down, you will be tackling scree. Scree means loose rocks and pebbles, meaning you are going to SLIDE! You are probably also going to fall on your butt several times as you lose your footing.
Fortunately, there is a bit of ‘art’ or technique to this.
Here’s how to hike downhill on scree:
1. Use just one pole and DRAG it behind you to make a ‘Third Leg’ or touchpoint.
2. Lean back towards your pole with your feet and body turned sideways. Do NOT turn your feet pointing downhill – you will lean forward and are liable to fall on your face instead!
2. Embrace the Slide! What you want is controlled slide. Try to slide down areas with smaller rocks as they are easier to slide on and you are less likely to get hurt if you fall.
Here’s a great video that demonstrates this technique. Bring out your inner child and just have fun sliding!
Embrace your Inner Child and Have FUN Sliding down Kili!
Be sure to EMAIL ME for an exclusive Active Adventures discount Promo Code (I am not allowed to publish it). This discount code is good for ANY Active Adventures tour! And now that they have merged with Austin Adventures, you can also use it there, too.
Other Exciting Active Adventures Covered on the Podcast
Machu Picchu Annapurna (Nepal) Mont Blanc Ecuador & Galapagos New Zealand South Island New Zealand North Island Iceland Italian Lakes Dolomites (Italy) Patagonia Croatia
Mention Active Travel Adventures when you speak with Becki at Trailblazer Wellness to get 10% OFF your custom online training program for Kili (or any adventure you’ve got planned).
This is my favorite tool to get affordable Travel Insurance! You can quickly see your policy and pricing options – without giving any private data until/unless you are ready to buy!
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