Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest free-standing mountain, towers majestically over vast open plains with a permanently snow-covered peak which, on a clear day, can be seen from over 150kms away.
With its gleaming glaciers providing a stunning back-drop for safaris in the surrounding area, Mount Kilimanjaro is comprised of three extinct volcanoes: Kibo 5895m (19340ft), Mawenzi 5149m (16896ft) and Shira 3962m (13000ft). Its imposing bulk looms 4800m over the surrounding region that averages 1000m above sea level.
Kilimanjaro’s immense size and height – as well as its location near the equator and close to the Indian Ocean – strongly influence its climate and thus its vegetation, animal life and climbing conditions.
To climb Mount Kilimanjaro is an experience of a lifetime, highly recommended to the adventurous traveller willing to forego some of life’s luxuries for a few days. The summit can be achieved by any physically fit person and no climbing experience is necessary.
Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes
Kilimanjaro has six starting gates, three points via which you can access the summit and two descent routes. Hence there are many tour routes, each with different scenery and varying degrees of exertion required.
The Marangu and Rongai routes are wildly tipped as the “easiest” trails, and the Machame route is particularly renowned for its stunning scenery. Routes from Umbwe, Lemosho and Shira offer more challenging options. However, it is the duration of a climb that is as important as the ease of the route.
On climbs to the summit it is advisable to join a trek of at least 6 days in order to acclimatise your body to the increasing altitude as you pass through five different climatic zones. Gamewatchers treks have been carefully devised at around this duration to give you the best chance of success. Longer durations can be arranged for those that would prefer a slower pace.
We can help you sift through the options to tailor a climb to your exact requirements accounting for your levels of fitness and budget.
What’s included on your Trek
Tour inclusions can vary – but our prices include all equipment such as guest tents, mess tent / table / chairs and fully trained, expert guides, porters and cooks as standard. Three meals a day are included when on the mountain.
Our Luxury and VIP options offer comprehensive packages with exceptional service quality and enhanced equipment and inclusions. Many extra items are automatically included for your safety and comfort.
Luxury tour versions have private portable toilets, large tents (3-person tent used for 2 people) with 3 inch foam mattresses, 18 Celsius rated sleeping bags with liners, pillow, a large walk-in mess tent and upgraded high quality meals. Shower tent on request.
Our special VIP tour versions are designed to ensure your trek is as comfortable as possible with inclusions as the Luxury version plus a larger walk-in guest tent with off-ground “sleeping cots”, a shower tent and all porter / guide tips already included.
All tours include safety equipment, safety briefings and staff fully trained in First Aid.
Our Dedication to Responsible Travel
For our Luxury and VIP tour versions we work closely with our mountain climbing specialist who, like us, is dedicated to sustainable tourism. These tours are run with responsible ethics ensuring that all porters, guides and other crew are well-treated and receive fair salaries and working conditions. There is full dedication to staff career progression and personal development with regular education / training and constant support. There is also an affiliation to the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project.
Useful Information:
- Kilimanjaro can be climbed by any physically fit person and no climbing experience is necessary.
- A Kilimanjaro Climb can be done at any time of the year. There are two rainy seasons – late March to mid June and October to November – and the best months are January to March and July to October as the days are usually cloudless.
- During the day the temperature at 4000m tends to be 15°C and at night falls to -10°C. At the summit, temperatures are about 5°C during the day and drop to between -18°C and -22°C at night.
Here we have chosen the best, most scenic routes suited to a mid-range level of fitness, but please contact us for more information on alternative itineraries for those who have a high level of fitness (e.g. routes from Umbwe and Lemosho via Stella’s Point or even via Western Breach).
