Mount Kilimanjaro - routes and guide, Kilimanjaro climbing information a complete guide to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro , Machame route, Climbing mount Kenya Marangu route, Mount Kenya trekking info
Mount Kilimanjaro climbing info
Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, known to the local people as the "mountain of the buffalo," is Africa's highest peak towering at 4, 895 metres with a permanent all-year-round cover of snow at its summit.
Mount Kilimanjaro Routes
mount Kilimanjaro climbing routes/gear/info
-7 Days Marangu Route
-8 Days Machame Route
-8 Days Umbwe Route
-8 Days Rongai Route
-12 Days Kilimanjaro trek combined with Zanzibar beach vacation
-16 Days Kilimanjaro climbing, Tanzania wildlife safari and Zanzibar beach vacation
Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing information
The snow-topped peak of this inactive volcano in Tanzania is a huge draw for peak-baggers the world over. Those that conquer Africa’s highest peak remember the life changing experience forever.
Choose a reputable tour company to maximize chances of reaching the peak and, if time permits, consider a trip extension like an African wildlife safari or Beach holiday extension to help unwind after the grueling hike.
Mount Kilimanjaro
"Kili", as it is fondly called by those who have scaled it, towers 5,895 meters (19,340 feet) above the plains of Tanzania. It is the world’s tallest walkable mountain and therefore one of the most popular adventure treks offered by specialist trekking companies. First conquered by Hans Meyer in 1889, the Mount Kilimanjaro trek demands a good level of fitness together with strong determination and awareness of the dangers of altitude sickness, which prevents many people from reaching their goal.
Routes and Best Times to Climb Kilimanjaro
-Easiest options are the Marangu route and the Rongai route. The first is the most popular walking route up Kilimanjaro as it offers accommodation in huts rather than camping in tents.
- Harder options include the Machame, Shira, Umbwe and Limosho routes where scrambling is involved on several sections. All these longer trails require camping.
- When choosing a route, check the number of days trekking involved. A minimum of 6 days is advisable to include an extra acclimatisation day half way through the trek.
- Best times for Kilimanjaro trekking are January-March and Sept-October. Weather is more settled in the 753 square kilometre Kilimanjaro National Park in these high season months and the chance of summiting therefore much greater.
What to Expect when Climbing Kilimanjaro
- Experience four different ecosystems whilst ascending the mountain from vegetal rain forest and moorland heather on the lower levels to remote alpine desert and arctic glacier en route to the peak.
-Adopt the Swahili mantra "pole pole" – slowly, slowly – and stick to it! Taking things slowly whilst drinking plenty of water (4-5 litres per day) maximises chances of reaching Uhuru peak, the highest point on the mountain.
- Expect an early start on summit day. Most tours begin the "day" around midnight when the scree on "Kili" is still frozen and therefore much easier to ascend. Guides will move at an excruciatingly slow pace, toe to heel, toe to heel. This is totally necessary to ascend the steepest part of the mountain without succumbing to altitude sickness.
- It is common to experience slight nausea and a headache at heights above 10,000 feet but anyone experiencing extreme nausea, vomiting, dizziness, severe headaches, pins and needles and swelling of the limbs should descend immediately.
-Complete elation when reaching the summit and gazing at the majestic view below.
- A long walk or run down the scree slopes before descending to a lower camp to recover from the most gruelling day of the hike.
Choose the correct route, acclimatise well over several days and approach Kilimanjaro with respect and a strong "can do" attitude to make it to the top of the roof of Africa.
Best time to climb Kilimanjaro
The best time to climb Mt.Kilimanjaro is in January, February, or September. January and February in Kilimanjaro are known for being warm and clear. There is relatively little rainfall during these months, which makes them an ideal time of year to climb.
Throughout the rest of the year one can still climb Kilimanjaro, but conditions are not as good. April and May can also be clear and somewhat warm, but often see heavy rain and snowfall. This is the rainiest season of the year on Kilimanjaro.
From mid-May to August, the weather in Kilimanjaro gets much colder.
In addition to January and February, September is the other best time to climb Kilimanjaro. While September tends to be cooler than the first two months of the year, there is still good visibility.
. ALTITUDE AND ACCLIMATIZATION
Altitudes are generally defined as follows:-
o High altitude 2,400m - 4,200m
o Very high altitude 4,200m - 5,400m
o Extreme high altitude above 5,400m (Uhuru peak is 5,895m)During the trek it is likely that all climbers will experience at least some form of mild altitude sickness. It is caused by the failure of the body to adapt quickly enough to the reduced level of oxygen in the air at an increased altitude. There are many different symptoms but the most common are headaches, light-headedness, nausea, loss of appetite, tingling in the extremities (toes, fingers) and a mild swell of ankles and fingers. These mild forms are not serious and will normally disappear within 48 hours.
OTHER HEALTH TIPS:
All contact lens wearers should take care to remove the lenses at night, as the eye needs to absorb oxygen from the atmosphere. The rarefied conditions of altitude reduce oxygen levels and in extreme cases a Corneal Oedema can develop.
EMERGENCY EVACUATION
In the event of an emergency on the mountain the rescue team plus one of the assistant guides will descend with the casualty to the park gate. At the gate the casualty will be taken care and the necessary arrangements will be done.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Cameras whether Video or film, need to be protected against the severe cold weather either in warm pouch or the interior pockets of your clothing. Do not keep in your backpack at higher elevations. A selection of lenses will aid the final results although weight and bulk will obviously influence your selection. A polarized or neutral density filter is recommended, as is slide film rather than print. Bring your own film as it can be hard to find and expensive in Tanzania. For digital equipment, check with the manufacturer's specifications for temperature range (especially battery life), water tightness and general hardiness.
- Mountain Kilimanjaro climbing gear packing list
TREKKING BOOTS -Not plastic. Sturdy, waterproof, well broken in and high enough to support ankle. Wear them on plane in case luggage goes missing
SOCKS -3 thermal and some regular. Some wear a thin pair under a thick pair, rinse the thin pair at night and peg them to their pack to dry the next day
TRAINERS- For round camp
TREKKING TROUSERS - Not cotton or jeans. Fleece lined trousers are a good choice
WATERPROOF TROUSERS - A light pair that can be worn on their own or pulled over your trekking trousers is best
THERMAL UNDERWEAR -1 pair of synthetic long john bottoms and 1 or 2 tops
T-SHIRTS/SHIRTS - Not cotton but synthetic preferably with wicking properties
FLEECES- Absolutely essential. We recommend 2 light and 1 heavy fleece. Keeping warm on the mountain is about wearing lots of thin layers that can be pealed off as you get warm or put on as you cool down. Make sure fleeces all fit comfortably over each other
WATER PROOF JACKET - Gore-Tex is best. Try it on over your fleeces 1st
GLOVES - Fleece-lined is good, mittens over a thin thermal pair is best but not essential. A thinner pair for round camp is also a good idea.
SUNHAT - A wide-brimmed one is best. Try and get one that covers the back of your neck to protect against sunburn
SUNGLASSES - Must protect against U.V.
SLEEPING BAG - 3-season or 2-season with liner. Closed-cell sleeping mat provided
LARGE BAG FOR YOUR GEAR - The porters will carry this. Not one with a frame, the porters will carry it on their heads and it makes their job harder
DAY PACK - Making sure you’re comfortable walking long distances with it
TRAVEL BAG - For gear you don’t want on Kili. Kept safe until your return
WATER BOTTLES - Thermally protected, enough for 3-4 litres
WATER PURIFIERS - Iodine is best but try it for taste at home first (flavoured powder helps). We boil all water on the mountain but better safe than sorry
HEADLAMP - Bring spare batteries and a spare bulb
SUNSCREEN/LIPSCREEN . TOILET PAPER
PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS - Towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, wipes and alcohol-based hand disinfectant are useful. Soap & hot water is provided daily.
PERSONAL MEDICAL KIT - Antiseptic cream, plasters, knee supports, moleskin or compeed, Ibruprofen/Aspirin/Paracetamol etc, Imodium, rehydrating powder, throat sweets and insect repellent can all come in useful
TREKKING POLES – Very useful on the descent
CAMERA - Spare film/memory cards/batteries. A UV filter is needed for SLRs
PLASTIC BAG – For wet clothes.
CELL PHONE/SPARE BATTERIES - Check with your network provider for coverage. You can get signal across a lot of the mountain but it is weak in places
