About Kilimanjaro
The trek up Kilimanjaro is arguably the most popular high-altitude trek in the world. You can simply walk up without the need for ropes, special climbing gear, or previous trekking experience.
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There are seven main Kilimanjaro trekking routes: Machame Route, Marangu Route, Rongai Route, Lemosho Route, Shira Route, Northern Circuit, and Umbwe Route. There is also the Western Breach, an advanced and technically challenging route meant only for experienced trekkers.
Not all companies offer the Western Breach to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. The eighth Kilimanjaro route, Mweka, is used only for descent. When selecting a route on Kilimanjaro, consider two key factors:
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1. Ensure the route duration is long enough for adequate acclimatization. Five-day routes are too rapid. Seven or eight-day climbs increase the success rate of summiting Kilimanjaro, while six-day treks are an affordable alternative if you are fit and have some experience with high-altitude trekking.
2. Make sure the route provides a climb high, sleep low option. This is a major factor in many climbers' success on Kilimanjaro.
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Join the thousands of climbers who have reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, guided by the Climbing Kilimanjaro Team.
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The reason for Kilimanjaro’s trekking popularity is obvious
It is the highest free-standing mountain in the world and one of the Seven Summits. You don’t need any technical mountaineering skills at all. But that doesn’t mean it’s just a walk in the park. While you need no climbing experience to trek Kilimanjaro, as no technical skills are required, it is nothing more than an uphill walk (with possibly a bit of scrambling on the "Barranco Wall," depending on the route you choose).
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Kilimanjaro trekking is still a very demanding adventure. Even if it requires no special mountaineering skills, previous trekking experience can significantly improve your chances of reaching the summit. People who have climbed mountains before will likely find trekking on Kilimanjaro easier than those who have never climbed a mountain in their lives.
Trekking experience makes a big difference.
The main challenge when trekking up Kilimanjaro is the altitude, which takes many days to reach the summit and involves low oxygen levels at high elevations.
People who have climbed mountains before have the advantage of knowing how to pace themselves. They have learned to judge the demands of such a trek and adjust their pace, allowing them to walk for many hours.
And they have learned to find a steady rhythm, steadily placing one foot in front of the other without pausing. If the path becomes steeper, their steps become smaller, but the rhythm remains constant. This pace and rhythm enable trekkers to cover remarkable distances and heights almost effortlessly.
Experienced trekkers also understand that even when the trail seems endless and their energy is waning, as long as they continue placing one foot in front of the other, they eventually reach the summit. They always find the strength for just one more step.
If you've never experienced this, it's hard to grasp how crucial a steady pace and the right mindset are. You might find it difficult to imagine that simply walking slowly can present a challenge.
Kilimanjaro Trekking Tours
Conquering Mount Kilimanjaro is considered a lifetime achievement. Our team of experts and Kilimanjaro guides are dedicated to supporting you every step of the way during your trek. The Kilimanjaro dream team is eager to share this unforgettable experience with you! Below, we outline our Kilimanjaro trekking tour routes and the number of days required for each trek. The cost of climbing Kilimanjaro varies for each route based on the duration of the climb and the logistics involved.
Camping on a Mount Kilimanjaro trek
The other aspect of Kilimanjaro where trekking experience proves invaluable is the camping experience.
Those accustomed to sleeping in tents and making do with minimal facilities won't mind it. In fact, many of us love it. Personally, I sleep better on hard ground in a tent on an uneven mountain slope than I do at home in my bedroom. Much better.
If you are not used to camping, you may find it challenging to sleep well on Kilimanjaro. The trek itself is physically demanding, and adequate sleep is crucial for your summit attempt. Consistently getting insufficient sleep over several nights won't help you during your climb to the summit.
If you're considering trekking Mount Kilimanjaro without any prior mountain, trekking, or camping experience, don’t be discouraged. Thousands of people successfully tackle their Kilimanjaro trek with no prior experience, and many reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak. However, it's undeniable that those with trekking experience have an advantage.
If you're unsure about camping, consider going on practice hikes or hikes in the lead-up to your Kilimanjaro trek. Focus on walking uphill for extended periods at a steady pace where you hardly notice you're exercising.
As mentioned on the Kilimanjaro training page:
If you can walk in hilly terrain for 6-8 hours, repeat it the next day, and return to your routine feeling fine, then you are sufficiently fit for a Kilimanjaro trek.
For more information on the best time to climb Kilimanjaro, refer to our guide.
Let's trek Kilimanjaro!
Let's conquer Kilimanjaro together!