If you are looking for a physically challenging adventure that doesn’t require you to have the fitness level of an Olympic athlete or years of specialist training, then climbing to the roof of Africa could be for you. Kilimanjaro has become one of the most accessible high altitude mountains and is one of the seven summits (the seven highest peaks, in the seven continents of the world). By reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro you can experience the feeling of standing on the top of the world and be follow in the footsteps of legendary explorers such as Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
Standing at 19,340 feet above sea level Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Its snow capped peak dominates the landscape of North East Tanzania near the Kenyan border.
There are 6 official routes to choose from to reach the summit; they vary in difficulty, length of trek and scenery. The most challenging routes are the Umweke and Machame routes, usually completed in 5-6 days. The Shira and Marangu routes last between 6-7 days and finally the Lemosho and Rongai routes last 7-8 days. The Routes are not only graded based on the difficulty of the terrain, but also the length of trek. One of the main considerations for climbing Kilimanjaro is the effects of Altitude sickness; the best way of ensuring success is by choosing a trek with the maximum amount of days, which will allow your body to acclimatise gradually.
There are various ways to travel to Mount Kilimanjaro, including land based trips across Tanzania. However the most convenient way is to fly directly to Kilimanjaro International airport, which is under an hours drive away from the Kilimanjaro National Park. Local flights are available from Nairobi, Mombasa and Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro International airport. If you are flying from the UK, then you could use: KLM via Amsterdam, British Airways via Dar es Salaam, or Kenya Airways via Nairobi.
The weather on Kilimanjaro is varied you will trek through five ecological zones and experience all four seasons in the space of a week, so you need to ensure you have the right footwear and clothing to cope with these extremes. Most trekking companies will supply the major equipment such as tents, cooking equipment and eating utensils, so you will just need to bring standard walking kit and a good pair of hiking boots.
If climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a challenge you’d like to undertake then talk to the people at Absolute Kilimanjaro. They arrange bespoke tours to the summit via all of the available routes.
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