Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro dominates the landscape like no other mountain, the views towards it from the surrounding plains are iconic and for many people it is top of their bucket list. Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa and the world's tallest freestanding mountain at 5895 metres.
Climbing Kilimanjaro can be challenging but for any keen walker or trekker it is entirely feasible, particularly when approached in a responsible way that allows sufficient time for your body to adjust and acclimatise to the ever increasing altitude, at nearly 6,000m, a trek on Kilimanjaro will take you from the hot African plains through grasslands, tropical rain forest, alpine meadows, moorlands and desert uplands onto snow and ice of the remaining majestic glaciers around that famous summit of Uhuru Peak.
There are many ways to ascend the mountain, and there are further details on all routes and options on our parent company website climb Kilimanjaro, though worth noting that the prices on that site are based on foreign nationals, it is considerably cheaper for East African citizens, contact us directly to get the latest prices, foreign nationals should enquire through the UK site.
Our most popular option for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a 7 day trek on the Machame route as it offers great acclimatisation and views, particularly of the summit massif. The Lemosho route is the same as the Machame route after the second camp (Shira Plateau), but gives an extra day on the mountain (on the approach to Shira Plateau). The Rongai route is less travelled as it approaches from the north of the mountain, it's also a great option during the rainy seasons as it is much more sheltered. The other popular option for Adventure Alternative is the 9 day Northern Circuit Route.
All of our Kenya team have climbed Kilimanjaro on numerous occasions so please feel
free to contact the office if you have any queries regarding the climb or your options, we have a dedicated team of experienced Guides and Porters working for our sister company, Adventure Alternative Tanzania, they have decades of experience to ensure you safely summit the Roof of Africa!
Frequently Asked Questions – Mount Kilimanjaro
How long does it take to climb Kilimanjaro?
A lot of companies offer 5 day climbs on Mount Kilimanjaro but this does not offer a safe acclimatisation plan, our preferred itinerary is 7 days on the shorter options to allow for a safe ascent and descent.
How much does it cost to climb Kilimanjaro?
The cost varies depending on the Kilimanjaro routes used, the cheapest way is the Machame route. The Lemosho, Rongai and Northern Circuit routes are all a little more expensive, primarily because you are on the mountain for longer.
How hard is it to climb Kilimanjaro?
There is no doubt that a Kilimanjaro trek is challenging as you are trekking to nearly 6,000m, however the pace is slow as that is essential for safety on Kilimanjaro and a successful summit, use our Mount Kilimanjaro map to help choose which route best suits you. When you start to look at altitude and altitude sickness and what it can do to your body, people do get concerned, however our policy of taking a minimum of seven days allows you to acclimatise safely and our Kilimanjaro training advice will help you prepare.
What equipment do you need to climb Kilimanjaro?
For climbing Kilimanjaro we have a recommended kit list (we provide all the group
equipment, particularly tents and cooking equipment, however if you need personal equipment we can rent out kit like sleeping bags, waterproof jackets, trekking poles, etc). When choosing your footwear our trekking boot guide will help point you in the right direction as will our sleeping bag guide when deciding which weight / warmth bag suits you.
When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro?
Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year round, though if you don't fancy trekking in the rainy seasons it's better to avoid mid-March to mid-May and October and November but it's getting increasingly difficult to predict the rains so if you have no alternative but to climb in these months then don't let the rains hold you back, the rain tends to fall after lunch on the mountain so a lot of the time we can avoid trekking in heavy rain.
How do you get to Kilimanjaro?
There is an airport near Moshi and Arusha called Kilimanjaro airport (JRO) which is well connected with Nairobi airport and the rest of the world. From Nairobi, the cheaper option would be to take a shuttle bus transfer to Arusha / Moshi and there are a number of companies providing that service, generally from Nairobi airport or River Road in the city. Although much longer than a flight the shuttle drives by Amboseli National Park so you tend to see some wildlife along the road, which always helps to pass the time, read through our Kilimanjaro trip preparation page for further details.