Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, meaning it isn’t part of a range, it simply rises on its own out of the Tanzanian plains. No technical climbing skill is needed to reach the top, just steady legs, warm gear and enough time on the mountain to let your body adjust to the altitude. We run treks on all four major routes, each with a different feel and a different level of comfort along the way.
Why Climb Kilimanjaro?
At 5,895 metres, Kilimanjaro is one of the Seven Summits, the highest peak on each continent, and one of the few in that group that doesn’t require ropes, crampons or technical mountaineering experience. It’s a dormant volcano made up of three cones, Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira, with Kibo the tallest and the one climbers actually summit. What makes it unusual is how much changes as you climb. In a matter of days you pass through rainforest, moorland, alpine desert and finally an arctic-like summit zone, a journey that on foot would otherwise take you from the equator to the poles. It was first summited in 1889 by Hans Meyer, Ludwig Purtscheller and local guide Yohani Kinyala Lauwo, and today thousands of climbers follow different versions of that same route each year.
The Five Climbing Zones in Kilimanjaro
Cultivated land and rainforest (roughly 1,800 to 2,800m): where most routes begin, often humid with a real chance of rain, and home to colobus monkeys on several routes.
Moorland (roughly 2,800 to 4,000m): giant heather and unusual plants like giant lobelia and senecio, with your first proper mountain views opening up.
Alpine desert (roughly 4,000 to 5,000m): dry, exposed and rocky, with a big swing in temperature between day and night.
Arctic summit zone (above 5,000m): the final push, cold, thin air, and, conditions allowing, views of Kilimanjaro’s shrinking glaciers near the top.
Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro
June to October: the long dry season, generally considered the best window, with clearer skies and firmer trails.
January to March: a shorter dry spell, colder at altitude but often quieter on the mountain.
April, May and November: the rainy seasons, best avoided if possible, since trails get muddy and visibility drops.
Longer routes improve your odds: whichever month you choose, routes that build in more acclimatization time generally have better summit success rates than shorter, faster itineraries.
Choosing Your Kilimanjaro Route
Machame Route: scenic and popular, climbing one side and descending the same way, with a strong acclimatization profile over 7 days.
Marangu Route: the only route with hut accommodation instead of tents, and the only one where you ascend and descend the same path. We only run the 6 day version, since it includes a built-in rest day the shorter 5 day version skips.
Lemosho Route: approaches from the quieter western side, crossing the wide Shira Plateau, with one of the strongest acclimatization profiles of any route.
Rongai Route: the only route approaching from the north, near the Kenyan border, drier and quieter than the southern routes, descending via Marangu.
