MOUNT KILIMANJARO.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. It has three volcanic cones (Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira). The highest mountain in Africa, snow caped and world’s highest free standing volcano. It up comprises of two dormant volcanoes (Kibo 5,895m a.m.s.l and Mawenzi 5,149m a.m.s.l) and one extinct volcano (Shira 3,962m a.m.s.l) respectively. The origin of the word is not well known but it said to be a combination of the Swahili word Kilima meaning “Mountain” and the KiChagga word Njaro, loosely translated as “Whiteness” giving the name “White Mountain”. ts size is 1,712Km2 and was declared as a National Park in 1973, officially opened for tourism in 1977, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987 and Natural Wonder of Africa in 2013. Climbing to the top which is far up into the sky it’s a life time experience that no one can forget.


WHICH IS THE BEST ROUTE TO CLIMB KILIMANJARO?

There are main six Mount Kilimanjaro climbing routes. These routes vary not only in length, cost and scenery; they also have different difficulty levels and different success rates. Selecting a Kilimanjaro climb route is one of the most important decisions you have to make. There is no single best Mt. Kilimanjaro climb route. Which route up Kilimanjaro is the best for you depends on several factors. The time and money you have available, previous experience and fitness, the time of the year, personal preference.

HERE BELOW ARE DIFFERENT KILIMANJARO ROUTES PROS AND CONS

MOUNT KILIMANJARO_ MARANGU ROUTE
6_5 DAYS TREKKING is also known as the “Coca Cola” or “tourist” route. It is the easiest and shortest route to the summit. It’s the only route where you’re going to find sleeping huts at every other campsite which are equipped with solar lights and comfortable beds. The huts are communal in nature, and bunks have sponge mattresses and pillows. There are 60 beds at both Mandara and Kibo Huts and 120 beds at Horombo Hut. The lower two huts have bathrooms and running water facility. The last camp also has both mens’ and ladies’ lavatories, but are very basic in nature. All climbing groups residing within the huts share their meal in the dining huts which makes for a jovial and energetic atmosphere. All climbing groups, often from several countries share meals in dining huts providing a jovial and energetic atmosphere.This route is usually done in 5 days but can be done in 6 days for better acclimatisation. The extra day can be spent resting at Horombo or climbing the small peak of Mawenzi.

MOUNT KILIMANJARO MACHAME ROUTE: 7_6 DAYS.
known as the “Whiskey” route, begins at Machame Gate, located in the southern base of Mount Kilimanjaro, within its green, abundant rainforest. We climb to the Shira Plateau, then traverse the mountain beneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Icefield, before summiting from Barafu Huts. Machame 6 Days route is recommended because it provides an additional acclimatization day and shortens some of the daily hikes. Our trips are for active, flexible-minded people who enjoy the unusual and adventurous. For trips that have an emphasis on mountain trekking and wildlife safari, you need to remember that even the easiest trekking or walking safari involves some exertion, so you should reasonably fit and sure that you will enjoy the activity.

MOUNT KILIMANJARO LEMOSHO ROUTE: 8 _7 DAYS

The Lemosho Route is one of the newer routes on Mt. Kilimanjaro starting on the western side of the mountain just beneath the Shira Route. Although it is one of the longer routes, it is also one of the most scenic and highly recommended for good acclimatization. There is also the option to include an overnight stay in Kibo Crater – a popular choice for adventurers who have the budget and time. Climbs can take seven to eight days; however, we always advise choosing the longer route for the best chance of acclimatization and reaching the summit.

MOUNT KILIMANJARO RONGAI ROUTE: 6_5 DAYS
The Rongai route ascends Kilimanjaro from the northeastern side of the mountain, along the border between Tanzania and Kenya. This route retains a sense of unspoilt wilderness and offers a different perspective of Kilimanjaro by approaching it from the north. The topography of the route does not allow for the application of the climb high and sleep low principle and hikers generally suffer more from altitude sickness on the Rongai route compared to other routes (an additional acclimatization day is highly recommended on this route). The Rongai route use the scree summiting path from Kibo hut to Gilman’s point and descend via the Marangu route. The main itinerary difference between the Rongai 6 day and 7 day routes is the additional acclimatization day at Mwenzi Tarn hat.

THE NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE: 9_8 DAYS
The Northern Circuit Route is one of the newer routes on Mt. Kilimanjaro, which follows the Lemosho trail in the beginning, approaching the mountain from the west. However instead of following the southern traverse like most other routes starting in the west, the Northern Circuit traverses the mountain around the northern slopes. Taking nine days to complete, it is the longest routes on the mountain but is also one of the quietest and rarely used routes making it an attractive option. The Northern Circuit is a wonderfully scenic track that is highly recommended for good acclimatization.

MOUNT KILIMANJARO UMBWE ROUTE 5_6 DAYS UMBWE ROUTE
The Umbwe Route is widely regarded as the hardest trail, a tough vertical slog through the jungle, in places using the tree roots as makeshift rungs on a ladder. Because of the high risks involved with sleeping at Arrow Glacier camp and summiting via the Western Breach, all our Umbwe route hikes are re-routed, to join with the Machame route from night 2 on the mountain. On special request, we can assist with Umbwe route hikes attempting to summit using the Western Breach/ Arrow Glacier path and overnight at the Crater camp. Please note this can only be arranged through our higher quality Standard packages and a supplement rate will apply. The main itinerary difference between the Umbwe 6 day and 7 day routes is the additional acclimatization day at Barranco camp.

NUMBER OF CREW ON KILIMANJARO:

Tour operators are expected to comply with KINAPA guide and porter regulations. Porters are responsible for carrying a trekkers gear as well as key items like tents; water and cooking supplies. The number of crew depends also on the number of trek days. The longer the route the more the number of porters. The shorter the route the less the number of porters. Also there are other factors like the weight of your luggage (we recommend to pack not more than 15kg/13Lbs) and addition of facilities.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CLIMB KILIMANJARO?

KILIMANJARO PACKING LIST.
So you’ve just booked your trip to Kilimanjaro. Throughout these years we have fine-tuned the perfect Kilimanjaro packing list to ensure you have everything you need without bringing extra/needless weight.
Wear your equipment in! If you are buying new equipment for your Kilimanjaro trek, make sure to have it worn in before you go! The last thing you want is blisters on your feet on the highest mountain in Africa.

FOOTWEAR

_Walking boots (boots mush be worn in before departure)
_Runners or sandals (to wear around the camp)
Mid-weight hiking socks, at least 3 pairs!
_Lightweight liner socks


CLOTHING

_Underwear (Synthetic rather than cotton is advisable)
_Shorts (Knee length or below)
_Lightweight trousers
Synthetic/Wool/Silk Long Johns (for night time and summit night)
_Waterproof trousers (make sure the trousers have zips to the knee at least)
_2 long sleeve base layers (synthetic, wool or silk)
_2 short sleeve base layers (synthetic, wool or silk)
_2 mid-weight fleece’s
A fleece hat
A buff


JACKETS

_A down jacket (heavy weight with a hood, at least 600g)
_Waterproof jacket
_Waterproof poncho


PREPARING FOR THE WEATHER

_Sunglasses
A sun hat with a wind brim
_Lightweight wool or synthetic liner gloves
_A pair of down mits


TREKKING EQUIPMENT

_Walking poles
_Rucksack (30-35 litres to carry equipment you need during the hike, such as snacks, lunch, jacket, camera and water)
_Duffel bag (90 litres, or large rucksack to carry your equipment. We recommend to use something strong as this is carried by the support team)
_Dry bags
Water bottles (2 x 1 litre nalgenes and 2 litre water bladder) *Disposable plastics water bottles are illegal on the mountain.


SLEEPING

_A warm sleeping bag (-15°C or lower)
A sleeping bag liner (not essential but help keeps
your sleeping bag clean and adds an extra season)


TOILETRIES & EXTRA’S

_Sun cream (at least factor 30)
_SPF lip balm
_Insect repellent
_Hand sanitisers
_Wet wipes
_Tooth brush
_Small towel for washing
_Head torch with spare batteries
_Clothes to wear after the hike
_Photocopy of travel _insurance and passport
_Your vaccination booklet
_Diamox (if you have decided to take it, tablet form not capsules)
_Personal supply of water purification tablets such as iodine or chlorine
_Swimming togs
_Ear plugs
_A camera
_Hand warmer sachets
_Personal snacks (such as sweets, energy bars and chocolate)


PERSONAL FIRST AID KIT

_Rehydration salts
_Plasters
_Compeed
_Ibuprofen
_Buscopan
_Throat lozenges
_Nazal spray
_Decongestant such as Sudafed
_Antibiotics suitable to treat traveller’s diarrhoea
Personal Medication (Malaria prophylaxis – consult with your GP)
Any medication that you carry on a daily basis
If you suffer from skin conditions, bring appropriate creams.


For grass / contact wearers we recommend both glasses and contact Lenses . Daily disposable Lenses rather than monthly.


OPTIMUM TIME FOR CLIMB MT KILIMANJARO

In short, you may climb the Mount all year round. Climbs during the dry season are more comfortable. The dry season spans the periods from the second half of from December till March and from June till November. At the same time, the rainy season has some advantages as well.

APRIL–MAY

The “big” rainy season starts at the end of March and continues until the middle of May. April marks the beginning of the coldest time of the year in Tanzania. These months are so dank and drizzle that some operators simply do not offer climbs in April/May at all.

JUNE–JULY

The frequency of rain gradually decreases. The weather on Kilimanjaro is fairly dry and clear but the nights are still bitter cold. June is usually quiet, sunny, and, in our opinion, much underrated in terms of climbing. It is an excellent idea to choose June for your adventure because of great weather and almost climbers-free routes. The number of climbers will be increasing as the year progresses. Starting from July the majority of the routes will be quite busy.

AUGUST–OCTOBER

The peak climbing season on Kilimanjaro is on August-September. The weather is particularly good for climbing: the days are clear and somewhat warmer than in June/July. At the same time it may be cloudy in the forest/moorland zone, as well as it may be rainy on the southern routes (Machame and Umbwe).However, once you leave the rain forest behind it will be sunny.

October is another unfairly ignored season: nice weather conditions last into mid-October and the number of climbers drops dramatically, giving you a good chance to enjoy Kilimanjaro treks almost alone. At the end of October, the weather becomes more changeable. As long as you are equipped to withstand the occasional shower, this should not present any major challenges.

NOVEMBER

November is the “small” rainy season. The rainy weather may last into mid-December. The temperatures have dropped and the moisture mist covers the Mount, making your climb more tricky and risky, yet more challenging and exciting. November might not be the best pick in terms of weather, but gives a great opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views of misty-covered Mount with its snow-capped peak, and to make some terrific pictures.

DECEMBER–JANUARY

Christmas and New Year are the second peak climbing season on Kilimanjaro. The climber’s traffic is extremely high, although there is a high chance of raining and thick clouding in the lower altitudes of Kilimanjaro.

JANUARY–MARCH

Mid-January to mid-March is very popular among climbers. The weather is perfectly balanced: it is neither too cold, nor too wet. The days are generally dry, though occasional rains may happen. The possibility of rain increases in the second half of March because the “big” wet season advances.