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Climb Kilimanjaro
Mt Kilimanjaro rises imposingly from the rolling plains
of East Africa over three vertical miles below. The
highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding
mountain in the world, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is
the ultimate experience for every mountaineer and trekker
in the world.
Check out the Kilimanjaro holidays on the right or read the artilce below to find out more. You can short cut using the links above or straight to the costs here
Introduction
The beauty of Mt. Kilimanjaro is that it can be enjoyed by everyone. Located at the north/eastern tip of Tanzania, its 5,895m Peak is the highest place on earth reachable without technical climbing equipment. With nine separate routes to reach the summit, the snow capped Uhuru Peak glimmering in the sun is within achievable reach for climbers, hikers and adventurous people of all abilities.
If you are looking for the more extreme experience, an intensely challenging climb, and sleeping in caves then the Umbwe route is for you. However for those with a little more love for their bed there is the Maragu route, a direct line to the summit lined with huts and shops, you can even buy a beer to sip while watching the breathtaking sunset.
It is a giant stratovolcano, currently not active, with fumaroles that emit gas in the crater on the main summit of Kibo. Imagine traversing from cultivated lower slopes, through tropical Rain Forest, across the Savannah, up Alpine Dessert and reaching the Ice capped summit. Home to an enormous diversity of wildlife, from buffalo’s to jackals, even a frozen leopard in the highest slopes.
Standing on the ‘Roof of Africa’, watching dawn break over our world, is what can only be described as a truly awe-inspiring experience.
Climate
With exception of the two rainy seasons, from April to June and in November, Mt Kilimanjaro provides an exciting Mecca of weather almost all year round. From 30°C to -25°C at night you will need to be prepared for all eventualities
Mid-December, Jan, Feb and March are the warmest months, almost clear of clouds. April and early May could get heavy rain or snow, but is good if you want a quiet clear mountain. By late June, July and through August it can be very cold at night but the sky is clear above 3000 metres so there are great views. Through September and October it gets steadily warmer. October is particularly good if you want little or no rain, mild weather and few people on the mountain. November to mid-December is the short rains season. Possibly afternoon thunderstorms but tends to clear in evening with good views at night and mornings. There can be heavy snow towards the summit. Which is snow capped all year round. The weather on and around Kilimanjaro is highly changeable and you should be prepared to experience very changeable weather at any time of the year.
When to Climb
Kilimanjaro can be trekked all year, with advantages
and disadvantages each month. In particular, Christmas
and New Year are usually fully booked and there are
two rainy seasons which are best avoided, April - May
and November.
Best Times to Visit Tanzania:
Northern Tanzania
July through October; December through March
Southern Tanzania
June through October
Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia
July through October; December through March
Western Tanzania
May through October
Who can climb Kilimanjaro?
Kilimanjaro is the highest peak reachable without any technical climbing equipment which means that it is a possibility for anyone to successfully reach the summit. Having said that it is by no means an walk in the park, all Kilimanjaro treks are challenging and you will need a good level of fitness. This is a camping trip and although it is well equipped bathroom facilities are limited and you need to be comfortable with not having a shower. You will need to prepare for very variable temperatures, from hot to extremely cold.
Standing on the Roof of Africa
Is truly an unforgettable experience. From the summit of Kilimanjaro, "The roof of Africa", you can see 200 miles in all directions. It is so high that you can even see the curvature of the earth, something most people will never see.
At the summit, there is a sign posted by the Tanzanian government. The sign reads "Congratulations! You are now at Uhuru Peak, Tanzania, 5,895 metres Africa's Highest Point. World's Highest Free-Standing Mountain. One of World's Largest Volcano. Welcome." The sign is covered in travel stickers from past trekkers who have left their mark on the top of the peak. Near this famous sign is a box containing a log that many climbers have signed. Don’t forget to take your sticker!
Which route to take?
Marangu Route
The main tourist route
and by far the most popular route and some claim the
easiest route to Uhuru Peak.,
known as the ‘Coca-cola’ route. This is
the only route, which provides comfortable sleeping
huts, equipped with beds and mattresses at every campsite.
Mineral water, soft drinks, beer and chocolates are
also sold at every camp. All the camps on this route
have radio contact with the Park Headquarters. Marangu
is very busy but no longer has the highest traffic
on
the mountain. It does have the disadvantage of being
the only route which goes up and back the same way.
But traffic on Marangu remains high and the effect
of
this traffic is doubled by the two way nature of the
path, so it still seems the most crowded route.
Machame Route
This is probably the most scenic and most beautiful
route to the summit. The day walks are longer and steeper.
The scenic traverse of the Western Breach offers some
stunning views! Only tented accommodation is available,
which can be less comfortable and will require a good
sleeping bag and hiking mattress. This route is for
climbers who are very confident about their fitness,
not worried about the high traffic levels and happy
to camp out in adverse conditions. It does now have
the highest traffic of all routes on the mountain climbs
and is best avoided in peak times and in the rainy season.
Umbwe Route
This route is one of the shorter but also one of the
more difficult routes to reach Uhuru peak. However it
can be quiet spectacular. Umbwe particularly well known
for its caves. The first night you actually sleep at
the Umbwe Cave Camp with two more caves that can be
visited on route the following day. It is also sometimes
used as a descending route.
Shira Route
The Shira Plateau is one of the most scenic and most
fascinating areas on Kilimanjaro. Depending on the weather
conditions you can drive by 4 wheel drive vehicles,
to within a 1/2 hours walk of Shira Hut (4000m). Even
this drive is very spectacular indeed and offers some
magnificent views of Mt Meru and the Great Rift Valley
in general. Game is often sighted and the road features
some striking vegetation changes ranging from forest,
grassland, heath to moorland. The fast ascend by vehicle
to about 4000m will require additional acclimatisation,
after which it will be possible to ascend Uhuru Peak
either via the Western Breach or via the Barafu hut.
Mweka Route
This route can only be use as a descending route for
all the western routes.
Lemosho Route
It is a remote, unspoiled and very beautiful route to
the summit. The forest around the Lemosho Glades is
rich in big game animals such as elephant and buffalo,
which may sometimes require a game ranger to accompany
climbers on the first day. This route is however a long
route which requires 7-days for a comfortable completion,
which also makes it more expensive.
Rongai (Naro Moru) Route
You can start this route from both the Tanzanian side
of the border or from Rongai in Kenya, but all park
fees and arrangements must be made at the Marangu gate.
The route may only be used for ascend and the Marangu
route must be used for descend. There are several big
caves along the route, which are used by the porters
overnight for the first two nights. This lesser known
track may not be quite as spectacular as the western
routes, but it does usually have far lower traffic than
the other routes. It is generally considered to be the
easiest of the quality routes on the mountain. Rongai
has the lowest traffic of any non-specialist five night
routes and passes through a genuinely remote wilderness
are for the first few days.
Western Breach / Arrow Glacier
An alternative final ascend route which can be taken
from all of the western routes, sleeping at magnificent
Arrow Glacier on your summit night. The western Breach
poses a very difficult walk up steep scree with some
rock scrambling occasionally required. Snow cover makes
scree easier but an ice axe is then required. It is
also possible to sleep an extra night inside the Kibo
Crater!
Visas for Tanzania
You must obtain a visa in advance to enter the United Republic of Tanzania, particularly if you are proceeding to Tanzania from a country where there is a Tanzanian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to issue visas.
Certain visitors, however, who proceed to United Republic of Tanzania from a country where there is NO Tanzanian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to issue a visa, nor can they easily obtain such a visa from a nearest Tanzania Visa Office in their region, can proceed to Tanzania and obtain a visa at one of the four point of entries in Tanzania. These are:
- Dar-es-Salaam International Airport, i.e. DIA
- Kilimanjaro International Airport, i.e. KIA
- Zanzibar International Airport, i.e. ZIA
- Namanga boarder crossing point, between Tanzania and
Kenya.
British residents require a visa in order to enter Tanzania. The Visa Section of the Tanzania High Commission in London is open from 10:00-12:30 Monday- Friday, and can be contacted by calling 0207 408 4063 for all visa applications logged at the High Commission in person and on 0207 408 4078 for all postal visa applicants or:
How Much Does it Cost?
Organised group treks can cost anything from £650 ($947) to £2000 ($2915) depending on route, length and inclusively. Some include flights from London, but many don’t, so be sure to check the included extra’s before necessarily settling for the cheapest.
The Marangu route is probably the easiest and most popular, with a 10 day trek with explore costing approximately £1129 ($1642), this includes flights from London, accommodation in hotels and mountain huts as well as meals. However a local payment of £449 ($653) must also be paid on arrival; this is for necessities such as park fees, guides, fuel and food for the duration of the trip.
For a tour with a little added extra iexplore Offers a similar, if shorter, trek for £1246 ($1813). This 7 day trek does not include international flights, but does offer airport meetings and transfers, Kilimanjaro climb fees, all safety equipment, portage of bags, top quality food and 3 litres of water per day, plus an English speaking guide and chef.
For the more adventurous traveller looking for a more challenging climb, the Shira and Macheme routes offer great adventure and value for money.
One of the cheapest is from Kumuka Worldwide who offer an eight day trek on the Machame route for £650 ($946). This does not include flights and a local payment of £399 ($580) must be paid on top of this. However, all meals and accommodation are catered for.
Another similar trek is with The Adventure Company. £1199 ($1744) plus a local payment of £399 ($580) will give you a 10 day trek including international flights as well as food an accommodation.
However, not all of us like to rough it, so if you have a little extra cash to spend there are group tours which include luxuries such as private, flushing toilets and top quality food. Iexplore offers all this, plus cover for all government taxes, safety equipment, water and comfortable tents. This will set you back £1436 ($2089), but unfortunately does not include flights within the package.
For a more scenic route, though equally as challenging, you could embark on the Shira route. This is one of the most expensive, but offers truly spectacular views and a challenging climb. Most adventure companies do not offer flights with this package and prices begin at £1155 ($1680) for a 7 day trek, and £1292 ($1880) for 9 days. Kilimanjaro Travel Adventure Services and Kilimanjaro Tanzanite Safaris both offer these with food, water, accommodation, tents, safety and park fees included.
If you have already chosen a package non-inclusive of flights don’t panic! Internal flights are easily booked, from as little as £116 ($169) from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro and £156 ($227) from Dar-es- Salaam (Tanzania) to Arusha
Cheap international flights are available from airlines as reputable as Virgin Atlantic at only £299 ($436) though they can be as expensive as £1400 ($2041), so be sure to book early.
People
The history of human habitation in Tanzania goes back
almost two million years. There is evidence that communities
along the Tanzanian coast were engaging in overseas
trade by the beginning of the first millennium AD. By
900 AD those communities had attracted immigrants from
India as well as from southwest Asia, and direct trade
extended as far as China. When the Portuguese arrived
at the end of the 15th century, they found a major trade
center at Kilwa Kisiwani, which they promptly subjugated
and then sacked. The Portuguese were expelled from the
region in 1698, after Kilwa enlisted the help of Omani
Arabs. The Omani dynasty of the Bu Said replaced the
region's Yarubi leaders in 1741, and they proceeded
to further develop trade. It was during this time that
Zanzibar gained its legendary status as a center for
the ivory and slave trade, becoming in 1841 the capital
city of the sultan of Oman.
In Tanzania's interior, at about the same time, the cattle-grazing Maasai migrated south from Kenya into central Tanzania. Soon afterward the great age of European exploration of the African continent began, and with it came colonial domination. Tanzania fell under German control in 1886, but was handed over to Britain after WWI. Present day Tanzania is the result of a merger between the mainland (previously Tanganyika) and Zanzibar in 1964, after both had gained independence. Tanzania has like many African nations experienced considerable strife since independence, and its economy is extremely weak. However, political stability does appear to have been established in recent years.
Kit List – Kilimanjaro
You will need three bags with you for the trek:
Day Sack to carry daily items (camera, sun cream, waterproofs
etc)
Kit Bag for the porters to carry your clothes and sleeping
bag e.tc up the mountain. Ideally a soft sports bag
preferably waterproof.
Spare small kit bag to leave any excess clothing at
the hotel.
Equipment:
Hiking Boots – make sure they are well worn in
and must be waterproof.
Lightweight shoes - to wear in the evening, before and
after trek.
Sleeping bag and Inner sheet – 5 degrees or more
"Therm–a-rest" Mattress
Sunscreen – at least factor 15
Water Bottle – at least 2 litre capacity, bring
Purifying tablets
Waterproofs – Trousers, Jacket and Gaiters (Breathable,
Jacket must have a hood )
Sun Hat
Towel ( small)
Pocket Knife
Sunglasses
Torch
Toiletries ( including Lip protection and toilet paper)
Medical Kit
Camera
Rubbish Bags - sufficient to wrap ALL your clothes INSIDE
to protect against he rain - at least 10 of each!
Trail 'munchies' - bring along your favourites - chocolates,
nuts, etc.
Clothes
Cotton Shorts
T- Shirts
Warm Clothes that can be layered ( gloves / hat / fleece
/ thermal underwear/scarf)
Trousers – lightweight for colder days
