Kilimanjaro travel guide

Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro is a natural wonder. This snow-covered mountain sits close to the equator, a dormant volcano that’s also the world’s tallest free-standing mountain at 5,895m. And no holiday in Tanzania is complete without at least a glimpse of the peak towering above the surrounding countryside.

If you’re challenging yourself to tackle a climb of Kilimanjaro itself, you’ll ascend through five different climate zones, spotting some of the mountain’s unique flora and fauna, as well as soaking up some astonishing views out towards Mount Meru and down to the savanna.

But you needn’t trek to the Roof of Africa to enjoy visiting Kilimanjaro, with great cycling and trekking routes around the mountain’s base and in the lower slopes, plus plenty more to discover nearby.

Mount Kilimanjaro is set in Mount Kilimanjaro National Park in the north-east of Tanzania, near the border with Kenya – it’s actually closer to the Kenyan capital Nairobi than Tanzania’s own capital Dodoma. Most visitors fly in to Kilimanjaro International Airport and start their trip in Arusha or Moshi – the former is around two hours from the start of one of the main routes, while the latter is around an hour away.

The national park itself stretches for approximately 250 square miles, home to elephants and buffalo, as well as various monkeys and baboons, plus 179 species of bird. Mount Kilimanjaro sits at its heart, one of the ‘Seven Summits’, the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. As you gaze up, you can see three separate volcanic cones – Uhuru Peak on the Kibo crater rim is the summit for climbers at 5,895m, while Mawenzi reaches 5,149m and Shira is the shortest at 4,005m.

The countryside around Mount Kilimanjaro is well worth exploring, even if the climb isn’t on your own personal bucket list. Grab a bike and cycle through the surrounding villages to meet the Chagga, the people who’ve lived and worked this land for generations, as well as enjoying the views of lush green landscapes and rice fields stretching to the rainforest.

Or there are day hikes which don’t commit you to climbing all the way to the summit, such as the first stretch of the Marangu Route, as far as the Mandara Hut. The trail leads through rainforest and climbs steadily to 2,740m where you can stop for lunch before heading back down – the hike takes around three hours each way, so you can walk at your own pace and there’s no need to worry about acclimatising to altitude.

If you don’t fancy climbing at all, you’ll find some tempting hikes in the national park too, such as the route to the 80m-high Materuni waterfalls. Or visit some of the local villages and coffee plantations before learning about Tanzanian cuisine at a cooking class around Moshi, not far from the national park itself.

One of the world’s ‘Seven Summits’, the highest peak on each continent, Mount Kilimanjaro is considered one of the easiest to climb – although that’s not to say a 5,895m-tall mountain is ever an easy stroll! This isn’t classed as a technical climb, so you don’t need special equipment, but you will be hiking for six to seven hours a day for a minimum of five days and ascending to high altitude.

There are seven main routes which lead to the summit, with some being more appropriate for different levels of fitness and experience, and each taking a varying amount of time from five to nine days. One of the biggest differences is the difficulty of the summit night, with sudden ascents making this final climb much trickier.

The Marangu Route is by far the most popular, with around 50% of all climbers choosing this option – it also goes by the name of the Coca Cola route, as you can get the drink from the huts you stay in. Tempting for those who don’t want to camp, it’s one of the shorter routes at around 5-6 days, but there’s a steep rise in elevation at the final approach to the summit, so altitude sickness can be a bigger danger.

The Machame Route is the second-most popular route, but considered one of the most scenic. Nicknamed the Whiskey route, it’s another of the shorter climbs, taking six to seven days, but is one of the easier options as you hike high but sleep low, allowing your body to acclimatise. It also gives you a chance to experience all of Kilimanjaro’s different habits from dense forest that’s home to monkeys and chameleons to heathland, rocky volcanic terrain and an icy moonscape.

Along the way, you’ll get views of Mount Meru, stay at Barranco Camp in a dramatic gorge and enjoy the sunrise glistening on the glaciers at Stella Point as part of the final climb to the summit. This is our top pick for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Lemosho Route is considered the most scenic route to take, with a more remote starting point that ensures a quieter first day before it links to the Shira Route and then the Machame Route.

The Rongai Route is the only one which approaches from the north, and is another of the more remote trails which means fewer people and more chance of spotting wildlife. It’s also a gentler ascent, with the climb and return taking 6-7 days, and tends to be drier if you’re visiting during the rainier months.

The Shira Route is one of the trickier routes thanks to its high-altitude start at 3,500m, significantly higher than the Machame Gate. It then joins the Lemosho Route and Machame Route. The Northern Circuit also overlaps with the Lemosho Route to begin, before heading north, and is one of the longest trails but has one of the highest success rates too, as you’ll climb high and sleep low.

Finally, the Umbwe Route is the most direct option to the summit but as a result, it’s one of the hardest. The first few days are a steep trek and you’ll have less chance to acclimatise, so it’s better for climbers with more mountaineering experience and those who are comfortable with altitude, ideally who’ve already acclimatised at Mount Meru.

Whichever route you choose, you must be accompanied by a registered and licensed guide, and all climbers must register with the Parks Authority before setting out, as well as signing in when you reach camp. There’s no option to wild camp and the rules are firmly enforced.

You also need a climbing permit, which includes park entrance fees, a conservation fee, a fee for mountain rescue (mandatory even if not required) and hut fees for any routes featuring these. These are provided through your tour operator in advance, with most climbers accompanied by porters who’ll carry food, cooking equipment and tents.

The peak climbing season is during the driest months from June to October, but it’s also the busiest time and you can expect some very cold nights. June tends to be quieter, while the crowds die down from September if you’re hoping for good weather without it being too busy.

January to February is another good alternative, as this coincides with the shorter dry season between the rains. It’s also warmer during this period (although Kilimanjaro is always cold at night), and there’s good visibility – December is busier thanks to the Christmas holidays and the short rains haven’t finished so you have more chance of getting wet.

Climbing Kilimanjaro during the long rainy season from March to May isn’t ideal, as the trails become wet and muddy and you’re guaranteed to get rained on as you trek. The benefit is that there are far fewer people on the mountain, so you’ll have a quieter experience if the rainfall doesn’t faze you. The Rongai route is a good option if so, as it often stays drier.

Whenever you visit Kilimanjaro, you need to be prepared to experience a wide variety of temperatures, which can soar to 30C at the base during the day but drop to -20C at the summit at night. Expect temperatures to fall by around 6C for every 1,000m you climb.

For most people visiting Mount Kilimanjaro, your tour operator will organise porters to carry much of the equipment needed for cooking and sleeping, as well as providing some of the items you might need for the hike.

But having your own equipment that you’re comfortable with is a bonus, and you’ll also need to ensure you have the correct clothing and accessories. Waterproof, breathable hiking boots are essential, and it goes without saying that you need to have broken them in and tested them out thoroughly before you even get to Tanzania.

Quick-dry, breathable layers are key, including thermals for the nights and days hiking at altitude, and waterproof/windproof outer layers. Add in a fleece or down jacket as an extra layer as you climb, along with a warm hat and gloves, while zip-off trousers can be useful for the start and end of the trek when you’ll experience the warmest temperatures.

Don’t forget high-factor SPF and sunglasses, as you’ll be exposed to intense African sun even on the coldest stretches, plus a cap for protection on the lower stretches when you don’t need anything too warm. High-energy hiking snacks, a waterproof backpack with hydration sack, and head torch will also come in useful too. Otherwise, try to limit the possessions you need to carry, although save space for a small first aid kit including plasters and blister treatments, basic toiletries and a camera. Depending on the sleep gear provided, an inflatable pillow, eye mask and a few other lightweight luxuries to help you sleep are worth their weight in gold after a long day trekking.

No-one is quite sure where the name Kilimanjaro comes from, with various theories to explain it. The Chagga people who live in the area don’t have a single name for the mountain, calling the peaks Kipoo and Kimawenze. These are usually referred to as Kibo and Mawenzi in English, with the names meaning ‘spotted’ for Kibo’s snowy patches and ‘broken top’ for Mawenzi’s jagged peak.

Some people suggest that the name comes from a combination of two words, including the Swahili Kilima (meaning mountain or, more usually, hill) and the KiChagga word Njaro (translated as whiteness or shining).

Since Tanzania was formed in 1964, the summit has officially been renamed Uhuru Peak, or Freedom Peak in Swahili.