Which one is the best route for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro?
There really are not many climbing routes on Kilimanjaro. 99.9% of folks going up Kilimanjaro are trekking up, (If you aren���t familiar there is a big distinction) and this has always been the case. The climbing is also pretty low quality involved steep scree bashing, or hauling oneself up decaying glaciers. Most folks interested in alpine climbing in Sub-Saharan Africa will head for Mt. Kenya. Kili just isn’t fun to climb for the most part.The only true climbing route that is any good on the peak would the Breach Wall Direct via the Baletto Icefield, and up the Breach wall. Moderate snowfields give way to one to two pitches of plasticky looking WI4. Not super challenging for an intermediate ice climber, or beginner alpinist, though perhaps a solid objective for a mountaineering party.Of course the ice is getting sparser by the day.Will Gadd actually did a ice climbing trip on the summit plateau to raise awareness of climate change:
How can I find a reliable tour operator for Mt. Kilimanjaro?
I’ve put together a list of the most popular/highly rated tour guides..International Guide ServicesPeak Planet (U.S based)Price est: $2375 for 6 day Rongai, $3,025 for 8 day LemoshoMember of Kilimanjaro’s Porter Assistance Project (KPAP)Includes portable toilet tentTeam Kilimanjaro (U.K)Prices est: $2,316 for 6 day Rongai, $2,952 for 8 day LemoshoOffer ‘lite’ options for climbers who want to be more self-sufficient (at a reduced cost)707 mountain staff, offers a huge range of options and flexibilityClimb KiliCost est: $2,230 for 7 day Machame, $2,490 for 8 day LemoshoWelcome package w/journal, tips etc.. (nice perk)Portable chemical toiletsLocal Guide ServicesAmani AfrikaPrice est:$1,778 for Rongai 6 day, $2,468 for Lemosho 8 day (8 person group)Doesn’t include accommodation before & after climbKaribu AdventuresPrice est: $1575 for 6 day Rongai, $1,999 for 8 day LemoshoProvide Sleeping bag, trekking poles & other necessary gear such as down jacket, water bottles etc.. at no extra costTwice a day health check up (pulse & oxygen monitoring)Tro-PeaksYou can check out the full Kilimanjaro climbing guide at 7summitsproject
Which best describe mount kilimanjaro?
I climbed Kilimanjaro when I was a kid with my parents, other tourists, and guides. It is actually two, always snow-capped peaks. One is Mawenzi at 17,564 ft/5,354 m. The other is the highest mountain in Africa, Kibo, at 19,340 ft/5,895 m. Both peaks are far above tree line and have virtually no other plant life. The correct answer is A. If you ever get a chance to go to Tanzania, try climbing this famous extinct volcano. Tourists must hire a guide. It is not a dangerous climb, but 2 things make it difficult: The high elevation can make breathing problematic. The steep slope is mostly covered with gravel-like rocks, so when you take a step forward, your foot sinks back about half the step. You wind up hiking twice as far as the distance really is. And my damn camera froze because of the extreme cold!
What should I keep in mind when planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
I’ve only climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro once, but theses are things that would have been nice to know before climbing the tallest free standing mountain in the world.It is not technical at all, just a very, very, long hike. If you can handle the altitude, you can make it to the top. The summit attempt just might take all day if you aren’t in shape though.There is no way to anticipate how your body will respond to high altitude if you’ve never been above 15,000 feet (which is likely if you live in the US, since the 48 states don’t have a single peak that reaches 15,000 feet.) Hiking at high altitude if possible and increasing your VO2 Max are are both good ideas to decrease your chances of getting altitude sickness while on the mountain.Bring good stiff hiking boots that are already broken in.Use a reputable guide service. We used Climb Kilimanjaro with Team Kilimanjaro - any dates, group size and routes which is managed by Europeans although the guides are all locals. Best of both worlds as far as I’m concerned, because the cost was a third that of bringing an expat guide and I think the experience was more authentic while still feeling very safe throughout the whole adventure.Have your doctor prescribe you Diamox to deal with the high altitude. Take starting the first day of the climb. Seriously, just take it, don’t try to be tough. My father-in-law and my wife both took Diamox and they had no problems with altitude, I however was an idiot and felt great until 17,000 feet on the summit attempt when I was hit with a wave of nausea. I threw up and couldn’t hold anything else down until after we hit the the summit and started to descend while my family members just smiled and took pictures.Bring a camera, keep it next to your body or it won’t turn on for the money shot:Bonus tip: Make sure you book an extra week for a Safari after, the Serengeti is only a two hour drive from the base of Kilimanjaro.I wrote about my entire experience here: Fighting for Air on the Top of Mt. Kilimanjaro
How hard is it to hike/trek Mount Kilimanjaro?
Mount Kilimanjaro requires no technical climbing skills and is considered a “safe” mountain. However, climbing Kilimanjaro exposes your body and mind to a number of challenges. On your way to the top, expect to hike about 4-7h per day and around 10-13h on summit day.Hike, eat, sleep, repeat…But that’s just the physical challenge. In addition, your body is also exposed to altitude and needs time to acclimatise. Some routes offer a better acclimatisation profile than others. Here is an article with an overview of all Kilimanjaro routes. Machame or Lemosho route are popular choices due to their acclimatisation profile and higher success rate. Both routes go early (day 3) up to 4600m and then down again to 3900m. What’s called “Hike high sleep low” is an important concept to acclimatise efficiently.Lunch break at Lava Tower on day 3 at 4600mThe third challenge for your body (beside the hiking and the high altitude) are temperature fluctuations and camping below 0 degrees celsius. Once the sun sets, temperatures go down quickly below 0.Campsite on Kilimanjaro during the night (summit in sight..)That being said, I’d say that any person with good physical and mental fitness and the right attitude is able to summit Kilimanjaro. But be aware of the above factors (physical challenge, altitude, temperature) and know how to mitigate them. I.e. get yourself solid gear, take the right safety measures and prepare physically for the climb. You should be all set then for an adventure of a lifetime.