14 May2024
Mount Kilimanjaro hiking
Are you a hiking person who enjoys a good adventure? Then the Mount Kilimanjaro hiking would be a great challenge. In this post I’ll tell you the most important information about Kilimanjaro trek, when to do it and with whom to book it.
Mount Kilimanjaro hiking
More than 40,000 people visit Kilimanjaro every year.
Mount Kilimanjaro location and facts
Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the Kilimanjaro National Park in Tanzania in Eastern Africa. It’s a volcano consisting of 3 distinct volcanic cones: Kibo (the highest cone, dormant), Mawenzi (mid, extinct volcano) and Shira (the lowest cone, extinct volcano).
Kibo cone is 24 km wide and as a dormant volcano could erupt again. It’s covered with ice glaciers and snow which are disappearing year by year, and unfortunately could disappear completely until 2035. This makes Mount Kilimanjaro not just a major hiking destination but also the subject of several scientific studies.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa but also the highest single freestanding mountain in the world. Its 5,895 m above sea level (19,341 ft) make it also the highest volcano in Eastern Hemispehere.
Mount Kilimanjaro hiking
How and when to get to Kilimanjaro
Or Arusha or Moshi in Tanzania are your starting points for Mount Kilimanjaro hiking. It’s possible to get there overland from other parts of Tanzania or from surrounding African countries.
However, if you are short on time, then your best option would be to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport KIA. The airport can be found in Northern Tanzania not far from the border with Kenya. Please remember to check your visa and other requirements before flying into Tanzania.
I was told that the most popular time for Mount Kilimanjaro hiking is from August to October which are the dry months there. January to March seem to be just as great. August, September, January and February tend to be most crowded months.
But to be honest, Kilimanjaro can be trekked all year round. It would just be less comfortable and safe to do it in rainy season.
Mount Kilimanjaro routes
You can choose different routes for your Mount Kilimanjaro hike. The most popular are definitely Marangu, Machame and Lemosho. Both Machame and Lemosho are approximately a week long which gives you enough time to acclimatize when asscending.
Lemosho seems to be the best route while Machame the second favorite one. Did you know that after day 3 the Lemosho route joins the Machame route?
Choosing at least a 7-day expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro is very recommended for proper acclimatization.
Technical climbing skills are not necessary but you will need to be physically fit to reach the summit. I am sure it will also challenge you mentally.
With whom to book an expedition
Let me start saying that since 1991 all hikers to Kilimanjaro have to be accompanied by a licensed and registered tour guide. You cannot hike it on your own.
There’s many different companies to book your Kilimanjaro expedition with. For African safari and Kilimanjaro climbing I can recommend Altezza Travel.
Some facts about Altezza Travel:
- Altezza is a leading tour operator and #1 on TripAdvisor in Tanzania who organize Kilimanjaro expeditions and safari adventures with a strong emphasis on safety, quality and comfort.
- Their operations office is located straight on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Machame area, near Moshi town. That’s a perfect location to be always in full command of hiking and safari tours.
- Altezza Travel is the largest tour operator in Kilimanjaro with 200-men well-trained ground team.
- They are one of the largest outfitters and run 15% of all Kilimanjaro climbing expeditions.
- They have Kilimanjaro group tours every 2 to 3 days.
- They will make your vacation in Tanzania not only memorable, but most of all comfortable and safe. When speaking of Kilimanjaro, safety should be on top of your list, right?
Maybe you’re asking about the price of the Kilimanjaro hiking expeditions? It usually costs $2,000 to $2,300 per person.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is the ultimate adventure high on top of my bucket list and I really hope that one day I’ll feel fit and courageous enough to hike the highest African mount. If you would like to climb Kilimanjaro as well, hope this article was helpful.
TIP 1: Visiting Tanzania? Then you should also spend some time on Zanzibar island in the Indian Ocean. I spent 7 weeks there in early 2024 and here’s a detailed report about my expenses on Zanzibar.
TIP 2: If you are looking for a more chilled part of Zanzibar, famous for digital nomads, kitesurfers and backpackers, then you should visit Paje town. Check my Paje guide before going there.
