Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro takes you to conquer the highest mountain in Africa. Mount Kilimanjaro is part of the Kilimanjaro National Park which is found Northern Tanzania. The mountain covers an area of about 100 square kilometers and is 65 kilometers wide. Formed about three millions years (Around the time the East African Rift Valley was formed), Mount Kilimanjaro consists of 3 distinct cones – Kibo, Shira and Mawenzi. The last major volcanic activity occurred 200 years ago leading to the formation of Kibo. Whereas Shira and Mawenzi are extinct, Kibo remains dormant. Uhuru is the highest peak/summit.
There are several legends and myth told about the mountain. Some allege that mountain gorillas once live in the forests on the lower slopes of the mountain. The Chagga people believe that pygmies still live in the unreachable ravines and caves found on the mountain slopes. Some of the local tribes had even believed that the snow covering the mountain was the throne of God because of its whitish color. The origin and meaning of the name Kilimanjaro remains a mystery to this day. Whereas many of the local tribes like the Wakamba and Kikuyu had names for the mountain, the actual name is believed to have been derived from the Swahili speaking traders living in Mombasa. These traders organized large trade caravans to the interior and used the mountain as a landmark to find direction.
The first Europeans to reach the summit of the mysterious mountain were Ludwig Purtscheller and Hans Meyer. Their achievement came after failed attempts by Richard Thornton in 1861, Otto Kersten (1862) and Baron Von der Decken (1862). As of now, many prominent mountain climbers and personalities have conquered Kilimanjaro including the former US president Jimmy Carter in 1988 and Stuart Udall (US Secretary of Interior) in 1963. You can read more facts about Mount Kilimanjaro or Hiking Mount Elgon in Uganda.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is an amazing and rewarding experience. It is on the bucket list of millions of travelers around the world. The challenge of climbing and exploring the mountain captures the imagination of many travelers around the world. Apart from wildlife safaris, Mount Kilimanjaro and its towering snow-caped peaks are one of the things people think of when you mention Africa. Every year, over 30,000 people attempt to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Why is Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro so popular?
The highest free-standing Mountain on Earth: Mount Kilimanjaro is a not just the highest peak in Africa but also the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Getting to the summit is therefore an individual accomplishment like a graduation or marriage that lives with one for the rest of their life.
Natural wonder: Mount Kilimanjaro has been considered by many as one of the greatest Natural Wonders in the World. This is because of the great views from the summit and the fact that it provides a feeling of having walked from the equator to the North Pole.
An easier climb: Kilimanjaro is the easiest to climb among the 7 major mountains on the world. You don’t need any special skills or prior experience to get to the summit. Beginners and those with basic physical fitness can reach the top if they are mentally prepared. The oldest climber was 86 years old and 
the youngest six. That said, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro will turn out to be the most difficult thing to ever do for most climbers.
Mount Kilimanjaro is easily accessible: Though located in a remote part of the country, travelers can easily access Mount Kilimanjaro National Park by road or air. Most travelers land at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha after a stop-over in either Jomo Kenyatta International Airport of Nairobi Kenya or Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam Tanzania.
Giving back to the community: Climbing is an indirect way of helping a developing country. The government of Tanzania generates over $25 million each year. That might sound like a small amount in some countries but it makes a great difference in a developing country. Moreover, jobs are created for people working in hotels and tour companies (porters and park Guides).
High quality services: The infrastructure in Kilimanjaro is of high quality and well maintained unlike Everest which can be full of trash. All routes leading to the summit are well-marked and world class. Hikers can hire or buy high quality gear at the starting point or through their tour operator. The transport systems to and from the starting point is also excellent. We should also mention that the Guides, porters and Park Rangers are very professional and well-trained.
Climbing a mountain with 7 climatic zones: It is not every day that one gets a chance to experience 7 climatic zones within the same geographic area. The journey to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro will involve going through farmlands, rain forests, moorlands, alpine deserts and the glacier filled summit. Hikers never get bored because every section of the climb has got something different.
Opportunities for amazing photography: If you love photography and nature, then hiking Mount Kilimanjaro should be on your bucket list. You will be stunned by the overall scenery, vegetation, wildlife and landscape. The mountain is part of the Kilimanjaro National Park which is home to 140 mammals, birds and primates. While climbing the lower slopes, there are chance encounters with baboons, black rhinos, blue monkeys, bushbucks, buffaloes, bush babies, colobus monkeys, duikers, elands, giraffes, honey badgers, leopards, lions, mice, spiders and tree hyraxes. As you climb higher, expect to find unique plants and vegetation including the rare Kilimanjaro tree.
What is it like hiking Mount Kilimanjaro?
The first thing to do when planning to hike Mount Kilimanjaro is to look for a reputable tour company. The tour company should be in position to advice you on how to prepare for the hike. Things like the route to be followed, packing list, visa requirements, inoculations, hotels before and after hiking should be resolved before making a booking. The tour operator should ensure that climbing equipment is arranged on ground before your arrival.
The next thing is to show up. There are 3 main international airports in Tanzania – Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar Airports. Kilimanjaro International airport is the closest to the park. Most tourists first make a stop in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or Nairobi international Airport in Kenya before landing in Kilimanjaro airport. From Kilimanjaro international airport, travelers may spend a night in Arusha or Moshi before showing up at the park the next day. There is also an option of spending the night close to the park and the starting point of the hike. The distance from Moshi to the park is 42 kilometers while from Arusha it is 50 kilometers.
Before starting the hike, there is a briefing where you meet the local Guide leading the team, other hikers who will be in your group (if any), the porters and cooks. This briefing covers everything there is to know about the hike including how to prepare mentally, what to carry and evacuation plans. It is also the best time to hire any gear and equipment that you may not have. A single hiking team usually consists of 
between 6 to 12 hikers from countries across the globe who are ready to have fun and share the experience with you. Tour companies will connect single hikers to other hikers in their age group. If you want a private hike with only yourself (or partner), let your tour company know that in advance.
The porters are responsible for carrying supplies, pulse oximeters, supplementary oxygen, sleeping tents, sitting stools, mobile toilets, first aid kits, gas bottles, sleeping bags, pillows and other equipment. They will also help you climb the difficult sections and carry your backpack. The cooks will prepare food which is locally sourced, very nutritious and will include snacks, fruits, meat and those for vegetarians.
There are six main routes for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. They include Lemosho, Rongai, Marangu, Umbwe, Machame, Shira and Northern Circuit. Umbwe is the hardest, shortest and steepest. The difficulty level is high and climbing takes between 7 to 8 days. Lemosho is the most scenic but it takes between 7 to 8 days to complete it. Shira is the route leading directly to the highest point with a 
medium difficulty level. Completing the hike using the Shira route takes between 7 to 8 days. The most popular route is Machame which takes 6 to 8 days. Rongai on the other hand is the easiest of all the routes but still takes between 6 to 7 days to complete. The newest route is the Northern Circuit taking between 9 to 10 days and with a high difficulty level. Last but not least is the Marangu route which takes between 5 to 6 days. The Marangu route has a low difficulty level and is the only one with hut accommodations.
If you are a first time climber, we recommend you choose the Machame and Lemosho routes. Those two routes offer the right balance of smaller crowds, beautiful scenery and high success rate. An important thing to keep in mind when choosing your route is that not all who attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro succeed in reaching the summit. The first two days will determine if you will get to the top regardless of the route. It is therefore important to take things slow even if you feel great.
As you start climbing the mountain, expect to go through different climatic zones. There is the montane forest zone, moorland zone, alpine desert and the snow-covered summit. Between 1,850 to 2,800 meters, hikers will encounter green montane forests which are home to several primates, birds and large mammals. As one climbs higher (about 3,200 meters), they would have reached moorland zone. This zone is characterized by giant lobelias and giant heather. From about 4,000 meters, a completely new climatic zone is experienced consisting of alpine desert. This is where things begin to get tough and some hikers may begin to get affected by altitude sickness. This climatic zone supports fewer wildlife and plants because of the harsh conditions and loose sand. The final zone This final zone is the steepest and most challenging to hike. It resembles a typical winter wonderland and stretches all the way up to the summit. Expect a lot of snow and ice.
The final ascent usually starts at midnight and involves crawling up to the summit with a headlamp to see what is ahead. All your crawling efforts will be worth it once you get to the crater rim early in the morning. On reaching the crater summit, there is a short break to observe the horizon and gather some strength. After that you go straight to the summit and take photos or videos. After getting over the excitement of reaching the summit, you still have content with the task of climbing down the tallest mountain in Africa. Whereas descending is less demanding, it is also the time when most accidents occur. Because that, you need to be more careful with your footing while climbing down.
Best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is located along the equator and because of that receives hikers throughout the year. However, like most countries along the equator, Tanzania has two rain and two dry seasons. The best time to climb the mountain is during the dry seasons (January to March and June to October). The dry season is excellent for first time climbers because the rains are less. The skies are also clearer and there is less snow. We highly recommend January to March because there are fewer hikers. June to October is a time when most tourists travel to Africa for safaris. The mountain can get so busy and with many hikers around that time.
April to May are considered wet seasons because of the rains. Many hikers try to avoid climbing the mountain during these two months. However, showers should be expected at any time of the year given the different climatic conditions around the mountain. Mountain climbers avoid the rainy season because it reduces visibility while up the mountain and the trails get slippery or even muddy. However, there are those who choose to hike the mountain during the rainy season to avoid the crowds that come during the peak season.
The cost of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
What is the cost of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro? Unfortunately, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is not cheap. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro costs between $2,000 to $3,500 per person depending on the route you choose to take. Some tour companies offer less but that could affect the quality of the hike and reduce your chances of completing the hike. The money collected is used to pay staff (including a Guide, porters and cooks), safety equipment, maintain hygiene and acquire other supplies. The overall cost also includes park entrance fees which costs about $60 per person. There are also camping/hut fees that can cost about $50 per night. Then there is the rescue fee of about $20 per hike. Hiking in a group can reduce the cost of the hiking Mount Kilimanjaro significantly.
Additional Information about hiking Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is the 4th highest mountain in the world. Mount Everest is the highest followed by Aconcagua and Denali. The fifth highest mountain is Mount Vinson while the sixth is Mount Kosciuszko of Australia. Although any moderately fit person can climb Mount Kilimanjaro, it is recommended that hikers prepare mentally and physically before arriving in Tanzania. Do some physical exercises (hiking in your home area and doing aerobics) for between two to four weeks so that you are in the best possible condition. Prepare mentally to deal with the effects of being in high altitude.
About 30,000 people attempt to get to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro every year. Your chance of getting to the summit successfully depends on the number of days you take climbing. If you opt for more days, you have a great chance of getting to the top because the body has time to adapt to high altitude. In 
general, the success rate is over 84%. Low budget travelers who are tempted to rush their ascent to avoid the daily park charges should know that it could lead to failure.
Between 3 to 10 people die climbing Mount Kilimanjaro every year. Some believe the numbers higher because porter deaths are not included. It is only the Park authorities who know the exact figure. Most deaths are as a result of hypothermia or altitude sickness. Deaths are also caused by an onset of malaria while already in the middle of the mountain.
What clothing should you pack? Ensure that you pack suitable underwear, long socks, hand gloves and long-sleeve shirts. You should also consider a warm jacket, waterproof jackets and a sweater. You will also need hiking boots which are waterproof and warm. Other items to consider in your parking list for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro include sunscreen, pain killers, platers, anti-nausea tablets, water purification tablets, eye drops, malaria prophylaxis and anti-inflammatory tablets.
Remember to ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months before arriving in Tanzania. You will also need a Tanzanian Visa. It is also possible to obtain the Tanzanian VISA from the airport on arrival but you need to confirm if your country is eligible with the nearest Tanzanian embassy.
You will be required to show a yellow fever vaccination card in case you are coming from a country that is considered to be high risk. Visit your doctor before traveling to Tanzania and discuss about vaccinations for typhoid, Hepatitis B/A, tetanus, measles, rubella, polio and mumps. Do not forget to travel with any special medications you need.
There are no showers while hiking the mountain. Warm water is provided in a large bowl to wash the face and hands. The rest of the body can be cleaned with wet wipes. Private toilets are available in 
campsites along the trail. Accommodation while climbing the mountain are in form of modern dome-style tents which can take about three people.
Although good tour companies pay their workers well by local standards, It’s considered a kind gesture to give tip to the porters, cooks, guides and anyone who helped ensure that you had an amazing time during the hike. Remember that you your safety and life will be in the hands of these people for about a week. We recommend a tip of between $10 to $15 per day or more for the Guides and cooks. The tip should be given out directly to the Guides and porters. You cannot be sure the money will reach them if you hand it over to the company.
