Across the continent, Mount Kilimanjaro National Park is a popular trekking destination. At 19,336 feet, it is also the highest mountain in Africa. Every year, over 30,000 individuals attempt to climb the mountain. There are different sights and features along each route.
Popular trekking routes include Machame, Lemosho, and Shira. If you are dedicated to the trail, it can take up to eight days, and there are breathtaking views below. Africa’s roof, Uhuru Peak, provides breathtaking views of the planet below.
In 1970, Mount Kilimanjaro was inducted as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Every climber needs to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro Mountain, but doing so is not without its difficulties. To prepare their bodies for Kilimanjaro’s challenges, some climbers hike up Mount Meru before proceeding to Kilimanjaro.
A volcano erupted two million years ago, creating Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbing this free-standing mountain on Earth, one of the seven summits, is an experience of a lifetime for any climber. Being physically fit is not necessary to climb Kilimanjaro. All it requires is preparation.
Climbers encounter five distinct ecological zones while ascending Mount Kilimanjaro, and each zone leaves them with striking and memorable experiences.
The first area you will come across while climbing Kilimanjaro is the Bush Land Zone, which is primarily used for agricultural purposes. At an elevation of 1800 metres (5900 feet), the Chagga people live in this region. They engage in a variety of social activities, including small-scale farming of bananas, maize (corn), and coffee.
Rainforest zone: After leaving the bushland behind, you will soon come upon an evergreen rainforest, which is 2,800 metres above sea level. En route to Kilimanjaro Mountain’s summit, you may see a variety of wild animals and birds, including red-colobus monkeys, Narina trogons, Silvery-cheeked hornbills, Hartlaub’s turacos, and Cuckoos.
Moorlands Zone: At an elevation of 4,000 metres, this zone is where most climbers begin to experience an accessible point where the temperature drops significantly during the night. This area is mostly covered in shrubs.
The Alpine Zone is a rocky and sandy region with sparse vegetation. Climbers can enjoy a breathtaking view of Mount Kibo from this altitude of 5,000 metres.
At an elevation of 5895 metres above sea level, the Arctic Zone is the final zone of the highest mountain in Africa. It is characterised by rock and ice. All travellers spend the night at Barafu Camp before proceeding to Uhuru Peak. Traditionally, the climb to the summit begins in the middle of the night and takes approximately 8 to 9 walking hours. After spending a few minutes taking a memorable photo, your Sweet Escape Tours and Safaris climbing experts will guide you back to Mweka Camp, where you will spend the night.
There are multiple routes to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, so it’s wise to select the one that will best suit your fitness level and climbing skills. When making a reservation, Sweet Escape Tours and Safaris’ climbing planner will assist you in determining the best route; they consider a variety of factors before providing advice.
The Coca-Cola route, also known as the Marangu route, is one of the easiest ways to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is very popular, though, and climbers can share a small hut on this beautiful route; most of the beds are double-decker, dormitory-style sleeping huts. According to statistics, only 50% of climbers who take this route succeed because they hurry to reach the summit; most take five to six days. For acclimatisation, our climb specialist at Sweet Escape Tours and Safaris advises climbers to extend their stay on Kilimanjaro by one more day.
Machame Route:
This is one of the best routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, taking roughly 7–8 days to reach the summit. Because climbers spend more days on the mountain, this route has a high success rate. Compared to the Marangu route, the Machame route is more difficult.
Lemosho Route:
This beautiful route, also known as the “Lemon Route,” offers one of the most breathtaking views of the entire mountain. Ninety percent of climbers who take eight to nine days to reach the summit do so. This route is our favourite at Sweet Escape Tours & Safaris because it strikes a perfect balance between success rates, less traffic, and stunning views of Kilimanjaro.
Rongai Route:
About 85% of climbers reach the summit via the only route that approaches the mountain from the north; it takes 6–7 days to climb the mountain via this route, which is also much less crowded.
Umbwe Route:
Due to its complexity, this is one of the most difficult and least travelled routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. When utilising this route, most people prefer to stay for five to six days; however, the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA) suggests climbers stay in the mountain for at least seven days to increase the chance of summit rate and to allow for additional acclimatisation.
Shira Route:
Climbers are transported by car from the western side of the mountain to the Shira Plateau, where the less-traveled and longest route on Mount Kilimanjaro begins. This route can take up to eight days to reach the summit. This route offers a steady ascent and improves the success rate at the summit, which is one of the reasons why many climbers might choose it. If you have any suspicions about altitude sickness, this might be a better option.
Because of its high success rate and the fact that Lemosho is ideal for any rescue operations, Sweet Escape Tours & Safaris strongly advises using this route over all others.
The best packages for mountain trekking tours are offered by Sweet Escape Tours and Safaris. They will offer recommendations on the best travel destinations and what’s needed. They can assist with managing the reservation process at the hotels of your choosing. Learn what you should pack for the trip and what you really need. They’ll make sure you’re comfortable the entire way and offer you advice on where to go hiking that fits your budget.
For your upcoming trip, reserve a mountain trekking tour with Sweet Escape Tours and Safaris right now. Everything you need to embark on your next adventure is there. Achieving the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro will grant you entry into an exclusive group of experienced hikers.
