Height	5,895 m - 19,340 ft
Size	100 km x 65 km - 60 miles x 40 miles
Location	North Tanzania, near Kenyan border in East Africa, 325 km ( 200 mi ) from the Equator.
Volcanic cones	Kibo ( 5,895 m -19,341 ft ), Mawenzi ( 5,149 m - 16,893 ft ), Shira ( 3,962 m - 13,000 ft )
Highest summit	Uhuru Peak
Ecosystems	ushland, Rainforest, Heath, Alpine Desert, Arctic
Nearby Cities:	Arusha, Moshi
Nearby Airport	Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Protected by	Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA)

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain and the tallest freestanding dormant volcano in the world, rising 5,985 metres (19,340 feet) from the base. The name 'Kilimanjaro' is thought to be a combination of the Swahili word Kilima (meaning "mountain") and the Kichagga word Njaro, loosely translated as "whiteness", giving the name White Mountain.

Kilimanjaro is one of the world's most accessible high summits, a beacon for visitors from around the world. Most climbers reach the crater rim with little more than a walking stick, proper clothing and determination. And those who reach Uhuru Point, the actual summit, or Gillman's Point on the lip of the crater, will have earned their climbing certificates. And their memories.

When to climb Kilimanjaro
Mt. Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year round. When deciding a date you may want to
consider average temperatures, humidity, precipitation, cloud cover, wind, traffic and moon phases.

Generally, the best times are the driest months of the year, especially January, February, August and September. Of course those are also the most crowded periods. The temperature on Kilimanjaro ranges from 20°C in the lowest zone, decreasing to -20°C on the summit.

There are seven established Mount Kilimanjaro routes, six routes up Kilimanjaro (Marangu, Machame, Umbwe, Rongai, Shira, Lemosho and Western Breach) and one down (Mweka). One of the ascent routes can also be used for descent (Marangu). Whichever Route you choose, climb slowly to allow your body to acclimatize and thereby maximize your chances of reaching the summit. To help avoid altitude sickness, allow a minimum of five nights, preferably even more for the climb. But most importantly, take your time and enjoy the beauty of the mountain.

1. Marangu Route
Commonly known as the Coca-Cola Route, its typical duration is 5 or 6 days depending upon whether you elect to spend an extra day acclimatizing to the altitude. This is the only route that offers accommodation in huts as opposed to tents.

K1 Marangu 4 nights
Day 1: Marangu Gate (1980m) - Mandara Hut (2700m), 5 hrs hiking
Day 2: Mandara Hut (2700m) - Horombo Hut (3720 m), 6 hrs hiking
Day 3: Horombo Hut (3720m) - Kibo Hut (4700m), 6 hrs hiking
Day 4: Kibo Hut (4700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Horombo Hut (3720m), 8 hrs to Uhuru - 6 hrs to descend to Horombo
Day 5: Horombo Hut (3720m) - Marangu Gate (1980m), 6 hrs hiking

K2 Marangu 5 nights
Day 1: Marangu Gate (1980m) - Mandara Hut (2700m), 5 hrs hiking
Day 2: Mandara Hut (2700m) - Horombo Hut (3720m), 6 hrs hiking
Day 3: Horombo Hut (3720m) - Acclimatiza- tion day
Day 4: Horombo Hut (3720m) - Kibo Hut (4700m), 6 hrs hiking
Day 5: Kibo Hut (4700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Horombo Hut (3720m), 8 hrs to Uhuru - 6 hrs to descend to Horombo
Day 6: Horombo Hut (3720m) - Marangu Gate (1980m), 6 hrs hiking

2. Machame Route
The most popular climbing route up Kilimanjaro, also referred to as the Whiskey Route, the Machame Route offers accommodation in tents and wonderful, rewarding scenery.

K4 Machame 5 nights
Day 1: Machame Gate (1490m) - Machame Camp (2980m), 7 hrs hiking
Day 2: Machame Camp (2980m) - Shira Camp (3840m), 6 hrs hiking
Day 3: Shira (3840m) - Lava Tower (4630m) - Barranco Camp (3950m), 7 hrs hiking
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3950m) to Barafu Camp (4550m), 6 hrs hiking
Day 5: Barafu Camp (4550m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Mweka Camp (3100m), 8 hrs to reach Uhuru Peak, 7/8 hrs to descend to Mweka Camp
Day 6: Mweka Camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m), 3 hrs hiking

K5 Machame 6 nights
Day 1: Machame Gate (1490m) - Machame Camp (2980m), 7 hrs hiking
Day 2: Machame Camp (2980m) - Shira Camp (3840m), 6 hrs hiking
Day 3: Shira (3840m) - Lava Tower (4630m) - Barranco Camp (3950m), 7 hrs hiking
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3950m) to Karranga Valley (4000m). Acclimatization day if necessary, 4 hrs hiking
Day 5: Karranga Valley (4000m) to Barafu Camp (4550m), 3 hrs hiking
Day 6: Barafu Camp (4550m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Mweka Camp (3100m), 8 hrs to reach Uhuru Peak, 7/8 hrs to descend to Mwek Camp
Day 7: Mweka Camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m), 3 hrs hiking

3. Umbwe Route
This is the most difficult and demanding route up Kilimanjaro, but definitely the most spectacular.

K3 Umbwe 5 nights
Day 1: Umbwe Gate (1800m) - Bivouc Camp (2940m), 5 hrs hiking
Day 2: Bivouc Camp (2940m) - Barranco Cam (3950m), 6/7 hrs hiking
Day 3: Barranco Camp (3950m) to Karranga Valley (4000m). Acclimatization day if necessary, 4 hrs hiking
Day 4: Karranga Valley (4000m) to Barafu Camp (4550m), 3 hrs hiking
Day 5: Barafu Camp (4550m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Mweka Camp (3100m), 8 hrs to reach Uhuru Peak, 7/8 hrs to descend to Mwek Camp
Day 6: Mweka Camp (3100 m) - Mweka Gate (1980 m), 3 hrs hiking

4. Rongai Route
This route ascends Kilimanjaro from the northeastern side of the mountain, along the border between Tanzania and Kenya.

K6 Rongai 5 nights
Day 1: Rongai Gate (1950m) - 1st Caves Camp (2600m), 5 hrs hiking
Day 2: 1st Cave (2600m) - Kikelewa Cave (3600m), 6/7 hrs hiking
Day 3: Kikelewa Cave (3600m) - Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m), 3/4 hrs hiking
Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m) - School Camp (4700m), 4/5 hrs hiking
Day 5: Kibo Hut (4700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Horombo Hut (3720m), 8 hrs to reach Uhuru - 6 hrs to descend to Horombo
Day 6: Horombo Hut (3720m) - Marangu Gate (1980m), 6 hrs hiking

K7 Rongai 6 nights
Day 1: Rongai Gate (1950m) ? 2nd Caves Camp (2600m), 5 hrs hiking
Day 2: 2nd Cave (2600m) - Kikelewa Cave (3600m), 6/7 hrs hiking
Day 3: Kikelewa Cave (3600m) - Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m), 3/4 hrs hiking
Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn Camp (4330m) - Acclimatization day if necessary
Day 5: Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m) - School Camp (4700m), 4/5 hrs hiking
Day 6: Kibo Hut (4700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Horombo Hut (3720m), 8 hrs to reach Uhuru - 6 hrs to descend to Horombo
Day 7: Horombo Hut (3720m) - Marangu Gate (1980m), 6 hrs hiking

5. Shira Route
Along with Lemosho, the Shira Route is one of the longest Kilimanjaro routes that start on the western side, crossing the Shira Plateau before joining the Machame Route near the Lava Tower.

K9 Shira 6 nights
Day 1: Londorossi Gate, Shira Trail (2100m) - Shira 1 Camp (3050m), 4 hrs hiking
Day 2: Shira 1 Camp (3050m) - Shira 2 Camp (3840m), 6/7 hrs hiking
Day 3: Shira 2 Camp (3840m) - Lava Tower (4630m) - Barranco Camp (3950m), 7 hrs hiking
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3950m) to Karranga Valley (4000m). Acclimatization day if necessary, 4 hrs hiking
Day 5: Karranga Valley (4000m) to Barafu Camp (4550m), 3 hrs hiking
Day 6: Barafu Camp (4550m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Mweka Camp (3100m), 8 hrs to reach Uhuru Peak ,7/8 hrs to descend to Mweka Camp
Day 7: Mweka Camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m), 3 hrs hiking

6. Lemosho Route
Lemosho is the most scenic Kilimanjaro climbing route and is a variation on the Shira Route.

K8 Lemosho 6 nights
Day 1: Londorossi Gate, Lemosho Trail (2100m) - Mti Mkubwa Camp (2750m), 3 hrs hiking
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2750m) - Shira 2 Camp (3840m), 6/7 hrs hiking
Day 3: Shira 2 Camp (3840m) - Lava Tower (4630m) - Barranco Camp (3950m), 7 hrs hiking
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3950m) to Karranga Valley (4000m). Acclimatization day if necessary, 4 hrs hiking
Day 5: Karranga Valley (4000m) to Barafu Camp (4550m), 3 hrs hiking
Day 6: Barafu Camp (4550m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Mweka Camp (3100m), 8 hrs to reach Uhuru Peak ,7/8 hrs to descend to Mweka Camp
Day 7: Mweka Camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m), 3 hrs hiking

7. Western Breach
This is the most challenging route.

K10 Western Breach 6 nights
Day 1: Londorossi Gate, Shira Trail (2100m) - Forest Camp (2900m), 4 hrs hiking
Day 2: Forest Camp (2900m) - Shira 2 Camp (3840m), 5/6 hrs hiking
Day 3: Shira 2 Camp (3840m) - Moir Camp (4200m), 7 hrs hiking
Day 4: Moir Camp (4200m) - Lava Tower (4570m) - Arrow Glacier (4900m), 4 hrs hiking
Day 5: Arrow Glacier (4900m) - Crater Camp (5700m), 6 hrs hiking
Day 6: Crater Camp (5700m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Mweka Camp (3100m), 8 hrs to reach Uhuru Peak, 7/8 hrs to descend to Mweka Camp
Day 7: Mweka Camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m), 3 hrs hiking

Acute mountain sicknessPre-departure information

Useful Links

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