Climbing Kilimanjaro holidays

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is not especially physically challenging, but at the same time it would be wise not to underestimate it. If you’re a regular walker or runner, in decent fitness, then you shouldn’t have any problems, and if you’re not, then allow a few months to get into shape. You will be walking for six to seven hours, with an ascent of around 1,000m (or the height of Mount Snowdon in Wales), each day for up to seven days. Porters carry most of the equipment and baggage so you’ll only need to bear a daypack.

Neither is it a technical climb. Good walking footwear and perhaps a set of poles are all you need. Towards the summit some scrambling over uneven terrain is necessary, but for the most part it’s just about keeping going, onwards and upwards. It’s important to stay hydrated when climbing Kili. As well as using gas for cooking so that charcoal and wood aren’t burned to help protect trees, our trips carry large canisters of water so walkers can use reusable bottles.

The reason why many people fail to make the summit of Kili is because they fall victim to altitude sickness. If you’re not used to these heights, it’s vital to take your time. Guides are trained to keep an eye on walkers for signs of altitude sickness and bring you down the mountain before you reach the summit if they feel you’re in danger. Hill walking practise will stand you in good stead, but to stand the best chance of success, look for Kilimanjaro holidays that spend as long as possible on the mountain. This is not an experience to be rushed.

There are seven established routes up Mount Kilimanjaro ranging from the toughest – the steep and remote Umbwe route suited only to those very experienced in walking at high altitudes – to the Lemosho route. Involving six to eight days of walking, Lemosho tends to be more expensive, which also means you’ll be sharing the trail with fewer other walkers. But because it allows more time for acclimatisation Lemosho also has the highest success rate and is reckoned to be among the most scenic approaches too with some wonderful sunsets. So, if you’re not very experienced, or not feeling too confident, Lemosho can be a good option.

The Marangu route is ideal for those without much time or on a tighter budget. The most direct path to the summit, it can be completed in as little as five days going straight up and then back down the same way. Marangu’s key advantage, for some, is that it involves staying in mountain huts rather than camping – handy if you’re walking in the rainy season. If you want a more comfortable experience Marangu may suit you but do be prepared for reaching high altitudes quite quickly.

Machame is more challenging than Marangu, but also has a higher success rate, given it takes six or seven days, so you can acclimatise better. What recommends Machame most however is the scenery, as you pass through four distinct climactic zones. This tends to be one of the busier routes, in part because it is so easily accessed from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Last of the main routes for Kilimanjaro tours is Rongai, the only one that approaches from the north, close to the border with Kenya. Rongai is another quiet route, as it takes longer to reach the trailhead and takes six to seven days to accomplish, both of which make it more expensive. The north face sees less rain, so Rongai is good for walking during the wet season, and it’s also a comparatively gentle ascent.

Most people on our Kilimanjaro holidays will combine their climb with a safari either before or after, perhaps even spending some time on the coast as well. It makes perfect sense given how easy it is to reach Tarangire National Park with its elephants, lions, leopards and hippos (275km, or under a three-hour drive). Lake Manyara, where early morning game drives reveal antelopes and gazelles, zebras and giraffes, as well as the occasional tree-climbing lion, is just 180km from the mountain. Adding on a safari means you enjoy thrilling wildlife experiences as well as the satisfaction of having climbed Africa’s highest peak. And by staying longer, you also ensure that your Kilimanjaro holiday has even more of a positive impact on Tanzania. It means more income for guides, drivers and porters, income for protected areas that funds conservation initiatives such as tree planting , and income for community projects that our trips support. Tackle the Marangu route and combine it with the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, for instance, and your trip helps to buy cows for single mothers often living in extreme poverty, giving them a chance to become self-sufficient.