Mount Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and 4th highest of the Seven Summits.
Lies close to the equatorÉ but has snow on top! These famous "Snows of Kilimanjaro" are rapidly melting and are predicted to be gone by 2022.
Among the tallest freestanding mountains in the world, with Uhuru Peak rising 15,100 feet (4,600 m) from base to summit.
An inactive stratovolcano with 3 volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira.
Uhuru Peak is the highest summit on Kibo's crater rim.
Several climbing routes exist: Marangu, Rongai, Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe and Machame.
Machame is by far the most scenic albeit steeper route up the mountain, which can be done in 6 or 7 days.
The Rongai is the easiest camping route.
The Marangu route is also easy and with accommodation in huts tends to be very busy.
Kilimanjaro National Park shows that only 40% of climbers actually reach the Uhuru summit with the majority of climbers turning around at Gilman's Point, only 300 meters short!

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Routes

Machame Route

41 summits • 11.3 km • 1,191 m gain • 24 hr 14 min

Mount Kilimanjaro 56.6 km route

1 summit • 56.6 km • 4,255 m gain • 11 hr 20 min

Latest summits

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"6-day Machame route. Rained all of day 1 to Machame Camp, but dry each day after. Couple of windy days in the middle, but clear skies and low winds on summit day. Just an awesome 6 days, really loved being on the mountain." — jodola • Sep 14, 2019

"Speed climbed Kili on a short trip to Tanzania. We reached the summit through Umbwe route in 33hours (including an overnight at Baranco camp), Total time spent from start of ascent to exiting through Mweka was 48 hours 37 minutes." — shulmani • Dec 2, 2016

"Traveled with Alpine Ascents, with a group from Gainesville, Fl. We were summitting for Climb for Cancer, a group started by Ron Farb. The trip to seven days. This was a once in a lifetime amazing adventure." — jaycochran • Jan 30, 2016

"Did the trek to the roof of Africa. Once-in-a-lifetime experience Mount Kilimanjaro Photo Album: http://dimitriosfan.com/2016/12/28/mount-kilimanjaro-tanzania-%E2%80%A2photo-album%E2%80%A2/" — DimitriosFan • Jun 25, 2015

" Our team did extraordinarily well, especially given the circumstances, and everyone showed a huge amount of strength and courage during our ascent up Mount Kilimanjaro. Wikipedia suggests that the success rate percentage for reaching Uhuru Peak is 41%, and our team achieved 52% (with 82% reaching Gilmans Point). Day 1 – Qwine Hotel, Moshi Our first day started with collection at Kilimanjaro International Airport – a pretty impressive name for what is in fact little more than a small single-story building with a runway. Most of our group arrived on a Qatar flight from Doha (via a 1hr stop at Dar Es Salaam where we had to remain in our seats) at the end of a three-flight journey, and we were looking forward to just getting into our accommodation to relax before the trek ahead of us. Our guides had booked us into a small (but 5-storey) hotel in the centre of the town of Moshi, called Qwine Hotel. As far as low-budget accommodation goes (remember we’re here as a charity event, not a luxury holiday), it was okay – the rooms are a decent size and there is free wi-fi, albeit a bit patchy (as it seems to be everywhere in Tanzania). The highlight of the hotel is a 5th floor ..." — mproudfoot • Oct 9, 2014

"Did Machame Route over 6 days. While it was the rainy season we really only had rains on Day 2 up to Shira Camp and we hid in our tents and the huts. We were the only team on the mountain that did not have personal porters, only a small group of 4 for communal gear and food. At Barranco Camp, every Westerner got food poisoning, as there may have been something in the water source, or possibly from the vermin running around camp. It was a 24 hour illness, so most of us were fine by summit night, unfortunately it hit Justin the latest and he was in the worst of the nausea and vomiting just before and through our summit push. We all persevered through the illness, however a Tunesian who was added to our group by the tour company we went with (Meru Mt Treks) developed HACE around 200m below the summit. I advised him to go down and he refused, and our guides did not force him to turn around. He was stumbling and falling from Stella Point all the way to the summit. I gave him 500mg of Diamox to hold of the worst of the swelling as long as possible. He tagged the summit and we sent him down with out assistant guide immediately and he ultimately made it back okay but had he stayed much lon..." — Christopher • Apr 28, 2014

"An amazing and awful experience over the six day trek to the summit via the Machame route. Had excellent weather almost the whole time. We went through Meru Mountain Treks. Overall, we were satisfied with the tour company, and decided to climb the old fashioned way with no personal porters. A Tunisian fellow joined our group of four friends at the last minute and provided much comical relief during the climb, however got very bad altitude sickness and HACE and has no recollection of the summit itself. He was lucky to have been traveling with us four doctors, but really shouldn't have seen the summit that day at all. On day 4 we all got food poisoning, which hit me at the latest and was dealing with that gem of nausea about half way through the summit push. a magnificently horrible feeling, but I started to feel better around Stella point (although completely exhausted) and summited no problems and felt like a new man on the decent via Mweka later that afternoon. Feels amazing to have reached the top of one of the seven summits and by doing it in a non-traditional fashion than most Westerners. " — MooseHiker • Apr 28, 2014

"Trekked up the Lemosho route (7days). There were definitely some long, hard days but also filled with so much fun and joy. I cannot thank my guide, Yahoo, enough for enriching my life. The only sad portion of this trip was when our cameras died on the summit due to cold. Luckily, we made friends with another climber and are still awaiting pictures to be emailed. Not only did we successfully summit but I was met with a proposal of a lifetime on the summit! I love you Tommy!" — alison.ashby • Jan 27, 2013

"Our first challenge was overcoming the small problem of our lost luggage. It arrived late but in time for a very fast double time hike to the first campsite to remain on schedule. The trail is very decent and for the most part an easy climb. Departed Kibo Hut at midnight to summit at 0700 in the morning. The final push from Kibo was extremely challenging. Overall a fantastic weeks adventure. We followed it up with a three day photo safari at the Ngorongoro Crater." — craig-lehrke • Oct 15, 2012

"Had an awesome adventure on Kilimanjaro with my girlfriend. We started on the Lemosho route and then climbed the Western Breach which included a night at Crater Camp just under 19,000 ft. Summited at dawn on fresh powder after a casual 5:15 AM start. " — Yosemike • Oct 11, 2012

"Hiked up the Rongai Route. 4 days up to Uhuru Peak, 3 days down. Missed the first week of Junior year for it. I got acute mountain sickness on the third day. Acclimatization did not work well for me. Given the opportunity, I would do it again in a heartbeat but with more training and more time on the ascent. Best start to a school year ever! " — sjoe • Aug 15, 2012

"We climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 7 days via the Machame route. My climbing mates were: Ilina Arsova and her mother, Stefan Stojanovic and Darko Koljozov. It was not that easy walk like i was expecting! The last night when we were moving toward the summit it was very cold and windy and we could see beautiful storm lights in the horizon! When the first lights came out, you could see the big pyramid shadow of Kili far on the African ground until the ocean! But in the end I stepped the snows of Kilimanjaro on the Uhuru peak! " — FilipVasileski • Mar 4, 2012

"Lemosho Route. Summit attempt at 11.30pm. Very cold, windy ascent to crater via Western Breach. Awesome summit at sunrise. Long walk down via Mweka route. So worth the effort." — andrew.wheeler.52 • Feb 7, 2012

"I traveled the Umbrew route. Umbwe is considered to be very difficult, taxing route - one that should only be attempted by strong hikers who are also confident of their ability to acclimatize to altitude. Approaching from the south, the trek was a short, steep and direct climb. After reaching Barranco Camp, the trail follows the southern circuit to the summit. The descent is done via the Mweka route." — nathix • Jul 20, 2010

"Climbed the Machame Route, 6 days total. Midnight to 6:30 summit climb was a tough one, in an ice storm the whole way up. Fog and rain every day of the hike, but beautiful scenery when it was clear! Zara Tours made for a great experience." — Bluebell08 • Oct 28, 2009

"I arrived in Africa to achieve the first ascent of the highest mountain peak and volcano on the "black" continent for the city and county of Arad in Romania. It was an experience of the unforgettable because we traveled the longest route: Lemosho-Shira-Machame-Mweka. But most importantly, I shared what we had with our friends in Tanzania." — CODmunte • Sep 6, 2009

"Kili beat all expectations. Both my husband and I loved this climb - and the international aspect of the coca cola route as we were 2 of only 3 Americans out of 60 climbers going up in our group. And yes, only 50% made the summit and we were 2 of them. Scary day in that we learned that post election riots had broken out in Nairobi, and that women and children had been murdered in a church in Kenya that was only two towns away from where my parents and boys had been visiting. " — 40in40 • Jan 1, 2008