COMPLETE GUIDE FOR CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO – HOW DIFFICULT IS IT?

I want to clear up a massive misconception about Mount Kilimanjaro climbing. It takes work! It takes work!

We were climbing with seven strong people who had just completed 4500km down the continent of Africa through hot deserts in Sudan and the relentless mountains of Ethiopia. But we all agreed that Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was one of our most physically demanding experiences.

How Hard Is It To Climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

Although climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was hard, it was one of the most thrilling moments we’ve ever experienced. It was an outstanding achievement for our whole group to reach the summit.

You can get an idea of the magnitude of our task by looking at another 22-strong group camping near our camp. Only 9 of them made it to the summit. This is less than half of the success rate. 65% is the average success rate for climbing Kilimanjaro when you combine all routes.

While some routes have a higher success ratio, others are more expensive and take longer. You can find our Kilimanjaro route breakdown here. However, if you are careful and fit enough, you should have a good chance of reaching the summit.

We will tell you everything you need to know about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, from landing at the airport to reaching the summit.

How altitude affects the body

Mount Kilimanjaro is high. The summit is 5895m high. The trek begins in a rainforest forest. You will feel the altitude. No matter how fit you are, climbing to size is a challenge. You only know how your body will react once you reach the top. Marathon runners have been reported unable to climb mountains, while heavy smokers seem to be able to do so without any problems.

On our descent from the summit, we saw many people throw up. Acute altitude sickness can be severe, so be careful. You can take things slowly if symptoms are mild. But if they get tough, it is best to stop. It is important not to let symptoms worsen.

If you want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit, do so in Tanzania.

This will help you to understand how your body reacts when you are at altitude. Although altitude can cause anxiety, it won’t be as frightening once you feel it.

No matter how fit you are, climbing to a high altitude is only for some. Your body doesn’t know how it will react until it reaches its size.

Arrival at Mount Kilimanjaro Airport

We flew from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania. Kilimanjaro Airport is located between Moshi and Arusha.

As we flew over Mount Kilimanjaro, I felt both excitement and fear. We were climbing Africa’s highest mountain to celebrate Dave’s birthday. Kilimanjaro is one of the most incredible mountain treks in all of Africa.

For the past two months, we had been biking Africa and were in the most fit of our lives. Although we were excited to conquer this mountain, we were concerned about the possibility of experiencing sub-zero temperatures.

The Best Shape of our Lives – Get Ready for Kilimanjaro

Riding a bicycle with heavy hiking boots or warm-weather gear is tricky. So, once we arrived at Kilimanjaro airport, it was time for us to start looking for an operator to take us up the mountain.

On the recommendation of our driver, we hired a taxi to get to Moshi. We arrived at Kessy Brothers Tours after a 45-minute drive, taking in the beautiful scenery along the way.

Our driver recommended Kessey Brothers. We loved their service and the price. We signed up for the Machame Kilimanjaro trek the next day after we had made a deal.

Machame Route – The Whiskey Route Of Kilimanjaro

We decided to climb the Machame Route. We also called Whiskey Road. This seven-day climb to Mount Kilimanjaro takes more effort than the five-day Marangu Route. (AKA the Coca-Cola Route).

The Machame Route can be done in six or seven days. We recommend the longer route if you have the time.

The Machame Route offers more beauty and challenge than the other routes. We also had an extra day to adjust to the altitude. This is crucial to ensure that anyone can reach the summit.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

We begin the day with a drive through the lush Jungle, where we enter Mount Kilimanjaro National Park at Machame Gate.

We signed in at the park headquarters and began our five-hour hike up the mountains.

Mount Kilimanjaro has one of the most unusual climbs in the world. It starts in the Jungle and goes through many ecosystems before reaching it.

The Jungle is the starting point for the Kilimanjaro Climb.

We were sweaty and followed Coleman, our guide, through the Jungle. A gentle, soft-spoken gentleman accompanied us, Coleman, who kept reminding us that we should slow down and said, “pole, pole” (Swahili meaning slowly, slowly).

As we marveled at the fact that Mount Kilimanjaro was being climbed, time flew by. At 3,000m (9842ft), we reached The Machame Hut and felt the benefits of being high.

Machame Hut Camp

We could relax and enjoy the evening since the Kilimanjaro climb was fully catered. We could get soup and drinks ready for our rehydration and replenishment. Tents had been prepared and pitched.

It was a fantastic evening after the hot and humid day. We were thankful for the extra layers as we enjoyed a delicious pasta dinner in our tent.

Night Time on Kilimanjaro

We were still six days away from the bed, so it was early to go to bed. But we caught our first glimpse at Mount Kilimanjaro.

We wondered if the sun was going to set on the African Savanna and, if so, how quickly we could climb it.

The camp was peaceful as the night sky lit up with amazing stars. Although we weren’t sure whether we were anxious or confident, we felt calm and fell asleep as the Southern Cross bid us goodnight.

1. Kilimanjaro

As we passed through the moorlands, the landscape changed once again on Kilimanjaro. The landscape changed entirely as the temperature fluctuated between hot and cold as the clouds rolled through, creating fog and mist one minute and sunny skies the next.

Today’s elevation gain is only 900m, but we covered quite a bit of ground, crossing valleys and rivers. As the green forest became more shrubby and less grass, the landscape changed before our eyes. It felt more like the arctic tundra rather than the heart of Africa.

Although we were tired, we didn’t feel any adverse effects from the altitude. We were feeling steady and robust, having settled into a steady pace. We made it to Shira campsite, where the cliffs got steeper. Tonight, we camped high above the clouds. All of us were in now!

Acclimatization Hike

Today was an exciting day on the Kilimanjaro trek. Acclimatization days are when you go to higher elevations and then return to lower-elevation sleep. To get used to the hill, we climbed up to 4600m from 3900m.

The trees were almost gone; all left was a vast valley with Mother Kilimanjaro overhead. Rock formations and lava tubes were scattered throughout the valley when we stopped to take a picture of the Shark Tooth Formation.

Few treks on the planet offer so many ecosystems as Kilimanjaro.

It was a beautiful day. We enjoyed the stunning views offered by the sun and blue skies.

Walking through the forest of giant cacti amongst massive boulders was our most memorable experience.

Dave and I took our time daily, taking photos and videos and arriving at camp last night. We knew we were doing well, even though our guides kept shouting, “pole, pole!”

We were glad to enjoy the incredible views and not rush climbing Kilimanjaro. We had plenty of time to relax and rest even though we arrived late at camp. It wouldn’t be the same without us.