Before accuse onto Africa’s highest peak, as like migration of legendary wildebeest you must decide which route to take Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro Climb provides one of the large mountains and all of the four main routes.
Kilimanjaro Climb – The Basics
Where is Kilimanjaro?
This majestic mountain is situated in northern Tanzania. Mountaineering the mountain would be collective with a Tanzania safari on the Northern Circuit, from side to side Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti.
Most trekkers hang about in Moshi previous to and after the climb.
How Long Does It Take To Climb Kilimanjaro?
Getting to the summit and returning back down will take you between 5-9 days. It depends on the route and how secure you hope to be.
Can I climb Kilimanjaro without a guide?
Absolutely “NO”. You cannot go on Mount Kilimanjaro National Park except you have a guide and part of an organized explore. A tour would be for a single explorer or a group of 20 plus.
How Much Does It Cost To Climb Kilimanjaro?
- Different operators have different cost prices. Pay a minimum of USD 220 per day. This is for a very budget-friendly tour and mostly covers up the enormously high park and camping authorized.
- All meals plus drinking water will be integrated into an exploration, along with a guide, chef, and porters.
Budget tour operators have a propensity to not pay their staff. So a more realistic cost is USD 300 to 400 per day.
How Fit Do I Need To Be To Climb Kilimanjaro?
Climbing Kilimanjaro should not be taken lightly. You will rise almost 5000 meters (16,400 feet) in altitude and it’s really tough on the body, even for very experienced trekkers.
You must be able to walk on steep mountain trails for six consecutive days. If walking up three flights of steps leaves you out of breath then Kilimanjaro will be a daunting task.
Still, with training and good preparation, Kilimanjaro is a realistic aim for most people.
A Brief Overview of Kilimanjaro Climb Routes
When Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, there are five major routes to choose from – Machame, Marangu, Rongai, and Lemosho – Shira.
There is also Umbwe, a branch of the Machame route that is not suggested. Its steep rise in altitude is very unsafe and the trail is a real climbing slog.
There is no Best Route To Climb Kilimanjaro. Each is suitable for dissimilar mountaineer and has its pros and cons. So before you tie the ties and set off on the adventure, think cautiously about these four alternatives.
Route 1 – The Marangu Route
It’s also named the Coca Cola route due to its reputation, Marangu was conventionally the favorite Kilimanjaro trail.
It’s the shortest and fastest path of all the routes, taking a direct path through the rainforest then up to the summit.
The only way of climbing Kilimanjaro and sleeping in huts is rather than the best in tents that are inclined on the side of the mountain.
Altitude Acclimatization and Success Rate
A higher percentage of hikers feel altitude sickness on this trail than any other, although this is also because the route is superior by most fund tour operators.
The five-day Marangu climb offers dreadful and somewhat unsafe altitude adaptation. On this hike, only a third of trekkers make it all the way to Uhuru Peak. An extra day costs more but pushes the achievement rate to around 60%.
Advantages of the Marangu Route
- Gradual climb makes this one of the easier paths up the mountain. There are no longer negotiate or excessively challenging segments to catch out beginner climbers.
- As it’s the small route it’s also the cheapest. By expenses less time on the mountain there are lesser National Park fees to pay.
- Marangu route has sleeping huts. These offer protection and warmth against the weather, along with bunk bed accommodation and a big shared dining hall.
- This route also presents the best rainforest and excellent sight of one side of the mountain
Disadvantages of the Marangu Route
- The quick gains in altitude are taxing and sometimes hazardous, contributing to a lower proportion of people’s success to the summit.
- The scenario is wonderful on Kilimanjaro, the Marangu route sticks to one side of the mountain. This sternly limits the scenic variety.
- Marangu gets crowded with trains of hikers going up and down the same way. It can feel like a demonstration rather than a wilderness experience.
Route 2 – The Machame Route
- Simply known as whisky route as it’s considered tougher than Coca Cola (Marangu),
- Machame is now the most accepted way to Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing. It’s a six or seven-day hike that schedule through each of the mountain’s exclusive ecosystems.
- Passing through peaks, going up and down, then back up again, will provide the legs an actual workout. The physique is going to be sore and Machame is the toughest option physically, usually chosen by those with some hiking experience.
Altitude Acclimatization and Success Rate
The mountain helps out with altitude acclimatization and Machame has a solid success rate by spending more time. This stands at over 70% for the six-day climb and up to 90% for the seven-day climb.
Although you rise fast at first, you have to stay three to four days in the 3000- to 4500-meter zone, following the hikers’ rule of climb high sleep low. This helps your body become familiar with a lack of oxygen in the air.
Advantages of the Machame Route
- The scenery is extravagant. You familiar with each of the mountain’s entity ecosystems and there’s a chance to observe colobus monkeys on the tumble.
- While the route is demanding on the legs, good acclimatization means that Machame has a higher fraction of people attainment the summit.
- By climbing and downward on different routes mountaineer gets a vision from many different angles.
Disadvantages of the Machame Route
- In comparison to Marangu, the days are longer and the climbs steeper. As such it’s generally not compulsory for people with some hiking experience.
- There are no sleeping huts on this path. Each night is exhausted in tents that are set up by your porters.
- As this route spends longer on the mountain Machame is a little classy.
- Machame is now the most admired Kilimanjaro Climbing route. The trail is long and isn’t too crowded outside the peak in the months of July to September, however, the camping reasons are always crammed.
Route 3 – The Rongai Route
Rongai receives just a fraction of the climbers when compared to Machame or Marangu, offering a solitude you would expect from the world’s highest free-standing mountain.
Rongai is a gradual climb up the mountain’s northern side, with most of the views out towards Kenya and Amboseli National Park. There’s little scenic diversity over the first three days, but the final two days of incline are the most magnificent on Kilimanjaro.
The rise is gradual and there are no overly steep climbs to negotiate. Camps are tidily spread out and on the seven-day option, you have a very tranquil and easy day before aggressive the summit, causative to a very high summit success rate.
Altitude Acclimatization and Success Rate
The acclimatization isn’t perfect but enough good for MaranguRoute.
Climbing Kilimanjaro on the seven-day Rongai route has a peak achievement rate of over 80%. For experienced trekkers, it’s above 90%.
Advantages of the Rongai Route
- The route is suggested if you’re climbing during or right away after the rainy season (March to May and November to December).
- This is a moderately easy route up the mountain and has exceptional success rates.
- Rongai is the only route that permits you to take experience both the north and south of the mountain.
Disadvantages of the Rongai Route
- Fewer operators offer tours on this route and it’s difficult to join a group explore on dates that would ensemble.
- It’s more costly than Marangu and Machame, due to the extra costs of reaching the northern side of Kilimanjaro, plus the lack of budget operators present the ascend.
- Rongai’s reputation is growing rapidly year on year and it may become packed like Machame.
Route 4 & 5 – The Lemosho & Shira Routes
Climbing Kilimanjaro really catches fire from the imagination so it would be a disgrace to only spend five nights on the trail. At eight or nine days Lemosho is the greatest route on propose, giving you maximum time lost in mountain beauty.
Expect stunning scenery, other hikers, and what hiking is all about; step, step, step, and slowly get your dream of standing on the roof of Africa.
Altitude Acclimatization and Success Rate
Spending a long time on the mountain makes certain easy altitude adaptation and a huge chance of successfully reaching the summit.
Over eight or nine days the Lemosho summit achievement rate is above 95%, the best of all routes for Climbing Kilimanjaro.
Advantages of the Lemosho Route
- Trek along the smallest amount used trail and enjoy a real sense of wild wasteland.
- Excellent altitude acclimatization over eight or nine days maximizes your chance of attainment on the summit.
- This is a tricky climb over challenging topography, however, the hardest parts are at low altitude.
Disadvantages of the Lemosho Route
- Spending longer on the mountain means Extra Park cost and Lemosho is the most costly route on the mountain.
- Only a handful of tour operators provide this option and it’s difficult to join a planned tour.
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