This safari is offered year round and features the most famous parks in Tanzania combined with standard and midrange hotels and lodges. From December to April you can enjoy the calving season, wherein the wildebeest …
This amazing safari is made affordable through cheaper camping options that will take you to unparalleled concentration of wildlife including the Serengeti National Park, the most famous park in Tanzania. Here you can witness the …
Highest Peak in Africa; Kilimanjaro
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a unique and unforgettable experience for adventurers seeking to challenge themselves and immerse themselves in the natural beauty of East Africa. The snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro towers over the surrounding plains, and summiting the mountain is both a test of endurance and a celebration of the human spirit. Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcanic mountain with three cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, and it is Africa’s tallest mountain and the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Unlike the other Seven Summits, which are technical climbs, Kilimanjaro is a non-technical climb, meaning that you don’t need to be an experienced mountaineer to climb it. However, it should not be taken lightly and requires a certain level of fitness and preparation.
There are several routes to climb Kilimanjaro, each offering its own unique experience. Adventurers often choose the Lemosho or Rongai routes because they are more remote, scenic, and peaceful than other popular routes. These routes take you through several climatic zones, from the lush rainforest of the lower slopes, where animal and plant life are abundant, to the barren ice cap at the summit.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a physically demanding and mentally challenging activity that requires a lot of preparation and planning. We only partner with highly qualified operators and experienced guides to ensure that climbers have a safe and enjoyable experience. Most routes can be completed in six days, but we recommend taking as long as possible to better acclimatize to the altitudes and climates.
Summiting Kilimanjaro is an accomplishment to be proud of, and the breath-taking views from the top are well worth the effort. Climbers can expect to feel a sense of awe and achievement as they stand on the “Roof of Africa,” surrounded by the stunning natural beauty of Tanzania.
Climbing mount Kilimanjaro
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a bucket-list experience for many adventure seekers. The mountain offers several routes, each with its own unique features and difficulty level. The Lemosho and Rongai routes are less crowded, more scenic, and immersive, offering a more meaningful and memorable experience. The Lemosho Route is considered the most beautiful and has a high success rate, with travellers able to complete it in either six or eight days. It begins in the lush rainforest zone at Londorossi Gate and heads across the Shira Plateau, offering great views of the mountain from all angles. The approach to the summit is made from the east, and the descent follows the Mweka trail. The eight-day trek offers a better chance to acclimatize to the altitude and a 90% chance of summitting.
On the other hand, the Rongai Route is the only trail that starts from the northern side of Kilimanjaro and is the least travelled of all routes. Its remote location offers a relatively unspoilt wilderness experience where you can see large wildlife such as antelope, elephant, and buffalo, as well as colobus monkeys and many species of birds. The northeast side of the mountain gets less moisture, making it less likely to encounter rain and mud, and more likely to get clear, unclouded views. Travellers can do the route in six, seven, or eight days, and we recommend taking as long as possible to acclimatize.
Both routes require a certain level of fitness and preparation, and we recommend taking as much time as possible to acclimatize to the altitude and climates. While Kilimanjaro is a non-technical climb, it is not to be taken lightly, and we only partner with highly qualified operators and experienced guides to offer an intimate and personalized adventure in this spectacular natural environment.
What to expect in climbing mount Kilimanjaro
To ensure that climbers have the best possible chance of reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, this adventure company partners with only the top operators and mountain guides. These experienced professionals will lead climbers up one of the mountain’s various routes, which offer different amenities, ranging from huts with cooking facilities, bathrooms, and electricity to more sparse offerings with just the most basic camping facilities.
A trek up Kilimanjaro is undertaken as a group, with climbers supported in their effort to reach the summit by guides and porters. The Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) regulates all activity on the mountain, overseeing the conduct of tour operators and the management of porters. KINAPA regulations stipulate that a climbing group of two trekkers will have one guide, one assistant guide, six porters (three for each climber), and one cook.
Porters are responsible for carrying the trekker’s gear as well as items such as cooking supplies, tents, and water. It is customary to tip guides and porters, and the amount is generally determined by the number of days on the mountain and the number of climbers in the group.
Summit attempts usually start at midnight to allow trekkers to reach the rim of the crater in time to see the sunrise. Setting out at night also ensures an easier walk over the usually loose gravel, as the ground tends to be frozen. Depending on the route, the push to the summit can take anything from one to two hours. It is generally a straightforward walk, though some routes may require some scrambling (using hands for balance and support) for short sections of fragmented rock.
Altitude sickness is the greatest challenge faced by climbers on Kilimanjaro, causing a third of climbers to turn back. While Kilimanjaro is a non-technical climb, the extreme altitude, low temperatures, and occasional fierce winds mean that all hikers must be physically fit, properly equipped, and well acclimatized. The single biggest success factor on any Kilimanjaro trek is allowing ample time to adjust to the elevation. All routes have rangers and rescue facilities to assist those affected by altitude sickness.
Included in the Kilimanjaro adventure are a guided group trek up Mount Kilimanjaro’s Rongai Route or Lemosho Route with certified local guides, cooks, and porters; all permits and fees; all transport between destinations and to/from included activities; accommodation in simple hotels (two nights) and full-service alpine camping (five nights); and seven breakfasts, six lunches, and five dinners.
While Kilimanjaro is vast and spreads over the border to Kenya, the climb can only be done from the Tanzanian side. The adventure company runs their trips out of Arusha, which has the best accommodation options. To acclimatize, they usually recommend spending two nights in Arusha before starting the climb. Travellers can arrive via international flight into Kilimanjaro International Airport or fly to somewhere such as Dar es Salaam and then connect onward to Arusha.
For those interested in combining their Kilimanjaro hike with other local experiences, Africa Travel Bureau recommends starting with Kilimanjaro and then following up with a safari or a laidback beach stay in Zanzibar. For particularly adventurous travellers, the company offers active safari options, where one can walk, hike, or go on an Africa Travel Bureau Adventure — a collection of unique, immersive experiences that are completely off the main safari circuit
Share this tour