Climbing Kilimanjaro is a physically challenging endeavour, which is why reaching the summit is so satisfying. Any difficulties experienced while Kilimanjaro trekking are usually related to inadequate acclimatisation, the pace of the trek, and the route that is taken up the mountain. You should choose the route for your Kilimanjaro trekking holiday carefully, and prepare properly.

The Kilimanjaro Ambition

Rising abruptly from the Tanzania plain, Mount Kilimanjaro (5,892 m) is an awe-inspiring sight. A climb of Kilimanjaro is a rewarding adventure, taking you to the roof of Africa. Depending on the pace of your group and the route plotted, it’s possible to get to the Uhuru summit and back within five days, staying overnight in huts and camps on the mountain. But trek durations vary. For example, the Lemosho route takes between 6 and 8 days and the Marangu route takes between 5 and 6, depending on the rest days incorporated.

The idea that Kilimanjaro trekking routes can be completed in five days (rather than seven or eight) is part of the reason why so many summit attempts fail. Guides frequently have to tell people on a Kilimanjaro trekking holiday to slow down, since ambition and over-exertion can make the difference between reaching the summit or not. It's worth considering: why rush anyway? Taking a slower approach on a Kilimanjaro climb will be less tiring and consequently more enjoyable. A steadier pace is more likely to lead to a successful summit, as well as giving you more time in a beautifully foreign environment.

The importance of acclimatisation cannot be overstated. People react differently to the unfamiliar conditions at altitude, and even very fit people might experience symptoms like headaches and nausea. The key is to take things gradually on a Kilimanjaro climb, incorporating time to for your body to adapt.

Some Kilimanjaro trekking holiday itineraries begin with a preparatory and enjoyable climb of the neighbouring Mount Meru. At 4,566 metres, Mount Meru is a good appetizer and acclimatizer. A few days climbing this moon-shaped volcano will allow you to see the safari wildlife of the surrounding Arusha National Park, and from the summit, you can see ‘Kili’ thirty miles to the east, towering into the horizon.

Kilimanjaro Trekking Routes

There are seven well-established routes for trekking up Kilimanjaro – Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Mweka, Shira, Rongai and Umbwe – with several of the routes overlapping and sharing the same trail further up the mountain.

Approaching Kilimanjaro from the East is the Marangu trail. This is the oldest and one of the easier routes, and consequently it has a well-established infrastructure to assist climbers. However, its popularity can be detrimental to the experience; known as the ‘Coca Cola’ route, the huts along the Marangu sometimes struggle to accommodate the traffic. Some claim its scenery is not as interesting as on other Kilimanjaro trekking routes.

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