SUMMITING MOUNT KILIMANJARO, MACHAME ROUTE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR AN EPIC EXPERIENCE UP AFRICA’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN

Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro comes with so many questions that I am here to give you answers to. What to expect from start to finish, packing essentials, preparation, how to book with the best company and everything in between to help you feel as ready as you will ever be to accomplish one of the seven summits of the world!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

MOUNT KILIMANJARO:

As if being the highest mountain peak in Africa at an elevation of 5,895m (19,341ft) isn’t impressive enough. What surprised me the most about Kilimanjaro was how unique the landscapes are. You can do a tonne of research on Mt. Kilimanjaro before your trek, but you only fully understand the nature of this mountain once you have been there and done it for yourself.

Kilimanjaro is the tallest free-standing mountain in the whole world. And consists of 3 volcanic cones: Kibo (the summit, currently dormant), Mawenzi and Shira (both extinct).

The oldest glaciers on Kilimanjaro are around 11,500 years old! To think that you are trekking across literal ancient landscapes formed towards the end of the last Ice Age is mind-blowing. Unfortunately, around 85% of the glaciers have been lost and could completely disappear by 2060.

the fIVE landscapes of kilimanjaro:

• CULTIVATION ZONE – this is the base of the mountain where local people farm, plant crops and use the land to feed their communities and earn a living.
• RAINFOREST ZONE – an abundant, lush green, tropical rainforest that gets a lot of rainfall and is home to unique wildlife such as the Colobus Monkey, Blue Monkeys and chameleons.
• MOORLAND ZONE – from around 2,800m to 4,000m you are surrounded by distinct vegetation such as giant heathers and lobelias that forms a band around the mountain. and helps to regulate water flow. It feels like a jurassic world with alien-looking plants.
• ALPINE DESERT ZONE – AKA: Mars! A very rocky landscape at high altitude with little to no plant-life. This zone experiences high wind speeds and freezing cold temperatures.
• ARCTIC ZONE – the summit of Kilimanjaro, covered in ice, thick snow and impressive glaciers with minus degree temperatures and strong winds.

When summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, you will be passing through all of the zones. You really get a chance to appreciate how this mountain has formed its own eco-systems at every change in elevation.

There are 7 official routes that you could take to reach the summit:

• Machame (this is the route we took, most popular & one of the most beautiful)
• Lemosho (thought to be the most beautiful)
• Marangu
• Rongai
• Shira
• Northern Circuit (the longest route)
• Umbwe (the most difficult route!)

As soon as we started our trek, I realized that I actually had no real idea of what the surroundings of Kilimanjaro looked like along the trails and from the camp sites. All you really ever see being shared on social media are pictures from the summit sign. And my goodness! My eyes were treated to so much more natural beauty than I ever imagined when I first decided to take on Kilimanjaro.

Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro is a whole journey. A journey that is filled with the most spectacular views. A journey that awakens your senses and allows you to fully experience a significant landmark on Earth that is both wild and wonderful. And a journey that challenges you mentally and physically to accomplish something amazing that no one can ever take away from you.

WHY WE CHOSE TO SUMMIT KILIMANJARO WITH CLIMB KILI:

I feel like you can tell so much from a website and the way a company represents themselves whether they are a company worth relying your entire experience on. And after searching through literally a hundred different companies, we just got the best feeling from Climb Kili. And wow, our intuition served us extremely well on this decision.

Firstly, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro isn’t just like any other travel experience. It is something that the majority of travelers will only ever do once in their lives. The monetary investment you make to climb Kilimanjaro is a big one. Not to mention all of the preparation and traveling you do to get to Tanzania. So, making sure your trek is all you’ve ever dreamed of is of key importance. And trust me. I know how stressful it can be to choose the right company because there are 1000s of Kilimanjaro tour operators. And you can only ever go off of the information given to you online.

As a full-time nature traveler, there is nothing more important to me than making sure that the company I go with has the right values and is committed to giving their customers the best experiences possible. I would never recommend a company without full transparency of the experience and an honest review. Because travelers need to have other traveler’s backs when it comes to something as big as climbing Kilimanjaro. I know how important it is to feel like you are going with a company who is genuinely invested in your success and cares about your experience.

CLIMB KILI – GREEN FLAGS AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

One of the big green flags on Climb Kili’s website is their 98% summit success rate. Not everyone who does Kilimanjaro makes it to the summit. But hearing the success of a company that’s been operating for almost 40 years immediately made us feel more confident that we can do it!

From the moment we reached out to Climb Kili, we felt so taken care of. They were extremely professional, answered all of our questions and responded so quickly to our emails. The communication between us and Climb Kili was amazing. We even had a video call to finalize all of the finer details. This got us extra pumped and feeling ready for what was to come.

There wasn’t a moment in the process of booking the Machame Route with Climb Kili that we were left in the dark. We felt prepared for the experience – which we really appreciate when it comes to something as daunting as summiting Kilimanjaro.

We also found out that we could stay at the Summit Safari Lodge where their rental offices are. This made the whole process of getting gear and sleeping in Arusha the days before the trek so convenient. More details on this later in the blog!

LIMITED GROUP SIZES & POSITIVE VALUES…

Even though we did a private trek, we saw on their website that they limit their group sizes to 6. We thought this was a big green flag from a company because instead of just trying to get more hikers on the mountain to make more money, they are really prioritizing your experience to make sure you are safe and aren’t constantly stuck in a crowded group on the trails or at the summit. This also means that your experience is really valued by your guides every step of the way.

The promises that Climb Kili commit to on their website truly impressed us. From having camp sites and dining tents set up at every camp by the time we arrive, to monitoring our health every day and sending daily pictures and emails to our families (our moms loved this), to all of the pre-trip planning and their Leave No Trace policy. We really felt like they aligned with all of the values we as nature travelers hold true to. And that made us feel really good to choose them.

Climb Kili is locally owned, professional and supports the local community:

Because Climb Kili is locally owned, they have a deep and meaningful insight into meeting the needs of their local communities and positively impacting the lives of the people who live there. They not only provide job opportunities for the people of Tanzania but they also give back by supporting several Water For Life programs and through their P.O.R.T.E.R program – a reimbursement program reimburses any of their Tanzanian employees Shilling for Shilling for the three main Colleges in Moshi, and four main Colleges in Arusha.

You can read more here about Climb Kili’s efforts in bettering the future of the local people and the environment. Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro with Climb Kili is not only a way for you to travel to one of the most famous mountains in the world. But to also give back to the country you are visiting.

CLIMB KILI OFFERS EVERY ROUTE AND FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE ITINERARIES:

There is nothing more comforting than knowing you can tailor an experience to meet your specific needs, your fitness level and your hiking experience. No matter which route you wish to do, Climb Kili offers the possibility of all 7 routes and allows you to customize the itinerary to your preferences. All you need to do is ask and they will be willing to do what they can to accommodate you. Being able to customize a high altitude multi-day trek is so convenient and even further ensures a successful summit.

As I mentioned before, there is only so much you can know from researching online, reading reviews and being in contact with a company over the phone. But with our gut feeling leading the way and feeling confident in our decision with Climb Kili, after all of the organizing and the anticipation, we finally got to experience their service in person. And our excitement levels to make this dream come true were so real. I am excited to share with you a deeper insight into each day of the trek, our guides, the campsites, the food, summit day and everything in between.

OUR 6 DAY ITINERARY ON THE MACHAME ROUTE:

Before we get into the 6-day Machame itinerary. It is important to note that Climb Kili offers every route for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro for more (or less) days to suit your needs and preferences. The 6-day itinerary was just the choice that made the most sense for us. Most people do the 7-day Machame or 8-day Lemosho Route, these are the most popular routes amongst hikers. This makes summit day easier. You will have shorter hiking days and more time to rest before the push to the summit. If you are worried about altitude sickness, opting for more days is also a better option to give your body more time to acclimatize.

DAY 1:

ROUTE & HOURS :
Transportation from your hotel to the start of the trek at the Machame Gate at the Kilimanjaro National park – about 2.5 hours drive.
Machame Gate to Machame Camp site – 10km, 5-7 hours.

CAMP SITE & ELEVATION:
Starting elevation – 1,640m (5,380ft)
Machame Camp – 3,000m (9,842ft)

WHAT TO EXPECT:
What stands out about Day 1 of the Machame Route is the most enchanting, lush and abundant rainforest scenery.

While you are checking in at the Machame Gate (about 1 hour), you will eat your packed lunch and have your bags checked by the rangers before you walk through the gate. You are immediately welcomed by the mountain into the rainforest zone. The rainforest will take you all the way to your first camp site, the Machame Camp.

The trail is a gradual incline all the way to the camp. Your guides will guide you slowly to ensure you preserve energy for the coming days. Take your time observing the plant-life of the rainforest because it is truly magical. If you are lucky, this is an opportunity to see Blue Monkeys and Colobus Monkeys. Every now and then it’s possible to spot a chameleon too.

When you reach the camp site, you will have snacks, dress warm, relax and have dinner around 6pm. If the skies are clear when you arrive, you will already see the views from here. We had clouds when we arrived but we saw the entire view when we woke up the next morning.

DAY 2:

ROUTE & HOURS:
Machame Camp to Shira Camp – 7km, 5-7 hours.

CAMP SITE & ELEVATION:
Shira Cave Camp – 3,800m (12,467ft)

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Around 7-7:30am you will have your breakfast, tea and coffee. After fueling your body for the day, you will start ascending through the Moorland zone up to Shira Cave Camp. This trail also offers beautiful views of the landscapes on a clear day. And even if it is cloudy, there is a mystical vibe to the Moorland surroundings that is so beautiful.

You will cross a small valley and walk along a steep rocky ridge until the trail veers West into a dried up river gorge. This trail is breathtaking! Being here really felt like being so much closer to the mountain. The scenery gets more dramatic – which got us really excited for what we would see on day 3.

Once reaching the camp site (so stunning!), you will be served lunch, have a rest and then take a short walk with your guides to see the Shira Cave and a breathtaking view point on the rocks. After reaching back to the camp site you will have snacks and warm drinks prepared for you before you have dinner and get to rest for the next day.

DAY 3:

ROUTE & HOURS:
Shira Cave Camp site to Lava Tower (lunch spot) to Barranco Valley – 15km, 6-8 hours.

CAMP SITE & ELEVATION:
Barranco Camp – 3,900m (12,795ft)

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Day 3 really surprised us in a big way. The way the landscapes changed throughout the whole day, the insanely dramatic views and the amazing camp site were just such a treat!

You will trek along the East ridge up to the Lava Tower. This is where the landscape changes from the Moorland Zone to the rocky Alpine Desert zone. It is so windy along this trail, so dress warmly for this day. The views of the mountain are so spectacular and the Lava Tower adds so much drama to the whole scene. Luckily, you have time to really appreciate the surroundings because this is where the porters set up your dining tent for you to have a nice warm lunch before heading down into Barranco valley.

After lunch there is a steep but short descent down from the Lava Tower. Afterwards, the descent becomes gradual all the way into the valley until you reach the Barranco Camp. We were completely obsessed with the plant life here.

When you reach the camp site, you will have your snacks, get ready for dinner and have an early night’s rest.

DAY 4:

ROUTE & HOURS:
Barranco Camp Site to Barafu Base Camp – 9km, 6-8 hours.

CAMP SITE & ELEVATION:
Barafu Base Camp – 4,700m (15,420ft)

WHAT TO EXPECT:
The Barranco Wall day!

Today you will be gaining a decent amount of elevation to make it to base camp. You will start your day very early to give yourself enough time to rest at base camp before summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.

If you choose to do the 7-day Machame Route, your day will look a little different. You will have a much shorter day by sleeping at Karanga Camp and then trekking to base camp the next day instead.

You will be conquering the Barranco Wall in the morning by scrambling your way up over rocks and boulders. And I promise you, there is a view at the top of that wall that is going to blow your mind. This was one of my top favorite views of the whole trek. You do not need to feel intimidated by the Barranco Wall because your guides will be able to help you every step of the way.

After the wall, you walk along the South Circuit across the Karanga Valley. You will have a steep but short ascent to Karanga Camp. Here, you can enjoy the views and a nourishing lunch before hiking 2-3 more hours up to Barafu base camp.

Once you reach base camp, you will eat an early dinner with enough time to rest and sleep before waking up at 11pm to start the summit to Uhuru Peak!

Your guides will determine what time is suitable for you to wake up for the summit push depending on your average hiking speed. We woke up at 11pm to get ready, drink tea and eat snacks before we start climbing at midnight.

DAY 5: (SUMMITING MOUNT KILIMANJARO)

ROUTE & HOURS:
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak – 5km, anywhere from 6-9 hours.
Uhuru Peak back to base camp – 5km, anywhere from 2-4 hours down from the summit.
Lunch at base camp with a 30 minute to one hour rest.
Barafu Camp to Mweka Camp – 13km, 3-5 hours.

CAMP SITE & ELEVATION:
Uhuru Peak – 5,895m (19,340ft)
Mweka Camp Site – 3,100m (10,170ft)

WHAT TO EXPECT:
IT IS SUMMITING MOUNT KILIMANJARO DAY! Although the push to the summit is only 5km, expect to walk less than 1km per hour because of the elevation. We took 6 hours and 20 minutes to reach Uhuru Peak. But it can take anywhere between 6-9 hours. It is freezing cold temperatures at this time of night, especially around 3am to 6am, so you will be wearing all of your layers and gear.

The elevation makes trekking to the peak more challenging than the other days. Be patient with yourself, drink lots of water and take breaks when you need to. As you make your way up, you will finally reach the Arctic zone as you pass through Stella point and then up to the summit. This section was very snowy for us. The views of the arctic ice fields and the glaciers here on the way down were astounding.

When you reach the summit sign you will have time for celebrating and taking pictures before making your way back down to base camp.

DESCENDING FROM THE SUMMIT:

It took us around 2 hours to get to Barafu base camp. You will have around 30 mins to an hour to rest and pack. Your chef will serve you lunch and then you start trekking down to the next camp site. This took us about 3 hours. When you reach your final camp site, you will be served dinner at a time of your choice because you will want to go to sleep early after such a big day. We went to bed so early and literally slept for 11 hours that night!

Your guide will give you a choice of what time you would like to leave the next morning to start making your way to the gate. We chose to leave at about 6:30am, but he told us that most people prefer to leave as early as 5am.

DAY 6:

ROUTE & HOURS:
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate (the end of your trek!) – 10km, 3-4 hours.
Lunch at the nearby restaurant.
Back to Arusha – about 2.5 hours.

CAMP SITE & ELEVATION:
Mweka Gate – 1,640m (5,380ft)

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Welcome back and congratulations on completing your Kilimanjaro trek! Even though you might feel exhausted, you will be so excited to have accomplished one of your biggest dreams of summiting the highest peak in Africa!

Day 6 is the easiest day that only requires you walking downhill through the rainforest zone again, from Mweka Camp to the Mweka Gate. You will have another chance to see the wildlife of Kilimanjaro National Park as you gradually descend through the rainforest zone. We were so happy to see Colobus Monkeys and Blue Monkeys towards the end of the forest.

At the Mweka Gate, your guides will sign you out of the park and gift you with a certificate for successfully summiting Mount Kilimanjaro! We absolutely loved this and will treasure it as a souvenir forever. You end your trek with your last lunch at a nearby restaurant where you can also purchase really beautiful souvenirs. Afterwards, you will be transported back to Arusha. And this was just the cherry on top of an amazing trek because our guides and porters sang local songs to us in the car and it was a whole party!

THE GUIDES AND PORTERS OF CLIMB KILI:

The first word that comes to my mind when I think of our team is: FUN. From the moment we met everyone until the very end when we were dropped back off at the hotel, we thoroughly enjoyed every moment with all of our guides and porters.

There was not a moment during the trek where our team was not professional. And I think it takes a special kind of presence to hold both a professional and a fun energy on a multi-day experience.

The most memorable part about trekking with Climb Kili was definitely the fun we had every day. All of the chanting, the celebrations and joking with our guides, the positive energy from our porters, the motivation to get us to the top, the professionalism of our team always having our camp sites set up and ready for us before we arrive at the end of each day and how well every member of the team took care of us and our needs. Our guides and porters were always on time, they checked on our health every day, our meals were prepared on time, the toilet was always clean for us and they were ready to help us with anything at any time of the day or night.

We really felt like a family for those 6 days. We connected and bonded in so many ways. Which is an important aspect for us personally because we want to feel comfortable with the people we are spending so much time with every single day for almost a week long!

FOR THE 2 OF US, WE HAD A TEAM OF 12 PEOPLE:

• Head Guide
• Assistant Guide
• Cook
• Toilet Attendant
• Waiter
• Camping Attendant (tents, dining tent, etc)
• Cleaning Attendant (dishes etc)
• 5 Porters

The number of guides and porters you have will depend on the size of your group.

I was constantly impressed by the strength of the porters. We would never have made it to the summit without even one member of the team missing. Your team is the reason why summiting Mount Kilimanjaro is even possible. The guides are the reason you will make it to the top. Your chefs and camp site care takers are the reason you have enough food for sustenance and a place to sleep. Your porters are the reason you have enough energy to make it through each day. All of their efforts allowed us to make this dream come true and we are forever grateful for that.

We were asked to give any constructive criticism about our experience with the guides and porters and we genuinely could not think of a single fault. And I do not say that sentence lightly. It is so important to share an experience honestly and I meant every word with how excellent their services were. Their commitment went over and beyond our expectations. And not only did we love our time with our team, we saw other Climb Kili groups having so much fun on the mountain too.

TIP YOUR GUIDES AND PORTERS!

Every single person in your team deserves to be tipped. You do not fully realize the effort that is happening in the background of climbing Kilimanjaro until you are there and see it with your own eyes. Tipping your team is a significant token of appreciation and gratitude for what they have done for you. They rely on tips from clients to support their families and save up for the lower seasons. Climb Kili takes such good care of all their employees to ensure they are paid and treated fairly – adding a good tip to each of their climbs makes a big difference to their yearly income. And trust me, they deserve every dollar.

THE MEALS:

To say that we were well-fed by Climb Kili is the understatement of the year. I packed a couple of my own extra snacks to have with me on the trek and I didn’t even touch any of them. All of their meals are abundantly served, 3 times a day, and with snacks in between. You really do not go hungry at any point on the trek.

Every morning we would be woken up by our waiter, Baltazar, with a nice hot drink to get us out of bed in those chilly sunrise hours. We would get dressed, pack our bags and be served a big breakfast. Starting with a warm welcome porridge, followed by the main breakfast. We would have anything from eggs, omelettes, sausages, pancakes, avocado, fruits and toast.

I think the lunches were actually my favorite meals of the trek because we got to have lunch in some epic views!

Lunches started with soup and/or fruits. And then switched between pastas, fries, fritters, vegetable curries, rice, chicken, fresh salads and meatballs for the mains.

For dinner we would always start with a nice warm and tasty soup. We loved the soups as starters because it was always so cold by dinner time. Our dinners were anything from spaghetti, to pizza (our fav!), fresh salads, chicken/vegetable curries and rice.

For snacks we had teas, coffee, hot chocolate, popcorn and biscuits.

Everything we got served was tasty, freshly made (and made with love) and very filling!

WHAT TO PACK FOR SUMMITING MOUNT KILIMANJARO:

Unless you plan to travel to Tanzania with your own proper gear for freezing cold temperatures and summiting a 5895m mountain, you can rent all of your gear directly from Climb Kili. I will elaborate a bit more about what this entails in the next section.

But let’s take a look at what you need to pack for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro that you are not able to rent from them:

• Your own day backpack if possible
• A few pairs of hiking socks
• Hiking shoes
• Beanie and thin gloves (thick gloves if you have but you can rent these)
• Hiking leggings/shorts/trekking pants (you will wear these for basically every day of the trek, and then use the hiking gear from the company for summit day as additional layers)
• Hiking tops/shirts
• Extra warm sweaters/fleece
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Reusable water bottle
• Portable charger for your phone battery
• Skin lotion (our skin was SO dry in the high elevation)
• Body wash (Climb Kili offered us hot water to wash with every day)
• Ear plugs/eye mask (if you struggle to sleep around others)
• Altitude sickness pills, headache tablets if you need them
• Earphones/book for days when you reach the camp site with extra time
• Cash for souvenirs after the trek (you will have your last lunch at a lovely restaurant with an amazing souvenir shop nearby the entrance to the park)

RENTING GEAR WITH CLIMB KILI:

Climb Kili has all of the essential gear you need to be practical and warm throughout your trek. Their rental office is on the premises of the Summit Safari Lodge. On the day of your briefing, you will be given a list of gear to choose from that they have available. After you’ve ticked off what you need, you will pack your duffle bag with your guide and try on all of your gear to make sure it fits you perfectly.

You can rent the following items from Climb Kili:

• Duffle bag (the bag the porters carry for you)
• Sleeping bag
• Warm liner
• Gaiters
• Head lamp
• Day backpack
• Rain pants and rain jacket
• Fleece pants and sweater
• Thick warm hiking jacket/wind breaker for summit day (insulated parka)
• Trekking poles
• Thick and thin gloves
• Hiking boots (recommended to wear your own hiking shoes to prevent blisters)
• Poncho
• Extra sleeping pad (one is already provided)

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TREK WITH CLIMB KILI:

The booking process with Climb Kili is seamless and they will be there to help you along every step of the way. Even though Climb Kili is locally owned, they have a Tanzania office and a US office to answer to worldwide clients at any time of the day. Throughout the booking process, the company is very responsive. They are happy to answer all of your questions and can accommodate your requests as best as possible.

There is a Reservations Form on the Climb Kili website where you can enter all of your details and pay a $350 lifetime deposit to confirm your respective tour. But if you have any special requests, itinerary changes, specific necessities or want to customize your route, I highly recommend getting on call with them. Or contacting them via email to complete the booking process.

Here you will find all of the necessary details to book your Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro Tour with Climb Kili:

• Climb Kili Website
• Contact Us Form (email)
• Whatsapp: +1 843 589 1884
• Contact number: +1-888-589-1884
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

A SHORT STORY:

We had our dates booked and finalized with Climb Kili. Just 3 days before we were supposed to start, my partner got so sick with the flu! There was no way he would have been better by our initial date. How we got him to heal in just a few days was a miracle! But we met with Climb Kili and discussed starting a day later than planned to give him an extra day to feel better. They were more than accommodating. They moved our trek a day later which helped my partner so much to rest up. By Day 1 he was ready to rumble.

We were SO grateful to Climb Kili for doing this for us. On their website you can see that they give their customers a lifetime deposit. They are so understandable towards life happening and sometimes unexpected things happen along the way. You can read more about their booking conditions here.

WHERE TO STAY BEFORE AND AFTER THE TREK?

Most people stay in Arusha or Moshi depending on where the offices of their travel agency are situated. These are the 2 main cities surrounding Kilimanjaro from where you do your pre-trek briefings, sort out your gear and rest up before you start hiking. You can also get any last minute essentials that you may need before the time from the supermarkets here.

Arusha is about 2.5 hours from the Kilimanjaro National Park entrance for the Machame Route. Moshi is about 45 minutes away. Transportation to and from your respective hotel/tour company is included in your tour so you do not have to worry about getting your own transport to the start of your chosen route.

When you book your trek with Climb Kili, you will be staying in Arusha as that is where their gear rental office is and where you will be briefed on your trek. As I mentioned before, the Climb Kili offices are at the Summit Safari Lodge. So, opting to book a night here before and after your trek will make your journey so convenient to and from the mountain and returning your gear will be easy. We really enjoyed staying at the Summit Lodge. They have professional staff, the most comfortable beds, Wi-Fi, hot showers, breakfast included and a roof top restaurant that has a view of Arusha and Mount Meru.

WHAT IS THE BEST SEASON FOR SUMMITING MOUNT KILIMANJARO?

The best time to summit Kilimanjaro is during the 2 dry seasons of Tanzania. This is between June and October and the shorter dry season is from January to February/mid-March. April, May, November and December are the least recommended months for Kilimanjaro. You will experience more rainfall during this time, muddier paths and slippery trails.

Dry season also means that it is the high season for hikers to conquer the mountain. It is highly recommended to take on the summit during the dry seasons when the skies are clear for the best views and photography, the sun is shining and the trails are dry for a comfortable trekking experience.

WHEN DID WE SUMMIT & WHAT WAS OUR EXPERIENCE:

We summited Kilimanjaro mid-June. We were fully expecting the trails to be crowded with traffic and the summit sign to be packed with people waiting for the famous sign post picture. But we were very pleasantly surprised to be the only 2 hikers at the summit the entire time we were up there. Trails were never too crowded with people that slowed you down or made it feel like the mountain is overrun with tourism.

Of course, I cannot speak to trekking Kilimanjaro later on in the dry season. It may be a different experience depending on which month you climb. But I think choosing to do the summit mid-June was perfect. And the weather was amazing for us for the entire trek. We did not experience any rain. And even though we did have cloudy skies at times, all of the views came out for us at the camp sites and along the way.

Something that stood out to us because of summiting mid-June was all of the snow at the summit. If you are looking to see Kilimanjaro with more snow, then June is also a much better option for you. The ground and the crater were completely covered in thick snow for us. It made summiting at sunrise look like a magical white wonderland. It was truly a spectacular landscape to see in that way. We saw pictures from hikers who climbed mid-July and the amount of snow was significantly less, with almost no snow at the sign post.

I think that if you prefer to avoid the big crowds, then trekking Kilimanjaro during the shoulder seasons (right at the beginning and end of the dry seasons) is a great time for you to plan your trip to Tanzania.

DID SUMMITING WITH CLIMB KILI MEET OUR EXPECTATIONS?

As you can tell by the nature of this blog post, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro with Climb Kili was honestly one of the all-time best travel decisions we’ve ever made. I really couldn’t imagine having done such an important experience with any other company. All of the good feelings we had about going with Climb Kili were exceedingly reflected back to us by their amazing service and the experience they gifted us by holding true to their promises and values as a company.

The organization of the trek before, during and after was incredible. Every element of what makes summiting possible was taken care of in a very professional way. And I think that not being able to fault the performance of the guides, porters and the company says a lot about how dedicated they are to giving you the best service possible.

I have done many treks in my travel life. I’ve met countless guides, embarked on so many different tours. And Climb Kili stands out in a way that you can only understand once you have been there and done it all with them yourself. There is an energy within the company and their employees that really sticks with you. It is an energy that you appreciate having on an experience like this.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT CLIMBING THE HIGHEST PEAK IN AFRICA:

POLE POLE (“SLOWLY SLOWLY”):

Pole Pole will become your daily mantra with Climb Kili. It means “slowly slowly” – and let me tell you, this makes all of the difference! The guides of Climb Kili will make sure that you are preserving your energy every step of the way to make sure you have enough strength to make it to the summit.

DRINK LOTS OF WATER:

Of course this goes without saying. But sometimes it’s easy to forget that as we go higher in elevation, the more we need to make sure we are staying hydrated to avoid elevation sickness, headaches and dehydration. Climb Kili ensures you have clean drinking water every single day. So you don’t need to worry about running out of water. If you ever feel uneasy during the push to the summit, take a sip of water. It’s the refresh your body needs to keep on going.

BRING YOUR OWN REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE WITH YOU:

You are not allowed to bring one-time use plastic bottles into the National Park. You need to have your own reusable water bottle to fill up with water along the trek. Your bag will be checked at the gate by the rangers for any illegal items. If you cannot travel with your own one to Tanzania, you can purchase one at the supermarkets in Moshi or Arusha.

BRING A SMALL PILLOW:

THIS IS A COMFORTABLE SLEEPING GAME CHANGER!! And also the biggest mistake I made because I, in fact, did not bring a pillow with me. I would have slept so much more comfortably every night if I had had a pillow to rest my head on. Instead, I used my jackets as a make-shift pillow which made sleeping very uneasy. My duffle bag was not fully packed/too heavy to have brought a small pillow with. You can even use one of those inflatable trekking pillows and it will be a better decision than not having one at all.

TIPPING:

I know that it can be a bit confusing knowing how much to tip your guides, let alone how much to tip a team of more than 10 people with different roles. We knew how much we wanted to give as a tip in total but we had no idea how to divide that tip up fairly for each person. We were so thankful to our head guide for sharing a system with us that they use on every trek to give each guide and porter the percentage of the tip they deserve according to their position in the team. This really made us feel good about how much everyone was receiving.

In the end, it is still your decision how much you want to give each person. Your guide will make this clear to you. For example if you want the porters to get more than the given percentage, then you are more than welcome to do that. You can simply ask your guide at the end of your trek to please share this system with you so you can get an idea of how to split your tip up between the team.

KEEP A POSITIVE MINDSET:

You are summiting the highest peak in Africa! Be gentle on yourself, take your time and enjoy the journey. You have time every day to make it to the next camp site. Your guides will observe your pace throughout each day to determine what time you need to leave base camp to make it to the summit at your own pace. You do not need to feel rushed or under pressure in any way. You are achieving something that a very small percentage of people in the world do. And more than your physical fitness, your mindset and attitude is what is going to pave the way for a successful summit.

LEAVE NO TRACE…

This is not only one of the most famous mountains in the entire world, it is a sacred mountain, it is an important eco-system for unique and significant fauna and flora, it is a home to all forms of life, it is an essential landmark for tourism and employment. And summiting Mount Kilimanjaro should be treated as such.

Do not leave your litter or food scraps on the mountain. Use the toilet provided to you by Climb Kili. If you need to go to the loo while in the middle of a trail then have a bag to take your toilet paper with you until you reach the next camp site where you can discard of it properly. Pick up litter if you see it. Stay on the trails and do not pick flowers or plants. Nature is gifting you a once in a lifetime experience. It deserves to be respected and taken care of as if it was your own home.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS ON SUMMITING MOUNT KILIMANJARO: AN EXPERIENCE THAT WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE I’VE EVER DONE…

Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro is an experience that no one will ever be able to take away from me. As a mountain lover and a hiking enthusiast, making it to the top of Africa’s highest peak was so far beyond special in so many ways. Being able to have experience like the one that I had with such an attentive and fun team made all of the difference. The people you spend 6, 7, 8 days with on top of a mountain can really make or break your experience – which makes me so grateful to Climb Kili for the memorable experience they gave us.

There is nothing about the trek that I would have wanted to change. I feel like this will not be the last time I leave foot steps across this unbelievably unique mountain.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

DO I NEED TO BE AN EXPERIENCED HIKER FOR SUMMITING MOUNT KILIMANJARO?

You do not need to be an extremely experienced hiker as summiting Kilimanjaro is not a technical hike. However, this is a high altitude trek. You should at least have a moderate level of fitness and some experience in high altitude to know how your body responds to being in elevation to be better prepared for making it to the summit. More than anything, you should be mentally prepared to push yourself on summit day.

HOW MANY DAYS IS IDEAL FOR CLIMBING KILIMANJARO?

The ideal amount of days for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro is 7-8 days. This is also the amount of days recommended to most hikers by Climb Kili. This is also the most popular amount of days amongst hikers. We came across many hikers doing the 9 or 10 day routes. It all comes down to your own preference and fitness level.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I AM PRONE TO ALTITUDE SICKNESS?

Although your guides make sure to climb slowly and ascend with care to avoid altitude sickness at all costs, you can be proactive and take precautions before and during the trek to avoid getting sick. You can acclimatize in Arusha (1,400m). If you have time, you can do a warm-up hike or multi-day trek before Kilimanjaro. We did a 4-day trek through the Usambara Mountains the week before our trek. This helped us to feel fitter and stronger for summiting.

You do get altitude sickness pills that you can take before and during the trek if you fall ill. You can take Diamox days before your trek or you can take it if you feel ill on the mountain. This medication is also easily available in pharmacies in Tanzania.

how do people go to the bathroom on mount kilimanjaro?

With Climb Kili, they set up your own clean, private toilet to use at every single camp site. You do not have to go outside or use the camp site toilets that are used by everyone in the camps. This is a luxury to be grateful for!

ARE THERE RESCUE TEAMS ON THE MOUNTAIN IN CASE I GET SICK?

Yes, of course! There are amazing rescue teams and emergency routes in place in case of any emergencies, accidents and illness. The operations that are running behind the scenes on Kilimanjaro to ensure the safety of all climbers, guides and porters are incredibly impressive. There is an emergency helicopter for anyone who needs to be airlifted. There are also emergency beds that are carried down Kilimanjaro by porters. All of the guides are fully trained in first aid so you are in safe hands every step of the way.

WHAT CAN I DO TO TRAIN FOR SUMMITING KILIMANJARO?

Any physical exercise in preparation for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro is going to make you feel stronger for the trek. Going on hikes in the months before Kilimanjaro can prepare you physically but also mentally to push yourself in uncomfortable and challenging situations. If you have the opportunity to do any higher altitude trekking before the time then that is also a great idea to help you feel more prepared. Going for walks uphill is a good exercise too.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SUMMIT KILIMANJARO FROM BASE CAMP?

From base camp to the summit of Uhuru Peak, it can generally take anywhere between 6 to 8 hours to reach the top. This depends on your hiking speed which your guide will analyze throughout the trek to determine at what time you need to start the push to the summit. Most hikers start between 11pm and midnight and reach by sunrise. We did see that some hikers actually opt to do the push to the summit during the day. When we were descending from the summit, we crossed paths with hikers who were on their way to the summit. This is something you can discuss with Climb Kili to customize the time of your summit to your preference of what time you want to be at the summit. Just keep the sun and heat of the day in mind.

when is the best time for summiting mount kilimanjaro?

The best time to summit Kilimanjaro is during the dry season. Either between mid-june to early October or from mid-December to early March. These are also the high seasons for traveling in Tanzania.

WHICH IS THE BEST ROUTE TO TAKE FOR SUMMITING KILIMANJARO?

The most popular and most beautiful routes are the 7-day Machame Route and the 8-day Lemosho Route. These routes will give you the most spectacular views of Kilimanjaro and the surrounding landscapes. These routes and amount of days also give your body time to adjust to the altitude and rest before summit day.