Mount Kilimanjaro: the complete guide for first-time climbers
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres, and one of the few big peaks a first-time trekker can climb without technical skills. The altitude is what makes it hard.
The mountain
Kilimanjaro rises from farmland and rainforest through heath and alpine desert to the glaciers near Uhuru Peak. You pass through five climate zones in about a week.
Routes
The main routes are Machame, Lemosho, Rongai, Marangu, Northern Circuit and Umbwe. For most first-time climbers we recommend Lemosho (8 days) or Machame (7 days), because the profiles allow better acclimatisation.
How long
More days means better acclimatisation and a higher chance of reaching the summit. Seven or eight days is the sweet spot for most people.
When
The driest months are January to early March and June to October. April and May are the wettest.
At a glance
- Summit
- Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m
- Recommended length
- 7 or 8 days
- Best months
- January to March, June to October
- Technical skills
- none needed
- Main challenge
- altitude
Fitness
You need good walking fitness and the ability to walk for several hours on consecutive days. Training for three months before is ideal.
Altitude
Anyone can get altitude sickness, regardless of fitness. Walking slowly (“pole pole”), drinking enough water and choosing a longer route are the best defences.
The crew
A licensed guide leads the climb, with assistant guides, a cook and porters who carry tents, food and equipment. You carry a daypack.
Summit night
You start around midnight from high camp and reach the crater rim near sunrise. It is cold, long and the hardest part of the trek.
Questions we get asked
What is the success rate?
It varies by route and length. Longer routes have much higher summit success rates.
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