Kilimanjaro National Park

Mount Kilimanjaro is the mountain every traveller has heard of, and standing on its summit - the Roof of Africa at 5,895 m - is one of those life-list moments that draws around 35,000 climbers a year from every corner of the globe. The climb is challenging but achievable for fit walkers: no technical climbing is required, but altitude, weather, and five distinct ecological zones make it a serious undertaking. The reward - watching the sunrise over Africa from Stella Point - is, by most accounts, worth every step.

There are seven official routes up Kilimanjaro, and which one you choose has a real impact on your experience. Marangu is the oldest and only route with hut accommodation - it’s the cheapest but also the busiest and has the lowest summit success rate. Machame is the most popular - stunning scenery, good acclimatisation profile, camping, and one of the better summit success rates. Lemosho is widely considered the most beautiful - it approaches from the west through untouched rainforest, has the highest summit success rate, and is the route we recommend most often. Rongai approaches from the north near the northern border - quieter, drier, and a good option in the rainy seasons.

The climb takes between five and nine days depending on the route. Longer is better: more days means more time to acclimatise, and acclimatisation is the single biggest factor in summit success. The fastest legal climbs (Marangu 5 days, Machame 6 days) have success rates around 65–75%. The longer Lemosho 8-day itinerary has a success rate closer to 90%. We strongly recommend adding an extra day.

Most climbers combine a Kilimanjaro trek with a 4–7 day Northern Circuit safari. The classic itinerary is to climb first, then rest for a day, then head out to Tarangire, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater. Climbing the other way around (safari first, then climb) is also possible and may be preferable for the acclimatisation benefit. We can build either itinerary.