Explore Kilimanjaro – eXplore Plus Travel and Tours

Climbing Kilimajaro

Prepare yourself for an epic Kilimanjaro hiking experience that might be one of the biggest physical and mental challenges that you have ever faced. Climbing Kilimanjaro is a thrilling adventure, but to summit the world’s highest free-standing mountain is an unparalleled experience. You will never forget the moment you first saw the mountain, soaring high above the clouds of Tanzania and you will always remember the exhilarating feeling of reaching the summit!

The eXplore Plus Travel team has climbed Kilimanjaro 11 times and we use our knowledge to help you to be fully prepared by the time you leave to optimise your climbing experience.

Kilimanjaro is a difficult trek because of the high altitude and the weather contrasts during the climb. The main reason that climbers fail to reach the summit is attributed to their inability to acclimatise to the high altitude fast enough. Your body only acclimatises 500m in altitude per day and you gain roughly a 1000m per day on Kilimanjaro. For this reason, it is import to follow the golden rules of climbing Kilimanjaro: hike slowly (pole-pole), drink enough water, climb high and sleep low and follow your guide’s advice.

Even though Kilimanjaro is close to the equator, temperatures high on the mountain are freezing. Climbing Kilimanjaro is very challenging so having the right gear and equipment is essential. Our team has the knowledge and expertise to give you comprehensive guidance regardless of which Kilimanjaro climbing route you choose from.

Climbing Routes Overview

The Machame route is also known as the “Whiskey route”. It is a wilderness route, which combines spectacular views and scenery and allows for good acclimatisation. With a gradual ascend through the forest, you emerge to see wide views of the moorland on Shira plateau, rocky trails and scree with stunning scenery and beautiful ice formations along the way. The diverse vegetation on the route offers spectacular scenic treats, making it one of the most popular standard routes on the mountain. Nights are spent camping in tents.

Marangu is also known as the “Coca cola” route. It is not too challenging and takes you through the forest, moorlands and then across the saddle (a high-altitude desert) to Kibo. The path to the summit is a zig-zag route up steep scree, with a slow descend. Marangu is the only two-way route and the only trail with huts.

The route starts in a rainforest and leads you on a magnificent unspoiled forest trail to the western side of Shira plateau. The terrain varies continuously giving you ample time to acclimatise. The first two days include gentle rolling trails across the ancient lava flows of the collapsed Shira Volcano offering excellent views of Kilimanjaro’s summit. The Shira plateau is very beautiful and an excellent location to admire the Western glaciers. Upon reaching the Shira plateau, the route merges with the Machame route. Nights are spent camping in tents.

This is the steepest and hardest route up Kilimanjaro but also the most spectacular and direct way to reach Uhuru peak. It follows a forested ridge to the moorlands and then traverses below the Southern Icefields to reach Barafu camp, followed by the last stretch to the summit. The route is quite taxing, primarily due to the relatively fast ascent to higher altitude, but the rewards are plentiful. Fewer people, pristine forest and shorter walking distances make it a great option for hiking enthusiasts. Nights are spent camping in tents.

This is the only route that starts at the northern side of the mountain and it commences at a small village close to the Kenyan border. It is considered to be one of the easiest routes up the mountain as the climbing conditions are drier on the northern side of the mountain. The summit is reached via the eastern side of Kibo and the descent is via the Marangu route. Nights are spent camping in tents.

The Northern Circuit is Kilimanjaro at its most breathtaking. Stretching across nearly 360 degrees of stunning landscapes, it takes you along the quiet, seldom-visited northern slopes. Being the longest route on the mountain, it provides ample time to acclimatize, giving trekkers the best chance of reaching the summit. The journey begins from the west, with a scenic drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate, setting the stage for an unforgettable adventure. Nights are spent camping in tents.

Pre-Scheduled Climbs - 2025 / 2026

Route:	Dates:
Machame 7-day:	14 – 22 Mar ‘26
Machame 7-day:	13 – 21 Jun ‘26
Machame 7-day:	18 – 26 Jul ‘26
Machame 7-day:	08 – 16 Aug ‘26
Machame 7-day:	05 – 13 Sep ‘26
Machame 6-day:	27 Dec ‘26 – 03 Jan ‘27 (New Year summit)
Machame 7-day:	26 Dec ‘26 – 03 Jan ’27 (New Year summit)

Facts On Kilimanjaro

It is the highest point in Africa – 5 895 metres (19 340 feet).
Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the Seven Summits, the highest peak in Africa, the highest free-standing mountain in the world, and one of the best adventures you can undertake.
The national park comprises 3 extinct dormant volcanoes: Kibo (5 895 m), Mawenzi (5 140 m) and Shira (3962 m).
Kilimanjaro ranks twelfth highest mountain in the world.
The unique flower, “Impatiens Kilimanjari”, can only be seen on the jungle floor of Kilimanjaro.
On the foothills you can see the black-and-white colobus monkeys.
You will come across interesting plants like the Everlasting flower and Lobelias.

Mount Kilimanjaro is situated in Tanzania, just south of the equator. It is the highest point in Africa and one of the highest freestanding mountains in the world. The first person who conquered the highest point of Kilimanjaro was Dr Hans Meyer, a German whose country was Tanganyika’s first colonizer. Kibo became known as Uhuru peak, which means “freedom peak”, after Tanganyika’s independence from the United Kingdom.

Kilimanjaro has 5 ecological zones including the Rainforest, Heath, Moorland, Alpine desert and the Icefields. This majestic mountain is a brilliant appetiser of what Tanzania has to offer! Before or after climbing Kilimanjaro, consider booking a safari to one of Tanzania’s well-known parks or relax on the white beaches of Zanzibar Island.