Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. It can be found in Arusha National Park in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania, near Arusha and Moshi towns. Mount Kilimanjaro is on many people’s bucket list, and about 30,000 people attempt to trek the mountain annually with the help of 80,000 porters and guides.
How long does it take to walk up Kilimanjaro?
The good news about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is that it’s a walk-up mountain, meaning there is no technical experience needed for one to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The only challenge most people will face during the hike is altitude sickness.
Walking up Mount Kilimanjaro takes between 5 to 9 days to reach the summit and descend back. The time taken to walk or hike will depend on the hiker’s pace, route, and fitness. People who usually want to walk up Mount Kilimanjaro within a few days are at the risk of getting altitude sickness. But the more days you spend climbing the mountain, the better the chances of reaching the summit because your body will be able to acclimatize.
It takes travelers two days to descend Mount Kilimanjaro from Uhuru peak to the finishing point.
While walking or trekking Mount Kilimanjaro, tourists are advised to go slow, and you will often hear the word “Pole Pole,” translated to mean “slowly slowly.” The higher you climb the mountain, the thinner the air and less oxygen, which could cause altitude sickness. Altitude sickness can occur to anyone, no matter how healthy and fit they are, but one of the ways to avoid it is to go slow while trekking Kilimanjaro so that your body can adjust to acclimatization.
There are several routes established for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The shortest routes are Marangu and Umbwe routes, which can be completed within 5 days. Still, trekkers are always advised to use the longer routes because you get to spend more time on the mountain, enjoy the environment, and your body will adjust to acclimatization very well. The routes used to climb Mount Kilimanjaro include Lemosho route, Rongai route, Northern circuit route, Marangu route, Umbwe route, and Machame route.
The time taken to climb Mount Kilimanjaro will depend on the route you opt to use, the trekker’s level of fitness, and how much time you allow for acclimatization. Some athletes have tackled Kilimanjaro in just hours, ascending and descending.
The more days you spend on the mountain, the higher the chances of a successful summit climb because your body will acclimatize to altitude. Most climbers who opt to use short routes of 5 or 6 days definitely fail to reach the summit. The only challenge of longer routes is that you will have to pay more money for extra days spent on the mountain.
What You Need
The walk to Mount Kilimanjaro is not a normal walk you would take at the beach or elsewhere but requires you to have the right gear to make your trip successful. Some of the essential things you will need to pack include waterproof hiking boots, raincoats, sunglasses, insect repellents, plenty of drinking water, energy-giving snacks, socks, long-sleeved clothing, gloves, hat, scarf, sunscreen, head torch, and other things you might need.
There are direct flights from Europe to Kilimanjaro International Airport, then you can drive to Kilimanjaro National Park. Alternatively, tourists can fly into Nyerere International Airport and connect to Kilimanjaro International Airport by air or road transport.
Mount Kilimanjaro is located some 300 kilometers from the equator, and the country has a tropical climate. There are two dry seasons and two rainy seasons, and the best time for visiting Kilimanjaro is during one of the two dry seasons of June to September and December to February when the weather conditions are favorable, and you can have superb views at the peak.
