Climb Guides

Kilimanjaro is five climates stacked on top of each other. You start warm and humid in the rainforest, cross open moorland where the sun burns and the wind bites, walk an alpine desert that swings from hot noon to freezing night, and finish in arctic conditions on summit night, well below freezing with wind on top.

If you are waiting to feel ready, you will wait forever, because nobody feels ready for a mountain they have never climbed.

Here is the truth most operators soften: on Kilimanjaro, you will very probably feel the altitude. A thumping head one evening, a poor night's sleep, a wobbly appetite, a wave of nausea on summit night.

There are six main ways up Kilimanjaro, and choosing between them is the single biggest decision of your climb. It shapes what you see, how busy your trail is, where you sleep, and, more than anything, your chance of standing on the summit.

John Evance's attempt has a twist that makes it more interesting than the clock alone. Rather than starting at the Marangu or Umbwe gates, where most previous record attempts have begun

The Shira Route suits the experienced trekker who has been to altitude before and knows how their body responds, and the climber who wants the plateau's vast early wilderness more than anything else on the mountain.

The Marangu Route suits the climber who genuinely prefers a hut to a tent, who is climbing in the wetter months and wants a roof each night, or who is watching the budget. It is a reasonable choice for a first climb too, provided you take the six-day version so your body has the time it needs to adjust. If comfort and simplicity matter more to you than scenic variety, Marangu has real and lasting appeal.

The Rongai Route suits the climber who wants peace and quiet, a gentle and forgiving gradient, or a dependable option in the wetter months. It is a lovely choice for first-time climbers and for anyone who would rather ease up the mountain than tackle the steeper, busier southern routes.

It is a moderate trek rather than a technical climb, with no ropes or climbing skills needed. There is more total walking because it is longer, but the pace is gentle and the generous acclimatisation actually makes it feel more manageable for many climbers.

Machame suits the reasonably fit, adventurous climber who wants drama and variety and does not mind sharing the trail. If you love the idea of the iconic route, the Barranco Wall and constantly changing scenery, and you are happy to work a little harder each day for it, Machame is a brilliant choice.

The real reason Lemosho works is not just beauty, it is the profile. Taken over eight days, it follows the climb-high, sleep-low rhythm that gives your body the time it needs to adapt to the altitude. That is why it delivers some of the best summit success rates on Kilimanjaro, and why we recommend it more than any other route.

The fittest climbers are often the ones who struggle. Marathon runners and gym regulars frequently power up the trail, reach camp early, and feel pleased with themselves, while their bodies quietly fall behind on acclimatisation.

If sharing the mountain bothers you, avoid July and August, and lean towards June, September, or the quieter routes such as the Northern Circuit, Rongai and Lemosho, which spread climbers across more space.

The single biggest chunk of any Kilimanjaro climb is not profit, and it is not even the guides. It is the national park fees. The Tanzanian authorities charge conservation fees, camping or hut fees, rescue fees and more for every day you are on the mountain, and these alone make up around a third of the total cost, often a thousand dollars or more. Crucially, every single operator pays exactly the same park fees. They are fixed and non-negotiable.

The reason the zones exist at all is simple. Altitude drives temperature and rainfall. As you gain height the air cools steadily, and the rain that soaks the lower forest thins out higher up. So life is richest in the warm, wet middle of the mountain and grows sparser in every direction from there, until almost nothing survives at the top.

Climbing Kilimanjaro was the best thing I have ever done, and also the thing I was least prepared for in all the ways that actually mattered. Not the kit or the training, I had read about all that. The things that caught me out were quieter and bigger. So here are the five things I genuinely wish someone had sat me down and told me before I set off

Ask ten people why they climbed Kilimanjaro and you'll get ten answers, and they're nearly all right. The achievement, the scenery, the summit, the good it does, and the real reason underneath them all.

One of the world's greatest adventures sits a short flight from Dubai, and most people here have no idea how close, how doable, or how comfortable it can be. Your guide to Kilimanjaro from the UAE.

Not fit enough, too old, dodgy knees, no experience, scared of heights, skint? Here are the six reasons people decide Kilimanjaro "isn't for them", and why each one is probably wrong.

A mountain on the equator, crowned with ancient ice, and in our lifetime it's slipping away. Why Kilimanjaro has glaciers, why they're vanishing, and why this may be one of the last generations to stand beside them.