Standing at 5,895 metres tall, Kilimanjaro towers over the plains of Kenya and Tanzania.
Those who reach Uhuru Peak can see with their own eyes the dawn rising over Africa, and glaciers only a few degrees south of the equator.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
From lush rainforest at the foot to Kibo’s snowy peak, climbing Kilimanjaro is the challenge of a lifetime, and being a non-technical climb it is open to most people of reasonable fitness. Safety is our priority, and to give our guests the most enjoyment of the climb we make sure all climbers are well looked after, be they porters or paying guests. Guides are knowledgeable in the botany and history of the mountain, and are invaluable companions for the final bid on the summit. To reach the peak, we favour two of the mountain’s more remote routes - the scenic Machame Route, and the quiet Lemosho Route, approaching the mountain from the west.
Climbing routes
The routes we prefer to use on Kilimanjaro are all camping routes. There’s a great sense of camaraderie in camp as climbers gather to talk over the day’s walking, and each camp has a mess tent where the climb team eats. Guests stay in simple but comfortable mountain tents, and climbers never cease to be amazed by the quality and variety of food that is produced above 10,000 feet!
Lemosho Route
One of the least used paths on Kilimanjaro, the Lemosho Route approaches Kilimanjaro from the west and is ideal for those who wish to acclimatise slowly. Stretching over eight days or longer, we have found that this route has the highest success rate of climbers reaching Uhuru Peak. Trekking across the Shira Plateau offers spectacular views, and the steady ascent gives the best chance of seeing the most stunning view of all - sunrise from the summit.
Machame Route
The Machame Route is a six-day trek, taking climbers to the peak from the southwest. It is thought by many to be the most beautiful of all the routes on Kilimanjaro, rising from tropical forest at the Machame gate through heather, moorland and alpine desert to the icy peak. This is a great route for people who have less time to climb the mountain, and its wild and varied scenery make it a rewarding climb.