What It’s Really Like To Trek Mount Kilimanjaro

This depends entirely on what kind of weather you are comfortable trekking in, as the seasons can vary greatly. We climbed in mid-June, which is directly after the short rainy season, and marks the beginning of winter. The busy season for Kilimanjaro climbs begins in June and carries through to August, so the campsites and routes weren’t crowded during our trek.

The nights and mornings were cold – ranging from 5-10 degrees Celsius lower down, and cooled off to about -15 degrees Celsius at higher altitudes of 4000+ metres. If you prefer warmer temperatures, December, January and February are recommended although December can be quite busy being a peak travel season which affects airfare pricing too.

With the right warm gear, winter treks can offer drier conditions and clear skies.

Regardless of which time of year you choose, it’s important to remember that conditions can change drastically when climbing Kilimanjaro so preparation is key!

There are seven routes to choose from for the ascent scattered across the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, with the most popular routes being Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Northern Circuit and the Rongai route. These Kilimanjaro treks vary from 62km to 98km total distance, range between 5-10 days and all offer great views.

Shorter routes include the Shira and Umbwe routes, but an important consideration is they provide you with less time to acclimatise to the altitude and you may be more prone to the effects of altitude sickness.

The Machame route was fantastic, crossing through each of the mountain’s five ecological zones and offered an abundance of incredible scenery. From trekking through dense tropical forests on day one, spotting wildlife such as blue monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys, to the alpine desert vistas on day three and huge glaciers at the summit, there was no shortage of great views. The Lemosho route is also known for being very scenic with a high summit success rate, hence its popularity. The Marangu route is the only route that offers mountain hut accommodation for those who would prefer this experience over camping, and Rongai is the quietest route which follows the Northern slope of the mountain near the Kenyan border.

For trekkers without much experience at high altitudes, I’d recommend considering Machame, Lemosho or Marangu routes.

There are plenty of fantastic trekking companies who operate Kilimanjaro climbs, and our pick was G Adventures. I cannot speak more highly of our experience with G – not simply for the encouraging support, expertise and guidance they offered, but also for the sheer manpower that went into making our climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro a success.

There were 10 trekkers in total, supported by a team of four guides, two chefs and a whopping 26 porters - all trek experts of course. The porters carried absolutely everything, including our duffel bags, food, water, tents, mattresses, sleeping bags, portable toilets, gas cylinders… you name it! We were cooked three hot meals a day, had coffee and tea delivered to our tents each morning as a wake up call, and everything was done with a huge smile and words of encouragement. G Adventures specialises in small group tours which are run sustainably with a focus on supporting local communities, and every team member we spoke to expressed their delight at working for G Adventures doing Kilimanjaro tours which we thought spoke volumes.

As for the climbing Kilimanjaro itself, a huge focus was placed on our safety with blood oxygen levels recorded each morning and night, symptoms monitored for acute mountain sickness and unparalleled support to keep us all motivated. Best of all, the trek was FUN! We sang our way to the top when spirits were low, and ended the Kilimanjaro climb as a “G Family”.

Climbing Kilimanjaro requires no technical equipment such as ropes, crampons etc., meaning as long as you have correct, quality gear, you will be able to climb Mount Kilimanjaro comfortably. Our Kilimanjaro expedition started in the small city of Moshi, where you will find plenty of shops offering gear rental from summit gear to boots, hiking poles, water bottles, gloves and even thermal layers. We found most shops offered a flat rate per trek rather than a “per day” price which was ideal. Our trek was with G Adventures, so on Day 1 of the tour, we were taken to a local rental shop to organise any personal gear we didn’t have. Prices were reasonable and could be paid for in cash in either US dollars or Tanzanian shillings – and it was helpful having our guides alongside us to ensure we chose the right gear too.

• Minimum two layers of thermal clothing
• Minimum two long-sleeved shirts
• One fleece jumper
• One down jacket
• Hiking pants
• Fleece pants
• Summit jacket and summit pants (which can be ski gear)
• Rain jacket and rain pants
• Buff
• Beanie/warm hat
• Sunhat
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• A quality pair of hiking boots with ankle support
• Two pairs of thick, warm hiking socks
• Trekking poles
• Water bottles (with the ability to carry 3 litres of water per day)
• Baby wipes and a spare roll of toilet paper
• Snacks, especially if you have dietary requirements

Optional items included gaiters, short-sleeved clothes for the first day’s hike, and a pair of flip-flops to wear around camp. Most of us on the trek had also brought along altitude sickness medication, so it’s worth consulting your doctor about whether it’s right for you.

If you choose to travel with a reputable company like G Adventures, your tour leader will equip you with plenty of knowledge before climbing Kilimanjaro. It’s important to know that Kilimanjaro treks are a marathon rather than a sprint. You’ll hear the term “pole pole” quite often which is Swahili for “slowly, slowly”. The key to climbing Kilimanjaro is to go slowly to assist with acclimatisation, and you will need to drink plenty of water and eat plenty of food to power you up as you trek higher. A general level of cardio fitness is required for the Kilimanjaro climb; however you don’t need to be an athlete to make the summit. Listen to your Kilimanjaro guides as they know the mountain conditions best, giving you the best chance of a successful climb to Uhuru Peak. Also… pay the extra for the portable toilet. I promise you won’t regret it.

My partner has now been lucky enough to have completed both treks with G Adventures (I know, what a show-off!) – the verdict? Although Everest Base Camp (EBC) sits a little lower than the summit of Kilimanjaro at 5,364 metres, it's a longer and more gradual trek of around 120km. This provides trekkers more time for acclimatisation with easier elevation gains each day and lowers your chances of developing altitude sickness. Both treks are an incredible mental challenge – EBC is longer but can be slightly easier due to acclimatisation and being at a lower altitude, while Mt Kilimanjaro has steeper ascents but doesn’t require up to two weeks to complete. So, if you’re keen to get it done quicker and don’t mind a bit of a climb, Kilimanjaro is your mountain. But if you’re happy with a longer journey, EBC is worth considering. Ultimately both were absolutely unbeatable experiences for him and neither disappointed!

If you’ve made it this far, you’re likely seriously considering a trekking experience up Mt Kilimanjaro for your next big adventure… and boy am I excited for you! It was by far one of the hardest things I’ve done, both physically and mentally, but one of the most rewarding experiences. I cannot recommend G Adventures highly enough either. The expertise, service and support was unparalleled and I don’t think the trip would have been the same without the wonderful Mount Kilimanjaro guides, chefs and porters who made it possible. G Adventures 8-day Machame route was brilliant, but I highly recommend speaking to your Flight Centre Travel Expert about the best hike for you. Until then, remember – lots of water and “pole pole”!