Kilimanjaro Trek FAQ

You’ll likely only climb Kilimanjaro once, so you may as well do it ‘right’. The best way to do this is choosing a trek which allows enough acclimatization time to reach the summit safely. The single most important factor on whether you reach the summit or not depends on the number of days you take. The park minimum is 5-days – that’s 3.5 days to the summit. Only about 50% of those on 5-day climbs reach the summit. Of the roughly 1,000 climbers we take up the mountain each year, we average eight days. Our ten day trek options include the experience of camping next to the glacier at Crater Camp. The results are dramatic when comparing the summit success rates vs. the number of days on the mountain. For Nature Discovery, these are the average summit success rates:

5 days: 65%

6 days: 75%

7 days: just over 80%

8 days: 90%

9/10 days+: over 95%.

It makes a significant impact on summit success rates to take extra days.

There are six initial approach routes, counter-clockwise from west to east:

1. Lemosho Glades – starting from a remote trailhead and ascending through forest, and heather over two days to reach the western edge of the great Shira plateau. This route continues up either the Northern Circuit, Western Breach or the Machame/Southern Circuit route. Done via the Southern Circuit (most common), it’s the longest distance route to choose on Kilimanjaro. It’s best done 7 or more days.

2. Shira /Morum Barrier – This route starts high (over 12,000’ / 3,500m) but on longer climbs offers the chance of easy/gentle hiking from the start of the climb, as well as avoiding other tourists, especially when choosing the remote northern circuit route. Although a start from Morum Barrier Gate offers the choice to continue on the Southern Circuit, Northern Circuit or Western Breach, it’s best done via the Northern circuit in 8 days (as per our 8-day group trek option). We prefer this route over all others, for its’ wilderness character and low foot-traffic.

3. Machame (Whiskey Route) – by far the most popular route and busiest route overall, usually done in 6 or 7 days via southern circuit and finally ascending to the summit via the east facing Mweka (Barafu Camp) route to the crater rim at Stella Point. It’s also quite pretty and rugged. Best done in 7 days. Very difficult to do in 6 days.

4. Umbwe – The shortest and most direct way to Kilimanjaro’s summit, and this is the most challenging both in terms of terrain and grade. This route is best done via the Western Breach, in 6 or 7 days, but can continue on the Machame/Southern circuit route too.

5. Marangu (Coca-Cola Route) – the original hut route starting at the southeast and passing through thick forest, heather and moorland before crossing the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, then up to Gillman’s point before skirting around the south crater rim to Uhuru Peak. Pre-booking and deposits are required on this route (to reserve the huts). From 5+ days, best done in 6 days.

6. Rongai – An approach from the dry northeast (Kenya side), up to the flanks for Mawenzi (the most easterly of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanoes) then on into the great expanse of barren saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo, and finally up to the summit via the Marangu Route. From 5+ days, but best done in 6 or 7 days. The descent route on Rongai is the Marangu Route, which makes for a longer last day than other camping routes.

There is a circuit of routes traversing the Kibo massif in the alpine desert (ranging from about 3,500 to 4,000 m), and from this circuit on upwards there are only three summit route choices.

The Northern Circuit is by far the least used route on Kilimanjaro, and is home to the true wilderness on Kilimanjaro.

The Southern Circuit is essentially the continuation of the popular Machame Route following the east facing Mweka (Barafu Camp) route to the crater rim at Stella Point. This route to the summit receives more than 80% of all summit foot-traffic. Most of the rest of the summit-goers pass via the Marangu Route via Gillman’s point before skirting around the south crater rim to Uhuru Peak.

The Western Breach is the third and last summit route, and gets a tiny percentage of the summit foot traffic, as it’s a steep scramble from camp at 4,900 m (Arrow Glacier Camp) to the crater rim at 5,900m, and is a true alpine-adventure style scrambling route, which includes rock fall risk. We’ve imposed our own restrictions on this route, in order to ensure the group is relatively homogenous and have prior experience with this type of terrain. We provide mountaineering helmets for all participants who ascend the Western Breach.

Find out more about climbing routes here >>

The ‘normal’ way to climb Kilimanjaro is to have the last camp at about 15,000’ (4,600m) and do an overnight ascent to the summit, leaving camp at about midnight, and making for a 12-17 hour trekking day. The option is to trek up to the summit during daylight hours and camp in the crater. The overnight at crater camp does make for a challenging sleep, but trekkers can experience much more of the summit, glaciers, and central (Reusch) crater, which overnight climbs do not experience. The Crater camp is at 5,800m (19,000′), so taking enough time is essential to be able to camp here. Treks must be 9 or 10 days in order to include a night in Crater Camp.

If you want to trek to the summit during the daylight hours but NOT sleep at Crater Camp, we can also arrange this by spending two nights at the high camp, making the summit attempt during the day. This involves a longer final trek to the gate, as you trek from the high camp all the way to the gate.

It’s best to plan to arrive two or more days before starting the trek.

This gives you valuable time to rest, recover from the journey, start the acclimitization process (Arusha is over 1,400 elevation), and have time for getting your gear in order and get a detailed briefing and gear check. We recommend taking a day trip to Arusha National Park, or a short safari before your Kili trek. The more days you are in Tanzania before Kili are going to be an asset, to get you more rest and recovery and get you acclimatized to higher altitudes.

Your ability to acclimatize depends on the level of oxygenation of your vital organs, most importantly the brain. Since oxygen levels are decreasing as we ascend, the only ways to adjust are to 1./ increase respiration or 2. / to change the blood chemistry so that it can accommodate more oxygen (by an increase of red blood cells).

The latter will occur naturally as you spend time at altitude, and guidelines from experts in this science recommend an ascent of no more than 2,000 feet (610 M) per day, with one day of rest every third day. That translates roughly into 4,000 feet (1,220 M) every three days. Ideally, when you reach your high camp, you should not be too far in deficit, in order to give you the best chance to safely reach the summit the next morning.

The most commonly used high camps (Barafu Camp and Kibo Hut Camp) are situated at about 4,700m, so if at the start of your trek you are acclimated to the elevation in Arusha (1,400m), the objective would be to be able to acclimatize to 4,700m (a difference of 3,300m). In order to follow the above guidelines, you would need to plan 8 days to reach Barafu Camp and be well acclimatized. That means a 9 or 10 day trek. This is why summit success rates are so much higher for 9 and 10 day treks. Shorter treks are more challenging from an acclimatization standpoint, so we often have to take remedies to address that. A very common remedy is the medicine called acetazolamide, commonly known as ‘Diamox’. See the FAQ on ‘Diamox’

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), or as now referred to as “altitude illness” is the major concern with climbing Kilimanjaro.

We recommend that our climbers consider taking acetazolamide (Diamox) to help them acclimatize, especially on shorter treks (7 days or less). Diamox is well-studied and proven safe (barring an allergy to Sulfa drugs) as a prophylaxis and as a treatment for AMS. It increases respiration and thus increases the amount of oxygen to the brain and other vital organs, especially during sleep. It mimics what your body would be doing after a few days at altitude, and it promotes better sleep.

The only drawback is its diuretic effect, and thus the need to stay well-hydrated at all times. The Center for Disease Control (the CDC) have provided on their website a comprehensive overview and diagnosis, prevention and treatment of AMS, including tables assessing risks and dosage recommendations for Diamox and other commonly prescribed and used altitude meds: See:http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-2-the-pre-travel-consultation/altitude-illness. Please consult with your doctor, as Diamox is available by prescription only.

We include all guiding services, camping gear and meals, plus private transport to and from the mountain. Entry fees and camping fees are always included too, though priced separately.

Not included are airport transfers, hotels before or after the trek (unless on one of our group treks, which includes one night in a lodge before the trek), air evacuation services, evacuation insurance, emergency transport expenses, any additional transport or overnights in lodges if you descend early, or tips

It is customary to tip your mountain porters, cook, waiter and guides. Some may choose to tip more or less, but a tip should always be at the discretion of the customer and should take into consideration the quality and type of service rendered. Our staff will never ask for a tip.

We are strong advocates for fair and transparent tipping on Kilimanjaro, and as one of the leaders shaping responsible practices on Kili, we recommend that our climbers follow the tipping recommendations listed by the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP): https://kiliporters.org/get-involved/tipping-recommendations/. We also have prepared various recommendations from what our past climbers felt was appropriate, for each option we offer, which includes recommendations for our guides, expected number of porters, and other details in addition to KPAP’s porters’ tipping customs.

Your personal gear is packed before the climb into large weather-resistant duffel-style bags which we provide, and carried by our team of porters from camp to camp.

The weight allowance for this gear is determined by which climb option you choose, but can range from 8 to 16kg per climber. Personal porters to carry your extra gear are also available at a supplement, and you can even opt for a personal porter to carry your daypack(s) and accompany you all the way to the summit, so you can hike to the Roof of Africa without any added weight on your frame.

A sleeping bag is not included in the price, though we do offer rental of sleeping bags (complete with a fleece liner). Our luxury option does include a sleeping bag and pillow (on a big foam mattress which lays atop a sturdy bed frame which sits off the ground!). Your sleeping bag (whether it’s your own, or if rented from us) does count toward your weight allowance for your personal-gear bag that will be carried by our porters.