Kilimanjaro

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Many come to Africa to live out a dream of overcoming something big. Kilimanjaro has always been a good challenge, but it requires you to be physically strong, healthy and fit. You must be sure on your feet, have a lot of walking kilometers in your legs and be in relatively good physical shape. You must also be a good team mate, as you will be encouraging and supporting your fellow mountaineers - and also will depend on their support. Last but not least, you should be able to cope with basic limited levels of comfort. Facilities on the mountain are very basic and water for personal hygiene is very limited. Everyone climbs the mountain at their own risk. Your mountain guide has the right to interrupt the ascent at any time if he considers that the weather or your health conditions pose a threat to your safety.

Africa's highest mountain, a mighty volcano, and although it is located right in the middle of the equator, where the sun is relentless, this giant still has a glacier covering its top, making it extra remarkable.

There are many providers who make expeditions up the mountain and there are dozens of different routes to choose from. The mountain is a national park, and it is only possible to climb Kilimanjaro with an approved guide. The mountain provides an important income for many local men, and each group has a substantial team of porters, in addition to the mountain guide and cook.

The routes on Kilimanjaro

There are several routes to the top of Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, with its highest point, Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters.

The Marangu route, also called the "Coca Cola route", is the fastest and most used route to the top. Some are content to climb Kilimanjaro in just 5 days, but the route is quite overrun, and does not offer the climber as great a natural experience as the other routes do. On the Marangu route you go up and down the mountain on the same route, "the highway" as the locals call it. You sleep in shared dormitories in smaller cabins with bunk beds along the way. On all other routes you sleep in a tent.

The Machame route is popular and scenic and takes walkers through a wide variety of landscapes. On the third day, the route merges with the Lemosho route, so there is increased traffic. A minimum of 6 days must be spent on the climb, but we certainly recommend everyone to prioritize an extra night on the mountain, which gives your body time to acclimatise which significantly increases your chances of making it to the top. The success rate of reaching the summit via this tour is high, especially with an extra night.

The Rongai route is the only one that starts from the northern side of the mountain close to the Rongai village on the border between Kenya and Tanzania. The route is relatively easy and unspoilt, and offers a different perspective on Kilimanjaro. The success rate of reaching the top is moderate.

The Lemosho route is the quietest route as far as other mountaineers are concerned, and offers an unspoiled beautiful trip with lots of great views. In the woodland around Lemosho, it is possible to see buffalo and elephant. If you don't see the animals directly, you will at least see plenty of signs and tracks of them in the area. The route is very difficult and demanding, but the success rate is high.

The Umbwe route is spectacular, the most direct and thus the most demanding route. This route is short, steep and does not provide the necessary phases for acclimatization. It is only recommended for strong acclimatized hikers and the success rate of reaching the top is not high.

Day 1: Departure from Denmark

We plan the flight route that suits you best. There are several good flight routes, offering both morning and evening flights via another European airport to Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania. If you fly on an evening flight, you will have one night on the plane. There are in-flight movies and all meals and drinks are included on overseas flights.
Day 2: Arrival in Tanzania

You land in the morning at Kilimanjaro airport. You have to go through immigration and buy a visa (costs 50 USD if you are a Danish citizin). When you have collected your luggage, you will be met in the arrivals hall by our representative who will be waiting for you with a sign with your name. He will transfer you to your overnight accommodation, African View Lodge or similar.
Day 3: Machame Gate (1790 m) to Machame Camp (3010 m)

Your day starts with an early breakfast at the lodge, and a 1.5 hour drive from the lodge to Machame Gate (1840m). At the gate you will meet the others who will climb the mountain, your guide, porters and cook who will accompany you. The team prepares and distributes the supplies and equipment to be brought. You must carry your day pack yourself, with the lunch pack that you will be given, clothes for the change of weather, snacks, drinking water, camera.... After you have registered at the entrance to the National Park, you start your ascent. Before long it goes up through the rainforest which dominates the landscape on this side of the mountain in the altitude span between 1800 and 2800 m. Here the temperature is between 21 and 27 degrees, and the annual rainfall ranges between 1000 and 2000 mm So there is a high probability of rain, which transforms the path into a muddy and slippery experience. There is a special atmosphere here in the lush rainforest, where bird life is rich and the vegetation distinctive, with blankets of lichen hanging from the trees.
Day 4: Machame Camp (3010 m) to (New) Shira Camp (3845 m)

After an early breakfast at Machame Camp, a steep climb awaits, taking a good hour to the top of the forest. The next 2 hours take you gradually upwards along a narrow stony path which takes you into a new type of vegetation. The walk goes through heather and moorland. After a short lunch and rest, you will continue up a rocky ridge on the Shira Plateau. From here you can see Shira Needle and Shira Cathedral to the west. You are west of Kibo, and after a short walk downhill you arrive at your accommodation (New) Shira Camp at 3845 m.
Dag 5: New Shira Camp (3845 m) via Lava Tower (4430 m) til Barranco Camp (3950 m)

The route now heads east to a rocky semi-desert landscape around the Lava Tower, which you reach after about 5 hours of hiking. Lunch is served in a designated area before heading up the cliff to Lava Tower (4430m). This is definitely the hardest day yet. It is usually around this point in the climb that some of the climbers begin to feel symptoms of altitude sickness: shortness of breath, irritability and headaches. After lunch at the Lava Tower, you will descend again - almost 500 meters of altitude - to Barranco Camp. You will feel the benefit of acclimatizing today.
Day 6: Barranco Camp (3950 m) to Barafu Camp (4640 m)

After spending the night at the foot of the large impressive Barranco Wall cliff, you must now climb it. It's usually easier than it looks! You reach a viewpoint at the Heim Glacier, from where Kilimanjaro shows its impressive beauty. The trail takes you down through valleys and up over ridges before steeply ascending into the Karanga Valley, where a steep climb winds its way up towards Karanga Camp (3960 metres). Here you can look forward to lunch when you arrive.
Day 7: Barafu Camp (4640m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) and down to Mweka Camp (3080m)

You will be woken up already around 23.30 and after a cup of tea and some biscuits you will set off towards the top in the night. You walk in the dark in a northwesterly direction, your trail only lit up by your lanterns and any moonlight. Climbing is mentally challenging and physically exhausting for many. After 5-6 hours of hiking, you reach Stella Point (5740 m). Here you will stop for a short break and if the timing and weather permit, you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise. From Stella Point it is about an hour's walk up to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit depends on the weather conditions. Do not stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your achievement - it's sure to be a day to remember for the rest of your life!
Day 8: Mweka Camp (3080 m) to Mweka Gate (1680 m)

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it's a short 3-hour and scenic ride through the rainforest back to the park's entrance camp, Mweka Gate. It is strongly recommended not to tip your porters until you and all your gear have safely reached the gate. At Mweka Gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where those who reached the top receive their top certificates. The climbers who reached Stella Point (5740 m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895 m) receive gold certificates. You will be met by our driver who will take you back to your lodge.
Day 9: Return home

You will be driven to the airport in time for your flight home. Either morning or evening flight.
(You could also get a quote to prolong this vacation with either a safari and / or a beach vacation to Zanzibar. Both perfect extensions whilst being in this part of Africa).
Day 10: Return home

Depending on which flight connection you are booked on, you will arrive in Denmark during the morning or afternoon.

The price includes:

Flight from Denmark to Tanzania in economy class t/r2 nights at African View Lodge or similar including breakfast 5 nights in a shared two-person tent National Park fees on Kilimanjaro from the airport to the lodge t/rTransfers from the lodge to the National Park entrance t/r

The price does not include:

Travel insurance and cancellation insuranceSleeping bag and sleeping matExtra acclimatization night on the mountainDrinksTripsDinner and lunch at African View Lodge

Additional purchases

Extra night on Kilimanjaro: DKK NOK 2,300 Excursion to a coffee plantation with a local guide, with lunch included: DKK. NOK 600 Safari (Ask for a tailored offer) Beach holiday by the Indian Ocean (Ask for a tailored offer)

Prices are per person for 2 people sharing a room and tent on Kilimanjaro.