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About Kilimanjaro
On this page: Overview | Itinerary | Meals | Biomes
Overview
Mount Kilimanjaro is located three degrees south of the equator in Northeastern Tanzania. It is the tallest mountain in Africa and is the highest free-standing mountain in the world. This immense mountain is made up of three volcanoes: Shira, Mawenzi, and our goal, Kibo, the tallest one in the middle.
Of the famous highest seven peaks in the world, this is the easiest to get to and the easiest to climb. It requires no technical climbing experience, and any moderately fit person can summit the mountain.
Itinerary
If you arrive at the Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha. We recommend at least one rest day before starting your trek. If you are transferring from Nairobi, this can act as your rest day. If you have time, enjoy a guided walk through the local rice fields and rainforest, do a little shopping in the town of Moshi, relax at the swimming pool, or get a massage.
Your guide will provide a briefing the evening before your trek, and you must separate one bag for the trek from your other luggage. Rental equipment is available. Extra luggage can be stored in a locked storage room at your Moshi hotel at no charge.
The next morning, enjoy a hearty breakfast before last-minute trip preparations at the trekking office. Depending on the route you take, the drive to the trail head can take up to one hour and can be very bumpy (4+ hours for Rongai, Lemosho, and Shira routes). Bring enough water for hiking on the first day.
Once you reach the park gate, climbers are requested to make their final preparations for the climb and sign the national park registration book. Porters will be seen arranging their packs containing the food, water, and other equipment. Make sure that you have all your day pack items with you as the porters travel very quickly. Your guide will be pleased to assist with any additional information. It will take about an hour to get signed in with the national park and get equipment ready.
The average hiking day begins between 8-9am and is about 5 to 6 hours, walking very, very slowly. The distances you will hike each day are very moderate so as to acclimate a little at a time. Your guides will repeat over and over, "pole pole" (po-ly, po-ly), which means "go slowly" in Swahili.
The terrain lower down is absolutely gorgeous and fascinating. Higher up, the views are vast. There is little to do at the camps themselves, so take advantage of the slow pace to absorb the scenery and take every photo opportunity.
The hike to the summit starts around midnight depending on your route and speed of your group. You will go as high as you feel fit. Some people stop at the crater rim, and others continue to the very highest point on the mountain. Your guides will then take you down as quickly as possible to minimize any altitude problems. You will continue past your last campsite to the next one for overnight.
At the end of your trek, you will be picked up at the trail head and taken back to your hotel for a hot shower and warm bed.
Meals
The staple foods in Tanzania are meats, starches, and fruits. Some western foods are difficult to find locally (herbal tea, soy products, specialty items). You may want to bring some of the items with you as well as comfort foods (like chocolate), and high-energy foods (Power bars, Gatorade, etc.).
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea are provided on the trek. All meals will have some sort of fruit like bananas, oranges, papayas, and watermelon. Most meals will also have a selection of hot drinks like instant coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
Breakfasts are typically a selection of eggs, toast, meat, pancakes, french toast, hot cereal, and fruit along with a selection of hot drinks.
Lunch on the first day will be roasted chicken, roll, fruit, and mango drink. Other lunches will be some combination of meat and/or cheese sandwiches, boiled eggs, cucumbers and tomatoes, fried potatoes, fruit, biscuits, juice, and hot drinks.
"Tea" is served mid to late afternoon with peanuts, popcorn, fried bread, and/or biscuits.
Dinners will be served with soup and bread first, followed by pasta, potatoes, or rice with different sauces, which are often tomato-based with meat, beans, and vegetables. Fruit and hot drinks are also served.
Vegetarian and other special diets can be accommodated. Please let us know ahead of time and remind your guide during your trek briefing. Protein options may be minimal on a vegetarian diet, so you may want to bring protein supplements.
Because of the exercise and high altitude, you is recommended that you drink at least 3 liters of water a day. The porters will purify water for you at each camp. Altitude may diminish your appetite, but it is very important to keep eating.
At your Moshi or Arusha hotel, only breakfasts are included. Lunches and dinners are available at an extra charge.
Biomes
You will experience many different biomes as you climb Kilimanjaro. The land is cultivated and inhabited up to about 1900 meters(6200 feet) in elevation. You will begin the hike at the edge of the forest. This starts in a dense rainforest with an extremely high ceiling. The forest turns into a shorter forest with moss and giant ferns until about 2800 meters (9200 feet).
Next is the heather biome up to 3300 meters (10,800 feet) when Moorland appears with the unusual Senecio Kilimanjari trees. From 4000 to 4800 meters (13,000 to 15,500 feet), you will go through Alpine Desert where some mosses, lichens, and starchy flowers are all that remain. The area around the summit is Arctic conditions. It looks a bit like moonscape with only rock and glacier.