Mount Kilimanjaro
The best route to climb mount Kilimanjaro
There are six approved routes for a Kilimanjaro climb with Uhuru Trails By Uphill Treks each offering different advantages and drawbacks. Regardless of which route you choose, you need not be a rock climber, superlatively fit, neither supremely well-equipped nor mentally indefatigable to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest and world’s highest freestanding mountain. Pensioners and children have completed the course whilst celebrities, athletes and billionaires have failed. Determination and positive thinking are no defense against the main cause of failure on a Kilimanjaro trip: climbing too high, too fast. If you are fit enough to enjoy a seven-day challenging walk and drink lots of liquid, you have an excellent chance of reaching Uhuru Peak. But 75% of all climbers will feel effects of altitude 3,000 meters above sea level. Kilimanjaro rears to almost 6000 meters – just short of 105 meters. On a well-planned trek, 80% will summit. On a rushed one, less than 40% make the grade. The oft-repeated advice, “Pole, pole”, pronounced, “pole, pole”, is Kiswahili for “slowly, slowly”. Go unhurried and enjoy the novelty of the adventure and the wonderful scenery. Don’t waste a moment of this amazing top-of-the-world wilderness experience. Take your time, drink it in deeply and treasure your Tanzanian mountainous vacation achievement for a lifetime. People who normally live at sea level need to acclimatize themselves to high altitude and low air pressure which can result in swelling of lung and brain tissue causing headaches and breathing problems. As an extreme example, think of diver’s bends, the result of too fast depressurization. With common-sense safety precautions, the problem need not occur at an extreme level. The wisdom is climb high, sleep low. A rest day at the same altitude will not help. You must relieve the cause by seeking a lower overnight camp, just as you get out of a hot sauna or steam room, cool off a little and try again later. The most enjoyable way to acclimatize is to make a practice trek, perhaps on nearby Mount Meru, which is a fantastic experience in itself and will ensure you get the most enjoyment out of your later Kilimanjaro hiking tour. Whatever your reason for ascending the shining mountain, if you make it to the top or not, nothing can detract from the magnificence of your experience, the exhilaration of alpine air and scenery, the comradeship and the self-confidence you have gained.Choosing the best route on Mount Kilimanjaro? Selecting a route is a tough choice for most. To find the best Kilimanjaro route for you, considerations should be taken for the route's scenery,difficulty or route traffic!
Lemosho Route
Lemosho is a very beautiful, isolated, 70 kilometer trail traversing from the west, through dense forest still rich in life, crossing the scenic heathland of the Shira Plateau all the way south and then east towards Barafu.
Rongai Route
Rongai starts from the Tanzanian village of Nale Moru on the lower farming slopes before leading up to a pine forest. The route begins in the north, approaching by a more remote route than the others.
Machame Route
Machame covers around 62 kilometers from its gate in the south to the summit, via a number of different habitats and stunning viewpoints, returning along the steep Mweka descent trail.
Marangu Route
Marangu is one of the more popular, first-born, shorter-timed routes utilized by uninformed holiday trekkers in Africa who are on a low budget, and those mislead by its “easy” reputation.
Shira Route
Shira is used by very few mountain visitors who climb Kilimanjaro. It has been largely replaced by the Lemosho Route, which is almost identical, but starts lower down. It is mainly used for quick access for rescue work.