Kilimanjaro tips - by travel authority Howard Hillman

side trip to Mount Kilimanjaro

climb the "Roof of Africa"

Mount Kilimanjaro

Tips & insights

First scaled

Mount Kilimanjaro was born nearly a million years ago, yet it wasn't scaled until a little over 100 years ago.

Popular climb

Today, 20,000 tourists per year attempt to climb the mountain. Nine out of ten succeed.

Africa's tallest

Mount Kilimanjaro soars 5,895 meters (19,340 feet) above sea level, making it Africa's highest mountain.

Stands tall

It majestically towers 5 kilometers (3 miles) above the plains below, making it the tallest free standing mountain in the world.

Comprises three volcanoes

It's not one mountain, but 3 ancient volcanoes that collectively form the mountain. Kibu is the highest.

Near the equator

Mount Kilimanjaro sits merely 300 kilometers (200 miles) from the equator, yet has a 10,000 year old crown of snow-ice.

Melting ice and snow

Many scientists predict that Mount Kilimanjaro will lose its trademark white cap within two decades due to global warming.

Shared by two countries

It lies in both Kenya and Tanzania, but most all of it (and all of the summit) resides in the latter country.

Views

The Kenyan side generally has the best views of Mount Kilimanjaro. Those from Kenya's Amboseli National Park are particularly outstanding.

Photo tip

Photographers take note, the summit is often shrouded in clouds. The early morning hours usually provide the best photo opportunities and produce the most beautiful pictures.

If you're thinking

of climbing

Mount Kilimanjaro

Combining a climb with a safari

Because it and the Ngorongoro Crater are relatively near each other, many people combine a climb and a safari in the same trip.

Degree of difficulty

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro requires trekking stamina, not mountaineering skills, as do the world's other highest mountains.

Nonetheless, the Mount Kilimanjaro endeavor is long and strenuous, normally lasting four days up, two down. It is strongly advisable that you be in top physical condition and have undergone high altitude trekking training before commencing the climb.

Costs

A six day climb costs about 750 to 1,500 US dollars per person. This price is usually all-inclusive except for pre- and post-climb expenses such as airfare - and for gratuities. Cost variables include tour type (group or private), number of climbers, outfitter's or tour operator's quality level, and the number of porters hired to carry the equipment and supplies.

Best time of year

Book a dry season climb (from January to mid March and from August to mid September). Rainy season Mount Kilimanjaro climbs can be miserable.

Different routes

There are a number of routes to the summit. They vary in difficulty and trail traffic. The easier, the more traffic.

Different climate zones

During your ascent to the barren and snow-icy summit, you pass through a broad range of climate zones, including rainforest, moorland and alpine desert.

Nickname

Most who climb Mount Kilimanjaro affectionately call it "Kili", a nickname.

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