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Mount Kilimanjaro
Climbing Tours

Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Tours

Dominating the landscape like no other mountain, iconic and instantly recognisable, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest peak in Africa and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain at 5895 metres. To climb Kilimanjaro is a great challenge and entirely feasible for the active traveller or keen walker looking for something new. In a matter of days you’ll climb Kilimanjaro from the hot plains of Africa through grasslands, tropical rain forest, alpine meadows, moorlands and desert uplands onto snow and ice.

Northern Circuit Kilimanjaro

The Northern Circuit Route is the longest route on Kilimanjaro, a nine day trip initially ascending Lemosho route on the western side of the mountain up onto the Shira Plateau before reaching the Lava Tower, then heading north and circumnavigating the main summit massif in a clockwise direction and joining up with the Rongai route. The summit is then climbed from the eastern side of the mountain and the descent is straight down via the southern Mweka route.
Days 9
Altitude 5895 m
Challenge Moderate

Trip Price £2,595

Rongai Route Kilimanjaro

The Rongai route on Mount Kilimanjaro is a seven day camping route; it has the attraction of being a lower traffic and easier route compared to the southern slopes for climbing Kilimanjaro.
Days 7
Altitude 5895 m
Challenge Moderate

Trip Price £2,105

Charity Climb of Kilimanjaro

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro and help fundraise for Moving Mountains to carry out all its work in education, health and social welfare, supporting street children and employing teachers, counsellors and social workers.
Days 9
Altitude 5895 m
Challenge Moderate

Trip Price £3045

Lemosho Route Kilimanjaro

We offer a seven day and an eight day climb to the summit of Kilimanjaro using the Lemosho route. Both offer good acclimatisation and wonderful views enroute.
Altitude 5895 m
Distance 70 km
Challenge Moderate

Trip Price £2,145

Machame Route Kilimanjaro

The Machame route on Kilimanjaro is a seven day camping route which allows for excellent acclimatisation and particularly diverse scenery.
Days 7
Altitude 5895 m
Distance 64 km
Challenge Moderate

Trip Price £2,045

Speak to a Mount Kilimanjaro Expert

Gavin Bate
Guide and Expedition Leader
Call on 028 7083 1258

Gavin started Adventure Alternative in 1991 during a long period of travelling, working in a wide variety of jobs, climbing mountains and organising expeditions. A solo trek across the Sahara Desert aged twenty one was a benchmark experience after which travel and adventurous exploits became a way of life.

Born in Kent, Gavin left his home at aged fifteen to attend secondary school in Western Australia. He then moved to Northern Ireland to study English Literature at University and...

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The Kilimanjaro Experience

As one of the premier Mount Kilimanjaro tour operators, we have regular climbs on four of the main routes:

  • Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame route in 7 days is our preferred route as it offers excellent acclimatisation and views.
  • The Lemosho route, is the same as the Machame route after the second camp (Shira Plateau), but gives an extra day on the mountain.
  • Or there is the Rongai route, which approaches from the north of the mountain and is a less travelled option. It’s also good during the rainy season as it’s more sheltered.
  • Or for those who have a bit of time we also have climbs via the 9 day Northern Circuit route.

We also organise lots of climbs for charities, walking clubs and groups too. Contact us for your Private Kilimanjaro Trek or join one of the open trips to meet like minded individuals. On the route pages below you will find alongside itineraries, altitude profiles, kit lists and pictures, as well as a host of information pages to help you decide and prepare. Call the office and chat to people who have been up the mountain many times and can offer proper advice.

Kilimanjaro Route Map

Experienced Kilimanjaro Tour Operator

We’re a company run by mountaineers so you’ll find safe itineraries, safety measures and training for all our staff. Our office crew are outdoors people with a wealth of experience on Kilimanjaro, and they also remember what it’s like to dream of a climb to the roof of Africa! They can answer your questions and help put the whole trip into perspective. So don’t be afraid to call us for a chat or drop us an email with any questions.

We’ve been running trips to Kilimanjaro since 1991 when company founder Gavin was living in Nairobi and guiding on this mountain and Mount Kenya, and using the proceeds to fund his fledgling charity Moving Mountains. After some time he employed his friend and local guide Castro to start our own company in Moshi called Adventure Alternative Tanzania and three decades later we still work together.

Our local guides are really lovely people who are qualified and very experienced. For many years we’ve been taking groups from all over the world up Kilimanjaro, including Irish and UK walking clubs, schools and universities and even record breakers to the summit. We have to date had five clients propose to their loved one on reaching the summit, taken the youngest British person to the summit and our Kilimanjaro acclimatisation programme has given us an average 95% success rate to reach the highest point in Africa.

Facts About Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro translates to “mountain of the springs” and its unique position just below the equator offers an opportunity to experience five different habitats from bottom to top, which makes an ascent of the mountain undeniably special. In a matter of days you’ll climb Kilimanjaro from the equator to what feels like the Arctic, moving through grasslands, tropical rainforest, alpine meadows, moorlands and desert uplands to snow and ice.

One of the most commonly asked questions we get is What to Wear on Kilimanjaro? It’s really important that you look at our Kilimanjaro Kit List but be assured that you don’t need to spend a fortune on kit when you can rent sleeping bags, trekking poles and many other items from us. In the more information section on this site you will also find details on Kilimanjaro Trip Preparation.

Fitness And Altitude Sickness On Kilimanjaro

No doubt the trek is challenging and you are going to extreme altitude, however, the pace is slow due to going to altitude, which often surprises people, but it’s essential for a safe and successful ascent. We have a page on training for Kilimanjaro but generally we would recommend practising by hiking on the hills with a backpack on for at least several months prior to the trip.

When you start to look at altitude and altitude sickness and what it can do to your body, people do get concerned, however our policy of taking a minimum of seven days allows you to acclimatise well. There are also info pages about health and altitudes effects on your body and acclimatising safely, plus details about whether you should use the altitude drug Diamox on Kilimanjaro.

Sunrise on summit day looking down from the edge of the main crater rim, to the lower summit of Mawenzi Peak

Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro?

The main seasons are traditionally December to March and June to October with temperatures in Moshi averaging 22 degrees C and summit temperatures around – 7 degrees C. The rains are in April, May and November but nowadays climate change has changed this pattern so sometimes the rains come earlier or later. During the rains we run our Rongai climbs as the northern side of the mountain is more sheltered.

A full moon climb of Kilimanjaro, or indeed a new moon climb, is often a popular time to climb. Summit night can be spent walking under the light of a full silvery moon so that you don’t even need a headtorch; or, since Kilimanjaro is situated on the equator, under a full sky of both north and south constellations. In fact from high up on the peak you can see the North Star and the Southern Cross in the same sky. If you want to avoid the busier nights on a full moon then we recommend that you offset your summit night. There can be no doubt that on certain nights the summit route can be very busy with a lot of people leaving camp at the same time and initially creating a bottleneck. These groups spread out fairly quickly though.

Month 2022 New Moon 2022 Full Moon 2023 New Moon 2023 Full Moon
Jan 2 17 21 6
Feb 1 16 20 5
March 2 18 21 7
April 1 & 30th 16 19 5
May 30 16 19 5
June 29 14 17 3
July 28 13 17 3
Aug 27 12 16 1 & 30
Sept 26 10 14 29
Oct 25 9 14 28
Nov 24 8 13 27
Dec 23 7 12 26

Other notable dates:
Valentines Day Summit: Arrive Tanzania on the 7th Feb
New Years Eve / Day Summit: Arrive Tanzania on the 25th Dec

Check out our more detailed guide on the best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro here.

Kilimanjaro Books And Maps

Kilimanjaro Region Guides

Kilimanjaro Trekker’s Guide, Cicerone ISBN-10: 1852844132, ISBN-13: 978-1852844134
Kilimanjaro, Trailblazer Publications ISBN-10: 1905864248, ISBN-13: 978-1905864249
Kilimanjaro & East Africa: A Climbing and Trekking Guide ISBN-10: 0898866049, ISBN-13: 978-0898866049
Kilimanjaro & East Africa: Climbing & Trekking Guide ISBN-10: 190420743X, ISBN-13: 978-1904207436
Trekking in East Africa, Lonely Planet ISBN-10: 1864502894, ISBN-13: 978-1864502893
The Rough Guide to Tanzania ISBN-10: 1848360754, ISBN-13: 978-1848360754
Tanzania, Lonely Planet ISBN-10: 174104555X, ISBN-13: 978-1741045550
The Shadow of Kilimanjaro, Ridgeway, Bloomsbury ISBN-10: 074758575X, ISBN-13: 978-0747585756
The Snows Of Kilimanjaro, Hemingway, Vintage Classics ISBN-10: 0099460920, ISBN-13: 978-0099460923
Seven Summits, Bass, Gramercy Books ISBN-10: 0517227509, ISBN-13: 978-0517227503

Maps

Kilimanjaro, 1:62,500, ITMB Publishing ISBN-10: 1553415507, ISBN-13: 978-1553415503
Kilimanjaro: Map and Guide, 1:75,000/1:30,000 ISBN: 0906227666
Kilimanjaro, 1:80,000, Climbing Map ISBN 13: 9783952329412
Kilimanjaro National Park, 1:125,000 Maco Editions

Frequently Asked Questions

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Here at Adventure Alternative we pride ourselves on making your adventure experience unforgettable. If you still can’t decide where to go, feel free to drop us a line, we would be happy to help you plan your perfect adventure.
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