Mount Kilimanjaro rises 5,895 m above sea level, making it the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Climbers pass through five ecological zones — cultivated farmland, rainforest, heath and moorland, alpine desert and finally the arctic summit zone.

Climbing Kilimanjaro

No technical climbing is required, but altitude is a serious challenge. Choosing a route of 7 or 8 days gives your body time to acclimatise and greatly improves your chances of reaching Uhuru Peak.

• Machame — scenic, popular, 6–7 days
• Lemosho — remote western approach, 7–8 days
• Marangu — hut accommodation, 5–6 days
• Rongai — drier northern approach, 6–7 days

Best time to climb

The driest months are January to early March and June to October. Kilimanjaro can be climbed all year, but April, May and November are wetter.

See our Kilimanjaro climbing tours.