T
he ascent of Kilimanjaro is a 5-8 day outing depending on the weather and desired objective. The standard ascent is usually done in 5 days. It's fa
ster,
cheaper, and often done this way. More time is safer and more enjoyable,
but the per day fees on Kilimanjaro are definitely steeper than the mountain!
Therefore many opt for the faster itinerary. This ascent can be performed
by a reasonably fit novice. The mountain has a plethora of routes to fill
the desires of most who ascend it, including those seeking hard core alpine
routes and those desiring a stiff hike. The mountain also has superb trekking
around and through unique climate belts and vegetation zones. There are
many routes on Kilimanjaro and below are some recommended routes of Varying
difficulty.
Machame Route/Non technical hiking. The Machame route on Kilimanjaro is one that offers superb views of the summit massif for most of the trek. It is the most scenic route on the mountain for observing rainforest and moorelands. 5-7 days
Southern Glacier Routes/Technical glacier climbing. The routes on the south face of Kilimanjaro are true alpine glacier climbs. The south face is the cold part of Kilimanjaro, like north faces in the Northern Hemisphere, it offers excellent alpine climbing. There are several routes of varying difficulty on this enormous face. The Heim glacier is perhaps the classic glacier route in all of Africa and is a recommended outing for anyone interested in this side of the mountain. 6-8 days