Your ultimate guide to conquering the Roof of Africa: Expert gear recommendations, essential clothing layers, altitude tips, and everything you need for a successful Kilimanjaro summit.
Get PDFThe easiest way to reach Mt Kilimanjaro is by flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Tanzania. From there, it’s a 50-minute drive to Moshi where most climbs begin. Major airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, and Air France offer flights to JRO.
Alternatively, you can fly into Dar es Salaam and take a local flight to Kilimanjaro, though this may come with extra costs for domestic flights and baggage fees. Another budget-friendly option is to fly into Nairobi, Kenya, and take a bus to Moshi, but keep in mind the additional costs of a Kenyan transit visa ($21) and the bus transfer ($45), with a total journey time of about seven hours.
Tanzania has two rainy seasons and two dry seasons. The short rainy season begins in early November and lasts until late December. It is followed by the dry season, which lasts until mid-March. Then the season of long rains begins, ending in mid-June.
You should consider the northern slopes to climb Kilimanjaro during the rainy season. According to the data we received from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority, this part of the mountain receives five times less rainfall. Good Kilimanjaro routes to choose from are Rongai, Northern Circuit, and Marangu.
Reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is not a race against the clock but a gradual ascent through changing climates and thinning air. The shortest itineraries take about 5 days, though most climbers spend 6 to 8 days on the mountain to allow their bodies to adjust to the altitude.
Longer routes significantly improve acclimatization and increase the likelihood of standing on the roof of Africa. Some extended itineraries, including those that spend a night inside the crater near the summit, can last ten days or more. For a detailed breakdown of routes and daily trekking schedules, see how long it takes to climb Kilimanjaro.
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