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There are no technical skills required to ascend Mt. Kilimanjaro, and for all intents and purposes, it is best describes as a "trek" rather than a climb.  The trek is arduous however taking between 5-9 days on average. 
 
Even though outfitters and tour operators flaunt high success rates, official statistics indicate that a very high percentage of trekkers turn back before summiting Uhuru Peak.
 
It is quite "an accomplishment" to summit the mountain.  Generally, the longer one allocates the trek, the higher the success rate of reaching the top.
 
The oldest person on record to summit is 87 years old, the youngest is 7 years old.
 
The fastest ascent and descent is 8 hrs 27 minutes! Numerous blind and handicapped have successfully summited Kilimanjaro.

Being fit does not guarantee success and being out of shape does not automatically mean failure either.  Mental toughness and preparation plays a big part in success or not, and some people are simply not built to handle the high altitude. 
 
The trek is not for everyone, but if you are gung-ho about the trek, then give us a call and we will gladly quote a Kili Trek Tour  and set it up for you.

Permits, guides, and porters are required and there are numerous trekking outfits available ranging from cheap ($1,000) to expensive ($3,000.00).  The better the guides and porters, camping gear, food, rate of ascent, and level of service: the higher the price as a rule.
 
However, the better the trekking outfit, the higher your success rate and enjoyment.  Do be aware of unscrupulous trekking outfits such as those who ascend Kili too quickly, knowing full well that the trekkers will fail in their quest.
 

There are 5 main routes to trek the mountain starting at the base that converge into 2 routes for the final ascent.  Some routes are more expensive to trek than others and a description of the routes may vary.
 
In a nutshell, Marangu route is a medium difficulty trek with good scenery and high traffic.  The Marchame route is a higher difficult trek with excellent scenery with high traffic.  The Umbwe route is a very difficult route with very good scenery with very low traffic.  The Londressi/Lemosho route is a high difficult route with excellent scenery and medium traffic. The Rongai route is medium difficulty with very good scenery and low traffic. 

    
 Continue to part 2 below...

Shared huts are provided for sleeping quarters on the Marangu route whereas basic tents are provided on all the other routes.
 
Overall, the Rongai route on the north side of the mountain is considered to be the best route for the casual trekker for a number of reasons. 
  
It has a drier climate than the south routes, the sun is always at your back, you ascend the north side of the mountain but descend on the south side of the mountain so you get to see two sides of Kili.

There are some small animals along the trail to enjoy, the trail is less frequented, you get to see the top of Kilimanjaro most of the way from the bottom to the top of the route, you also get to look out onto the plains of Kenya from the route at least until you ascend through the clouds, the gradient is gradual most of the way, and the success rate is higher that with the southern routes. 
 
So unless you have already trekked up this route, we highly recommend the Rongai 6 day route for our typical clientele.

All meals are provided on the mountain and water is drawn from the creeks that should be purified before drinking. Tents are provided; sleeping bags, ground mats, hiking poles and gaiters are available to rent if trekkers do not bring themselves.
 
It is recommended that arrangements for the trek be made weeks and preferably months ahead of arriving. 
 

We can work with singles right up to group sizes of 7 trekkers per trek. 
 
Trekking outfits themselves may combine parties to attain 5-7 trekkers per group if the logistics work out, however smaller groups are not uncommon.

A trek up Mount Kilimanjaro is often combined with visits to other parts of Tanzania such as world class game parks and the exotic island of Zanzibar. 

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, it is recommended to do the trek prior to any other visits elsewhere on the tour as this is when you have the most energy stored up.
 
LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS  only works with reputable, reliable and experienced trekking outfits.  We work for our clients best interest, always!

Accommodations in Moshi consist of Budget, Mid-range or Luxury digs. 
Our accommodations reviews page displays links to patrons' accommodation photos for Mount Kilimanjaro   

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