Kilimanjaro Climb Travel Diaries

Kilimanjaro climb reviews in trip report form with stunning photographs of the experience are an excellent way to plan your own ascent of the tallest mountain in Africa.

People who have been through the experience already can give you invaluable advice that you just won't find anywhere else.

Ever had that feeling after a trip that you wish you knew before you went what you know now? It would have saved you so much trouble.

I used to get that feeling a lot but I get it much less nowadays because I always try to find first hand experiences in trip reports and reviews of the places I plan to visit before I go.

Kilimanjaro climb travel reviews give you completely independent, unbiased and on the spot, first-hand information which you can use to help improve your own particular experience on this magical African mountain.

Kilimanjaro Climb - Routes to the top

Most of the trails lead to Uhuru peak on Kibo. This is Africa's highest point, standing proud at 19,335.6 ft (5,895 m). With the correct preparation, you can walk all the way to the summit without the need for ropes or technical climbing experience.

Be prepared for snow at the top of the mountain (strange to think there is snow in Africa in summer) because the peak is covered by an icecap. Unfortunately, global warming is causing the glacier to retreat and it will ultimately disappear as these remarkable Kilimanjaro photos predict.

There are several routes that you can take and they are roughly graded according to difficulty and the length of time it will take you to complete.

  • Marangu Route - This is the easiest to complete with accommodation in huts all the way.
  • Machame Route- Very scenic but tougher than the above trail. Accommodation is in huts and tents.
  • Umbwe Route - One of the hardest routes when you climb Mount Kilimanjaro but has spectacular scenery including a number of caves. Tent accommodation.
  • Mweka Route - Often used to descend the mountain because it is so steep and direct.
  • Lemosho Glades Route - Little used Kilimanjaro climb trail and is one of the few where you can still spot big game such as buffalo and elephant.
  • Rongai Route - Reasonable difficulty trail that may only be used for ascending the mountain with the Marangu route as the descent path. Tented accommodation.
  • Shira Route - A very scenic choice for a Kilimanjaro climb, reached via the Londorossi Glades Park Gate in the west by 4WD vehicles. From the Shira Hut the route joins the Machame route.

To help you prepare mentally and physically, find out what a Kilimanjaro hike is like with this day by day account. And before you book with a completely unknown travel operator, find out who the top three Kilimanjaro tours companies are.

You might also want to visit some of the excellent game reserves in the area to spot some of the big cats and other wildlife before or after your Kilimanjaro safari.

Kilimanjaro Climb Trip Reviews

Rongai Route

View from the top
Base camp site review » Richard seemed to be able to find animals for us almost "on demand". We saw all of the big five as well as many more of the larger animals and many, many small animals and birds - most of them up close and easy to photograph...
Made it
Exceptional Kilimanjaro guide » We did the Rongai route, which our guide changed to suit our abilities. The best spin off of these changes was to have a midday summit with no crowds at the top and fewer encounters at descend time...
Summit celebrations
Expedition report » I did the TK Rongai Route, since it was the only one available on the date I wanted to go. It was brilliant as we started at the other side than most routes and didn't really see any other groups...

Rongai route » The ascent was 8 hours from Barafu to Uhuru with a rest at Stella Point. The guides knew just how to help us with the ascent - Redbull did wonders. We took diamox beginning at Mawenzie Tarn on day 3 and that helped...

Team Kilimanjaro review » Team Kilimanjaro did very well, I thought. Some of the things I liked about them was held our extra gear for post-climb in their offices without a problem. They also helped with our request for transport to the airport...

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Machame Route

Posing on Kilimanjaro
Chagga Tours » I did the Machame route, it was scenic and not too rapid an ascent. Besides the beautiful scenery and glacier remains on top of Kili, the cloud-filled high valleys were very scenic and a highlight of the climb...
Uhuru summit
Sunny Adventures Kilimanjaro climb » We climbed Mt Kilimanjaro via the Machame route and the highlight was reaching the Uhuru Peak. Descending to Barranco camp after Shira camp and the final descent from Uhuru peak was very tough on the knees...
Leopard in a tree
Kiliwarriors review » The hardest part of climbing was the distance between Stella Point and Uhuru Peak. Our guide was very good and knew how to push and motivate me to go forward. A big part of your success depends on your guide...

SENE review » The experience of staying at Simon's family farm house in the Mbahe Village was priceless. We did several acclimation hikes around the village, and met the people and schoolchildren of the village. What a rich experience....

Zara Tours report » I would give the climb an overall rating of 9. If I could have prevented altitude sickness and the weather would have been nicer, it would have been a 10...

Machame route » Chieh Ming was worried about Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) but fortunately she didn't get it. Despite a recent bout of flu and thanks to the dedication and perserverence of her guide she made it to the top...

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Lemosho Glades Route

Mountain tents
Summit Expeditions Nomadic Experience » The guides (Emmanuel and Ambrose) were very knowledgeable and helpful, taking very good care of us. I was impressed by the overall organization of the company and how well they are known and respected in the area...
Kilimanjaro sunrise
Lemosho route » Our guide was able to change and modify our itinerary as we chose. So we ended up summiting a day earlier than planned. We chose the Lemosho route because of its beauty, the challenge, less people and more natural...
Kilimanjaro vegetation
Successful summit » The last Kilimanjaro climb night was very hard and I started feeling nauseous and dizzy early in the climb. Make sure you take enough time to acclimatise, lots of people that did the shorter tour did not make it to the top...

Kiliteks review » They were honest and straight forward when I asked questions. Guides were excellent and so were the porters. We were picked up and dropped off and looked after with personal attention from the owner himself...

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Marangu Route

Kilimanjaro huts
Ringo Expeditions review » They gave fantastic, personal service and tailoring of trip, personal/caring service en route, friendly and knowledgeable guides, motivational on summit day. Everything was great....
Made it
Request full trip report » The hotel staff were excellent in preparing the group of 10 for what lay ahead, providing information and orientation prior to arrival in Tanzania as well as the night before the trek commenced...

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Shira Route

Kilimanjaro porters
To the top of Africa » The Shira route is a much more scenic route and is used in a way that avoids much of the pedestrian congestion for the first few days of the climb...
Kilimanjaro clouds
Marangu hotel trek review » The guides and porters were a great group of guys. They were very nice, very helpful and provided most of the equipment...
Summit sunrise
Request full trip report » The Shira route doesn't afford much opportunity for turning back, once you have reached a certain point, due to the steepness of the path. The final stage of the group's Kilimanjaro climb took longer than hoped, but they all made summited eventually which made it worthwhile....

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More Kilimanjaro Climb Trip Reports

Click below to see contributions from past Kilimanjaro climbers...

Great trip with Arunga Expeditions 
Our group of four booked a two day safari to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater and then a trek all the way up Kilimanjaro via the stunning 7-day Lemosho …

Climbing Africa's Two Highest Mountains 
Nic worked as a caretaker for a mining camp in Tanzania during the mining season. He enjoyed the experience. After that he went up Kilimanjaro as well …

Kilimanjaro Expedition 
We chose the TK Rongai route as it was described as one of the routes with the best acclimatization. We wanted the best chance at getting to the top. …

SOK Adventures Climb 
Don't put off climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and don't think that you are too old. I went with my grown children and I am in my mid 50s, but I had the least problems …

Kilimanjaro with Sunny Safaris 
I guess like everyone, the highlight was reaching the top!! I didn't really feet the altitude, except that I vomited on the final stretch, which is apparently …

Pure Afro - Kilimanjaro Review 
We chose the Machame route for the ascent and Mweka route for the descent, because it's a scenic route and good acclimatization. The trek was with Pure …

Umbwe Route Review 
Going to bed in the crater after a sunlit day, and emerging the next morning in fresh snow was amazing. The Umbwe Route was marvelous, and overall the …

Climbing Kilimanjaro Review 
I was 53 years and thought I should do something exciting and challenging without putting my life at risk. I can always be proud of myself that I could …

Machame Route Climb 
We were very lucky in that we didn't experience altitude sickness on Kili. We were also very lucky in having good weather (despite the winds while summiting …

Saki Treks - Captain Joe Warning 
I am writing to warn about the subject person and his company organizing treks and operating in Kenya and in Tanzania. Recently, the owner of the company …

Mt Kilimanjaro Warning 
I'm J. Rivadeneira, a mountain guide from Ecuador/South America. A lot of years I was collecting money to realize a dream: I wanted to climb the highest …

Kilimanjaro Climb with SENE 
Our guides, Herman and Ayoumwi, were the perfect pair, and we loved them. They both offered something so different yet so rich and valuable, and they really …

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Mountain experience » Although it was cold at times, Kwameh didn't experience any rain during his climb. Some unexpected tips and advice on physical and mental preparation and clothing came out of this interview about successfully scaling Africa's highest mountain...