Planning your Kilimanjaro climb Most fit individuals with some mountain walking experience can make it to the
top of Africa. You do not need to be super fit - just take it slowly (pole-pole the guide will say) and be determined. ZARA is one of the top Kilimanjaro operators with an excellent reputation and a very high success rate. But
success depends mainly on you - it is up to you to make some important choices;
in particular which route you ascend and for how many days. If you have little
previous mountain walking and camping experience and are not sure of your
fitness go for the Marangu Route (entirely hut based) and make sure you have at least one acclimatisation day at Horombo Hut or that you have acclimatised on Mt Meru, Mt Kenya or elsewhere previously. Please read the route descriptions carefully and if necessary discuss your choice with us. If you are on your own, or with just one other person, we will try, as far as
possible, to fit you in with another group following the same program as yours. It is however possible, on request, to have your own private trip. See also: Kilimanjaro - Safari Packages.
 Watch movie on YouTube: Choosing a route on Kilimanjaro
 Watch movie on YouTube: Kilimanjaro - History and Mountaineering
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Route Summary You should plan spending at least 6 days (5 nights) on the mountain (5 days on the Marangu Route if already acclimatised). This is a Kilimanjaro Park guideline which should be adhered to. -1 indicates the possibility of shortening the trip by one day. | Route | Description | Days | Length | | Lemosho | Long access drive, remote, less frequented, beautiful forests, scenic traverse to Barafu, camping. Excellent for acclimatisation. Prices Book Now | 8 (-1) | 56km | | Machame | Second most popular route. Beautiful forest, very good for acclimatisation, scenic traverse to Barafu. Prices Book Now | 7 (-1) | 49km | | Marangu | Very popular. Gentle gradients and long sections up to 4700m. Beautiful forests and moorlands, comfortable but basic huts. The 6 day variant provides good time
for acclimatisation. Prices Book Now | 6 (-1) | 64km | | Rongai | Long access drive, remote, less frequented, some fine, wild, high-altitude mountain scenery, camping. Good for acclimatisation. Prices Book Now | 6 | 65km | | Umbwe | Shortest and steepest route, tough. Beautiful forest, spectacular ridge, good for acclimatisation, scenic traverse to Barafu, camping. Prices Book Now | 6 | 37km |
Prices | Book Now
Kilimanjaro Picture Galleries: Western Breach Kili & Mt Kenya Flora Lemosho Route Kibo South Circuit Marangu Route Summit Area
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