Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is Africa’s highest peak and one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. There are seven different official Kilimanjaro routes that you can choose from to climb to the summit. Each route has its own pros and cons. Find out exactly what it’s like to climb Kilimanjaro, what you need to pack for Kilimanjaro, and what the best Kilimanjaro preparation looks like.
When you trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro, you pass through different and distinct climate zones. With most routes you start the trek by hiking through beautiful acacia forest. You then climb up to reach the moorland or heath zone, which is dotted with striking giant groundsels and giant lobelias. You then ascend into alpine desert and pick your way through tussocks, before reaching the artic zone at the top of the mountain. Kilimanjaro was formed by a volcano, and at the top of the mountain you trek through scree, snow and ice. You pass also by glaciers. The summit point, known as Uhuru Peak, sits on the crater rim and is a mighty 5,895 m (19,341 ft) above sea level!
✓ Summit the tallest mountain in Africa, one of the Seven Summits
✓ Sleep under the stars at each camp
✓ Conquer the Great Barranco Wall
✓ Relax in a traditional luxury lodge amid the African rainforest
✓ Walk above the clouds
✓ Hike through different climate zones
Chris is our friend and has been working on Kilimanjaro leading groups for over 16 years. He has made it to the summit over 300 times. He is ranked #6 out of 261 guides on Kilimanjaro by clients. Chris is an incredibly knowledgeable and experienced leader who always puts Kilimanjaro safety first. Learn more about Chris in this interview.
“Our lead guide Chris was amazing, looking after us really well and helping us to overcome difficulties. He is incredibly experienced and professional and we wouldn’t have reached our goal without him!” Robert Jensen
There are many routes that lead to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Each of them has its own pros and cons and should therefore be thoroughly researched in order to make an informed and educated choice. Take a look at each of the Kilimanjaro routes in detail here:
Note that the Mweka route leading to Mweka Gate as marked on the map below is a descent route only.
The right itinerary is essential to successfully summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. Our carefully planned Kilimanjaro itinerary below uses the seven-day Lemosho route. This is the newest route up the mountain and we love it because of its beauty, remoteness and success rate. Think beautiful scenery, panoramic vistas, remote landscapes, and varied terrain. The route approaches the summit from the west, and starts at the Londorossi Gate. It has a great acclimatisation profile, which means the route is good at letting your body acclimatise properly to the increased elevation. Proper acclimatisation is necessary to preventing you from developing altitude sickness.
Remember, deciding on a Kilimanjaro route is a personal choice. We’re happy to lead you up a different Kilimanjaro route if you prefer.
“I climbed Kilimanjaro last year with Follow Alice and it was an unforgettable experience!! All the planning was made at their side and I just enjoyed the beautiful climb – so simple and well delivered.” Silvia Coimbra
We pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport and take you to the lodge in Moshi. At the lodge, you meet up with the rest of the group. We also meet with our lead trek guide, Chris, for a pre-climb briefing and a delicious dinner. Then it’s bedtime, as the adventure begins tomorrow!
After an early breakfast, our driver takes us on a drive of two to three hours to Londorossi Park Gate. Here we register our entry into Kilimanjaro National Park. All of our bags to be carried by the mountain crew are also checked and weighed. You eat your packed lunches here while waiting for all of the logistics to be sorted out for you. We then drive another hour to the Lemosho route trailhead, and then the trekking begins! We walk through undisturbed rainforest on a three-hour hike up to Mti Mkubwa Camp (also known as Big Tree Campo). This is our first night of sleeping under the stars in tents!
After an early morning breakfast, we begin our ascent out of the rainforest and into the heather and moorland zone. We hike for about five to six hours in total today. During the hike we cross many streams and walk over Shira Plateau to reach Shira 2 Camp. At this campsite we have a spectacular view of the Western Breach and its glaciers.
Today we do our first acclimatisation walk up to an impressive rock formation called Lava Tower at 4,630 m (15,419 ft) above sea level. It takes five hours to get there and is a real highlight on the way to the summit. After lunch at Lava Tower, we head down to Barranco Camp. This leg of the day’s trek takes about two hours. The camp is located in a valley below the Western Breach and Barranco Wall.
This is a short hiking day of four to five hours that’s very helpful in terms of acclimatisation. After an early morning breakfast, it’s time for us to conquer the great Barranco Wall. At the top of the wall, you’re above the clouds with superb views of the southern ice-fields and the summit. The trail then winds up and down until we arrive at Karanga Camp where we spend the night.
It’s getting real! We’re now very close to the summit and enjoy some amazing views of the mountain during our short ascent of two to three hours to the last base, Barafu Camp, which is 4,600 m (15,091 ft) above sea level. You can really feel the altitude here. An early dinner is served so we can get some rest before attempting the summit that same night. Before heading to bed, our guide briefs us in detail on how best to prepare for summit night. Don’t worry, we’re all in great hands.
Our guide wakes us up around midnight for tea and biscuits. We then begin our summit attempt, which many describe as the most mentally and physically challenging part of the whole Kilimanjaro climb. The route heads northwest out of camp into the dark night. We ascend over stone scree for much of the way. In about six hours we reach Stella Point (5,685 m or 18,651 ft) in time for sunrise.
After enjoying the magnificent sunrise at Stella Point, we continue for an hour or so on a snow-covered trail before reaching Uhuru Peak (5,895 m or 19,341 ft), the very top of Africa! Be prepared to be overwhelmed by your mega accomplishment!
We then descend to Mweka Camp at 3,110 m (10,204 ft) above sea level. Here we spend our final night on the mountain after having hiked for about 12 to 15 hours. Sleep comes pretty immediately, trust us!
We wake up at Mweka Camp, which is in the rainforest zone of Kilimanjaro. When we reach the end of the trail, we spend time saying goodbye to mountain crew, who worked so hard throughout the week to get us successfully to the summit. The thank-you takes the form of a tipping ceremony, which involves song and dance and is plenty of fun while also being quite a cathartic experience.
We then do the last bit of hiking down to the foot of the mountain, where our driver is waiting to bring us back to the lodge. Time for a beer and great celebration dinner!
After breakfast at the lodge, it’s time for a transfer to the airport or to plunge into your next adventure, like a Tanzania safari. Everyone who climbs Kilimanjaro leaves with memories they won’t forget any time soon!
“I asked our great guide Chris for his opinion on why Follow Alice climbers were more successful than other companies. He had a very clear answer: we are all one team – guides, porters, climbers. It‘s a community goal that requires taking care of each other.” Jenny Handl
You’re already in Tanzania, so why not make the most out of it and enjoy an African safari? Tanzania is arguably the ultimate safari destination for wildlife lovers. With sixteen beautiful national parks, including Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, it offers some of Africa’s best game viewing. The wildlife you can spot include elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, hyenas, wildebeests, dik-diks, antelopes, gazelles, elands and kudus. The country dedicates more of its land to its national parks than any other wildlife destination in the world. It Going on a Tanzania safari is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
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I climbed Kilimanjaro last year with Follow Alice and it was an unforgettable experience!! All the planning was made at their side and I just enjoyed the beautiful climb – so simple and well delivered! Def recommend!
Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro was an unforgettable experience. It was a top notch trip.
When my boyfriend asked me what I thought about climbing Kiliminjaro, I really though he was crazy… but you know, love! I started this unbelievable adventure thinking that I would not last more than 2 or 3 days on the mountain, but I made it!
The organization was amazing, people were outstanding. I have a very rescrited diet and guides took care of me like as if I was their daughter, preparing me special plates. It was a day by day team work and was the most beatiful trip of my life. When we reached the top I could not believe mysel, the feeling was a mixture of astonishment and happiness. I felt in peace with the world.
Just amazing!
Climbing mount Kilimanjaro with a group from Follow Alice was the adventure of a lifetime.
We went on an 8 day expedition with people from all around the world. In our group we were 5, from Brazil, Italy and Germany. We were all like-minded people, seeking to have a unique experience and to discover a new side of the world and of ourselves.
Organization was perfect: arrival and the days in the lodge before departure were great, the “warm-up” safari was beautiful, and reception when we came back was very warming.
During the climb we had outstanding guides, who made sure that we were always confident, safe, in good shape and eating and drinking plenty.
Thanks to care of the Follow Alice team, all 5 of us made it to the summit, and I can tell you that: whatever is the greater power that you believe in, when you see the sun rising from the top of that volcano, you get to feel it.
Sharing this experience created a very strong bond in our group, and gave all of us a great story to tell our grandchildren some day 🙂
I strongly recommend Follow Alice!
when tell to my friends what I did last summer they don’t believe me, still neither do I. I tell them I saw the best sunrises above Africa from a summit at 6 000 meters, I tell them I climb mount Kilimanjaro during a full moon night, that I had breakfast in the jungle surrounded by lions and party in a remote african city at night. A dream came true! I spent a couple of weeks with an amazing group of young people coming from all over the world. This trip has been one of the best I ever had. I am so happy to have found FollowAlice. Can’t wait to be part of another one of your trips !
Simply GREAT !
Great adventure, great group of people, great organisation, great memories.
I would definitely recommend it.
I followed Alice to Kilimanjaro and it was an absolutely amazing experience. Already before the trip the team was very helpful answering all the questions. On the mountain we were guided by Chris and his outstanding crew. They made it possible that all of us were able to summit due to their great support carrying our bags, preparing the camp, motivating us and pushing us forward. The food during the whole trip was freshly prepared by the cook and very good. I would never have expected to receive such delicious meals at 4600 meters a.s.l.. I can definitely recommend this trip with FollowAlice to everyone who is looking for a great and challenging adventure. I’m happy I did the trip with them and would do it again right away.
My partner and I went on an awesome adventure up Mount Kilimanjaro with Follow Alice.
Our guides Chris and Robert, along with our team of porters, were extremely helpful, knowledgeable and friendly and made our trip what it was.
When we arrived to Tanzania, Chris was waiting to take us to our lodge. He checked all of our clothes to make sure we were properly equipped for the hike and, when he realised I’d forgotten rain gear, went out and rented some for me before we embarked the next day. This was super helpful as it rained often on our hike.
Additionally, the hike was super challenging for me because I suffered from pretty bad altitude sickness, but Chris, Robert and our porters did everything they could to make me feel more comfortable, from checking on my health often to making sure I was eating and drinking enough of the right things.
Before and after the hike, Follow Alice put us up in a really cool coffee lodge with awesome staff, good Tanzanian beer, a pool and great views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Meru. It was the perfect place to prepare beforehand and relax afterward.
The above anecdotes are just a handful of the dozens of times when Follow Alice’s crew did everything they could to make our trip such a good experience. I plan on going on many more trips with Follow Alice in the future and I’d recommend Follow Alice to any and all of my friends.
We went with Follow Alice to klimb Kilimanjaro for our honeymoon and had the best experience. Perfectly organized and great local tour guides!
Amazing company and crew!
I climbed Kilimanjaro last September with Chris as our lead guide. Chris and the others were amazing, looking after us really well and helping us to overcome difficulties. I highly recommend Chris and his company. They were incredibly experienced and professional and we wouldn’t have reached our goal without them.
From the first time we spoke to the guys at Follow Alice to the moment they got us back home, everything was perfect.
They answered all our questions before we booked, made it super easy and helpful to align with when we wanted to go and went out of their way with helping us prepare for our Kilimanjaro hike.
We had all the details well ahead of time to help us get ready, and we knew all the details for the 8 days we spent in Tanzania.
Chris was waiting for us at the airport when we landed to get us to the lodge (which was incredible – amazing views, great pool, great staff and food too!), and helped us go through all our gear to make sure we had everything we needed.
He picked us up the next day and we headed for Kili.
The crew – made of guides and porters – treated us so well, and were so helpful on the climb. They prepare the most amazing food, ensure your stuff get safely between camps and set everything up for you so you can just focus on the climb!
The climb was tough, but as a first time high altitude climber I never felt worried and always felt like I knew what was happening.
The summit is worth every tough step it takes, and it’s completely breath-taking to be the highest person on the African continent for a little while.
I completely recommend taking a few days off after at the lodge or to go on safari. Have a well-earned relax before the flight home!
Thanks to everyone at Follow Alice, from the guys who help plan to the guides and porters I will never forget my time in Kilimanjaro!
I did the Kili trip (Lemosho Route) followed by the Safari in Aug ’16 and overall was very impressed. The trip was well and carefully organized by Daniel and even better executed by the local Tanzanian guides. Daniel also was highly responsive to any individual questions raised before the trip. It was my first visit to Tanzania and I arrived at 3am in the night but felt immediately welcome. Climbing the Uhuru Peak was an impressive and worthwhile experience thanks to the unique combination of absolutely breathtaking nature, stunning views of varied scenery, excellent guides and spending 8 days outdoors in a group of interesting young people from all over the world. I was bowled over by the commitment and the capabilites of our guides, cooks and porters. Despite the rather high level of daily activity and the altitude, the trip was also a really relaxing, decelerating and refreshing experience as it was completely free from E-Mails, messages and phone calls 🙂 . And reaching the Uhuru peak right at sunrise and after several days of climbing is an experience impossible to describe in words… I definitely recommend this trip organized by Follow Alice to any active young person looking for a decent time-off and a nice vacation “outside of the box”…
Very friendly, courteous and very prompt. Thanks
very helpful and professional service, highly recommend!
Follow Alice made me feel reassured about my trip to Kilimanjaro. The level of service and the coordination of trip exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend Follow Alice.
I had a wonderful way to celebrate NY of 2019 on Kilimanjaro. It will engrave in my mind for the rest of my life.
Choosing the Follow Alice was the smartest choice I did when I did the first step towards Kilimanjaro. This whole trip taught me lots of thing. We 7 climbers are from different countries, different background. As one of them I witnessed how considered care we received from Follow Alice, I saw the most solitary endeavor in the world, porters, Arle, Robert, the most patient assistants. When I saw their pole pole steps leading us, I got feelings that I might be successful of this climb. They both carried their own daily pack like my weight, time to time they even helped carry daily packs of some of our teammates. One day I saw Robert having oxygen tank loaded outside his daily pack, I assumed it was prepared for me because my short breath problem. I felt moved and really appreciated and kept telling myself that do not give up, do not fail myself and do not fail them. Chris, the excellent leader I have ever encounter. There were huge of works behind of this whole climb event, if any of part failed, if not having excellent leadership of Chris, reaching 5895 meters, the roof of Africa was a dream. My porter, Sivano and the other porter were with us on summit night, regardless coldness, they rarely worn gloves to warm their hands because they were ready for helping us, such like open/close bottles, cover hats, open/close pack buckles… I felt I am lucky to find Follow Alice helping me to accomplish this lifetime achievement. I would like to thanks to all of staffs’ efforts devoted into our dreams and I will find every chance to introduce my story and highly recommend Follow Alice if any of my friends want to experience same amazing event. All the best to Follow Alice.
Lemosho Kilimanjaro Trek
We climbed Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho route with Follow Alice last week and had a great time! We were a small group that got along really well and felt greatly taken care of by the crew! The guides made us feel safe at all times. The porters did a tremendous job carrying all the equipment (everything was already setup when we arrived at the camps) and the cook deserves 5 stars!
Kili tough but fun – Main reason for choosing Follow Alice: climbing with like minded people regardless of your age, nationality and background.
Everything was on the highest level of organizations! Very involved and passionate team. Thank you so much Follow Alice! See u next time 😊
Amazing!!
Had the most amazing team on the mountain! Everyone was so helpful and passionate and made the experience even more special!
Follow Alice on Kilimanjaro
Follow Alice is one of the most professional company I have ever worked with. They prepared everything from A to Z and guided us all the way. They tell you what to expect and how to prepare for it and help you change your mindset to look at Kilimanjaro not as an obstacle but as a challange.
I found Follow Alice’s homepage by chance, and was impressed with their professionalism. I chose them as my tour to Kilimanjaro operator. From the start, I was impressed as to how quickly they responded to any questions I had. All through the expedition, the assistance I got from the whole ground crew was amazing. I had a fantastic and well-experienced guide. I was the only participant and am in my senior years. Christopher who controls everything in Tanzania is also well experienced and is able to make quick and sensible decisions. Lastly, the guest house at which I overnighted twice, before and after my hike, was spotless, quiet and a real haven. The food was excellent, the staff helpful and the owner is always on hand.
All in all, I’m pleased I chose Follow Alice.
Great time – just go for it!
What an awesome experience. FollowAlice worked hard to get my wife and I to the top of Kili!! Awesome crew with great personalities leading to an unforgettable and positive experience in Tanzania. We’re already planning our next trip!
Had a trip of a lifetime to Kilimanjaro through Follow Alice and would 100% recommend them to anyone.
26 Reviews
Loyal Follower of Alice
Little does Alice know she has so many followers….
Kilimanjaro with Follow Alice was an extraordinary experience and I would recommend it to anyone who longs for a taste of adventure and nature’s greatest gifts.
Organisation was impeccable, and the guides who took us (ALL) to the summit were experienced and warm, leaving none of us with any doubts about the ‘piece of cake’ it would be to get to the top.
Everything before and after the trek was also very well organised – including, my favorite, our individual Kilimanjaro beers at the Park’s exit after our summit.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
– Loyal Follower of Alice
Follow Alice did an amazing job of organizing a seamless once in a lifetime experience for us. Thanks!