Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa - a must see for all mountain lovers.

For the more adventurous spirits, we offer you the opportunity to hike to the top and experience the view from Uhuru Peak.

Because our safaris are for smaller groups of people seeking one to one interaction with our guides, the routes we select are less travelled than many other routes on Kilimanjaro. We've chosen two routes that are lower on the difficulty rating (although no route is considered easy!) and that offer spectacular views along the way. There are a few easier routes but they become too congested during the peak hiking season and we believe in taking the road less travelled.

The Rongai Route is the easier of the two routes up Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The Shira Route is one of the more strenuous routes up Mt. Kilimanjaro. It also offers some dramatic views and is one of the most rewarding routes.

Climate zones of Kilimanjaro

As you hike up the mountain you will notice how drastically and frequently the landscape changes. The air will become thinner, the vegetation will change and so will the wildlife that inhabits the area. You will want to bring items of clothing that are breathable and that can be layered. The sun is extremely intense here and everyone should bring the maximum number SPF sunscreen possible. Even people who normally don't burn will be surprised at how strong the sun's rays are up here. Below we walk you through the various changes of the hike, from just stepping out of the vehicle to the summit of Mt. Uhuru. Don't forget to stretch first!

2000-2700 m (6562 – 8858 ft)

The base elevation is approximately 2000 m (6562 ft). Despite the relatively high altitude it is hot like in the plains but there is abundant water flowing from further up the mountain. Starting off the hike you may feel very hot and sticky, particularly during the summer months (Dec – March).

The first part of your journey will take you through mountain forest. This is the wettest area of Kilimanjaro, with over 90% of water on Kilimanjaro falling as rain in this zone. 

Common trees in the forest are Podocarpus milanjianus - a soft wood related to the pines. Its green berries have a red edible fleshy part much favored by monkeys, turacos and hornbills.

Other trees include:

Junipers rocera – the twisted juniper reaches 30 m (295 ft) in height.

Ilex mitisa – an elegant tree that grows mainly in the upper reaches of the forest.

Otea usambarinsis – a massive tree often 40 m (131 ft) tall which has dark red fluted bark.

Olea kilimandscharica – this olive tree grows in the drier section of the forest (western and northern slopes). It is an important timber and grows up to 30 m (295 ft) tall.

Hagenia abyssinica – this rosewood tree is huge and has dark red-brown hanging clusters of flowers.

Agauria salicfolia  – a gnarled tree with rough reddish bark.

Nuxia congesta  – a squat tree with a vast fluted trunk. This tree produces clusters of small white flowers.

The animals that live in this forest include black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys and olive baboons. Buffalo, elephants and elands also live here but they are seldom seen. The elusive leopard also lives throughout the forest but most times the presence of fur-filled droppings is the only indication of them. Many bird calls can be heard in the forest. These birds include: common bulbul, Hautlaub's turacos, silvery-cheeked hornbill and the tropical boubou.

The Heather Zone - 2700-3600 m (8858 – 11,811 ft)                  

Higher up Kilimanjaro becomes too cold and dry for trees to grow and the forest zones ends. It is here where the heather zone begins. It takes its name from the giant Heather trees, Erica orborea, which dominates large areas.

The Heather zone is also dominated by shrubs like:

Hyericum revolutum. This plant can grow up to 5 m (16 ft) tall and has large yellow, open cup-shaped flowers. This plant is related to St John's Wort, a well known English garden plant.

Adenocarpus manni  – a member of the pea family that thrives in high altitudes.

Protea kilimanscharica – a very distinctive plant with a large ball-shaped cream or yellow flowers and stiff leather evergreen leaves. Many types of proteas grow in South Africa where it is their National emblem.

Leonotis mollissima – aka the lion's paw, is a tall shrub with flowery spikes. 

There are sunbirds in this zone and species seen include Eastern Double-Collared Sunbirds and Malachite Sunbirds.

The Moorland Zone - 3600 – 4200 m (11,811 – 13,780 ft)              

The moorland zone has grassy base from which emerge the extraordinary giant lobelias and senecios. These giant plants are unique to East Africa and they can be seen only on Mount Kenya, The Aberdares, Rwenzori and Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The four-striped mouse (striped back) and the mole rat (plain gray brown) are commonly seen and form the majority of the diet for leopards, civets and serval cats whose fur-filled droppings can be seen beside the trails.

The Alpine Zone - 4200+ m (13,780 ft and above)                 

The alpine zone experiences dramatic variations in temperature between day and night. Night often get below freezing and days can see ground temperatures reach over 40 C (104 F). Water is very limited with annual precipitation around 125 mm (4.92 inches) per year. No large animals live here but buffalos, lions, leopards and eland occasionally visit the zone. Larger birds regularly visit the moorland and alpine zones to find food. These birds include: augur buzzards, crowned eagle, mountain buzzards and white necked raven.

The Hiking Routes of Kilimanjaro

The Rongai Route

The Rongai route is the easier of the two routes but it cuts through some of the most beautiful scenery and tends to be less travelled than the other ‘easier’ routes.

Day 1: The first day will start at the park gate and end at Rongai Camp One at 2600 m (8500 ft)

At 2350 m you reach the tree line, where the heather zone starts. The Rongai route is on the drier side of the mountain and here the Heather plants are smaller and Heather zone narrower than on the wetter Marangu/Mweka side of the mountain.

On the trail to Rongai Camp One there are often the droppings of buffalos and occasionally the large round dropping of elephants.

Day 2: Rongai Camp One to Kikelewa Cave 3600 m (11,800 ft)

The morning walk is through further sections of the heather zone. Dotted on the edge of the path are the purple and pink flowers of Lobelia holstii- the lobelia used as a hanging basket and bedding plant in European gardens.The heather zone indistinctively becomes the moorland zone; the shrubs are generally lower and widely spaced. In the afternoon as you walk to Kikelewa cave the giant senecio trees are first seen standing like old leaves. Hopping along the ground in the campsite are alpine chats, bold gray birds whose loud, sweet songs can be heard regularly.

Day 3: Kikelewa Cave to Mawenzi Tarn 4330 m (14,200 ft)

On leaving Kikelewa you climb into high Kikelewa valley where there is a thriving population of tree senecios. Here you can get a great view of the dramatic Mawenzi peak in the distance.

Mawenzi tarn to Kibo Hut 4700 m (15,400 ft)

Around Mawenzi the vegetation becomes very sparse. As you climb onto the saddle there are fewer and fewer plants The saddle is very dry and on the final climb to Kibo Hut it is very much like desert. Around Kibo Hut white necked ravens and the crowned eagles are regularly sighted.

Kibo Hut to Horombo hut 375 0m (12,300 ft) includes Gilman’s point 5685 m (18,650) and Uhuru peak 5895 m (19,340 ft)   
 
Day 4: On summit day there are very few plants, the terrain is very high, dry and cold; an environment unsuitable for most life. The route to Uhuru Peak climbs the steep side of Kibo, Kilimanjaro's youngest volcano to Gilmans Point then follows the crater rim around to Uhuru. 
The walk down from Kibo Hut crosses the dry saddle and goes between the Triplets (rounded hills) to cross another dry sloping section and then a small stream. As the descent continues plants start to appear and become larger and more abundant the further down you go.
 
The last two days are spent on the descent and depending on the time of the year various species of flowers can be seen.

The Shira Route

The Shira Route is one of the most spectacular and rewarding routes to hike. While it is possible to drive up to nearly 4000 m in elevation, we will be hiking up!

Day 1: Londorossi Gate 2250 m (7400 ft) to Shira One Camp 3500 m (11,500 ft)
 
Around Londorossi Village and the national park gate is a great location to see the striking black and white colobus monkeys. The first part of the trail goes through the pine plantation and agricultural land growing maize, potatoes, carrots, cabbages, peas and onions.
 
At 2450 m the natural montane forest begins. The forest is thick with vegetation and climbers such as the Black-Eyed SusanThumbergia alata and the white flowers and fluffy seeded heads of old man’s beard Clematis bracliat.
 
At 2600 m (8530 ft) the heather zone begins.
The large orange flowers of Gladioli natalensis and pink dangling flowers of Dierama pendula can be seen. Flying between the shrubs is the common robin chat.
 
By 3000 m (9843 ft) the conditions are so cold and dry that the number of plant types has reduced significantly, leaving the heathers and Adenocarpus mannii as the main species.
 
Day 2: Shira One Camp to Shira Hut 3840 m (12,600 ft) via Shira Cathedral
The route heads across the sparsely vegetated Shira Plateau to Shira Cathedral. There are numerous large animals using the Shira Plateau but they are seldom seen. The eland is the most common to be spotted. Fur-filled droppings lying by the path show that leopards are also visiting the plateau.
 
Shira Hut Barranco Cave 3900 m (12,800)
Climbing from Shira Hut towards Lava Tower the vegetation more and more sparse. The rocks here have some moss and lichen hanging from them- proof that this area is often washed by moist clouds sweeping up from the forest zone. Descending from the plateau into the Barranco Valley the vegetation returns and giant lobelias and senecios are abundant.
 
Day 3: Barranco Wall to Barafu Hut 4600 m (15,100 ft)
The first feature today is the Barranco Wall that dominates the view from the campsite. It was formed 100,000 years ago when a huge landslide came down from the summit creating the steep sided Barranco Valley and the western breach of the Kibo Crater.
After the Barranco Wall the route undulates through a number of valleys with good examples of giant Senecios and the yellow spined thistle, Carduus Keniensis. The final valley is Karanga and, having a good water source, it is well vegetated with plants from the moorland zone.
 
Barafu Hut to Mweka Hut 3100 m (10,000 ft) includes Stella Point 5735 m (18,800 ft) and Uhuru Peak  5895 m (19,340 ft)
On the way to Uhuru Peak there are very few plants, mainly loose scree and boulders. The terrain is very high, dry and cold, which is unsuitable for most plants and animals. The route to Uhuru peak climbs the steep side of Kibo, Kilimanjaro's youngest volcano, to Stella Point passing the remains of the Ratzel Glacier - which was the route taken for Hanmeyer's first ascent.
 
From Barafu Hut to Mweka Forest there is an interesting return to life; empty rocky landscapes become dotted with plants which get larger and larger and by Mweka Forest the heather zone has been reached.
 
The return takes 1-2 days and we will cover the same route that we took for the ascent. Because we are coming down and have gravity on our side, we can afford to take a few breaks to check out the local flora and fauna.