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Mountain Climbing - Kenya - Tanzania
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GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TREKS ON MOUNT KILIMANJARO

The best time to climb would be during the dry season. Tanzania and East Africa in general has two rainy seasons, long rains from end of March until June, and the short rains which normally occur in October and November.

During the rainy seasons, rain can be expected as opposed to the dry seasons where it will be unlikely. However it does not rain all the time even then. Naturally conditions on the mountains can become very slippery in the rains and snow can become a problem on some of the routes to the summit. Dry season months of June to September and December to February can usually be counted as the best months for trekking.

The altitude normally affects the temperature as the trek progresses, especially considering the Mountain is only three degrees south of the Equator.

Day-time temperatures on the lower parts of the mountain are often pleasantly warm, even hot, although a brief rain shower in the afternoon is always possible. As soon as the sun goes down the air temperature becomes cold and as the trek progresses, on the higher parts of the mountain the temperatures often drop to below freezing. Warm clothes and a warm sleeping bag are essential.

Although many thousands of trekkers successfully reach Gillman's Point or Uhuru Peak every year without any real difficulty, many others do not make it to the top because they suffer from altitude sickness, which is caused by a combination of the decrease in atmospheric pressure and the decreased oxygen content of the air. To avoid this it is very important to acclimatise by ascending slowly and steadily, even if you are fit, you should not try to rush up Mount Kilimanjaro.

The Guides and porters are all men between 20 and 40 years old.  They are employed by the Hotels on piece-work terms but have to be officially registered by the Park Authorities, who periodically give them medical check-ups.  Anybody with heart or lung condition is not allowed to climb above the Kibo Hut. The Guides work as a team throughout the Year, with the porters being added as required.  Each Porter carries about 10 to 20 Kilograms, usually on their heads or back. 

The huts and camping sites are positioned so that the ascent each day is harder than the previous day, even without considering the thinner air. As a result one feels more and more tired at the end of each stage but not to the extent of losing confidence.  To provide some encouragement there are notices on the huts and the upper parts of the climb giving in both feet and metres the height above sea-level that you have reached.  In most cases the ratio of these figures is incorrect.  One effect of each morning's climb and afternoon's rest is that you assume (wrongly as it happens) that the next day will be no worse than the last.  Despite the difficulty in getting a good night's sleep and the resulting aches and pains, you expect to be fit enough by the next morning to reach that day's objective.  This optimism may vanish on the third day, for which the final part of the ascent is really hard, but unless illness intervenes you feel that by then you have nothing to lose in attempting the final climb.

The guides and porters may be climbing separately from you for a good part of the first three days.  They climb without resting for long periods but stop for long periods, at times upto 20 minutes at what they call half-way points.  These points are not actually half-way in time or distance, merely convenient places to stop

As is often the case with such climbs, mental attitude is just as important as physical fitness. For both the ascent and descent, walking seems to be far easier when the weather is sunny rather than dull and misty.  However it will almost certainly be cloudy for part of the first two days.

The Kilimanjaro climb is strenuous but interesting, and worth doing once preferably before you reach fifty.  Although it is possible to plan a good deal of the trip beforehand, you cannot rely on the weather at any time of the year or on any part of the climb. You should perhaps take some books to read during afternoons, and a wide-angle lens as well as standard lens for the final climb.  Extra baggage can be left behind in the store at your base hotel.  The trip will be easier and more enjoyable if you can forget minor difficulties and take each day as it comes.

MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMBING ROUTES
MARANGU ROUTE
7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS (5 DAYS ON TREK)

The most popular route up the mountain, the Marangu Route is in fact probably followed by ninety percent of all climbers. It has a well defined path, which has been well set out and where most obstacles have been modified to make them 'climber friendly'. Despite the human traffic (it can be fun to mingle with climbers from all over the world), this is a very scenic route with good views of Mawenzi and excellent prospects for viewing wildlife.
Accommodation on this route is in purpose-built mountain huts providing adequate shelter and even bottled water, beer and soft drinks.

DAY 01:  ARUSHA TRANSFER TO MOSHI/MARANGU (BASE HOTEL)
At 14.00 hours, collected from your Arusha hotel and transfer to Moshi/Marangu area, the base for the climb.  Dinner and overnight at Springland Hotel (the base hotel).

DAY 02: BASE HOTEL TO MANDARA HUT
(1,800M TO 2,700M)
Walking about 9 km in 4 hours, and ascending 900 m.
After breakfast and briefing transfer to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate at Marangu, an ascent of 400 m, for registration before starting the climb. The trek from Marangu to Mandara takes 3 – 4 hours, on established forest trails.

There are two possible routes both following the same stream but on opposite banks.  At first the main path is wide and not too steep, being bounded on each side by large trees.  Higher up in the rain forest it is steeper and muddier, and is crossed by many tree roots which are difficult to climb over when they are wet.  Eventually the path leaves the forest and soon afterwards it reaches a clearing containing the Mandara Huts where the first night is spent.
The initial ascent is warm and sunny but after an hour it could became dull and misty.  After a picnic lunch (consisting of sandwiches, boiled egg and a fruit) at the Huts, optional visit to Maundi Crater, about 1.5 km from the huts.  There are several unusual flowers near this crater and on the path.  There are also a few monkeys and birds. 

Meals and overnight at Mandara Hut (2700m or 9000ft)

This camp, at an altitude of 2700 m above sea-level, has one large A-frame, which is partly used as a communal dinning-room and several smaller ones with four raised platforms with mattresses. It is recommended that one should carry a mat to put on top as the mattresses could be damp due to high humidity.   There is a cold water wash-basin and two flush toilets for the latter a torch is helpful even in daylight. Dinner is served at about 17.30 Hrs because darkness falls early and the huts are not lighted by electricity except for some solar panel lighting which is low.  Dinner consists of soup, meat or fish with vegetables, a fruit and tea/coffee.

Clothing + Other Information:
Sports shoes, short trousers with track trousers in a day pack, T-shirt and if cloudy a sweater and /or jacket. Also required is a sun-protection cream and drinking water.

DAY 03: MANDARA HUT TO HOROMBO HUT  (2,700 M TO 3,820 M)
Walking about 14 km in 4.5 hours, and ascending 1020 m.

Woken up between  06.30 and 07.00 Hrs for breakfast, which consists of Tea/Coffee, eggs, Sausage, toast and a fruit (pineapple).  After breakfast leave the short forest stretch, cross a meadow and a wooded stream, emerging into grassland, then continue across the numerous moorland ravines before ending at Horombo Hut. The climb from Mandara to Horombo takes 5 to 7 hours.  Lunch, a picnic, consists of boiled egg, sandwich plus a fruit. 

As on Day one, there is a choice of routes. This time the main path starts by rising steeply through the rain forest and is again muddy with many tree roots to be negotiated.  After about 2 km it levels out into a region of heathland with grasses, some shrubs and trees and a few flowers while higher up there are heathers and giant groundsels called senecios. At this stage the path is not clearly defined and it is easy to get off the main track.

The weather could be sunny in the morning, turning dull and misty hence little visibility along the route.  There is a 200 m high volcanic cone called Kifinika en route.  After crossing some ridges and ravines you come to Horombo Huts where you spend the night.

Dinner and overnight at Horombo Hut (3720m or 12,000ft)

These huts, built by a stream on a hillside 3720m above sea-level, are similar to those at Mandara.  Again there is one large hut and several smaller ones, but a lot more than in the lower camp since the descending climbers also sleep here.  The area is rather exposed and there is little to see or do.    The only place to wash is in the stream.  There are two flush toilets on which you have to squat, and also two earth toilets 100m away down the slope.  Good views of the tops of Kibo and Mawenzi can be obtained from this part of the site.  The valley of the stream contains small groups of senecios and clusters of everlasting flowers.  On arrival at the Hut, you will be served with tea/coffee.  Like Mandara, dinner, consisting of meat and spaghetti plus vegetables, is as served around 17.30/18/00 Hrs.

Clothing + Other Information:
Sports shoes, short trousers (only if sunny)/track trousers, T-shirt and if cloudy an extra warm sweater and /or jacket.  Also required is a sun-protection cream and drinking water.

Temperatures:
 These could be around 12 to 14 degrees Celsius and could get as low as 5 degrees Celsius in the night

DAY 04:  HOROMBO HUT TO KIBO HUT (3,820 M TO 4,850 M)
Walking about 13 km in about 5 hours and ascending 1030 m.

Standard breakfast (like the previous day's) is served at around 07.00 Hrs.  After breakfast trek past the last water point to the saddle, a dry desert like area separating the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. Continue to Kibo Hut (4700m or 15,000ft), your nightstop. The climb from Horombo to Kibo Hut takes 5 to 6 hours.
It could be misty at the start of the Climb and cloudy for the rest of the way.

The route goes straight up a ridge towards Mawenzi but there is no water available on it.  The main path keeps further west and reaches the saddle much nearer to Kibo.  It crosses two or three streams, the final one of which is clearly labeled as the last water.  Some climbers, guides and porters stop there to fill their water bottles.  The first part of the path is dry and dusty with the occasional stony stretch.  On each side there are everlasting flowers, heather and some groups of senecios but the only bird commonly seen is the Alpine Chat.  The second part of the path is flatter but stonier, by the time it reaches the saddle there are very few plants though occasionally a White-necked Raven flies over. The main route it passes between two red hills which have an interesting geology.  At this point the Kibo Hut is visible and seems to be fairly close in the clear air but there is still about 2.5km to walk and 300m to climb.

Dinner and overnight at Kibo Hut (4700m / 15,000ft)

The Kibo Hut, at 4750m above sea-level, consists of 4 dormitories with beds each containing a table and bunks for twelve people plus another one for only 10 people.  There is another (older) building used by the guides and porters and two earth toilets a short distance away.  The huts are built of stone, unlike Mandara and Horombo which are wooden.  The insides of the Huts is humid but cold.  In both this and previous camp the warden radio link with headquarters is powered by a group of solar cells on a pole.  The Sun is more likely to be shinning here and it can be pleasantly warm during the day but because of the altitude precautions against sunburn  are essential.  The cloud could clear by the middle of the afternoon and one could catch some good views of the saddle and Mawenzi.  Dinner is served at about 17.00 hrs and as due to the weather and exhaustion, this would mainly consist of soup and rice.    On arrival at the Hut, it is recommended that one stay in the huts (in the sleeping bag) as coffee/tea is served as it is very windy outside. 

Clothing + Other Information:
Long trousers with a warm sweater or windy breaker jacket during the trek and high mountain clothes at night.

Temperatures:
 This is around 9 degrees Celsius and could get as low as 0 degrees Celsius in the night

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MOUNT MERU

Mount Meru only 40 kilometers away from it's more famous neighbor is Tanzania's second highest mountain and at 4566m(14979ft) can provide spectacular view of Mt Kilimanjaro and the surrounding countryside. It is a classic volcanic cone with a dramatic horseshoe crater or caldera. The trek to the summit takes three days with two nights on the mountain either in tents or mountain huts.

A trek up Mount Meru is an ideal way to acclimatize for the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, although not to be considered lightly and should not be rushed, or the effects of altitude may be a problem.
Mount Meru is situated in Arusha National Park.

GENERAL InfoRMATION FOR TREKS ON MOUNT KILIMANJARO AND MOUNT MERU

Seasons and Weather Conditions

The best time to visit Tanzania is during the dry season, especially just after the rains have finished and the vegetation is lush and green. East Africa has two rainy seasons, the long rains which normally start at the end of March and last until June, and the short rains which normally occur in October and November. The rainy seasons are the months when rain can be expected as opposed to the dry seasons where it will be unlikely, but it does not mean that it rains all the time. Naturally conditions on the mountains can become very slippery in the rains and snow can become a problem on some of the routes to the summit. Dry season months of June to September and December to February can usually be counted as the best months for trekking.

Temperatures

Being only three degrees south of the Equator, it is the altitude which affects the temperature as the trek progresses. Day-time temperatures on the lower parts of the mountain are often pleasantly warm, even hot, although a brief rain shower in the afternoon is always possible. As soon as the sun goes down the air temperature becomes cold and as the trek progresses, on the higher parts of the mountain the temperatures often drop to below freezing. Warm clothes and a warm sleeping bag are essential.

Altitude

Although many thousands of trekkers successfully reach Gillman's Point or Uhuru Peak every year without any real difficulty, many others do not make it to the top because they suffer from altitude sickness, which is caused by a combination of the decrease in atmospheric pressure and the decreased oxygen content of the air. To avoid this it is very important to acclimatize by ascending slowly and steadily, even if you are fit, you should not try to rush up Mount Kilimanjaro.

Maps and Guidebooks

The Ordnance Survey World maps Series map of Kilimanjaro ( 1:100,000) and the Kilimanjaro Map (1:50,000) published by Mark Savage ( published by West Col) are both recommended. For comprehensive background Information and specific route details, "Trekking in East Africa" (Published by Lonely Planet) is recommended. The "Guide to Mount pages/kenya.html and Kilimanjaro" (Published by the Mountain Club of pages/kenya.html) is mainly for technical mountaineer, but also has Information on glaciations, geology, wildlife etc.

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