Kilimanjaro, the mythical roof of the African continent, is an isolated massif on the Great Rift. Located some 300 km from the equator, entirely in Tanzanian territory, 60 km long from east to west and 40 km wide from north to south, it towers 5,000 m above the surrounding plains: Maasai steppe, farmland and national parks. It can be climbed on seven different routes, all of which are described in detail in this guide. This immense volcano, with its distinctive shape, has three distinct peaks.Shira (3,962 m), to the west, is characterized by its gentle slopes and surrounding plateaus.Mawenzi (5,149 m), to the east, is a series of narrow, fairly jagged needles, whose access is made difficult by the verticality and nature of the rock. Between the strata of solid lava are layers of friable ash. As a result, erosion is severe and the volcanic rock is poorly maintained. The history of the eastern summit has been marked by numerous accidents, many of them fatal. The most serious, however, had nothing to do with mountaineering. In 1953, following a navigation error coupled with thick clouds, a DC8 crashed on the east face, killing all 50 occupants. A few pieces of aircraft debris still litter the mountain, just below 5,000 m. Only a few experienced Western mountaineers climb Mawenzi each year.Kibo (5,895 m). The summit! A wide plateau reveals several concentric circles, the result of ancient eruptions. At its center is a deep crater (the Reusch crater), which is semi-active: white fumaroles, or at least the smell of sulphur, frequently emanate from it. Snow is less prevalent. The Kilimanjaro volcano is not extinct, as is often claimed, but merely dormant. The last major eruption was 100,000 years ago.Glaciers. To the north and especially south of Kibo rise the famous glaciers. The snows of Kilimanjaro, which so astonished the first explorers in the second half of the 19th century, and whose existence other Westerners of the time were reluctant to admit, so incredible did the presence of eternal snows seem at the equator. Here, you can see immense terraces of cascading ice, with gigantic pillars. Unfortunately, this is one of the places in the world where global warming is having the greatest impact. In the space of a century, the Kili is said to have lost 80% of its ice reserves!The Saddle. Finally, between Kibo and Mawenzi lies the Saddle, a vast arid plateau of stone and ash, stretching to an altitude of around 4,400 m.Population. The first slopes of Kilimanjaro are inhabited by a mountain people, the Chaggas, who once worshipped it as their god. Belonging to the Bantu people, these sedentary farmers, who for many years fought hard against the Maasai invaders, now live amid large banana and coffee plantations, settled on the fertile lands of the former large farms, cleared and cultivated in the days of the first German and then English settlers. Ask your guides to show you around the few villages where these dwellings remain, away from the roads.Culture. The traditional drink of the Chaggas is mbege, a beer made from fermented banana and millet that takes ten days to prepare. Guides traditionally offer it on their return from the summit. In the forests beneath the National Park, starting from the villages, you can undertake some interesting guided walks: gigantic specimens of tropical trees, flowers, fruit, birds and waterfalls abound. You can also discover some of the historic sites of the Maasai-Chagga wars, including large caves, and visit traditional blacksmiths who still make Maasai spears and swords.

What to visit Kilimandjaro?

When to go to Kilimandjaro?

When to go to Kilimanjaro? The best time to go to Kilimanjaro is from July to October or in January-February, between the rainy seasons. The short rainy season occurs between November and December, and the longest and heaviest between March and May when it can rain heavily for several days in a row. However, to witness the great wildebeest, zebra and antelope migration in the Serengeti Park, you will have to brave the rain, as it takes place between January and March in one direction and between October and December in the other direction. Allow 6-10 days to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro and return, usually via the southern slope, which is the easiest. The trails on the northern slope are for the more experienced climbers. There are 7 entry points around the mountain that give access to the different climbing routes with base camps and more or less basic refuges that participate in the adventure.

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Weather all year round

Kilimanjaro has a tropical savanna climate. It is characterized by a dry season from mid-May to mid-October with temperate temperatures, followed by a short rainy season until the end of November, then a new dry and hot season from the beginning of December to the end of February and finally the long rainy season from the beginning of March to mid-May. At the foot of Kilimanjaro, the average annual temperature is 23.5°C, it can drop to 5°C at an altitude of 4,000 m and to -7°C at the summit of Kibo.

Budget

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling (Tsh), but hotels and restaurants rarely refuse dollars and euros. Concerning the tip, everyone goes on an excursion as well as a safari in Kilimanjaro. In restaurants, tips are appreciated but not mandatory.

Procedures

It is necessary to have a tourist visa to enter Tanzania and stay in Kilimanjaro. Visas can be requested at the Tanzanian Embassy or on arrival at the airports of Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza and Zanzibar, as well as at the ports of Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Kigoma. For visas taken on Tanzanian soil, the price is US$50 (or €50). The ordinary visa is issued for a period of three months, renewable once for two additional months, without leaving the country.

Health

Tanzania is a malaria-prone country. For Kilimanjaro, a treatment is to be taken and it is important to protect yourself from mosquitoes, especially on safaris. As in many African countries, drink only bottled or boiled water, as running water is not drinkable in Tanzania. The yellow fever vaccination certificate is increasingly required upon entry into the country.

How to go to Kilimandjaro? Our advice & tips

Tour operators offer many customized tours for Tanzania according to your desires and budget. You can choose to focus on a relaxing stay, a getaway to Zanzibar, a safari in the heart of Tarangire National Park, climbing Kilimanjaro or combining all this, if time and resources allow.

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To obtain attractive rates, it is essential to do so in advance. Consider buying your flight tickets six months before departure or, if you have more time than money, travel through the Middle East, there are cheaper tickets with stopovers in the Middle East all year round. On site, you will need to use a local guide to climb to the top of Kilimanjaro.

Rather expensive, single-engine domestic flights remain practical and reliable when you want to reach several sites without wasting time on the road, particularly the southern parks or the regions of the three large lakes. Be careful, they are not programmed every day. In the North or to reach the coast, buses are the easiest solution with safe roads. For Zanzibar, we recommend taking one of the many ferries that leave from central Dar es Salaam every day.

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Pictures and images Kilimandjaro

Arrivée au sommet du mont Kilimandjaro. ranplett
En route vers le toit de l'Afrique. Paulin GANGA
Éléphant dans la région du Kilimandjaro. graemes - iStockphoto.com
Kilimandjaro. Volodymyr Burdiak / Shutterstock.com

Discover Kilimandjaro

When to travel?

When to go to Kilimanjaro? The best time to go to Kilimanjaro is from July to October or in January-February, between...
Read more about it

Weather forecast

Kilimanjaro has a tropical savanna climate. It is characterized by a dry season from mid-May to mid-October with temp...
Read more about it

Budget

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The local currency is the Tanzanian shilling (Tsh), but hotels...
Read more about it

Formalities

It is necessary to have a tourist visa to enter Tanzania and stay in Kilimanjaro. Visas can be requested at the Tanza...
Read more about it

Health

Tanzania is a malaria-prone country. For Kilimanjaro, a treatment is to be taken and it is important to protect yours...
Read more about it

How to travel by yourself?

To obtain attractive rates, it is essential to do so in advance. Consider buying your flight tickets six months befor...
Read more about it

How to get organized?

Tour operators offer many customized tours for Tanzania according to your desires and budget. You can choose to focus...
Read more about it

Getting around

Rather expensive, single-engine domestic flights remain practical and reliable when you want to reach several sites w...
Read more about it

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