Climbing Kilimanjaro with Soul Adventures
An Unfiltered, Honest, and Occasionally Brutal Guide to Africa’s Highest Mountain
Introduction: So You Want to Climb Kilimanjaro?
Welcome to the adventure of a lifetime. Whether you’ve dreamed of standing on the Roof of Africa for years or were peer-pressured into it during a late-night braai, we’re here to help you get there safely, successfully, and with both lungs still working.
At 5,895 metres, Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the tallest in Africa. But unlike many mountains of similar altitude, Kilimanjaro is non-technical meaning you don’t need ropes, crampons, or mountaineering experience to reach the summit.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s not. But with the right route, the right preparation, and the right team behind you, it’s entirely possible for ordinary people to do something extraordinary.
Kilimanjaro Routes: Which One Is Right for You?
There are seven main routes to climb Kilimanjaro. Each has pros and cons depending on your fitness, time, budget, and tolerance for crowds or solitude.
| Route | Min. Days | Difficulty | Scenery | Crowds | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marangu | 5–6 | Medium | Moderate | Very High | 65–70% |
| Machame | 6–7 | High | Stunning | High | 85–90% |
| Lemosho | 7–8 | High | Exceptional | Low–Medium | 90–95% |
| Shira | 6–7 | High | Good | Low | 70–80% |
| Rongai | 6–7 | Medium | Remote & Dry | Low | 80–85% |
| Umbwe | 5–6 | Very High | Dramatic | Very Low | 60–65% |
| Western Breach | 8–10 | Very High | Wild & Challenging | Very Low | Variable (Low) |
Recommended Routes
- Best All-Round Option:
Machame Route (7 Days) – Excellent acclimatization, great views, strong success rate. Our most popular. - Best for Acclimatization & Fewer Crowds:
Lemosho Route (8 Days) – Longer approach, quieter trails, and highest success rate. Our top pick for first-timers with time. - Most Unique & Remote:
Rongai Route (7 Days) – Drier, starts from the north, fewer climbers, good for rainy seasons. - Avoid Unless You Know What You’re Doing:
Umbwe or Western Breach – Steep, exposed, and punishing. Not for beginners or anyone who enjoys breathing.
Route Cost Per Person (USD)
All our Kilimanjaro packages are fully inclusive, covering:
- Airport transfers (to/from Kilimanjaro International)
- 2 nights in Moshi (pre- and post-climb, 3-star hotel)
- All park fees and permits
- Professional guides, porters, cooks
- All meals on the mountain
- Private toilet tents
- Group gear (tents, mess tent, tables, chairs, etc.)
- Daily health monitoring
- Emergency oxygen
- Soul Adventures prep support before departure
- Discounts on Drakensberg training hikes
| Route | Days | Cost (Per Person) |
|---|---|---|
| Machame | 7 | $2,950 |
| Lemosho | 8 | $3,250 |
| Rongai | 7 | $3,200 |
| Marangu | 6 | $2,800 |
| Umbwe | 6 | $2,900 (Not recommended for first-timers) |
| Western Breach | 9 | $3,700 (Only for experienced trekkers) |
Note: Solo or smaller private groups may incur an additional supplement. We require a minimum of 6 clients for one of our Soul Adventures South African guides to accompany the trip.
What’s Included?
- Return airport transfers
- All national park fees and camping fees
- Two nights’ hotel accommodation in Moshi
- Qualified English-speaking local guides
- South African guide (min. 6 clients required)
- Mountain porters and chef
- Three meals per day while trekking
- Water, tea, coffee
- High-quality tents and sleeping mats
- Portable toilet tent
- Medical kit and emergency oxygen
- Daily health monitoring (pulse oximeter checks)
- Pre-departure briefing and training support
- Equipment and clothing discounts when purchased from Drifters
Not Included
- Flights to/from Tanzania
- Tips for porters and guides (more below)
- Personal trekking gear (rental available)
- Travel insurance (must cover trekking to 6,000m)
Tipping Guidelines
Tipping is standard practice in Tanzania and forms a significant part of the income for guides and porters.
Recommended Per Trekker:
| Role | Recommended Tip (USD) |
|---|---|
| Head Guide | $100–$150 |
| Assistant Guide | $50–$100 |
| Cook | $50–$80 |
| Porter (x4–5) | $10–$20 each |
Expect to budget $250–$300 total per trekker for tips. You’ll receive a clear breakdown and tipping ceremony instructions on your final night.
Food on the Mountain
This isn’t five-star dining, but we pride ourselves on keeping you fed, fueled, and functioning at altitude.
You’ll get:
- Hot breakfasts: porridge, toast, eggs, fruit
- Packed or hot lunches: sandwiches, soups, pasta
- Hearty dinners: rice, stews, vegetables, and carbs galore
- Tea, coffee, and clean drinking water
- Fresh fruit when possible
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and halal diets, just let us know in advance.
Toilets on the Mountain
Yes, we said it. Let’s talk about toilets.
We provide private portable toilet tents with chemical toilets for our clients. They’re cleaned regularly by our porter team, and far more pleasant than the public “long drops” you’ll find in the camps.
Porters & The Climber Load Limit
Porters carry all group gear and up to 12kg of your personal gear (duffel bag). You only hike with your daypack.
We partner with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) to ensure fair wages, ethical treatment, proper equipment, and reasonable loads.
You’ll never see our crew climbing in sandals or hauling 30kg loads. That’s not how we roll.
Safety Protocols & Emergency Response
Safety is our number one priority. We don’t mess around with it.
- Daily health checks: Pulse oximeter readings, symptom checks, guide assessments
- Oxygen: Carried on every trip
- Wilderness First Aid trained guides
- Evacuation protocols: If needed, we arrange rapid descent or stretcher evacuation to the park gate, followed by transport to the nearest hospital in Moshi
- 24/7 satellite phone communication on the mountain
- Pre-trip medical screening available for all clients
How Altitude Works (And What Can Go Wrong)
At sea level, oxygen saturation is around 98–99%. By the time you reach Kilimanjaro’s summit, the oxygen level in the air is roughly 50% of that. Your body starts to adapt, but it can only do so gradually.
Common symptoms of altitude sickness include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbances
- Appetite loss
Serious complications:
- HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) – fluid in the lungs
- HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) – swelling in the brain
Both require immediate descent and medical intervention. This is why we monitor you closely and descend at the first sign of trouble.
What Happens if Something Goes Wrong?
First, we don’t panic. Your guide is trained to recognise issues before they become serious.
Standard response:
- Immediate assessment
- Administer oxygen if needed
- Start controlled descent
- Evacuate to nearest medical centre in Moshi
- Contact emergency contacts if necessary
In over 15 years of guiding Kilimanjaro, we’ve dealt with everything from sprained ankles to suspected AMS cases. Our safety record is excellent, and we intend to keep it that way.
Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro: Seasons Explained
You can climb Kilimanjaro year-round, but some months are better than others.
Dry Seasons (Best Time to Climb)
- January to early March: Warm, clear skies, fewer people than mid-year
- Late June to October: Dry, cooler, busiest season
Rainy Seasons (Less Ideal)
- April to May: Long rains, slippery trails, low visibility
- Mid-November to early December: Short rains
That said, the Rongai Route (from the northern side) is a good option during the rainy season due to its drier climate.
ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THE KILIMANJARO CLIMB?
No.
If you have slight chance,we are going to have to answer you from the perspective of a recently found angle discovered in Antarctica. And it’s not an oblique angle of 23 degrees either. The chances have been plotted at 89.3% if you are prepared both mentally and physically. If that doesn’t work, try multiplying the probability of a specific event like making the summit of Kilimanjaro by one another event like climbing Everest in blue underpants.
There is a box on the top of Kilimanjaro that contains 4 blue vomits, 5 red vomits and 11 white vomits. If three vomits are drawn from the box at random, what is the probability that the first vomit is red, the second vomit is blue, and the third is white? The answer can be found in the box on top of Kilimanjaro under the 3rd stone from the left as you approach from the East.
“The frosted tent fabric sparkles in the light of a torch beam where Brett sits hunched besides me in the cramped tent as we attempt to climb Kilimanjaro. He spoons a mouthful of noodles from his old army mug. I slurp my own tepid spoonful,which tastes a bit like chicken. Or is it mushrooms, or maybe beef? What does it matter? It is purely functional,fuel for the climb, a last attempt to stoke the furnace for the long journey ahead.We have moved beyond the world of sensual pleasure. On Kilimanjaro,there is no finesse: all that matters is survival. And yet, we still feel a great surge of excitement and pleasurable anticipation. We have been consumed by this wild,crazy,beautiful odyssey.”
Climbing Kilimanjaro?
Well apparently a Greek dude by the name of Diogenes saw them in the first century A.D. The exact time cannot be documented as his Rolex wasn’t working and no-one had a notebook to document it. We found this out from the aliens who arrived from Jupiter on the same day and sent us a text message. In 1848, Johannes Rebmann, a German dude,spotted them yet again; his report was dismissed as crazy until his craziness was confirmed. ‘There are glaciers on the equator??’, and curiously enough, nowhere else on the continent of Africa.The highest of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers spills through a breach in the cratered dome of Kibo, which is Mount Kilimanjaro’s major peak,where it glistens under the equatorial sun. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, consists of three volcanic summits (Kibo,Shira and Mawenzi) spread along a broad plateau and splendidly visible in every direction from a distance of more than 150km. Kibo’s majestic summit dominates the horizon. The summit is known as Uhuru peak ( 5895m) which is situated on Kibo.
