Ultimate Kilimanjaro Climbing Guide: Expert Tips for a Successful Summit Adventure
After summiting the highest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, I wanted to compile the most practical guide for everyone and offer some route adjustment suggestions based on my own climbing experience. I’ve put a lot of thought into this.
I took the Lemosho Route, originally planned for 7 days, but on summit day, I decided to shorten it to 6 days. The reasons were: I wasn’t eating or sleeping well, I was afraid of the cold at night, I didn’t bring enough warm clothes for the midnight summit push, and my hiking ability allowed me to complete the trek in 5 or 6 days. So, when considering my route adjustments, please assess based on your own situation.
The Lemosho Route covers a total distance of 74.1 km, with an elevation gain of 4,793 m and a descent of 5,359 m. Summit day was the toughest, but the rest of the time was manageable. For those with hiking experience or good physical fitness, the difficulty isn’t too high. The most important thing is to find your own pace and be prepared for not eating or sleeping well every day.
Bring plenty of warm clothes—it gets quite cold while camping (those who say it’s not cold probably didn’t account for very cold-sensitive women like us on the climb).
Route adjustment suggestions are in Figures 5-8. During my climb, I noticed that most people (mostly white hikers, with fewer Asians) generally didn’t walk very fast. Surprisingly, I was the fastest hiker on the Lemosho and Whiskey routes during those days—no one overtook me, and I kept passing others. So, when looking at the timings in my later route maps, add 30 minutes to 1.5 hours based on your own pace. My hiking speed in Beijing is average, so judge accordingly.
The scenery is absolutely worth it! Especially on… well, I won’t spoil which days—I’ll leave that as a surprise for you.
Tanzanians are very friendly, but the food they prepare on the mountain really isn’t suitable for Chinese hikers. Finally, I highly recommend Flame Tree, a more authentic Chinese restaurant in Arusha, located across the street from the Gold Crest Hotel. After eating mountain food, you’ll definitely crave a proper Chinese meal—you’re welcome!
That’s really helpful advice about adjusting the itinerary based on how you’re feeling—especially the part about shortening the trip when you weren’t sleeping well. I’m curious, did you notice a big difference in your overall experience between the planned seven days and the actual six?
Absolutely! Shortening the trip by a day made a noticeable difference—I felt more focused and energized since I wasn’t dragging my feet. It also helped me avoid potential altitude issues from lingering too long at high elevations. Thanks for asking; it’s always rewarding to hear others find the advice useful!