Experience the Journey: Best Tips for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at Your Own Pace

[CanopyR] Rambling: I’ve always believed that the greatest sorrow of being a pilot is—flying around the world but never truly stepping into it. That’s why, compared to superficial sightseeing, I prefer immersive travel experiences. I cherish every climb because it teaches me to embrace and even enjoy the pain.

[0] Travel Plan: Instead of booking through a domestic agency, I contacted six local Tanzanian agents and ultimately chose GOSHENI for a 5-day climb + 4-day safari. It turned out to be an excellent choice—the agency was highly professional and provided an outstanding experience.

[1] Arrival: Landed at Kilimanjaro Airport at 7 AM, took a taxi to Arusha ($50), arriving in under two hours. Stayed at the Four Points hotel and spent the day exploring Arusha on foot. There’s a fantastic Chinese restaurant nearby called Frame Tree—authentic and delicious. Also, USD is widely accepted, so no need to exchange too much local currency.

[2] Route Choice: Since I had a safari planned afterward, I opted for the shortest route—the “Coca-Cola” trail—lasting five days. The downside is less time for altitude acclimatization, making it slightly less enjoyable than the “Whiskey” route.

[3] Accommodation: The Coca-Cola route offers huts throughout, but you need your own sleeping bag. I brought one rated for 0°C, which was perfectly sufficient. Toilets along the route were clean, but showers weren’t available. Campsites had almost no signal or Wi-Fi, though charging was possible. Meals were included, and I found the local food quite tasty—no complaints here!

[4] Difficulty: The summit push starts from a camp at 4,700m, departing around midnight. It took about 7 hours to reach the top and roughly 3.5 hours to descend. The ascent was grueling—even as someone who never suffers from altitude sickness, I felt nauseous for the first time. The physical toll was far greater than my previous climb up Siguniang Mountain’s Third Peak.

[5] Other Notes:
1. Each climber must hire at least five porters—likely a local employment regulation.
2. Tanzania isn’t a yellow fever zone, so no vaccine or yellow fever certificate is required!
3. A visa on arrival is faster than an e-visa.