Karibu!
Tabasamu Kili Adventures
Let us help you summit Kilimanjaro and see amazing African wildlife!
Kilimanjaro is a global household name. Many people and institutions have been associated with it in their own way over the years, and for more than 100 years, thousands have attempted to scale this majestic mountain. Some travel to the extent of conquering its Uhuru peak, which, at 5895m (19,340 feet), above sea level, makes it, literally, the rooftop of the African continent.
The massive Kilimanjaro is roughly 40km to 60km in diameter and it rises almost 5000m above the surrounding area. Kilimanjaro is even more distinctive because it is not part of a chain of mountains.
It is the highest mountain in Africa and is one of the highest walkable summits in the world. In 1989, Kilimanjaro was declared to be a world heritage site by UNESCO. Many wonder how Kilimanjaro got its name - some believe it is related to long ago eruptions and the snow led some ancestors of the Wachagga tribe into calling it "kilema cha Ruwa" that means the Mountain of God. This has to be rounded off by thenon-bantu language speaking white man. In some German Chronicles, for instance, it is referred to as "kilimandscharo" and its people of Djaga.
Seven routes, glaciers, fauna and flora are main attractions on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mt. Meru is about 4566m above sea level but suffers from an image problem. It is the second highest peak in Tanzania, with a graceful profile that's clearly visible to anyone who visits Arusha. Meru has formed by volcanic action associated with the creation of the Rift valley. It is almost a perfect cone with an internal crater, or caldera, surrounded by a steep wall of cliffs. At about 2500m the wall has broken away so the top half of the mountain is shaped like a giant horseshoe with the opening in the east side of the cone and the highest point directly opposite. The sheer cliffs of the inner wall below the summit are more than 1500m high which makes them among the tallest in Africa. Inside the crater, more recently volcanic eruptions have created a subsidiary peak called ash cone. Also, small eruptions have been reported in the last 100 years. This indicates that Mt. Meru is not quite extinct. Buffalos, giraffes and different species of bird are ubiquitous during of your ascend and descend. Some travelers choose to climb Mt. Meru as a training hike for their eventual summit of Kilimanjaro.
Travel with us to blend together the scenery in Africa.
Choose Your Route to the Summit!
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Machame1This route is highly recommended for its scenic value and provides opportunities to allow your body to adjust to the altitude gradually, and acclimatize. There are opportunities for you to ‘climb high’ and ‘sleep low’, which help your body adjust to the altitude (more about this in the Altitude Sickness chapter). This route accounts for a high percentage of successful summit attempts, particularly if you take the 7 day option. It is a challenging trek with stunning scenery covering 5 diverse climatic zones. The Machame Route provides a good opportunity to split up a pre-summit day climb, leaving climbers rested before the final push for the summit. Machame is a very popular route among of seven choices. Trips are fully catered and camping only (no huts), and takes 6 - 7 days for climbing. It is sometimes called the "whiskey route" because it is a more difficult hike than Marangu, the “Coca-Cola” route. Machame is steeper than the Marangu and Rongai routes and physically more demanding and for that reason better suited for determined and more fit climbers. -
Marangu2By nick name called " Coca-Cola route" due to the fact that in early hiking days, Coke used to be available for purchase along the way in tea huts. Although Marangu is often thought to be an easy route, because of huts along the way and the short schedule, it in fact, has one of the lowest success rates of all seven routes. Don’t be fooled by thinking of this as the "easiest" route! It is the shortest and cheapest route but provides less time to acclimatize, probably leading to its low rate of success. -
Lemosho3The Lemosho Route boasts one of the higher summit success rates. This is in part due to more opportunities for acclimatization - especially with a longer itinerary. You will see remote and spectacular dramatic gorges and views of West Kilimanjaro as you trek up the mountain. The trail coverages with Machame on day 4 at the Baranco campsite. The Lemosho Route approaches Kilimanjaro from the west, rather than via the Shira Plateau like (Machame)
