Standing at 5,895 metres tall, Kilimanjaro towers over the plains of Kenya and Tanzania.
Those who reach Uhuru Peak can see with their own eyes the dawn rising over Africa and glaciers only a few degrees south of the equator.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
From lush rainforest at the foot to Kibo’s snowy peak, climbing Kilimanjaro is the challenge of a lifetime, it is open to most people of reasonable fitness and to give guests the most enjoyment of the climb, guides are knowledgeable with the botany and history of the mountain, and are invaluable companions for the final bid on the summit. To reach the peak, we favour two of the mountain’s more remote routes - the scenic Machame Route, and the quiet Lemosho Route, approaching the mountain from the west.
Climbing routes
Lemosho Route
One of the least used paths on Kilimanjaro, the Lemosho Route approaches Kilimanjaro from the west and is ideal for those who wish to acclimatize slowly. Stretching over eight days or longer, we have found that this route has the highest success rate of climbers reaching Uhuru Peak. Trekking across the Shira Plateau offers spectacular views, and the steady ascent gives the best chance of seeing the most stunning view of all - sunrise from the summit.
Machame Route
The Machame Route is a six-day trek, taking climbers to the peak from the southwest. It is thought by many to be the most beautiful of all the routes on Kilimanjaro, rising from tropical forest at the Machame gate through heather, moorland and alpine desert to the icy peak. This is a great route for people who have less time to climb the mountain, and its wild and varied scenery make it a rewarding climb.
Grand Traverse route
This trek takes in some of the less trodden routes of the mountain over eight days. Starting on the Shira Plateau, you will hike around the north side of Kilimanjaro, and then trek through valleys and the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo peaks before you attempt the summit. This extended duration trek offers superb chances for acclimatization and the chance to enjoy the mountain without the crowds.
Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa and unjustly in the shadow of it's taller neighbour Kilimanjaro, which lies approximately 320km away in the south and is visible on a clear day.
The scenery surrounding this designated World Heritage Site is breath-taking. It is pristine wilderness with lakes, tarns, glaciers, dense forest, mineral springs and a selection of rare and endangered species of animals, high altitude adapted plains game and unique montane and alpine vegetation. Visitors can enjoy mountain climbing, camping and caving with the mountain’s rugged glacier-clad peaks providing the perfect backdrop.
Climbing routes
There are 5 main routes to the peak.
Sirimon:
Sirimon route, is the most popular ascent as the altitude gain is nice and steady and it offers one of the most beautiful approaches to the peaks. Allow a minimum of 2 nights to peak when ascending, although we recommend spending an extra night at the last camp (Shipton’s) on the way up.
Burguret:
If you want to avoid the crowds then Burguret is the best route. You’ll be hacking through pristine rainforest on this little used route, overnighting at wilderness campsites. Going up this route is challenging, it is little more than a game track in places, often muddy and rough under foot. Burguret is usually combined with a Chogoria or Sirimon descent. Allow a minimum of 3 nights before peak when ascending
Naro Moru:
Naro-Moru is the most popular descent route, fast and easy (at least on the way down!). Naro Moru passes through the notorious vertical bog section which gets very waterlogged in the rainy seasons. The vegetation is at it’s most striking on this route. It can be descended in one very long day, usually done in two days and one night.
Chogoria:
If you have more time then choose dramatic Chogoria over Naro Moru for the descent. The Chogoria route passes by tarns, waterfalls and an incredible gorge. Allow two or three days for your descent.
Timau:
Timau is little used nowadays, there is little forest on this side of the mountain and no facilities, just lots of wide open country.
The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about 2,500km (1,500 miles) through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. The mountains are divided into additional and separate ranges, including the High Atlas, Middle Atlas and Anti-Atlas.
Climbing routes are by Region or by Length!!
Western High Atlas : In the west lies the oldest portion of the range. Several peaks in this area exceed 4000 m, Its high point is the Jebel Toubkal at 4167 m, which is visible from the city of Marrakech. Jbel Toubkal lies in the Toubkal national parksCentral High Atlas : A solid chalk mass morphologically dominated by tabular zones reaching an altitude of 2,500m extends from Azilal to Ouarzazate. Here, the contrasting landscapes remind visitors of the Colorado, with its high plateaux, its gorges and box canyons, and its peaks sometimes splintered by erosion. Jbel Mgoun at 4068 m being the highest peak in this part of the High Atlas.The Anti-Atlas : Extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the southwest of Morocco toward the northeast to the heights of Ouarzazate and further east to the city of Tafilalt (altogether a distance of approximately 500kilometres/310 miles). In the south it borders the Sahara. The easternmost point of the anti-Atlas is the Djebel Sarhro mountains and its eastern boundary is set by sections of the High Atlas range. Jbel Siroua is set as a bridge between the High atlas and the Anti-Atlas.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park was gazetted [made into a national park] in 1991 and is recognized as both a World Heritage site and a Ramsar site. The park is 996km2 and the mountain range’s highest point is Margherita Peak – 5,109m above sea level – on Mt Stanley, a mountain that is bisected by the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Rwenzoris were christened the “Mountains of the Moon” by the Alexandrine geographer Ptolemy in AD 150.
The equatorial snow peaks include the third highest point in Africa, while the lower slopes are blanketed in moorland, bamboo and rich, moist montane forest. Huge tree-heathers and colorful mosses are draped across the mountainside with giant lobelias and “everlasting flowers”, creating an enchanting, fairytale scene.
Climbing Routes
The Rwenzoris are considered a much more demanding climb than Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya with many of the trails being wet, muddy, and slippery.
Sine Hut
At 2,596 metres, Sine Hut is situated on top of a long ridge amongst pine and other trees. Steep slopes on either side of the ridge lead down into deep valleys and amply flowing rivers. Sine Hut has a terrace and four sets of bunk beds, the area has a valley river and a small waterfall of icy water.
Mutima Cave
Is at an altitude of 3688 metres, rather cold and rocky especially during the rainy season. Negotiating through the boggy ground requires you to watch every step to ensure the ground really is solid, or at least only a shallow bit of mud, as you zig zag upwards as a cross. A long walking pole proved to be well worthwhile. Along the way you will see wonderful views of the Rwenzori Mountains – range after range of them.
Around the corner
Around the corner, may not quite be the usual corner but rather longer indeed and in a valley. Here you can see the wonderful views of Mount Baker with its snow and glacier blinking in the late afternoon sun.
Remember: you don’t have to climb – or summit – Margherita Peak– 5,109m above sea level, Rwenzori Trekking Services offer a range of shorter hiking options, all with the same dramatic backdrops.