Mt. Kilimanjaro Routes
Learn everything you need to know about all the different routes up Kili.
Crater Camp 18,800 ft., not just another campsite
One of the perks of climbing the Western Breach was the chance to explore the top of the mountain and camp just an hour or so below the true summit, Uhuru, at Crater Camp (18,800 ft.).
The summit plateau itself is like walking around on the moon and you can stroll right up to the glaciers and touch them if you wish. We were very gentle with the ice, of course, because the “experts” say it will be gone by around 2015. Like the glaciers in Wisconsin 30,000 years ago, they are, indeed, leaving us for whatever the reasons and when I’m even older and grayer I will cherish the photos of me standing next to them.
Date: September 21st, 2006 |
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The Final Ascent - Barafu to the Summit
I recently had a conversation with a Kilimanjaro climber whose trip I organized. She and I were talking about her experience, and she said the one thing that troubled her was the final night, the last six hour hike up the mountain, starting at Barafu Camp.
Barafu Camp is the final camp before the summit and sits at over 15,500 ft. The next section to Uhuru Peak is by far the hardest, most grueling, part of the climb up Mount Kilimanjaro. It’s usually in the middle of the night, so there is limited lighting. The winds are usually ferocious. It’s extremely …
Date: August 20th, 2006 |
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The Saddle
The Saddle is an area between Mawenzi and Kibo on Kilimanjaro. It’s a large flat area after Mawenzi Hut and before Kibo Hut on a hike up the Marangu Route. From a bird eye view, or up on Kilimanjaro, it’s obviously shaped somewhat like a saddle, hence the name.
Date: July 13th, 2006 |
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Barafu Camp Picture
Approching Barafu CampHere is a picture of Barafu Camp on the Machame Route. Barafu Camp is fairly exposed on the mountain and there isn’t many spots to put your tent to avoid Mother Nature’s elements. You can try to find some big rocks near the top of the camp. There can be a fairly good wind blowing most of the day, so make sure to stake down your tents. Barafu Camp sits right on the main trail heading up the mountain. From this camp, at …
Date: April 13th, 2006 |
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Evacuation Routes - Part 1
You Can Get Down QuickThere are a number of different ways to evacuate yourself off Kilimanjaro. It just depends upon where you are - which camp and which trail. Generally speaking, compared to most mountains, it’s fairly easy to descend and evacuate off Kilimanjaro. It won’t take you a week - it’s usually just an entire day.
If you are hiking the Marangu Trail, the best way down is just straight back down the easy trail you ascended. If you are …
Date: March 29th, 2006 |
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Myths and magic of the Western Breach
(The Western Breach route was closed indefinitely in January of 2006 due to a freak landslide that regrettably took the lives of three Americans and an undisclosed number of porters)
When I was doing research for my own trip in 04’, I read many different facts and myths about the “Breach”. “Only attempt if you are not afraid of heights”, “Choosing a good experienced outfitter a must”, Cannot be down climbed…an up route only”, “Exposure to drops of 2000 feet”, “Difficult but non-technical”, “Only 5% of the climbers use this route”. All the routes up the mountain can be negotiated without technical skills, even on the Western Breach. This particular track also offered a day climb to the crater plateau complete with a walkabout around the glaciers, an outstanding view of the Reusch Crater, camping at 18,800 feet and a true traverse of the mountain (going up one side and down the other). In addition, the remoteness and the potential challenge of the route (especially to the Cheeseheads from flatland, i.e. my son and I) all contributed to our decision to climb that way.
We followed the Lemosho Glades Trail and our Tusker guides had us rock scramble above Shira 1 and Moir Camps as well as the 300 ft. ascent up Lava Tower as preparation for the Breach climb. I also chose to add the two acclimation days available to maximize our chances for success.
Date: August 30th, 2006 |
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Loitokitok Route
Most people have never heard of the Loitokitok route, as it’s near the Rongai route, on the north-side of the mountain near Kenya, and it’s rarely used. Loitokitok isn’t a different route, it only takes you a unique way on the first day, connecting eventually to the Rongai route. There is no real reason to use this route, but just another way to approach the mountain.
Date: July 21st, 2006 |
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Western Breach - Arrow Glacier Closed
As reported in March of 2006 “Western Breach Still Closed” there was an announcement last week that the Western Breach will remain closed indefinitely. This included the two trails that head up to Arrow Glacier Camp. The scientists fear that potentially another incident could happen again.
That means, one of the most popular, and hardest routes up Mt.Kilimanjaro, will no longer be able to cater to the high-end people who generally use that route. This Western Breach is generally used by a number of high-end companies who truly want to give their clients a great adventure - and charge …
Date: April 19th, 2006 |
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Crater Camp on Kilimanjaro
Crater Camp sits at 5790 meters/18,000 ft on Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s by far the highest camp on the mountain. 95 percent of all climbers that climb Kilimanjaro DO NOT spend the night at Crater Camp.
Why do they not go to Crater Camp?
First: Most porters climb only to Barafu Camp or Lava Tower Hut, which is around 4600 meters/15,000 feet. Afterward, they meet you down at Millennium Camp or Mweka Camp. If you want to spend the night in the Crater, you need to make sure all your porters are ready for the kind of elevation. And, you should plan this advance.
Second: Because you take your porters and guides that high on the mountain, there generally is an added cost. It takes a lot more time, work and energy to have a night on top of the mountain. It can range between $300 to $500 more per person, per night for spending the night that high on the mountain. This is an additional cost to your planned itinerary. Some people can absorb the cost by cutting a day out on Machame, but it’s not recommended.
Date: April 3rd, 2006 |
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Machame Camp Night Picture
Here is a picture of Machame Camp at night time, after the first day of hiking up the Machame Route. Machame Camp is at 3,000 meters/10,000 ft. It sits just outside the forest and right before the moorland.
Even though it was our first day of hiking, there were still trekkers that were having problems with altitude - and already felt some form of altitude sickness. We managed to get them some water and rest, and they were ready to trek the next day.
Date: March 28th, 2006 |
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