Mount Kilimanjaro (5895m / 19 340ft) is situated in The Kilimanjaro National Park
in Tanzania and is the highest point in Africa, as well as one of the
highest mountains in the world. There are four major routes to climb Kilimanjaro; The Machame Route, The Umbwe Route, The Mweka Route and The Marangu Route also known as The Coca Cola Route.
The two main peaks of Kilimanjaro are Kibo located in the centre of the mountain, with the highest peak being Uhuru and Mawenzi situated on the eastern side. Kibo is the lower peak and is recommended for trekkers whereas Mawenzi is for mountaineers.
More on Kilimanjaro Climbing
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR TREKS ON MOUNT KILIMANJARO
Seasons and Weather Conditions
The best time to visit Tanzania is during the dry season, especially just after the rains have finished and the vegetation is lush and green. East Africa has two rainy seasons, the long rains which normally start at the end of March and last until June, and the short rains which normally occur in October and November. The rainy seasons are the months when rain can be expected as opposed to the dry seasons where it will be unlikely, but it does not mean that it rains all the time. Naturally conditions on the mountains can become very slippery in the rains and snow can become a problem on some of the routes to the summit. Dry season months of June to September and December to February can usually be counted as the best months for trekking.
Temperatures
Being only three degrees south of the Equator, it is the altitude which affects the temperature as the trek progresses. Day-time temperatures on the lower parts of the mountain are often pleasantly warm, even hot, although a brief rain shower in the afternoon is always possible. As soon as the sun goes down the air temperature becomes cold and as the trek progresses, on the higher parts of the mountain the temperatures often drop to below freezing. Warm clothes and a warm sleeping bag are essential.
Altitude
Although many thousands of trekkers successfully reach Gillman's Point or Uhuru Peak every year without any real difficulty, many others do not make it to the top because they suffer from altitude sickness, which is caused by a combination of the decrease in atmospheric pressure and the decreased oxygen content of the air. To avoid this it is very important to acclimatise by ascending slowly and steadily, even if you are fit, you should not try to rush up Mount Kilimanjaro.
Altitude can produce some very serious problems so it is essential to prepare properly for you climb. For the best information on training for your climb we recommend The Altitude Centre who have experts who can advise you on the best ways to prepare as well as having a fantastic pre-acclimatisation course. Click http://www.altitudecentre.com/ for more information.