How long does it take to climb mountain Kilimanjaro
How long does it take to climb mountain Kilimanjaro, rhis is a frequently asked question for travelers interested in climbing mountain Kilimanjaro. Generally it takes between five to nine days to summit mountain Kilimanjaro and return to the foot of the mountain. However, since the hike is a bit challenging, the more days you use the higher the chances of summiting Kilimanjaro. This is because it gives hikers enough time to acclimatize to the altitude changes and lack of oxygen. Also, ensure to take frequent rests to reduce fatigue.
How long it takes to summit Kilimanjaro is attributed to a number of factors such as;
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Acclimatization
This is the biggest challenge faced by most hikers as they at times fail to acclimatize to the altitude changes and the oxygen levels. For acclimatization to take place, take your time during the hike and allow your body to gradually adjust to the reduction in oxygen levels as you go up the mountain.
This can be achieved by controlling the distance of ascent per day. Also, taking your time gives your body enough time to rest and recover from the previous days’ hikes.
According to the 2006 Kilimanjaro national park statistics,
27% of the hikers who took on the 5-day Kilimanjaro hike made it to the summit, and
85% of the hikers who took on the 8-days hike made it to the summit.
With the recent improvements in hiking gears and more experienced guides, it’s without doubt that these percentages have increased over the years.
This implies that the more days you spend acclimatizing, the better your chances of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.
Being physically fit has no relation with acclimatization abilities however it makes the hike easier and reduces fatigue.
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The hiking route used
There are a total of 6 routes that can be used to climb mountain Kilimanjaro that is; the Marangu route, the Umbwe route, Lemosho, Machame, Rongai, and Northern circuit route.
The shortest routes for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro are the Marangu route and the Umbwe routes since these require 5 days to summit the mountain.
The Umbwe route is a steep, challenging, and the shortest route for summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. It is considered the most difficult of the Kilimanjaro hiking routes. This route is 37 kilometers long and due to its steepness, it gains altitude very quickly thus giving hikers less time to acclimatize.
The Marangu route, also referred to as the Coca-Cola route is the oldest Kilimanjaro route and the most popular route given it’s the only Kilimanjaro route that has huts build for accommodation for hikers therefore no camping is allowed. The Marangu route is a 64km long route that requires 5 hiking days.
The Lemosho, Machame, Rongai and northern circuit are the longer routes that require about 6 to 10 days to summit. These are the recommended routes since they give a climber time to acclimatize to the altitude changes, low oxygen levels and reduce fatigue.
The Lemosho route is a 66 kilometers long route that requires 7, 8 or 9 days in order to summit Kilimanjaro. This route is most often considered the most beautiful of all the Kilimanjaro trekking routes.
The Machame route is a 49 kilometer long route that requires 6 or 7 days to summit Kilimanjaro and return to the foot of the mountain. Also known as the whiskey route, the Machame route is one of the most popular Kilimanjaro hiking routes.
The Rongai route is a 65 kilometer long route that takes 6 or 7 days to summit Kilimanjaro and return to the foot of the mountain. It is the only route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the north close to the Kenyan border and it provides a more gradual slope compared to the other routes.
The northern circuit is a 66 kilometer long route that requires 8 or 9 days to summit Kilimanjaro and return to the foot of the mountain. It is the longest of the Mount Kilimanjaro hiking routes.
Each route of these routes has specific number of days required to summit the Kilimanjaro Mountain. Therefore the time a hiker takes climbing Kilimanjaro depends largely on their choice of hiking route and their ability to acclimatize to the altitude changes.
