Kilimanjaro - Northern Circuit

Hi, I climbed Machame route in 2008 as a 55 year old. We did it in 6 days/5 nights and I would really recommend taking the extra night other wise it is a very long tiring day between Barranco camp and Barafu camp, we only stopped for lunch at Karanga and we were all very tired when we got to Barafu.
I'm still intouch with my guides from my trek and I see them every year. Most have their own companies now and they are all lovely guys and very good guides so if you want to get in touch with one or all of them let me know.

Hi,

thanks a lot for the information. It seems that the extra day is a must then - especially that I don`t see anything wrong in spending one more day in this beautiful scenery.

When it comes to the companies it seems that Mar Tours are way ahead of the competition, especially when it comes to price. And they are also widely recommended by people on the interenet so I guess it should be the right choice if we don`t want to spend fortune on the hike.

Forget about Machame. It is the most popular route and looks like super bisy all the year around. In my opinion, staying in the overcrowded camps on the way up is not a pleasure at all.
Maybe it is better to think about Lemosho route? I had the fantastic Kili experience via Lemosho and really enjoyed it in February 2015.
In my opinion this route is fantastic for the correct acclimatization due to starting from 3500 metres and long lasting approach on high altitude with lots of ups and downs. I cannot say that it was something unexpected for me. Ive read a lot about this journey. It was quite easy, mostly because of experienced crews support.
Lemosho is super scenic and you always admire with the snowy peak on the route.
Small tip: you should be prepared for the low temperatures during the last pitch ascent. It was extremely cold for me.
And be aware of the local Tanzanian travel companies. I have nothing against them, however, pole-pole (slowly-slowly) is not only the useful command in mountains, it is also local lifestyle. Obviously, they are not ready to compete with european companies that are also located in Tanzania.
So be careful with your choice.
And have a nice trip!

Sorry to jump into this late - but you really can't go wrong doing the Machame or Lemosho. I did the Machame about two years ago and had a blast. It is a bit more crowded, but for me it made it fun to have a lot of people around for support and for energy to feed off of. I also agree that the 7 day /6 night route is the way to go. The summit ascent is the same and will be challenging no matter what route you take, but at least the 7 day route will give you more energy when it's time for that final push.

As for a tour operator, whatever you decide I recommend booking with them directly. Most websites you see are run by agencies that have a few middlemen before they actually reach the tour operators. The company I work with (www.venturefar.com) has a travel marketplace where we've certified a few tour operators and you can book with them directly. You'll notice that the fee of booking with them on our site is a bit less than what you might expect. The operator we work with the most is Ahsante Travel. Please let me know if you have any questions as you continue to plan your trip. Thanks!

Hi Dajbanana
I am also planning a trek to Kilimanjaro but in late September. Can you let me know if you have decided on a travel agency . I am a solo trekker and looking for climbing mates.
Thanks

Hi there,

I did Lemosho route this June 2015 with ANAPA Travel.
I warmly recommend this local agency: the trip was adjusted to my personal needs (regarding budget and paying, dates of the trip etc.) due to the very friendly and service oriented tour operator Tumaini. I also had a great guide (ask for Marwa) and team on the mountain. There was nothing I could complain about.
I planned the tour via internet in advance - very reliable.

Wish you a nice journey and awesome days on the Kili!

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