Kilimanjaro for Beginners

A Kilimanjaro climb can be a daunting experience for anyone not used to mountain climbing, but it needn't be. If you've picked it out of a range of activity holidays then you can rest assured that there are trails for all levels of mountain climbing experience.

For the real beginners on Kilimanjaro there's the Marangu route, which approaches from the southeast of the mountain, and is considered to be the easiest and most well established route. Many tourists favour this route for those very reasons though, with its gradual incline and directness it's a great trail to start out on as a beginner. The Marangu is also one of the only routes that offers hut based sleeping along side the trail, the huts often accommodate upwards of 60 people in bunk beds in a dormitory style. Guests staying in this accommodation are supplied with mattresses and pillows but you still have to bring your own sleeping bag. They have all the facilities you need on a day to day basis, basic washrooms, dining halls and cooking facilities. In addition to this most have small shops nearby the sell soft drinks, bottled water, and other supplies.

Walking the Marangu trail takes at least five days, depending on your level of fitness, although it usually takes around eight as it's common to spend extra days acclimatising to the high altitude on the mountain. There are down sides to this route though, firstly it's the most popular trail on the mountain so it's very busy and secondly because the ascent and descent are on the same path it's the least scenic of all the routes.

If the Marangu sounds a little to busy for you then the alternative 'easy' route is the Rongai trail. This trail is the only one to approach the mountain from its northern side, which also makes it slightly more expensive than other routes, and is quickly gaining popularity amongst climbers. The Rongai route still experiences low traffic and is the preferred alternative to the Marangu trail, especially if you're climbing during the rainy season as the north side of the mountain receives far less rain.

The route is slightly more difficult than the Marangu trail, although it still only takes six to eight days to complete, and although the scenery along the latter part of the trail is not that varied; the start of the trail passes through some true African wilderness meaning you have a good chance of seeing some fantastic wildlife.

The Adventure Company offers a range of Activity holidays including the fantastic Kilimanjaro climb experience.

Article Source: Thom_Sanders