rdesota - Jul 15, 2016 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2016
Great Trip
Really nice trip up the Machame route with Zara tours which I would highly recommend (along with Salim Zimbwe as our guide). Very enjoyable.
justahiker - Jul 7, 2016 4:46 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2016
Great ascent on clear day!
After two rainy (and one sunny day) we started our ascent to Kilimanjaro on 10th February at midnight.
Perfect clear night, with plenty of stars was great sign. After 8 hours we were at top of Africa. Amazing feeling and something you remember all your life.
Woodie Hopper - May 26, 2016 2:21 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2016
Machame
Rolled the dice at the end of the long rains and won: nothing but blue skies and climbed in 5 days with three new friends from Denmark. Mndeme and co from Zara took great care of us. Unforgettable experience.
vmutongi - Mar 30, 2016 11:38 am Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2016
Marangu Route
Did the Marangu route in 5 days to the summit. It was awesome. Details are listed in my blog below:
http://vincentmutongikilimanjarohike.blogspot.com/
royanderson - Nov 11, 2015 6:32 pm Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2015
Lemosho Route
Climbed with Zara Tours (highly recommend them) followed by 5 day Safari including 2 days in Serengeti (the best 2 days, others pale in comparison). Was at the peak for sunrise.
Joeyroo - Oct 21, 2015 7:31 pm Date Climbed: Sep 27, 2015
Weather Cooperated
Rongai Route
Worried the clouds would have blocked the view and that the high winds would make things miserable. Fortunately summit day was clear and not windy. Made it to Uhuru at 0700.
corsair - Aug 29, 2015 3:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2007
Machame Route
First 5k+ summit. Climbed with friends and Christal Zoo guides, then a great safari in Tarangire and Serengeti. Our guides were great, going "pole pole" and acclimatizing our party well with side trips to the lava tower and Barranco wall. 6AM summit was a cold, windy one.
Iantexas - Aug 20, 2015 12:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2015
Lemosho Route Climb
Great trip with National Geographic Adventures. 17 in the group, all 17 reached the summit. The ascent took 6 days, the descent 2. Great weather, great support.
Climbed with the whole family. My brother was the youngest (at least legally to summit) as he summited on his birthday at age 11, which was the youngest age allowed to climb (at least at the time)
atavist - Mar 10, 2015 3:18 am Date Climbed: Mar 6, 2015
breaking rules
Mar 4
Arranged the climb within 2 hours after arriving in Moshe from Nairobi. Originally I was quoted $695 for a 3-day climbing package on Marangu (gate to Horombo, Horombo to Kibo, Kibo to summit to gate). I doubt the agent believed I would be able to actually make it. Shortly after paying, the agent realized that the park requires payment for at least 5 days so the fees increased to $1000+. He tracked me to my hotel and I paid the balance.
Mar 5
Pick up from hotel at 8:45am and drive to Marangu gate. Registration at the entrance took some time, then I finally started the leisurely hike up to Mandara and eventually arriving at Horombo. Despite every team is required to have their own cook, it seems there is a single kitchen because all the guests had basically the same meal (which was ample and tasty). There was some difference in condiments and side dishes such as fruits.
Mar 6
I was feeling good so when I left camp I thought I might skip Kibo and go straight for the summit. I actually went off trail and made straight for Barafu camp, which is on the Machame trail, where I had lunch. I arrived at 5pm so it took less than 4 hours to the summit (Barafu-Uhuru) and an extra one hour down to Kibo.
Mar 7
Easy day from Kibo back out to Marangu gate. I was hoping to take a different route off the mountain but it was against the regulations. I'd already been reprimanded for taking a route that 'was not on my itinerary' and 'climbing without a guide', so I figured I should behave at least one day while I was on the mountain. Besides, Marangu is actually very scenic as it gradually ascends thru the montaine forest, moorland and alpine desert, etc.
Hiker4life - Feb 28, 2015 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2008
Marangu route
Did the climb in 5 days/4 nights. Started from the Kibo huts at midnight and made the summit at 6 AM in the dark with my guide John from Zara tours. It was cold & windy at the peak, so only stayed for about 5 minutes. Hiked back down to the Mandara huts and crashed early. Easy walk out the following morning back to the Marangu trailhead.
Rapparee - Nov 16, 2014 9:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2014
Kibo
Went with seven friends and Kilimanjaro Brothers. Stayed in Moshi and went via the Machame Route. Made me respect altitude a lot more as while I escaped with only headaches I saw a lot of people puking, not able to sleep and just generally feeling shit.
I would go back to Tanzania in a heartbeat!
yadahzoemtn - Nov 2, 2014 3:13 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2014
Machame Route
All thanks goes to Zara Tours and my wonderful hiking companions: Greg, Kelly, Santosh, and Mara. Go team "Loco".
jason_dee - Sep 10, 2014 2:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2014
7 Day Machame
Came & conquered w/Tro Peaks Adventures! What a great experience!
yuval - Aug 30, 2014 4:28 pm Date Climbed: Jan 28, 2010
Lemosho Route
Great climb, great route.
Took my dad for his first mountain and both summited succsessfuly! What a feeling at the top...
ThorsChosen - Apr 9, 2014 12:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2003
Machame Route
Fun and scenic 6 day trek to the top. The last day was a bit of a challenge because of the altitude. Had a fun three day safari afterwards at Ngorongoro crater.
colinlee - Mar 4, 2014 3:02 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2014
Made it
what a blast loved every minute of it
ScottyP - Mar 3, 2014 11:48 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2014
Machame
Five day machame with Zara. Great day but way too many people!!
Congrats!! Another down, nothing but the best to ya'
Cloud Ocean - Jan 30, 2014 2:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2012
Rongai route, 'unsupported'
Climbed over 6 days. I climbed 'unsupported' with no porters or cook. Guide was mandatory. Preparing and hauling all food, gear, water and setting my own climbing schedule made the hike very rewarding. I made the decision to climb to the summit in daylight, which worked out wonderfully. I left Kibo Huts at 7:20 a.m. and reached Uhuru peak at 12:25 p.m.
rdesota - Jul 15, 2016 3:45 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2016
Great TripReally nice trip up the Machame route with Zara tours which I would highly recommend (along with Salim Zimbwe as our guide). Very enjoyable.
justahiker - Jul 7, 2016 4:46 pm Date Climbed: Feb 10, 2016
Great ascent on clear day!After two rainy (and one sunny day) we started our ascent to Kilimanjaro on 10th February at midnight.
Perfect clear night, with plenty of stars was great sign. After 8 hours we were at top of Africa. Amazing feeling and something you remember all your life.
Woodie Hopper - May 26, 2016 2:21 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2016
MachameRolled the dice at the end of the long rains and won: nothing but blue skies and climbed in 5 days with three new friends from Denmark. Mndeme and co from Zara took great care of us. Unforgettable experience.
vmutongi - Mar 30, 2016 11:38 am Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2016
Marangu RouteDid the Marangu route in 5 days to the summit. It was awesome. Details are listed in my blog below:
http://vincentmutongikilimanjarohike.blogspot.com/
royanderson - Nov 11, 2015 6:32 pm Date Climbed: Oct 15, 2015
Lemosho RouteClimbed with Zara Tours (highly recommend them) followed by 5 day Safari including 2 days in Serengeti (the best 2 days, others pale in comparison). Was at the peak for sunrise.
Joeyroo - Oct 21, 2015 7:31 pm Date Climbed: Sep 27, 2015
Weather CooperatedRongai Route
Worried the clouds would have blocked the view and that the high winds would make things miserable. Fortunately summit day was clear and not windy. Made it to Uhuru at 0700.
corsair - Aug 29, 2015 3:34 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 2007
Machame RouteFirst 5k+ summit. Climbed with friends and Christal Zoo guides, then a great safari in Tarangire and Serengeti. Our guides were great, going "pole pole" and acclimatizing our party well with side trips to the lava tower and Barranco wall. 6AM summit was a cold, windy one.
Iantexas - Aug 20, 2015 12:22 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2015
Lemosho Route ClimbGreat trip with National Geographic Adventures. 17 in the group, all 17 reached the summit. The ascent took 6 days, the descent 2. Great weather, great support.
teddycricket83 - Aug 9, 2015 2:34 am
African Dream Come TrueClimbed with the whole family. My brother was the youngest (at least legally to summit) as he summited on his birthday at age 11, which was the youngest age allowed to climb (at least at the time)
atavist - Mar 10, 2015 3:18 am Date Climbed: Mar 6, 2015
breaking rulesMar 4
Arranged the climb within 2 hours after arriving in Moshe from Nairobi. Originally I was quoted $695 for a 3-day climbing package on Marangu (gate to Horombo, Horombo to Kibo, Kibo to summit to gate). I doubt the agent believed I would be able to actually make it. Shortly after paying, the agent realized that the park requires payment for at least 5 days so the fees increased to $1000+. He tracked me to my hotel and I paid the balance.
Mar 5
Pick up from hotel at 8:45am and drive to Marangu gate. Registration at the entrance took some time, then I finally started the leisurely hike up to Mandara and eventually arriving at Horombo. Despite every team is required to have their own cook, it seems there is a single kitchen because all the guests had basically the same meal (which was ample and tasty). There was some difference in condiments and side dishes such as fruits.
Mar 6
I was feeling good so when I left camp I thought I might skip Kibo and go straight for the summit. I actually went off trail and made straight for Barafu camp, which is on the Machame trail, where I had lunch. I arrived at 5pm so it took less than 4 hours to the summit (Barafu-Uhuru) and an extra one hour down to Kibo.
Mar 7
Easy day from Kibo back out to Marangu gate. I was hoping to take a different route off the mountain but it was against the regulations. I'd already been reprimanded for taking a route that 'was not on my itinerary' and 'climbing without a guide', so I figured I should behave at least one day while I was on the mountain. Besides, Marangu is actually very scenic as it gradually ascends thru the montaine forest, moorland and alpine desert, etc.
Hiker4life - Feb 28, 2015 8:49 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2008
Marangu routeDid the climb in 5 days/4 nights. Started from the Kibo huts at midnight and made the summit at 6 AM in the dark with my guide John from Zara tours. It was cold & windy at the peak, so only stayed for about 5 minutes. Hiked back down to the Mandara huts and crashed early. Easy walk out the following morning back to the Marangu trailhead.
Rapparee - Nov 16, 2014 9:42 am Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2014
KiboWent with seven friends and Kilimanjaro Brothers. Stayed in Moshi and went via the Machame Route. Made me respect altitude a lot more as while I escaped with only headaches I saw a lot of people puking, not able to sleep and just generally feeling shit.
I would go back to Tanzania in a heartbeat!
yadahzoemtn - Nov 2, 2014 3:13 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2014
Machame RouteAll thanks goes to Zara Tours and my wonderful hiking companions: Greg, Kelly, Santosh, and Mara. Go team "Loco".
jason_dee - Sep 10, 2014 2:45 pm Date Climbed: Aug 22, 2014
7 Day MachameCame & conquered w/Tro Peaks Adventures! What a great experience!
yuval - Aug 30, 2014 4:28 pm Date Climbed: Jan 28, 2010
Lemosho RouteGreat climb, great route.
Took my dad for his first mountain and both summited succsessfuly! What a feeling at the top...
ThorsChosen - Apr 9, 2014 12:14 am Date Climbed: Aug 7, 2003
Machame RouteFun and scenic 6 day trek to the top. The last day was a bit of a challenge because of the altitude. Had a fun three day safari afterwards at Ngorongoro crater.
colinlee - Mar 4, 2014 3:02 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2014
Made itwhat a blast loved every minute of it
ScottyP - Mar 3, 2014 11:48 pm Date Climbed: Feb 27, 2014
MachameFive day machame with Zara. Great day but way too many people!!
Marmaduke - Mar 4, 2014 3:40 am
Re: MachameCongrats!! Another down, nothing but the best to ya'
Cloud Ocean - Jan 30, 2014 2:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 31, 2012
Rongai route, 'unsupported'Climbed over 6 days. I climbed 'unsupported' with no porters or cook. Guide was mandatory. Preparing and hauling all food, gear, water and setting my own climbing schedule made the hike very rewarding. I made the decision to climb to the summit in daylight, which worked out wonderfully. I left Kibo Huts at 7:20 a.m. and reached Uhuru peak at 12:25 p.m.