Climbings

Following the Machame Route, The Snows of Kilimanjaro offers game viewing and birdwatching opportunities along the first days’ paths en route to the top. Then, proceed up across the Shira Plateau through the Grand Baranco Canyon and to the top. If all goes as planned, reach Stella Point at dawn, and continue around Kibo’s rim to the summit, Uhuru Peak — the inspiration for Ernest Hemingway’s “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.”

The Machame Route is a strenuous climb, but no mountain climbing experience is necessary. Still, there are steep ascents and high altitudes that make robust physical fitness a prerequisite for this trip. Consult your physician before undertaking this unforgettable adventure.

When climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, there is no mistaking its beauty. At 19,325 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world. “Breathtaking” hardly begins to describe the scene from cloud-cloaked Uhuru Peak. But the summit is merely a highlight of a richly rewarding journey.

As you ascend its slopes, elephant may appear in lush montane forest, and you may sight endangered Abbot’s duiker. From its beautiful alpine desert to its icy summit, its crater lake to its moorland dotted with surreal, oversized lobelia, the mountain’s wonders do not cease.

A&K’s Mount Kilimanjaro expeditions are planned to the last detail by mountaineering experts, who take into consideration every factor that contributes to a successful climb.

All elements of your Mt. Kilimanjaro climb are overseen by A&K — the only tour operator with a dedicated in-country climbing operation. Our experienced, attentive staff ensures your journey meets our high standards of quality and reviews all aspects of the operation — from porter selection and welfare to client briefings and safety. Ongoing training programs keep the team updated on the latest information.

Abercrombie & Kent is a proud Partner for Responsible Travel with the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) and supports the Kilimanjaro Porters Association Project (KPAP).

A&K carries oxygen bottles, portable altitude chambers, pulse oximeters, first aid kits and multiples of communications equipment on every single Mount Kilimanjaro climb.

Guides can assess climbers with twice-daily pulse oximetry to record heart rates and oxygen saturation, as well as utilize the acute mountain sickness internationally recognized monitoring scorecard.

All of A&K’s guides are trained in wilderness first aid, mountain craft, natural history and ecological awareness. Our dedicated staff of porters also receive ongoing training and career assistance to help them progress into the field of guiding.

When climbing Kilimanjaro, you are equipped with the finest climbing and camping apparatus, safety equipment and communications network. Comfortable and private igloo-shaped tents allow our travellers to bypass the very rustic mountain huts where most trekkers spend their nights.

While most trekkers spend a total of five days on the mountain, we schedule seven days (six nights) to allow more time for premium altitude acclimatization, giving A&K a successful summit rate of 97 percent.