Are you planning to travel to Africa, and you’re wondering if you’ll have enough time to climb Kilimanjaro during your trip? Then, you may want to know how long the trek across the mountain will last.
The average Kilimanjaro trek lasts between 5 – 9 days. That said, the exact duration of your climb will be determined by the route you take, your fitness level, and other factors.
This article will discuss how each of these factors affects the amount of time you spend on your Mount Kilimanjaro trek. As such, you’ll be able to estimate the duration of your climb and plan your itinerary accordingly.
Factors That Affect Your Kilimanjaro Trek Duration
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Route
There are nine different routes on Kilimanjaro, and each of these routes have varying durations. The route you choose will significantly affect the number of days you spend climbing the mountain.
I know you’re probably thinking about choosing the shortest route right now, but it isn’t suitable for everyone. If the wrong person chooses the short route, they won’t be able to complete the hike successfully. Or they might even develop severe altitude sickness.
It is important to know what each Kilimanjaro Route entails. That way, you’ll be able to correctly evaluate which route will help you reach the peak at the quickest time possible.
Check the table below for a brief outline of the Kilimanjaro routes, estimated duration, and their advantages and limitations.
Route | Duration | Pros | Cons |
Marangu | 5 – 6 days |
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It is too crowded |
Machame | 6 – 7 days |
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The steep Barranco Wall |
Lemosho | 6 – 8 days |
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Hiking is quite strenuous |
Northern Circuit | 9 days |
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Lasts for a long time |
Rongai | 6 – 7 days |
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Located in the deep wilderness |
Mweka | 4 – 5 days |
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Western Breach | 11 days | Lets you visit the interior of the crater |
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Umbwe | 5 – 7 days | Duration is fairly short |
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Shira | 6 – 7 days | Beautiful | Little to no time for acclimatization |
Read also on insights on whether it is safe to climb mount Kilimanjaro or not.
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Physical Fitness Level
A trekker in top shape will most likely reach the Kilimanjaro summit faster than people who are out of shape.
We must note, however, that you need to acquire some level of fitness before you take on Mount Kilimanjaro. Otherwise, you’ll get exhausted long before you even get halfway through the journey.
But you don’t have to become a gym rat to become physically ready for the trek. Consistent short hikes and light exercises should make you fit enough to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
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Weather
Moving fast on Mount Kilimanjaro is easy when the weather is pleasant and sunny. But as soon as it starts raining, you have to be more careful to avoid falling on the slippery trails. Likewise, scorching hot weather will slow down your pace.
We wish we could tell you when Mount Kilimanjaro experiences low heat or low cold levels, but the weather on the mountain is quite unpredictable. You could experience heavy rain in the dry season, and some trekkers have had to deal with hot afternoons in the rainy season.
What we recommend is to be prepared for every weather: rain or sun. You can do this by becoming physically fit and packing the right outfit for the hike.
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Your Outfit
Wearing the wrong outfit while climbing Kilimanjaro can slow down your pace, while the right one will help you walk faster.
Common outfit mistakes hikers make include wearing jeans, cotton clothing, sandals, and slinky lingerie. I know these items seem comfortable, but they will only make you sweaty. Besides, they take longer to dry, so you might have to wear damp clothes throughout your trek.
Here are some of the best clothes to wear during your trek on Kilimanjaro:
- Nylon or polyester material for your jackets and tops
- Sport bras
- Hiking pants
- Hiking boots or sturdy sneakers
Not only are these items breathable, but they will also dry faster if you sweat while wearing them. The tough boots will help you maintain your balance on steep rocks.
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Ability to Acclimatize
Acclimatization is the process your body undergoes to adjust to high altitudes. This process is especially important in climbing Kilimanjaro because most routes on the mountain have high altitudes.
Unfortunately, our bodies adjust to high altitudes at different paces, with some taking longer than others. If your body requires a long time to acclimatize, you’ll need more days than the average person to finish climbing Kilimanjaro. You might also be at risk of developing altitude sickness.
Luckily, there are ways you can train your body to acclimatize quickly. For instance, you can set aside a day during the trek for acclimatization training. This training method requires you to climb a high-altitude section of a route back and forth for about a few hours.
I know the acclimatization practice may seem like a waste of time at first, especially if you only have limited time to spend on the mountain, but it will save you more time in the long run. Some tour operators like Climbing Kilimanjaro include acclimatization practice days in their Kilimanjaro tour packages.
Another way to help your body acclimatize fast is to take Diamox pills 1-2 days before your trek. You’ll also need to keep taking the tablets once a day from the start to the end of the trek. Taking Diamox will help you prevent altitude sickness.
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Hiking Experience
The Mount Kilimanjaro climb is a long walk of at least five days. So, if your body isn’t used to hiking, it will slow you down. You might even get too exhausted to complete the trek.
Compare that with a trekker who already has some hiking experience under their belt. They’ll move faster and endure the strain on their body.
Make sure to practice hiking before you climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Take long walks in the woods. You can also hire a trainer if you don’t have much time before your trip.
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Your Guide
If you work with a guide who has significant experience in training hikers, you’ll most likely reach the summit quickly. A professional guide will teach you all the tricks that can help you move fast on the hike without losing your breath or developing altitude sickness.
You can get such experienced guides easily when you book your Kilimanjaro tour with Climbing Kilimanjaro. We provide all our clients with friendly, professional guides, who have built a track record of coaching trekkers to success on Mount Kilimanjaro.
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Food
We know you probably aren’t planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro on an empty stomach. But if you rely only on your basic meals, there’s a good chance that you’ll take forever to complete the hike. Apart from your usual meals, you need strength boosters like energy bars to keep you going on the trek.
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Group Pace
Most trekkers on Mount Kilimanjaro travel in groups. The problem with group trekking is that the slowest person determines the group’s pace. So, even if you move swiftly, you may still take a long time to reach Uhuru Peak if some of your group members are slow.
Can You Climb Mount Kilimanjaro in a Day?
You can climb Mount Kilimanjaro in one day if you are a fit, experienced hiker with a professional guide. Please note that completing the hike in such a short amount of time puts you at risk of severe altitude sickness due to the high-altitude routes on Kilimanjaro.
It is important to take at least one day to acclimatize, so your body can adapt to the high altitude levels on the mountain.
How to Climb Kilimanjaro Fast
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Get Familiar with Hiking
Taking regular hikes before climbing Kilimanjaro can help you complete the trek fast. As you keep trekking across the rocks in the woods, your body adapts to the high altitude levels in the environment. This makes it easy for you to acclimatize when you get to Mount Kilimanjaro, thus shortening the total amount of time you spend on the trek.
If you don’t want to go into the woods, you can run on a treadmill. Thanks to the structure of the treadmill, it’s easy to simulate steep slopes just by racing on the machine.
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Increase Your Physical Fitness Level
If you climb Mount Kilimanjaro when you’re out of shape, you’ll get tired after a short while. So, you’ll have to take several breaks before you can complete the trek. Those extra breaks will make you spend longer than you wish on the mountain.
If you want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to the peak without taking so many breaks, you must become physically fit before taking the hike.
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Choose a Short Route
Another tip that can help you climb Kilimanjaro fast is to take a short route like the Marangu or Mweka routes. Please note that these routes contain steep trails with high altitude levels.
So, if you are slightly unfit or inexperienced, you may be unable to complete the hike on this route. This is because the high altitude levels can make you so sick that you’d have to quit.
As a beginner, you have a higher chance of reaching the Uhuru Peak when you take long routes than when you use the short ones.
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Select Tour Packages with Inbuilt Acclimatization Days
The best way for hiking beginners to climb Kilimanjaro fast and reach the summit is by booking tour packages that incorporate acclimatization days. It may feel like a waste of time at first, but you really need to teach your body to adapt to the high altitudes first before taking them on full force.
That way, you’ll be able to withstand the extreme altitude levels throughout the trip and move quickly enough without developing altitude sickness.
If you don’t take a day off for acclimatization, your pace will be slow, you may fall sick, and even have to end your trek without reaching the peak.
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Choose the Right Outfit
Fitted clothes like jeans will make it difficult for you to move fast. You should also avoid shoes like sandals, because they can affect your pace.
The best outfits for trekkers who want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro fast are lightweight long-sleeve athletic shirts, hiking pants, and hiking boots. Make sure they are loose enough to help you move freely.
Want to Climb Kilimanjaro in Limited Time?
Why not work with Climbing Kilimanjaro? We’ll assign you with skilled, friendly guides who will coach you on how to deal with the high altitude levels and steep trails. They’ll also ensure you reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in record time.
Visit our Contact page to start planning your Kilimanjaro trek today.