Kilimanjaro Hiking Routes are found along the Mountain Kilimanjaro, the Mountain is a Jewel in the African wilderness, engulfed with the Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park, it is the highest mountain in Africa, the mountain was formed as a result of volcanicity and is said to be dormant, the top of the mountain is covered in glaciers and interestingly it is a few miles away from the equator line that divides the earth into 2 halves. Kilimanjaro routes are different each one takes different days to reach the summit (5895m), above sea level. 3 volcanic cones make up the mountain including the Kibo which is the highest peak, Mawenzi, and Shira.
Climbing the mountain Kilimanjaro is one of the most sought-after experiences in Tanzania, it is a beautiful way to explore northern Tanzania and a must-do while here, hikes spark off with a morning briefing from the park rangers on how to conduct yourself during the hike, it is mandatory to have a trekking permit that is usually obtained from park authorities through a tour operator, avoid using guides to purchase permits to rule out fraud, hiring a porter is a must to help you out when doing the Kilimanjaro hike, it is from here that you will be distributed to the several routes of the park as below.
There are 7 Kilimanjaro hiking routes established to aid in reaching the highest peak of the mountain,these include the Lemosho, Machame, Marangu, Rongai, Northern Circuit, Shira, and Umbwe.The hike to the top is an adventurous one through the different vegetation zones, route consideration includes the Lemosho route which is a 70-kilometre route that usually takes travellers 7-8 days to reach the summit, this route was originally the Shira It goes through the western quieter part of the park, through the rain forest, this is the most popular and beautiful route to take,
Machame route goes through the southern slope of the mountain Kilimanjaro, the Marangu route on the eastern side is the longest route up to Kilimanjaro it is well known for its huts route rather than tents, and Rongai along the northern slope, this route gives a high chance of viewing animal species, the northern circuit is among the most recent routes that have been developed for guest experiences, Umbwe route is the shortest and the steepest route to take, it is the most difficult to consider and yet so angelic.
Along the trails is a growing beautiful forest home to several animal species that can be sighted in the national park, expect to see black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, African elephants, and buffaloes to mention a few and several bird types. Kilimanjaro Hiking routes are best taken during the dry season between December-February and June when the trails of the park are dry and easy to climb up, it is the most recommended time of hiking Africa’s highest mountain.
In conclusion, Kilimanjaro National Park is one of the most sought-after conservation areas of Tanzania, it comes second after the great wildebeest migration in the Serengeti National Park.