Success Rate for Kilimanjaro

Standing dominantly over the enchanting African plains, Mount Kilimanjaro entices numerous adventure enthusiasts from across the globe. Walk up to a mountaineer and ask him about the top ten peaks on his/her bucket list. It wouldn’t be much of a surprise to find Mt. Kilimanjaro trending on it.

Yes, this majestic mountain which rests as a back drop to the vast savannas is one spectacle to behold, let alone conquer. An early Everest climber, George Mallory, long ago laid claim to the most obvious (and snarkiest) reason to climb a high mountain: “because it’s there.”

But why Kilimanjaro? Because it’s listed as one of the top seven highest mountains on Earth. At a whopping 19,341’ feet above sea level, it stands as a testament for adventurers, thrill seekers and trekkers alike.

It is also the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Taming such splendour is a feat worth drinking to. Much to the relief of novice climbers, the trek is a walk for the most part and demands no technical experience. Children as young as 7 years of age have pulled it off.

While that can be quite encouraging, don’t let it mislead you. Like any mountain, Kilimanjaro comes with a daunting challenge. We know we just said almost anyone can do it, which is true, except that you must brace yourself for the trials of the trail.

However, the bewitching beauty of the Uhuru peak greets you with life transforming experiences of starlit skies drenched with a celestial glow and mind boggling landscapes. Your sense of triumph and the uncompromisingly gratifying scenic charm is more than worth striving for. Kilimanjaro is truly a site you’ll thank your sight for. While it is definitely not something you would come across in your backyard, here are some things you should know before packing your bags.

What are the odds of making it and what steers them?

Expert consultants

More often than not, some wise advice is all you need to get on top of any hurdle. Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the mightiest hurdles sited on the planet, so leave the experts pick your best way up. Your consultants are your guides who will not only accompany you but will also give you exposition and tips while conquering the peak. They help you pick out the routes which can be as adventurous as you want it to be and guide you in traversing that path. So while you’re setting foot on a tricky trail, you always have something to fall back on.

Acclimatization

Acclimatization done right is a trek done right. It is likely to be the driving factor that can tip your scales in either direction. To thoroughly enjoy/experience your trek, pay caution to this fairly surmountable aspect. Each person’s acclimatization time varies drastically and it’s vital for every individual to adapt and get comfortable with factors such as weather, steady decrease in oxygen level etc. Ample time has to let your body soak in the sudden change. Go slow. Haste is a waste and it just causes the body to reach fatigue much quicker. There can be severe consequences to your health if you haven’t acclimatized sufficiently. Climb as lightly as possible; it becomes even more important on your summit night. The extra weight will weigh down your experience by slowing you down and also make breathing more difficult.

Shelter

Carry appropriate tents that can withstand the mischief of the weather and can also offer steadfast protection from heavy winds. Mountaineering tents are customized with heavy duty zipper systems and full ground pads to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable during your trek. You’ll want it more than ever to crawl in and cosy up in your makeshift home. Hygienic private toilet tents are highly recommended as they help protect the ecosystem and also helps with effectively discarding human waste. Nutrition and water- A proper diet is required by the individual to best the elements and make the climb. Protein based foods and quick energy bars help immensely during the long trek. Fresh organic meals help in keeping the body at its best working condition. Water is also a vital aspect that steers the success rate of the climb. Adequate intake of water is hence indispensable. Filtering units or additional bottles of water is your best bet during the climb. The duration of consumption must be properly chalked out to optimize utilization of resources.

Physical and mental preparations

It is essential that your body is sufficiently equipped for the physical challenges that Mount Kilimanjaro has in store for you. Train yourself as the adventure is likely to stretch the physical boundaries that your body is accustomed to. Fitness should rank topmost in your list of priorities when preparing for the summit attempt. Like the solution to most things, staying positive and balanced can be your utmost asset. Try to anticipate various scenarios that you may possibly encounter on the mountain and try to work out the most suitable course of action by mentally simulating the scenario either by yourself or as a fun group activity. Your mental stamina will without a doubt make the really difficult sections, such as the stretch from Kibo to Uhuru or from Barafu to Uhuru, easier to accomplish. If you always stay equipped with the essentials, stay physically prepared and know your way around, you’ve escaped the major pitfalls of your trek.

Various Routes

Marangu

Owing to the fact that Marangu is easy on the pocket, pleasant on the eyes and possible to finish the Marangu route in 5 days, the Marangu Route is one of the most preferred routes to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. Being able to traverse to the summit one day earlier compared to the Machame route,this route has shot to fame. This ambitious trekking route however falls short on the time spent on acclimatization, which directly reflects on the success rate. However, the Marangu route presents you another option of spending an additional day for acclimatisation on the mountain to enhance the experience of your trek and greatly increases the chances of success. This increases the duration of the trek to 6 days. What makes this route a complete standout is the shared hut accommodations unique to the Marangu route.

Machame

Of the seven main routes used to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the Machame route wins the vote of popularity. The major draw for the trekkers opting this route is are the jaw dropping panoramic views and the diverse habitats it offers. From seasoned climbers to novices (Almost 50% of the total climbers) opt the Machame route for greater ease in access and also shorter itinerary. The Machame route is known as the Whiskey route after grabbing attention for being a tough climb in a stark contrast to the Marangu route which is easier and is known as Coco Cola route. This route calls for hiking steeper trails, longer distances, while sleeping in tents. The Machame Route climb can be done in a minimum of six days (five nights) on the mountain. However, it is most often tackled over seven days (six nights), for a better altitude acclimatization schedule. The success rate is significantly higher when using the seven-day route.

Lemosho

The Lemosho Route is widely acclaimed as the best route on Mount Kilimanjaro. Earlier, there were only two prominent routes to ascend kilimanjaro- the Marangu(Coco Cola) route and the Machame (Whiskey) route. The Lemosho route is a relatively new trail and is preferred because of its scenic beauty, remoteness and success rate. Tis route maximizes the chances of a climber making it to the summit and bask in the glory of this soulful experience. With increasing popularity of the Kilimanjaro, the Kilimanjaro Park Authority created more trails to the highest peak in Africa to spread climbers across more areas of the park, and to tackle congestion at certain points to enhance the experience and make it a pleasant one. The Lemosho route can be done in as little as six days (five nights) on the mountain. However, it is ideally tackled over eight days (seven nights) for a better altitude acclimatization schedule. With eight days (seven nights) on the mountain, your chances of reaching the top are very high, around 90%. These relatively new trails were designed after considerable consideration to improve acclimatization for the climber by incorporating longer distances, longer times on the mountain and shorter elevation gains and the Lemosho route falls under this category.

Rongai

The Rongai route ascends Kilimanjaro from the north-eastern side of the mountain, along the border between Tanzania and Kenya. Approaching Kilimanjaro from the North, this route lets you soak in the exuberance of the unspoilt wilderness and portrays Kilimanjaro in a different light. The topography of the route does not allow for the application of the climb high and sleep low principle and hikers generally suffer more from altitude sickness on the Rongai route compared to other routes (an additional acclimatization day is highly recommended on this route). The Rongai route use the scree summiting path from Kibo hut to Gilman’s point and descend via the Marangu route.

Umbwe

Approaching from the south, the Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct climb. After reaching Barranco Camp, the trail turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route. Amongst all the trek routes to Kilimanjaro, the Umbwe route garners attention for throwing a lot of curveballs thereby earning the reputation of being the most challenging route on Mount Kilimanjaro. The Umbwe route doesn’t provide the requisites ideally for acclimatization owing to the fast ascent to high altitude. Umbwe route has very less number on this trail as it is considered to a very strenuous and taxing, hence it is highly recommended to be attempted by strong hikers confident in their ability to acclimatize quickly to altitude. Most people can’t brave the hassles of this route, so opt for this route after some meticulous thought and careful consideration.

Northern Circuit

The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, kick starting with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge, before crossing the Shira Plateau. The route then heads north and circles clockwise from Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp to School Hut, before summiting from the east. Descend is made via the Mweka route. The Northern Circuit route is one of the best routes on Kilimanjaro, unveiling 360 degrees of enchanting scenery besides the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes. Since the Northern circuit route is the longest route to Kilimanjaro, greater is the time spent on acclimatization, thereby increasing the chances of you making it to the summit. Time and again, the Northern Circuit has proven to chalk the highest summit success rate, thereby this route is highly recommended.

To Summit up

Although many tour guides and facilitators may claim a 98% summit success rate, the true statistic depends on several factors like route, the temperature and climate conditions, Diamox usage, sex and age of the trekker. But stay rest assured that whichever path you may choose to take, Kilimanjaro is sure to bewitch you. As you begin to conquer the peak, the peak conquers you. The higher you go, the closer you get to yourself. An experience that takes you closer to the heavens, stands await on a distant, dreamlike African landscape. Set your foot on the Kilimanjaro trail and set alive another tale.