Experiences You Should Have Podcast Show Notes

Mt. Kilimanjaro

Is climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro on your bucket list? Listen to the above episode on hiking and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, sitting at 19,341 feet. Brie Burgett (globetrotter, adventure seeker, and U.S. Marine) came on Experiences You Should Have podcast and shared her bucket list experience of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Check out Brie's adventure travel site and Instagram to follow her adventures.

The Experience: Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro

Brie clearly remembers the icy cold wind whipping snow into her eyes, making it difficult to see in the dim morning light as she crunched through the final exhausting steps to touch the base of the large wooden sign marking the summit of Kilimanjaro. As the sun began to crest over the horizon and fill the sky with streaks of red, Brie was mesmerized by the moment of silence and the victory of summiting one of the world's famed Seven Summits. Suddenly the past few hours of trekking uphill in the frozen darkness and the days of hiking before that brought this moment, begin to fade away and the weariness was replaced by a sense of accomplishment.

That right there is why you should experience climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Brie Burgett at the Summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro

Why Hike Mt. Kilimanjaro?

First off, Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and once you climb Kili, then you are 1/7th done with climbing the world's Seven Summits. This climb is feasible to do without spending tens of thousands of dollars like the other famous mountains. Plus, it's a fantastic opportunity to explore the heart of Africa and accomplish something truly remarkable. Climbing Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb, which opens the door to beginner mountain climbers.

Best Time to Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

Technically, you can climb Mt. Kilimanjaro any time of the year, but the dry months are more favorable for climbing. The best months to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro is December to March and June to October. Brie went in mid-December, and it was not overly crowded at that time.

Top Climbing Routes on Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro is located between Kenya and Tanzania and has 7 different routes up, but all start on the Tanzania side.  The routes vary in difficulty and length.  Brie took the Machame Route, which is known as the “Whiskey” route because of its comparatively longer and steeper path which is recommended for those with some hiking experience. However, due to the beautiful and varied scenery on this route, it has become a substantially more popular route resulting in larger numbers of crowds hiking during the high season. Brie found that this route was easier than anticipated.

Skills and Physical Considerations to Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

This is not a technical climb, it is still a multi-day climb that may take 6 days. While the summit climb was freezing cold and definitely challenging, there was plenty of hot food, rest time, and well-kept trails making this hike easily accomplished by anyone in relatively good fitness that is willing to endure several days of uphill walking.  If altitude sickness worries you, consider taking Diamox to help with altitude sickness (but please take your doctor's advice).

No Climbing Solo, You Will Need a Tour Group

It is actually required in Tanzania for you to be led by a registered and licensed guide.