Mountain Climbing
Kilimanjaro or Mount Kenya: choosing your climb
East Africa's two highest mountains can both be climbed without technical skills. They are very different experiences, and the right choice depends on your goals, time and appetite for altitude.
By Absolute Holiday Safaris · · 3 min read
At a glance
- Kilimanjaro: Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m. The highest point in Africa. Our climbs take five to seven days.
- Mount Kenya: Point Lenana, 4,985 m, the highest trekking summit (the main peaks are technical climbs). Our treks take four to five days.
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is about reaching the top of Africa. The routes pass through rainforest, moorland and alpine desert to the summit crater. Summit night is long and cold, and the altitude is the main challenge.
Our Marangu climbs use huts; Machame climbs use tents and include the Shira Plateau, the Lava Tower and the Barranco Wall.
Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya is often described as the more scenic trek, with jagged peaks, tarns and glacial valleys. Point Lenana is lower than Uhuru Peak, but the terrain can be rugged and the weather changeable.
A traverse, such as up Sirimon and down Chogoria, shows two sides of the mountain.
Altitude and acclimatisation
Both mountains reach altitudes where altitude sickness can affect anyone, regardless of fitness. The most effective thing you can do is to choose a longer itinerary and walk slowly.
