It’s strange how a single photograph can plant a seed in your imagination. For me, it was a picture of Mount Kilimanjaro — its snow-capped summit piercing the clouds above the plains of Tanzania. At first, the idea of climbing it felt like a fantasy, something reserved for explorers or elite mountaineers. But the more I learned, the more I realised that this wasn’t an impossible expedition. It was a challenge, yes, but one within reach for ordinary people willing to prepare, plan, and take it one step at a time.
The Decision to Go
The decision to climb Kilimanjaro wasn’t spontaneous. It grew over months of research and conversations with people who had already done it. I discovered that the mountain — rising to 5,895 metres — is the tallest in Africa, but it isn’t a technical climb. You don’t need ropes or ice axes. What you do need is patience, determination, and a willingness to go slowly.
What struck me most was how many first-time trekkers succeed. Families, students, retirees — all sorts of people make the journey. It isn’t about speed or strength. It’s about understanding the mountain’s rhythm and adapting to it.
Planning the Journey
The first question I needed to answer was how much time to give myself. “How long does it take to climb Kilimanjaro?” is probably the most common question among first-time climbers, and the answer depends on the route you choose and how well you acclimatise to altitude.
Some routes take as little as five days, but the chances of success on such short itineraries are low. Most climbers — myself included — opt for a 7- or 8-day trek. The extra days give your body time to adjust to the thinning air and significantly improve your odds of reaching the summit.
Training was another part of the preparation. I wasn’t an athlete, but I committed to long hikes every weekend, carrying a backpack and increasing the weight each time. The goal wasn’t to get faster but to build endurance and practise walking at a slow, consistent pace — the same pace I’d need on the mountain.
Life on the Mountain
No two days on Kilimanjaro are the same. The landscape shifts dramatically as you ascend — from dense rainforest to windswept moorland, from alpine desert to icy glaciers near the top. Each day brought a new challenge and a new kind of beauty.
Days typically began with a knock on the tent and a cup of hot tea. After breakfast, we’d pack our daypacks and start walking. The pace was deliberately slow, sometimes frustratingly so, but our guides reminded us that “pole pole” — slowly, slowly — is the secret to success here.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed camp life. In the evenings, we shared meals with fellow trekkers from all over the world, swapping stories and laughing under a blanket of stars. There was a sense of community on the mountain — a shared purpose that made every step feel lighter.
The Summit Push
Summit day was unlike anything I had experienced. We woke at midnight and began the long, slow climb toward Uhuru Peak. The air was thin, and the cold was biting. Each step felt heavier than the last. It was more a mental battle than a physical one.
But then, after hours of darkness, a faint glow appeared on the horizon. The first light of dawn broke over the African plains, and with it came a surge of energy. Reaching Stella Point as the sun rose was unforgettable. From there, the final walk to the summit was filled with emotion — exhaustion, joy, disbelief, and pride, all at once.
Standing at the highest point in Africa, I felt a quiet satisfaction. The view was spectacular — glaciers glowing in the early light, clouds stretching endlessly below — but what moved me most was the journey itself. Every slow, deliberate step had led me here.
Choosing the Right Time
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone planning this climb, it would be to choose your season wisely. The best time to climb Kilimanjaro is during the dry months — January to March or June to October. These windows offer stable weather, clearer skies, and drier trails.
I went in late September, and the conditions were near perfect: warm days, crisp nights, and unobstructed views from the summit. The trade-off, of course, is that these months are also the busiest. If solitude is more appealing than sunshine, consider the shoulder seasons of late May or early November, when the mountain is quieter, though you may encounter more rain.
Lessons from the Mountain
Climbing Kilimanjaro taught me lessons I didn’t expect. It showed me that progress doesn’t need to be fast to be meaningful. It reminded me that challenges are best faced with patience and humility. And it revealed how deeply rewarding it can be to step outside the comfort of routine and test your limits in the wild.
Kilimanjaro isn’t just a climb — it’s a journey into resilience, determination, and discovery. And the moment you stand on that summit, you realise that the real transformation happened long before you reached the top.