This is part two of a three part series on Tourism Update looking at Africa’s highest mountain.

There are multiple routes up the mountain, and finding the right fit for a client, based on their level of experience, and the type of trip they would like to have, is crucial.

The Marangu Route can be done as a seven-day tour, with four nights and five days spent on the hike. “This is the shortest duration on offer, but means the hike will be tough as there is not much time to acclimatise,” says Sarah O’Mahony, Global Purpose Specialist at G Adventures (represented by Development Promotions). The Marangu Route offers climbers shared accommodation in huts, and they will hike up and down on the same route. “It is known as the tourist route,” adds O’Mahony. “It attracts the most hikers which means it gets very busy.”

By contrast, an easier route would be the Rongai Route, which is done in five nights and six days. The route starts on the north of the mountain, and hikers will descend on the Marangu Route, which means it can get busy.

On the Machame Route, which is also usually done in five nights and six days, clients can choose to extend this to the six-night, seven-day option. This is the duration O’Mahony recommends as it allows for an additional day of acclimatisation. “I personally climbed this route and enjoyed every minute,” she says. “It is beautiful and is known as the most popular route on the mountain, but it does come with a few challenges along the way like the Barranco Wall. It looks more ominous than it really is though, and no technical climbing skills are needed to scale the wall.”