How long does it take to summit Mount Kilimanjaro – UHURU PEAK
The summit day itself typically involved 12-15 hours of walking. Trekking involves 5 – 8 hours per day with large elevation gains of 1,000 – 2,000+ feet / 305 – 610+ meters per day. Multiple days of this level of trekking will occur throughout the trip. You should be in great physical shape and participating in 4, 1‑hour workouts per week before the trek. At least 1 to 2 days should include hiking with a small pack, leading up to several walks of 5 – 7 hours, with altitude gain if possible.
Every afternoon before the summit attempt trekkers are invited to go on additional acclimatisation treks, designed to take you up much higher, before returning to camp to sleep low. It’s this cycling of high and low which helps your body to adjust to the altitude. These treks are typically 2-5 hours.
Mount Kilimanjaro Summit day is Day on Kilimanjaro. The toughest mentally and the most demanding physically. From waking in the early hours in pitch black and sub-freezing temperatures to collapsing exhausted at camp at the end of the day, there is no respite.
Stella or Gilman’s?
No matter what route you take through the foothills of Kilimanjaro you will make your approach to Uhuru Peak through either Stella Point or Gillman’s Point, the two connecting paths along the crater rim. Both routes are steep and challenging, however the success rates on summit night are influenced more by the days leading up to the summit rather than the final approach. The majority of people take the Lemosho, Machame, or Umbwe routes and approach through Stella Point. The alternative is to take the Rongai, Marangu, or Northern Circuit to approach through Gilman’s Point.
Here is what to expect in Kilimanjaro Summit night:
Whichever route you choose, you’ll be spending the night before summit at an altitude of around 4,600 – 4,700m. At this altitude there are three serious impediments to sleep, (1) Cold overnight temperatures (well below freezing) (2) Altitude Sickness (mild head-aches and mild nausea if you are lucky) and (3) anxiety about the climb ahead. Still, sleep you will and for those attempting a sun-rise summit, you’ll be setting off in the very early hours (after midnight).
How long do we spend at the summit?
This is a very popular question, and most people are surprised to hear that you spend about 15 minutes or so at the summit.
Mount Kilimanjaro Summit Temperature
The temperature at Uhuru Peak (the summit of Kilimanjaro) sits at around -5 or -6° C (or 23 to 21° F). There’s chances of more snow at the summit in winter.
Kilimanjaro Summit Schedule: Nighttime vs. Daytime Summits on Kilimanjaro
Depending on the route you take up the mountain, your summit bid may be a 10-15 hour night bid, or you may have the opportunity to summit during the day. Shorter routes, like Umbwe, include nighttime summits with immediate descents, since limited acclimatization time on these treks makes it uncomfortable for climbers to stay at the summit elevations for long. Both daytime and nighttime summiteers will start at Barafu camp or Kibo hut but their experiences will unfold a bit differently…
Nighttime Summit Bid (all times approximate)
12 AM: After dinner, rest for a few hours; at midnight, you’ll be woken up by your guide. Put on your headlamp and head outside for a hot beverage and a snack; you have a long night ahead of you!
3 AM: Your slow, steady pace has brought you far enough up the mountain to get a special view of the line of glowing headlamps snaking up the trail, a human highway to the top.
4 AM: Take as deep a breath as you can; you’re facing the most difficult section of your summit bid: the steep, scree-covered switchbacks that wind their way up to Stella Point.
5:30 AM: You’re starting to get bone-tired from the steep slopes and the altitude, but the sight of the sun rising behind the crags and spires of nearby Mawenzi gives you new energy to keep pushing to the top!
6 AM: Finally, you’ve reached Stella Point: the steepest part of your climb is over! Take a break for a drink and a light snack, enjoy the morning sunshine on your face, and summon your last reserves of energy for the final push to Uhuru Peak!
7-7:30 AM: You’ve Reached the Summit! It will be crowded with other hikers, and the air here is very thin, so take a few quick photos and begin your descent back to Stella Point.
8 AM: It’s so much easier going down! After you reach Stella Point, you’ll get your adrenaline pumping by taking the “direct” route down the mountain… “scree-skiing!”
10 AM: As the elevation drops, your body starts to feel better. Enjoy an early lunch to fuel up for the remaining hours of hiking into camp.
3-4 PM: Arrive into your camp in time for afternoon tea. It was a long, difficult day, but you did it!
Daytime Summit Bid (all times approximate)
5 AM: Wake up with some hot coffee or tea and enjoy breakfast in camp. You’ll set out just as dawn is breaking!
11 AM: Take a rest along the scree switchbacks that lead to Stella Point for a hot beverage and a picnic lunch. The fuel will help you push through to the top!
12:30 PM: Phew! You’ve finally reached Stella Point, so the steepest part of the trail is behind you; from here to Uhuru Peak, the trekking will be much easier.
2 PM: You’ve reached the Summit! Not many people are here, and your body has had plenty of time to acclimatize, so you can take your time at the top, snapping photos and celebrating with your fellow trekkers!
3 PM: Descend into Crater Camp via the quickest route possible: scree-skiing!
3:30 PM: You’ve reached Crater Camp. Refuel with tea and popcorn.
4 PM: Explore the sparkling glaciers, the ash pit, and the surrounding crater. Few trekkers have the chance to see these stunning sights up close!
6 PM: Enjoy a hot dinner with your fellow trekkers and some hot tea to keep you warm and hydrated in the dry, cold air of crater camp. Tomorrow morning, you’ll have the chance to summit again if you want, joining the trail of night-summiteers near the end of their journey, or you can enjoy a more leisurely descent day.
What is Kilimanjaro summit night?
Kilimanjaro Summit night is the part of the climb where we set out for the highest point of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak. It’s called summit night by some and summit day by others, and both are valid as the climb starts during the night and ends in the daytime. Specifically, the climb starts at midnight and ends late in the afternoon. During this time you trek up to the summit and then hike about half of the way back down the mountain. It’s one mammoth day of hiking that will test your mettle in every way!
1. It’s hard to sleep at altitude
The higher the altitude, the harder it is to sleep at night. This is because the reduced oxygen can make breathing laboured. Instead of everyone lying awake in bed fretting over the mega hike ahead of them, we bite the bullet and set out early for the summit.
2. There’s much ground to cover
Another of the key reasons for the nighttime start is that there’s so much ground to cover today. Regardless of which camp is base camp for your summit attempt, you have a long climb ahead of you, followed by a long descent to that night’s rest camp. Given there are trekkers a day behind you who’ll be camping where you are, you cannot just drop down to your base camp after reaching the summit. Instead, climbers must descend to a lower camp, and this means plenty of downhill hiking.
3. All water at this elevation must be carried up
The longer trekkers stay at very high altitude on Kilimanjaro, the more water porters must carry up to camp. Water is obtained from streams, but these are only found lower down on the mountain. The summit’s base camps are in the alpine desert zone, where it’s hard to find water. So we don’t dilly-dally at such high elevation. This is another reason we drop down substantially in elevation after summiting the mountain.
4. The sunrise from Stella Point is glorious
To stand on Stella Point, almost at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, while the sun rises is a special moment indeed.
How do I prepare to Summit Kilimanjaro?
Summit Night, En Route to Uhuru Peak ; The Start
Every night on your climb your guide team will meet with you to explain what to expect on the next day, and your summit night is no exception. The plan for this night is always a little different with each group, depending on the collective speed and endurance. You’ll have a light snack, a final briefing with the guides, then leave to push for the summit. Most often the group leaves high camp for the summit around midnight, hiking through the darkness to reach the summit or Crater Rim by sunrise. For the first few hours it will be dark and cold, you’ll hike ‘slow and steady’, trying to avoid too many breaks along the way. The trail is a long string of switch backs as you climb in elevation, rather than large stairs as you may find on other trekking routes.
How long does it take to summit Mount Kilimanjaro
The hike from your high camp to the summit will likely be around 6-7 hours, depending on the group. If you’ve been skimming this article so far, this is the point where you should start reading. Remember Pole, Pole is the strategy here, meaning “Slowly” in Swahili. Some tips for this final section are to focus on your breath and don’t look up. Seeing the mountain “looming” above you in the distance can be discouraging and intimidating. Instead, focus on the path in front of you and keep a steady rhythm. One way to do this is by bringing some good music to hike to. This is an endurance challenge; the right music can make all the difference. To keep the tunes going, protect your batteries by keeping them in a warm place as the cold will drain them fast! Another important rule is to listen to your guides, when the group needs it and the trail allows they will announce a break. Our guides will encourage you to push further and harder than you may think possible while keeping you safe.
What to Wear and How to Outfit Yourself for the Summit
As with any high altitude long distance trek it’s important to have some comfortable, waterproof, broken-in hiking boots and moisture wicking wool socks to avoid blistering. When approaching the summit, the temperatures will dip below zero and wearing multiple layers is important. Most climbers wear 4 layers on top and 3 on bottom. Your top layers should consist of a long sleeved base layer, a soft shell, a hooded insulated jacket, and lastly a hardshell. On the bottom wear moisture wicking underwear and long underwear, hiking pants, waterproof pants with an extra pair of fleece pants. For your head bring a warm hat, a buff, and a headlamp. To protect your fingers from frostbite wear two pairs of gloves, the outer layer being waterproof. Due to the high altitude it’s necessary to bring items such as a brimmed hat, sunblock, sunglasses or goggles to protect yourself from the intense rays on the descent.
Here’s a look at what to expect on your Kilimanjaro summit Day
Climbing to the Kilimanjaro Crater Rim:
The climb can be divided into two, the first ascent to the rim and then the traverse around the rim to Uhuru Peak. Machame reaches the rim at Stella Point (5,685m) whilst Marangu reaches the rim at Gillman’s Point (5,681m). You’re looking at a climb of around 1,000m in altitude gain from camp to the rim. This section involves a slow tack up the scree that, in the dark at least, affords little views other than the countless head torches of your fellow climbers snaking up the mountain.
Traversing the Crater rim:
Depending on your route, the crater rim traverse can take 1 – 2 hours. If it weren’t for the prior exertions and extreme altitude this would be little worse than a walk in a City park. Unfortunately at this stage, legs are heavy, oxygen is scarce and temperatures are low. The view can be incredible, with the lunar landscape of the crater itself to one side, the dramatic glaciers and if you are lucky, far reaching views over the plains of Africa.
Uhuru Peak:
Uhuru Peak is the highest point on the rim and at an altitude of 5,895m, the highest point in all Africa. Depending on when you summit you may have to queue to get your de riguer summit photo in front of the jauntily angled summit sign. There are several poignant memorials at the summit, but a surprisingly scarce sense of drama. The emotion experienced by most is one of pure intense relief at having made it.
Avoiding Crowds at Uhuru Peak
Uhuru Peak can often be crowded, especially at dawn, when most trekkers aim to summit. A recommended alternative is to consider summiting in the day. Leaving camp around 6am, you can expect to summit after noon with few other people around. The only drawbacks are that there will be a greater likelihood of low lying cloud cover and you won’t catch the sunrise from the peak. For many these are small compromises.
Scree running:
Having made it to the top, the only way is down and after making such a meal of getting up, the retreat is so much easier. That isn’t to take away from the jelly leg inducing, knee jarring descent, but the relief as your body finds itself in a more humane environment is palpable. Back at camp for breakfast / lunch, you can then either choose to rest at camp, or head straight on down to a lower camp above the treeline. At this point you can start looking forward to the luxuries of civilisation
