Duma Explorer - Mount Kilimanjaro — Climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the highest peak in Africa, with Alika Africa’s expert guides! We are an award-winning Mt. Kilimanjaro climbing and safari tour operator, providing adventurous travel experiences across East Africa, focusing on northern Tanzania.

Wondering how you’ll make it up to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and prepare for altitude sickness?

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is challenging but is hikable for trekkers of all ages with basic physical training, and without technical climbing skills. We have two decades of experience to help you reach the top of Kilimanjaro with safety and fun in mind and we're proud of our summit success rate of 97%. We can advise as to the best times to visit and climb the highest mountain in Africa. We support all of the major popular routes, and we're confident that we can design an itinerary based on the season; how many days you have on the mountain; and your trek readiness so you'll have the best chance to make it to the Uhuru Peak.

Why climb with us?

As a founding partner with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) we are dedicated to supporting sustainable living wages and fair treatment for our porters and Kilimanjaro guides. KPAP is an initiative of the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC) and is a non profit organization supporting porters and mountain climbing staff. As a local tour company, we know that the most important thing is that we take care of our people and offer the best training and supplies.

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Our highly trained mountain crew totals about 150 people, including guides, assistant guides, cooks, and porters - many of our staff began their careers with us as porters and have been part of the company since we started in 2004. Our mountain guides each have a minimum seven years experience hiking Kilimanjaro, while most of our porters, assistant guides, and cooks have been climbing for at least five years. Duma's chief guides and most assistant guides are Wilderness First Responder (WRF) certified, and majority of our cooks and porters have first aid training. You’ll hike with at least one head guide, an assistant guide, cook and several porters.

For your Kilimanjaro climb, we provide the highest quality mountaineering gear, special equipment for trekking, and the highest quality of services including chef-prepared meals so you maintain an appetite even at high altitudes. We also offer real toilet tents so you're comfortable during your trek, ensuring a good time on the mountain, and the best chance of summiting. We provide sleeping bags, tents, and other special equipment rated for sub-zero cold temperatures and strong winds, which you'll need for the final push to the summit. All you have to bring is your personal belongings, and don’t forget yourself!

Which route is the best route?

We support all of the popular routes but highly recommend an 8-day climb on the Lemosho-Shira Route; this is our most popular trekking option up the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The acclimatization is gradual which makes altitude sickness easy to manage, and the route is less crowded overall. The route supports a high success climb rate. We also support the following main routes: The Northern Circuit route, with the most stunning and comprehensive views of all the routes; the Machame Route, a popular camping route, the oldest route up Mount Kilimanjaro, the Marangu Route; the least crowded Rongai Route, and the technical, most difficult Umbwe Route. Our expert guides and porters have successfully led groups up all of the routes for many climbing seasons, and at the best times of the year, as well as during the less ideal times of the year to summit, including the rainy season. We also support training treks up Mount Kenya and Mount Meru.

Mount Kilimanjaro is truly a unique destination, as a lone mastiff towering over the plains of Eastern Africa with sweeping views and rich biodiversity, spread out over four climatic zones. Kilimanjaro is the singular mountain in the seven summits (the highest peaks on each continent) which may be approached as a walk-up, with no technical climbing skills required. Anyone with decent fitness, and enough time and acclimatization to manage altitude sickness, can reasonably hope for a best chance to summit KIlimanjaro while having a great time hiking. You’ll walk through lush montane and tropical rain forest, alpine desert, moorland, culminating in a glacier arctic summit at high altitudes where you can witness the effects of climate change on the glaciers. You may even see the peak of Mount Meru on a clear summit day.

A dormant volcano, Kilimanjaro consists of three cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. The highest point on Kibo’s crater rim is named Uhuru Peak after the Swahili word for 'freedom'.

What animals will I see on Kilimanjaro?

You’ll see various animals during your trek, including Colobus monkeys, buffalo, elephant, duiker, tree hyrax, silvery-cheeked hornbill, butterflies and chameleons. If you’re interested in simply exploring the biodiversity of Kilimanjaro, we also offer a day hike option in the Kilimanjaro rainforest.