It is the oldest and most famous route on Kilimanjaro, and the only one with huts. In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we climb the Marangu route, known to many as the Coca-Cola Route, the gentle, sociable, hut-to-hut classic.

In this episode:

• Why Marangu is the only route with a bed and a roof each night
• The rainforest, the moorland, and the stark saddle beneath Kibo
• The honest truth about the five-day version and the summit success rate
• Why we always recommend the six-day version over the five
• Where the Coca-Cola Route nickname really comes from

Comfortable, characterful and the most affordable way up, Marangu is the classic Kilimanjaro trail. Here is what it is really like, and who it suits best.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

It is the only route that climbs Kilimanjaro from the north, and the quietest on the mountain. In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we climb the Rongai route, the gentle, remote and wonderfully peaceful path to the summit.

In this episode:

• Why Rongai is the only ascent from the northern, Kenyan side
• The farmland, the pine forest and the open moorland beneath the spires of Mawenzi
• The acclimatisation day at Mawenzi Tarn and the crossing of the great lunar saddle
• The summit approach via Gilman's Point, and the descent down the Marangu route
• Why its drier northern approach makes it the route we trust most in the wetter months

Quiet, gentle and gloriously remote, Rongai is the peaceful way to the Roof of Africa. Here is what it is really like, and who it suits best.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

It is the quietest route on the whole mountain, and the one with the very best chance of getting you to the top. In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we walk the Northern Circuit, Kilimanjaro's longest and most remote path to the summit.

In this episode:

• Why the Northern Circuit has the highest success rate of any route
• The remote western start, and the swing around the quiet northern slopes
• The big, empty views towards the plains that most climbers never see
• Why more days on the mountain means better acclimatisation
• The honest trade-off: the finest route on the mountain, if you can spare the time

Remote, peaceful and brilliantly paced for the summit, the Northern Circuit is the thinking climber's choice. Here is what it is really like, and who it suits best.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

Here you go, both pieces for the Machame episode, same shape as the Lemosho ones.

Spotify episode description

It is the most popular route on Kilimanjaro, and the most famous. In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we climb the Machame route, known to many as the Whiskey Route, the spirited, scenic and slightly tougher path to the summit.

In this episode:

• Why Machame became the most travelled route on the mountain
• The rainforest, the moorland and the great Southern Glaciers
• The thrilling Barranco Wall, and the climb to Uhuru Peak
• Where the Whiskey Route nickname really comes from
• Why we always recommend the seven-day version over the six

Dramatic, varied and brilliant value, Machame is the people's champion of Kilimanjaro. Here is what it is really like, and who it suits best.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

It is the route we send more climbers up than any other, and quietly, the one we think is the most beautiful. In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we walk you up the Lemosho route, Kilimanjaro's most scenic path to the summit.

In this episode:

• The quiet, remote western start that most climbers never see
• The dramatic crossing of the Shira Plateau
• The famous Barranco Wall, and the climb to Uhuru Peak
• Why Lemosho has one of the highest summit success rates on the mountain
• Why we always recommend the eight day version over the seven

Beautiful, remote and brilliantly paced for the summit, Lemosho is our flagship for a reason. Here is what it is really like, and who it suits best.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

Altitude sickness stops more people reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro than anything else, and yet most climbers misunderstand it completely.

In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we explain it calmly and honestly: what altitude sickness actually is, why it has almost nothing to do with how fit you are, and how to give yourself the best possible chance of reaching the top.

In this episode:

• Why the fittest climbers often struggle the most
• The normal symptoms to expect, and the rare warning signs that matter
• Why the number of days on the mountain is your single biggest protection
• How a good operator keeps you safe, from pulse oximetry to oxygen
• Why turning back, when it is needed, is wisdom and not failure

The honest truth running through it all: altitude sickness is largely preventable. Climb slowly, give your body time, and go with a team who watch over you properly, and the mountain becomes a great deal safer.

This is general information and not medical advice. Always speak to your own doctor before climbing at altitude.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro? It is the question everyone asks once they have decided to go, and the honest answer is not quite what the brochures tell you.

In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we walk you through the best time to climb Africa's highest mountain, month by month, with no spin.

In this episode:

• The two dry seasons, January to early March and June to October, and what each is really like
• The months to avoid, and the clever route choice that saves a wet-season climb
• How the crowds change through the year, and where to find solitude
• Climbing by the light of the full moon
• Timing your climb around a safari and the Great Migration

And the truth most operators skip past: the month you choose matters far less than the number of days you spend on the mountain. A longer, well-paced climb in a quieter month will beat a rushed one in peak season, every single time. Pick your days first. Then pick your month.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

How much does it really cost to climb Kilimanjaro, and why might the cheapest climb on offer be the most expensive mistake you could make?

In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we give you an honest breakdown of what a Kilimanjaro climb actually costs, and what you are really paying for.

In this episode:

• What a safe, well-run climb genuinely costs
• Where your money goes, and why the national park fees are fixed and make up about a third of the price
• What pushes the cost up or down, from route and days to group size and season
• Why a suspiciously cheap climb is a red flag, not a bargain
• The extras to budget for beyond the headline price

Because on Kilimanjaro, the park fees cannot be cut, so when a price drops far below the rest, something else is being cut instead. Usually the porters, who pay the price first, and sometimes your own safety. This is the episode that helps you tell a fair price from a false economy.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.