Reopening this old thread for some advice.
Myself and two work colleagues are starting to plan a trip in east Africa for 12 - 18 months' time. I'm considering arriving earlier and climbing Kilimanjaro,though I am worried about security in Nairobi - actually getting to the organisers of my tour in one piece, as a lone female traveller (not sure if I could connect immediately from Nairobi airport to Kilimanjaro airport)
Advice from those who have climbed it - what approaches do you recommened? I'd not be doing this as a fast trip, some of the routes I am looking at give you more time to acclimatise.
Machame Route - 6 days climbing - most popular, more challening? Approaches from the south west, scenic
Marangu Route - 5 days climbing - starts from the SE, utilises some huts, most direct, busy, i think this route backtracks
Rongai Route - 6 days climbing - more remote, ascent and descent on opposite sides of the mountain. said to have a higher success rate and is the 'easiest' route, fewer people use this route
Lemosho Route - 8 days trekking - starts from the west, fewer people, more scenic, most unspoiled, better for less experienced climbers, joins with Machame after a rainforest beginning, is a couple of days longer (more time to acclimatise?) - this is the one I am leaning towards at present after preliminary research
Shira Route?
Umbwe Route?
Western Breach?
Mount Meru?
Also, which groups did you go with?
I just had a look at the link in the post above, which is where I saw the latter routes that weren't mentioned as choices where i have been reading.
http://www.ultimatekilimanjaro.com/index.htm
Edit - I just discovered it's possible to fly directly from Sydney to Moshi (Kilimanjaro) airport in Tanzania
EDIT - I just realised this was in Bushwalking Discussion. I'll cut and paste and make a newer post under 'international'
Can a moderator remove this from here please?