Mt Kenya Vs Kilimanjaro  – What’s The Difference? : Mount Kenya or Mount Kilimanjaro? Is one of the most – asked questions by travelers on a mount climbing adventure in Africa, this question is very tricky as both mountains can be included into a safari itinerary and both are hiked rather than climbed.

Also, each summit is accessible without technical work and they are both extremely tall

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak on the African continent and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet), whilst Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain on the continent at 5,199 meters or 17,057 feet.

On each of these mountains, there are several hiking routes. All of them big, multi-day treks which require guides, permits and porters. This is an experience for the active travelers looking for more than just a wildlife safari.

Mt Kenya vs Kilimanjaro

To summit Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Kenya, it takes a team effort.

Generally, the hiking experience on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya is similar, lots of uphill walking through ever-changing habitats. The views are sensational on both mountains but temperatures get colder and the air thins as the hikes gain altitude, you will be camping – sleeping in a tent though both Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro have a trail option that offers hut accommodation. Tents and mattresses are provided along with all your food, drinks and camp amenities which usually include a portable toilet.

Trekking Equipment

 You will need to be reasonably fit for both mountains and equipped with the right hiking clothing, camping gear (head torch, first aid kit and so on) and the best sleeping bag you can afford. As for the best time to hike Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. Well, it’s the same, December/January to March, and June to October are the two dry season which coincides nicely with the best time to go on safari in East Africa as well as a good time for an Indian Ocean Beach Holiday, you can choose between Zanzibar or the Kenyan Coast.

To climb these mountains, you will need a backpack and hiking gear – a pair of hiking poles is highly recommended.

Both Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro are naturally different in other ways. For a start, Mount Kenya is in Kenya but Kilimanjaro lies in Tanzania with the best views of it from Kenya’s Amboseli National Park. You will fly to Kenya’s capital Nairobi ad drive north for a couple of hours for Mount Kenya, to get to Mount Kilimanjaro, you have to fly to Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro International Airport. Road transfers to both mountains and your first camps are usually included in the hiking package.

 Now the differences between Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro can be summed up in three questions.

“How long is each hike to the top?”

Mt Kenya Vs Kilimanjaro
Hiking Tours

Both Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro have a number of routes of varying degrees of difficulty but Mount Kilimanjaro hike can set aside between six and eight days even nine. Mount Kenya’s summit for hikers is somewhat lower than its very tallest peaks – accessible only by technical climbing and a full circuit takes four to six days. By hiking Mount Kenya, you lose little in terms of grand views but you can gain several days to add to a safari or beach holiday.

“What’s the cost difference?”

The pricing for mountain treks on Mount Kenya or Mount Kilimanjaro is determined by several factors including season, the route choice and operator. But the difference between what you will pay for Mount Kenya compared to Mount Kilimanjaro is considerable and often a reason why many hikers go for Mount Kenya.

Kilimanjaro has the magic name and allure of the superlative but you will be paying a premium for that especially during the peak dry seasons, Mount Kenya is a little more down – to earth and priced accordingly, often half as much as for a Kilimanjaro hike, whether its entry level or top of the range.

“What are the differences in experience?”

Mount Kilimanjaro is much more popular than Mount Kenya, this means more people on the mountain, an average of 35000 people attempt the Kilimanjaro summit every year accompanied by some 80,000 guides and porters. Whereas Mount Kenya sees less than half of that.

Out of the main trekking seasons, you may see no-one else all day on a Mount Kenya hike and the landscapes are more unspoiled. During the peak season, there is no rush for the top and rarely a crowd at Point Lenana – the summit of Mount Kenya unlike Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro which at times can be described as busy.

Hiking huts on Mt Kenya

Approaching the hiking huts on a Mount Kenya trek – a good option for a bit more comfort.

It is worth noting that trekking on Mount Kenya is somehow tougher than than on Mount Kilimanjaro, despite its lower altitude. Mount Kenya’s terrain is more rugged and its landscapes more challenging making a summit bid more difficult. The success rate for hikers to summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is around 70 -8-% compared to about 60% for Mount Kenya.

In conclusion -Both Mountains offer a great memorable adventure.

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