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Most Kilimanjaro expeditions begin their final ascent around midnight.
At Mountain Climbing Adventures, we leave our high camp around 3 or 4 in the morning.
That difference might not sound significant.
But after more than 55 ascents of Kilimanjaro, I've come to appreciate just how much those few hours can change the experience.
We still begin in darkness, moving quietly under the stars.
We still experience sunrise high on the mountain. In fact, it's one of my favourite parts of the climb.
But rather than rushing toward the summit before dawn, we have the opportunity to stop, look around and appreciate what that sunrise represents.
As the morning unfolds, we're climbing in daylight.
And by the time we approach the summit, many of the larger groups have already begun their descent.
There have been countless occasions when climbers descending past us have turned to their guides and asked:
“Why didn't we do that?”
It's a question I've heard many times.
Because there is something remarkable about reaching the highest point in Africa and finding that, for a little while, you have it almost entirely to yourselves.
Time to take it in.
Time to appreciate where you are, without feeling hurried by the crowds.
Of course, our approach requires careful planning, an appropriately positioned high camp, and constant attention to altitude, weather and the condition of our climbers.
It's not simply a matter of sleeping in and leaving later.
It's the result of decades spent observing what works, what doesn't, and how small decisions can fundamentally change an expedition.
The summit has always mattered.
But so has the experience of getting there.
Paul DeAngelis
Founder & Head Guide
Mountain Climbing Adventures
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