The Vertical Sky Journal

It is the subject every Kilimanjaro climber quietly worries about. In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we talk honestly about altitude sickness: why you will very probably feel something, and the ten remedies, chemical, herbal and holistic, that actually help. In this episode:* The honest truth: half the oxygen, and why mild symptoms are normal and manageable* Diamox, painkillers and anti...

It is the question every climber asks before any other: which route is best? In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we compare all six ways up Kilimanjaro, honestly, and tell you exactly which one we would choose for you. In this episode:* The one truth that governs everything: days matter more than fitness* Lemosho, the most beautiful path and the route we recommend more than any other* Mac...

It is the mountain everyone is told to climb slowly. So what happens when someone runs? In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we tell the story of Kilimanjaro's speed records, the men and women who have raced the Roof of Africa, and the 16-hour attempt that began in a village called Mabungo. In this episode:* The July 2026 attempt on the summit and back in 16 hours, from the place one c...

It has the highest starting point on Kilimanjaro, and the wildest first morning. In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we climb the Shira route, the bold, remote and breathtaking path that begins on the great Shira Plateau itself. In this episode: Why Shira starts at nearly 3,600 metres, and what that means for your body The vast, silent wilderness of the Shira Plateau, Kilimanjaro's ol...

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 abo...

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 accli...

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...

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 travelle...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

Climb Kilimanjaro and you pass through five completely different worlds, from warm farmland at the base to a frozen arctic summit nearly six kilometres up. In a single week, you travel the rough equivalent of walking from the equator to the poles. In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we climb the mountain stage by stage through its five climate zones, and meet the remarkable plants and wil...