Should You Climb on New Years?

Many people like to plan trips up Kilimanjaro during the holidays, normally around Christmas and New Years. I have to say, last year we took a group to the top of Kilimanjaro, arriving on the first sunrise of New Years 2006. Although it was a wonderful experience and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world, climbing the mountain on the last night was like walking through the mall a few days before Christmas.

It was busy - really busy. I am estimating a few hundred people summitted on New Years. And, it was pretty difficult to get the quintessential picture next to the sing post at the “Roof of Africa.”

If you don’t mind some crowds on the mountain (and only in a few key areas), then climbing around New Years is great. But if you want solititude and typical mountain experience avoid New Years all together.