Difficulty Level
EBC is located at 5,380 meters, while the base camp of Tanzania's highest peak is elevated to a height of 5,895 meters. They both need enough time for acclimatization as their elevation is not significantly different. It takes 11–12 days to conquer the trek to the Everest Base Camp. However, it would take more than five days to ascend Tanzania's highest free-standing peak, which is undoubtedly not the easiest.
The trekking routes to these two mountains present a particularly challenging task. Journeying to the Everest Base Camp takes you through challenging rugged trails. However, the panoramic views of the Nepalese Himalayas make up for the journey. You can observe some of the tallest peaks in the world including Everest. With Kilimanjaro, you’re trekking in the tropical continent, so the motive is entirely different.
You are staying a couple of days in the high altitude zones greater than 4000m during the EBC trek. Staying in high-altitude regions is particularly challenging. However, the Kilimanjaro trek need not require you to sleep in high-altitude zones for many days. If you take note of that observation, the Everest Base Camp journey may be comparatively more difficult.
Route
The entire trek of the Everest Base Camp takes you along a pathway with a continuous mountain backdrop. Your cultural encounter with the Sherpa community enhances the challenging mountainous journey. First, you take a scenic flight to Lukla, the world’s most dangerous airport. Then, you go through a series of ascents and descent, traversing through high-altitude villages following the conventional Tenzing-Hillary route. With Gokyo Ri and the high passes in the Khumbu region, these difficulties are emerald with the side conquests. Along the approach and throughout the excursion to EBC, there are numerous opportunities for cultural indulgence.
The trail reaching the base camp is enamored with modest to luxury accommodations in beautiful tea houses. You traverse through the UNESCO enlisted Sagarmatha National Park. Spiritual Buddhist chortens and pathways leading to hundred-year-old Monasteries decorate the adventurous trail. The journey is a tranquil one when the Himalayas are calling your name.
For acclimatization and to get some relaxation, you spend one night in Namche Bazaar. You traverse the villages of Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep enroute to the base camp.
The next morning you go to Kala Patthar viewpoint. The sunrise over Mount Everest and the nearby mountain peaks is very stunning! Returning to Gorakshep for a catered dinner. Following that, you'll proceed to Namche Bazaar and finally Pheriche. You'll catch a flight to Kathmandu from Lukla, where the trek comes to an end.
Kilimanjaro, on the other hand, offers six distinct routes to reach the peak. Of them, the Marangu route is the only one with hut accommodations, and the Machame route is the one that most climbers choose to take. Together with the Umbwe trail, these two routes start from the southern side. The Lemosho Route and the Northern Circuit start the journey from the west, while the Rongai Route starts from the north.
Another route, the Shira route, is comparable to the Lemosho route except for the first day when Simba camp serves as the first half. Although there are numerous ways, climbing Kilimanjaro offers a journey through various natural regions, from bushland to tropical rainforest, before reaching the arctic region with its permanent ice and snow at the top. Kilimanjaro is more of an isolated trek.
Jumps in the Elevation
On Kilimanjaro, summit night is the true test of courage. You get out of your cozy sleeping bag and get ready for a nighttime ascent after only a few hours of sleep (or anxious repose). Then, at around midnight, you venture outside into the chilly night to attempt the peak, also known as Uhuru Peak.
It is impossible to overstate the amount of physical and mental endurance needed to finish the roughly eight-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak in the thin air. And once you've (hopefully) made it to the top, the first leg of the descent will take you another six to eight hours of hiking.
Nothing on Everest Base Camp compares to the struggle of summit night, which naturally extends into summit day. You may only hike during the day on the Everest Base Camp trip.
Furthermore, there isn't a final steep ascent to Everest Base Camp; rather, you enter the camp rather level. In reality, your total ascent on the base camp day is merely 400 m. On Kilimanjaro, though, summit night necessitates a nearly 1,200 m (4,000 ft) elevation gain! The final summit push on Kilimanjaro is incredibly challenging to accomplish.
Scenery
You can gaze at the Himalayas of the Khumbu Region surrounded by a variety of topographic features. As you ascend higher up Kilimanjaro, you can see views of clouds and tropical forests as you pass the cloud line. When trekking in Nepal, you can cross deep rivers on suspension bridges exquisitely decorated with chortens, or bright sacred prayer flags.
You will be strolling next to Himalayan yaks wearing bells around their necks and carrying supplies for the locals living in the Himalayas. You will also be in awe of the beautiful Himalayas as they tower above you in all their power. The trail's continuous uphill and downhill hiking will put your excitement and tenacity to reach the Everest foothills to the test.
You will travel through several natural zones as you ascend to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. This excursion will take just a few days to travel from the equator to the arctic zone. The journey takes you from the equator's bush lands and coffee and banana farms to high-altitude arctic zones. You will eventually arrive at a tropical forest with big trees and waterfalls.
When you reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro it is more polar after ascending through the heather zone, moorland zone, highland desert zone, and so on. Kilimanjaro trek exposes you to varying ecology as we consecutively move forward.
We hope the question we posed previously will be useful to you as you decide on your course of action. We advise choosing Kilimanjaro if you want to see wildlife. Consider the alternate EBC treks if you're looking for scenery. Since it's your trip, you could add as much or as little personalization as you like.
Fitness Level
It is difficult to say which trek is more difficult since both Everest base camp and Mount Kilimanjaro offer distinct experiences. Travelers' perceptions of hardship will vary. You have to endure long journeys in both scenarios.
While the EBC treks are longer in comparison, their grades are gentler. It is simply necessary to hike on the established routes for each excursion. There is no actual climbing involved. Because of this, hikers between the ages of 10 and 70 can participate in either of these trips. The trekkers should begin preparing a few months in advance and be in good physical condition for both trips.
Everest Base Camp is an excellent option for you if you're looking to accomplish something adventurous and incredibly renowned. Everyone has heard of it! It won't be simple to hike from 2,800 meters to 5,300 meters. It won't be easy, but neither will it be impossible.
Make a significant effort to prepare for both of these treks. Although you don't have to be an Olympic athlete or have any special climbing abilities, physical conditioning will make the mental component much simpler (and vice-versa).
Other Exploring Opportunities
If you're going to Tanzania or Nepal, trekking can be just one aspect of your journey. The wonderful nations and civilizations feel like something you must visit, even though you may be soaring high for a week or so. You don't visit Nepal that often, do you? Neither Tanzania!
When it comes to filling their free time while traveling abroad, Kilimanjaro climbers will discover that going on a safari is one of the most alluring possibilities. Following your ascent of Africa's highest peak, the Tarangire National Park allows spotting elephants, buffalo, zebra, and pythons. Arusha National Park is another option, where the presence of warthogs and buffalo will make you feel as though you are in The Lion King.
There are no such direct prospects at Everest Base Camp as there are on an African safari. However, there are lots of activities and places to discover in Nepal. Cultural enthusiasts will love exploring the valley, which is home to some breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage monuments. You will love learning the history of ancient Nepal in the capital. There are many more exciting tours waiting for you to happen in Nepal!
In Kathmandu, there are many wonderful cultural activities. Kathmandu offers a lot, from wandering around the incredible markets in Thamel to viewing the numerous Buddhist and Hindu religious sites scattered across the city. Visiting Chitwan National Park in the far south, where you can view wild Asian elephants, one-horned rhinos, and Bengal Tigers is recommended if city experiences are not your thing.
Duration of the Trek
In addition to being twice as long as a typical Mount Kilimanjaro trek, the EBC expedition lasts around two weeks. It might be difficult for a lot of people to find two weeks off work to spend with family. As a result, climbing Kilimanjaro is a popular trek for people with limited time.
Not because it is farther away, but because the EBC trek lasts longer. Acclimatization is the reason, rather. On the other side, Kilimanjaro has an extremely quick rise and descent profile. This implies that if you ascend quickly, you are just as likely to experience the effects of altitude sickness as you would on the EBC journey, but it is far simpler to descend quickly on Kilimanjaro. Thus, helicopter rescues are frequent on the EBC trek but nearly never occur on Kilimanjaro.
You also have a variety of options for your EBC trip. You can complete the trek within 7 days, 12 days, 13days or even 14 days depending on the availability of your time.
Acclimatization Standpoint
In comparison to the Everest Base Camp route, one of the shorter Kilimanjaro routes allows you to reach high altitudes far more quickly. This significantly raises your risk of experiencing altitude sickness and failing to reach the top.
For instance, you ascend approximately 4,000 m in just four days on a five-day Kilimanjaro climb! While ascending the same elevation over seven days on the Everest Base Camp climb, one of those days is a rest day that provides for acclimatization.
Height at the End Destination
Kilimanjaro is higher than Everest Base Camp in comparison to both destinations' heights. At 5,895 m (19,341 ft), Uhuru Peak is the highest point in Africa. As opposed to that, Everest Base Camp is 5,364 meters high (17,598 ft). You must ascend Kilimanjaro half a kilometer further in the air.
However, because it is 5,643 m (2,106 ft) above sea level and provides a spectacular, unobstructed view of Everest, most people who trek to Everest Base Camp also climb Kala Patthar the day after arriving at base camp. There isn't much of a difference in the height you must trek on each hike when compared to Uhuru Peak's 5,895 m, though.
Best for Budget
The cost of climbing Kilimanjaro generally rises as the number of days needed for the trip grows. It is anticipated to be less expensive than the expedition to Everest Base Camp. However, the EBC journey is marginally less expensive than climbing Kilimanjaro. While the EBC trip takes over two weeks to complete, the tallest peak in Africa may be reached in lesser time. The Kilimanjaro climb necessitates camping to the top, while, the journey to EBC offers tea house lodging along the route.
Each rest station on the Everest Base Camp is at a tea house run by a local person who will provide you with services while you're there. In contrast, your porters will carry the food and camping supplies for each stop on the Mt. Kilimanjaro trek, except for the Marangu route.
Finally, around 90% of attempts are successful at Everest Base Camp. The average for Kilimanjaro is only about 45%! However, these are just the stats and real determination comes from you!
We hope that this blog will help you clear out your queries. It’s ultimately up to you to decide which trek you want to journey. Happy Trekking!
