Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base Camp: 6 Comparisons to Help you Choose your epic adventure

If you’re here you’ve been asking yourself, ” Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base Camp, which trek should I do?” In this blog post, I compare the 2 hikes. I’ve done both of them (Kilimanjaro twice) and feel like I’ve got a good grasp on the pros and cons of each.

The Himalayas of Nepal are a wonder to behold, a massive mountain range that is home to several of the world’s highest peaks. This includes Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on earth, whose base camp is accessible to even the most inexperienced hikers. On another continent is Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, a solitary volcanic peak among miles of open savannah. Its summit can be reached in as few as 5 days and does not require technical climbing or advanced hiking skills.

Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base Camp

Guest Post by Christa Singleton from Travel Fearlessly

Many travelers have dreams of experiencing these two famous treks and in an ideal world there would be money enough to do both.  But what if you had to choose between climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or trekking to Everest Base Camp?  This post will compare the major differences between the two adventures and hopefully by the end your decision to which adventure you should take, Mount Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base Camp will be made.

height of kilimanjaro vs everest Base camp

When comparing the 2 treks there is around 1,700 feet of difference in the elevation. With Uhuru Peak coming in a 19,341 ft and Everest Base Camp by comparison at 17,598. While it might not seem like much if you have difficulty with altitude 1,700 feet can be a lot.

However, when doing Everest Base camp many hikers opt to climb up to the summit Kala Patthar the day after they reach base camp. Kala Patthar, on a clear day, will have an unobstructed view of the summit of Mount Everest. The top of Kala Patthar sits at 18,513 feet. Those who choose to do this additional hike will be climbing higher than those who just go to base camp.

Best for Wildlife: Everest Base Camp

lady feeding a bird

Despite being in (kind of) and around African savannah there is not much wildlife on Kilimanjaro itself.  You may come across some monkeys at the base of the mountain but much of your trek is lacking in wildlife except for the occasional mouse or raven. However, if you choose to do one of the Kilimanjaro routes on the Kenya side of the mountain you might see safari animals, but this is a big might. This also makes hiking on the Kenya side of the mountain riskier.

The animal that is seen the most is one of the big five, the Cape Buffalo. They don’t make much noise so hikers tend to accidentally sneak up on them and they get spooked. These animals are dangerous and hikers have been hurt by the min the past, so please take care.

The trek to Everest Base Camp, however, is teeming with life.  This will obviously vary depending on what time of the year you go.  When I hiked in April I came across mountain goats, martins, Himalayan snowcocks and a variety of birds.  If seeing wildlife during your trek is a must then choose EBC.

Best for Food: Kilimanjaro

This is only my opinion but I thought that the food on Kilimanjaro was so much better than Nepal.  The food there was fresh, unique and hearty.  Soups, sausages, chicken and veggies were served and we rarely ate the same thing twice.  On Mount Kilimanjaro we never had to worry about consuming something that might make us sick.

Nepal, on the other hand, was a little more tricky.  In Nepal animals cannot be slaughtered in Sagarmatha National Park.  That means every piece of meat you see beyond Lukla has to be carried up the mountain by porter, increasing the risk of bacteria and food poisoning.  We did not eat dairy either (except powdered milk), just in case it wasn’t pasteurized.  After a week of dal bhat, eggs and French fries I was craving a fresh garden salad and pizza!

So for food in the Mount Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base Camp debate Kilimanjaro is the clear winner here.

Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base camp- Best for Views: Everest Base Camp

Kilimanjaro mountian

Mount Kilimanjaro IS the view so it stands to reason that when you’re hiking on it you’re not going to see much.  On the way to Everest Base Camp, however, you’re surrounded by stunning views of the Himalayas.  Everest itself isn’t much to look at but peaks like Ama Dablam will greet you every morning and that is not to be missed.

The views I loved most from Mount Kilimanjaro were actually the stars at night.  Every time I woke up for a bathroom break I would stand outside my tent and marvel at the Milky Way.  Those are views you can also get in Nepal, you just have to step outside the comfort of your warm teahouse and away from the buildings to catch a glimpse of the stars.

Best for Novice Hikers: Kilimanjaro

Deciding which hike is harder, Kilimanjaro or Everest Base Camp, is a big debate.  Our group of 15 women who did both treks were split pretty evenly on this topic.  Many who argued that Kilimanjaro was harder based their decision solely on the difficulty they experienced on summit night.  And while I agree that it’s a grueling day I felt that the hike to Everest Base Camp was overall more difficult for me.

But what many of us agreed on was that Kilimanjaro is easier for beginner trekkers.  The guides are more attentive, the trek is half as long and the time spent at high altitude is shorter.  If you’ve never hiked at high altitudes or for long distances then I recommend you start with Mount Kilimanjaro instead of Nepal.

Additionally, on Kilimanjaro, it is also easier to decide more rapidly in case of severe altitude sickness. There are many team members on the mountain to assist in a rapid descent whether it be carrying someone or them walking on their own. The latter is what happens most frequently. On Everest Base Camp it can be more challenging to descend because of the terrain and smaller teams supporting trekkers.

Both mountains have helicopter access, but that can be limited due to weather, where they can land, and the availability of helicopters.

Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base camp – Best for Budget: Everest Base Camp

Everest Base Camp is the clear winner when it comes to cost.  It’s possible to trek for as little as $40 a day if you don’t use a porter or guide, neither of which are required. I do not recommend this. On Kilimanjaro, however, by law you need to have a licensed guide for your climb.  This along with about $200 per day in conservation and camping fees to the government of Tanzania can add up to an expensive trip.  If cost is a major factor for you then hiking to Everest Base Camp is the way to go.

Best for Low Crowds: Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base Camp

While both destinations certainly have their high seasons and low seasons Kilimanjaro has an advantage over Everest Base Camp because there are 7 trails to choose from.  Furthermore, with the exception of the Marangu Route all hikers on Kilimanjaro descend via a different route than the ones they came up.  Because Everest Base Camp is an out-and-back trail you’ll encounter hikers passing from both directions, making for crowded conditions on narrow sections.

Whether you choose to climb the tallest mountain in Africa or trek among the Himalayas in Nepal you are sure to have an incredible and unforgettable journey.  Deciding which one to choose will be the hard part!

About the Author

Christa is a blogger and world adventurer who lives in Virginia with her husband and daughter. Her writing focuses on family and plus size travel sprinkled with a little Disney magic. Her current project is leading a plus-size only group up Mount Kilimanjaro, aptly named the Curvy Kili Crew. You can follow Christa on her adventures at www.travelfearlesslyblog.com

In the Mount Kilimanjaro vs Everest Base Camp debate, Which one would you hike? Let me know in the comments.

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