Number of Days to Climb
The various routes on Kilimanjaro can be climbed in as little as five days to as many as nine days. Although it makes economic sense to try to climb Kilimanjaro with as few days as possible, it is not the prudent thing to do. The reason for spending a lengthy time on the mountain is that the more time on the mountain, the better chance your body has of adapting to the high altitude. If you ascend too quickly, it is very likely you will develop acute mountain sickness. Although you can continue to climb with mild cases, moderate and severe cases will force climbers to descend and possibly require further medical treatment. In severe cases, acute mountain sickness can be fatal.
It is recommended that climbers spend at least seven days on the mountain on their Kilimanjaro climb. The longer you stay on the mountain, the higher your chances of successfully summiting, and the lower your chances of becoming ill.