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Climbing Kosovo is the highest summit camp on Kilimanjaro, located at an altitude of 4,870 meters (15,978 feet). Learn how it compares to Barafu and what climbers should keep in mind in this blog post from Altezza Travel.
What is the difference between Kosovo Camp and Barafu Camp?
Kosovo is situated in Kilimanjaro’s arctic zone and serves as a waypoint for climbers heading to Uhuru Peak via the Machame, Lemosho, or Umbwe routes. Typically, Barafu Camp is the primary summit camp for these routes. On summit night, climbers ascend about 200 meters (656 feet), cross a rocky pass, take a brief rest at Kosovo, and then continue to the summit.
Some Kilimanjaro climb expeditions, however, choose to skip Barafu and proceed directly to Kosovo for an overnight stay. While the elevation difference between the camps is minimal, the climate at both is nearly identical. Staying at Kosovo offers several advantages:
- The rocky pass between the camps is easier to cross during daylight hours. Additionally, staying at Kosovo provides more rest time and reduces the summit day’s distance by 15%.
- Kosovo Camp is significantly less crowded than Barafu Camp. During peak season, Barafu can host hundreds of climbers and mountain crew members at once.
Kosovo’s limited use as an overnight camp is due to a few challenges, which often make it more suitable as a brief rest stop on the way to Uhuru Peak rather than a summit camp:
- In 2024, Kilimanjaro National Park introduced a mandatory fee of $100 USD + 18% VAT per person for overnight stays at Kosovo, totaling $118 USD.
- The camp has only one toilet, typically used by the mountain crew. Climbers must arrange portable toilets, which adds to the cost. For better comfort, we recommend portable toilets regardless of whether your itinerary includes Kosovo. Learn more in our guide, Hygiene during Kilimanjaro expeditions.
- Ascending an additional 200 meters (656 feet) can hinder acclimatization. In many cases, it’s better to rest at Barafu Camp before the summit attempt.
Based on Altezza Travel’s 10+ years of experience organizing Kilimanjaro expeditions, the choice of summit camp has minimal impact on summit success. The decision should depend on the expedition’s duration. Staying in Kosovo is a great option for seven- or eight-day Kilimanjaro climb itineraries. However, the rapid altitude gain may increase the risk of altitude sickness for six-day itineraries.
Interested in climbing Kilimanjaro and want to learn more about high-altitude acclimatization? Check out our short video:
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