GPS waypoints for Kilimanjaro

At the foot of this page are links to our Kilimanjaro GPS waypoint files (.gdb). These waymarks for Kilimanjaro have been collected by us during our time on the mountain. By downloading them onto your computer and then uploading them onto your GPS unit, you should have a fairly decent plot of your trek.

A couple of companies have produced GPS maps of Kilimanjaro that you can download onto your computer - and then plot these waypoints on them in order to give your GPS ‘map’ more detail. As I have explained in the book, however, we are not entirely happy with either version. That said, my main problem with the best one for Kilimanjaro, produced by GPS Travel Maps, is that the trails on it are simply too inaccurate - which is not a problem here, of course, as you are using the readings that we have taken and which we hope are much better. Their altitudes for Kilimanjaro also seem a little awry, with Uhuru Peak, for example, given as a mere 5860m above sea level - a full 35m below the correct height. They have promised me,however, that they will be improving their map over time.

The other company providing online maps for Kilimanjaro is Tracks 4 Africa.

About the waypoints

These Kilimanjaro waypoints were saved in .gpx format using th Mapsource application that comes free with most Garmin units.

The format we have used for these waypoints is known as UTM; the map datum is WGS 84 (37M); you can change both of these on a Garmin GPS by going to ‘Units setup’ on the ‘Settings’ menu, then changing the position format and map datum as necessary.

Note that the ‘name’ of each Kilimanjaro waypoint is actually in two parts. The first part is a figure, and corresponds with the figure given to it in the book. The second part of the name refers to the map in our guidebook on which you will find the waymark.Where the waypoint features on more than one map, each relevant map number is given, separated by a slash (eg Map 5/24).

After the name is a comment - which is a just a very brief description of what is at the waypoint (eg ‘Bridge’, Barranco Huts’, ‘Uhuru Peak’ etc etc).

Note that those on our Unique Rongai Route can email me for GPS waypoints of this route.

Any comments on these waypoints and their accuracy will be gratefully received. Thanks.

GPS waypoints

Kilimanjaro Marangu Route >>

Kilimanjaro Machame Route via Barafu (including Mweka descent) >>

Kilimanjaro Machame Route via Western Breach (inc Mweka descent) >>

Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route via Barafu (including Mweka descent) >>

Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route via Western Breach (inc. Mweka descent) >>

Kilimanjaro Rongai Route - regular (including Marangu descent) >>

Kilimanjaro Rongai Route via Mawenzi Tarn (including Marangu descent) >>

Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route via Barafu Huts (including Mweka descent) >>

Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route via Western Breach (including Mweka descent) >>