Tips and more information on climbing Kilimanjaro
TIPS FOR YOUR TANZANIA TRIP
Want to know the best route? Or how to avoid altitude sickness? Read our tips below!
There are six different routes to the summit of Kilimanjaro. The major difference between the routes is the number of days it takes you, the crowds and the success rate. The best-known and most popular routes are the six-day Machame Route and the Marangu Route, which is also called the Coca-Cola Route. We think the lesser-known Northern Route is the best choice for the climb. At eight days, it takes you a little longer, but gives you more time to acclimate. Plus, the route is not as well known and therefore nice and quiet.
Altitude sickness is caused by a lack of oxygen at altitudes above 2,500 meters. You get headaches, become nauseous and lose your appetite. If you don’t take the symptoms seriously, the consequences can be fatal. There are a number of things you can do to prevent altitude sickness. It is important to give your body time to get used to the altitude and lack of oxygen. By ascending slowly and sleeping lower than the highest point you have been to that day, you reduce your chances of getting altitude sickness. It is also important to drink plenty of water. Your guide will frequently ask you about your health during the hike. It is important that you be honest about this so he can advise you when the first symptoms appear. Mild symptoms may disappear again.
You may experience symptoms of altitude sickness. That doesn’t mean you necessarily can’t finish the hike. Mild headaches or a lack of appetite may pass. The next step depends on the severity of the complaint. This is why it is important that you are always honest about your physical condition with your guide. He can assess what needs to be done so that you feel better. In case the symptoms get worse, he can decide to abort the walk. This is for your own safety and that of your team members. If you are with two or more hikers, it is possible that the rest of the group will continue. You will then go back down with your own guide and porter. There are evacuation routes, so you can be down quickly.
People who are fit and healthy stand the best chance of making it to the top. Therefore, is it smart to start working on your fitness at home. The best way to prepare is to do a lot of walking. Carry the same backpack you will carry on the Kilimanjaro trek.
Weather is an important factor in making it to the summit. With a lot of rain, climbing Kilimanjaro is a lot harder. Therefore, it is important to choose the right period for the climb. From mid-January to mid-March is a good period with only a 50% chance of rain, fog and drizzle. Moreover, it is not very cold at the summit during that period. Mid-March to the end of May is the worst time of the year. Then it rains a lot and you have no view due to dense fog. June and July are also good months, although it can be very cold on the mountain then. In August, there is little rain and it is often clear. From mid-October to mid-January, the weather is changeable and you are more likely to have rain, fog, drizzle and snow. The weather on the mountain is unpredictable and so may differ from what is stated here.
Everyone who climbs Kilimanjaro is required to have a guide. You can’t get lost on the mountain, but a lot of other things can go wrong. The guides we work with are well trained, fluent in English and experienced. They will tell you about the environment and prepare you for the next day. They recognize the symptoms of altitude sickness, give advice and intervene when necessary. It is important that you communicate well with your guide and always listen to him.
When climbing Kilimanjaro, you will be assisted by a whole team of porters and cooks. They carry all the luggage needed during the trek: tents, food, cooking utensils, clothes. When you start your hike after breakfast, the porters clear the camp. They catch up with you and set up the next camp before you arrive. What a luxury!
On Kilimanjaro, you sleep in two-person tents with plenty of room for your luggage. You sleep on a thin mattress in your own sleeping bag. The porters set up your tent and pack it back up as well.
There are simple squat toilets in the camps. These are cleaned regularly, but can be very smelly. Bring your own toilet paper and wash your hands afterwards with disinfectant.
There are no showers on the mountain. One of the porters will bring you a tub of hot water every morning and afternoon so you can wash yourself. Some hikers like to bring wet wipes. One thing is certain: you are going to enjoy the first shower after your climb immensely.
When you book the Kilimanjaro climb through us, we will send you all the information you need to prepare properly. Our travel experts have a comprehensive packing list that you will receive well in advance. On the day before the trek, your personal guide will visit you to discuss the route and to check that you have all the clothing and gear you need for the trek. If something is still missing, you still have plenty of time to purchase it in Moshi.
In Moshi you can rent all the gear for your trek but also buy it. But keep in mind that this is very expensive, since all equipment is imported from far away. Don’t have your own (ski) gear in the closet? Then we recommend asking around to see if you can borrow clothing and gear from family and friends who practice winter or outdoor sports.
You cannot charge your phone and camera in the camps. Therefore, bring plenty of extra batteries for your camera and a power bank if you want to charge your phone. On the mountain you will not have coverage.
The cooks provide all three meals and snacks for the road throughout the hike. They have learned to cook for Western palates: spaghetti with a well-filled tomato sauce, all kinds of soup, sandwiches, curry with rice and baked potatoes. The cook can accommodate dietary needs and cooks vegetarian or even vegan meals with just as much love.
