Insider’s Tips For Kilimanjaro That Will Provide The Best Approach To The Top Of Africa

Mount Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest free-standing mountain with an altitude of 5895m. Famous as the “roof of Africa”, Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is on the top priority of every hiker’s dream to achieve.

Every year more than 50, 000 professional and new trekkers attempt for a successful summit. Though there is no specific skills required for hiking to Uhuru peak, most of the trekkers fails due to lack of knowledge about altitude, physical fitness and strong determination.

We have some essential tips as Climb Kilimanjaro Guide you should follow for a safe and successful summit on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Choose A Reputable Company

Choosing a reputable and qualified Kilimanjaro Tour Operator as your Climb Kilimanjaro Guide can make your dream come true. So, it’s very important and top of the plan to find a reputable company. Here are a few things you should know about the company:

• Porters are getting fair wages or not.
• Tipping amount you have to pay during the trekking.
• About right itinerary which offers ‘climb high, sleep low?’
• Success rates of each route.
• Check out about the company on Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project.
• Budget on different itineraries
• Check the reviews and testimonials.

Make Sure Your Insurance Covers You

When travelling to Tanzania for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, make sure travel insurance policy covers the trekking on Mount Kilimanjaro. This will help to cover all the treatments related to altitude sickness.

Train In Advance

Training to get physical fitness and endurance for Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro can make your dream adventure of lifetime. Prepare for Kilimanjaro through training hikes; improve functions of your body, breathing exercises and practice cardio exercises.

Stay Positive

Believe me, staying positive can enhance your possibility to 50% to reach at Uhuru peak. Making fun with friends or crew members, having a flexible, positive attitude can make your trekking for the summit more enjoyable and comfortable.

There are many things exhaustion, hunger, fatigue, dirty that can make your trip go wrong. Don’t let the discomfort or difficulty decrease the positive vibe during this trip. Keep a positive vibe, smile, and accept every type of situation.

Kilimanjaro Facts

Where is Mount Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano which was formed by three volcanic cones Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the north-eastern part of Tanzania, close to the Kenya-Tanzania border.

How High Is Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro stands at an altitude of 5,895 metres or 19,341 feet, above sea level. Kilimanjaro is famous as the tallest freestanding mountain in the world and highest peak of Africa. It counted as one of the seven summits.

How Much Does A Kilimanjaro Climb Cost?

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro costs around US$3, 208 per person in Machame Route, including all camping, trekking, porter service, accommodation and transfers either side of your mountain climb. The price of Kilimanjaro trekking depends on different variables such as which route you choose to trek, the high or low season to climb, the level of professional service and other.

Choosing A Kilimanjaro Trekking Route

Choose the route among all Kilimanjaro Routes according to the highest summit success rates and weighing up the pros and cons of each route.

There are seven Kilimanjaro routes: Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai, Northern Circuit, and Umbwe.

As longer route provides better acclimatization profile, Machame, Northern Circuit and Lemosho routes are the best routes which provides “Climb high and sleep low” and spectacular scenic view on the path.

As Lemosho Route offers low traffic, spectacular views and high summit success rate, we prefer this route for acclimatization. For hut accommodation, you can choose Marangu Route, but this route has lowest success summit rate. The longer route offers additional time to acclimatize with high altitudes, which increases your chance of reaching the summit.

Prepare For A Mental Battle

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro not only needs physical strength and fitness, it also needs mental fitness. The altitude, climate, and speed on your climb will test you, psychologically. In freezing cold temperatures, hiking on Summit day for the summit will make you slow which will take 15 hours. If you want to enjoy sunrise at the summit, you’ll be hiking all through the night, in the dark, you will get no sense of how far you have hike. So, be prepared to accept the challenge.

Take Altitude Medication

Altitude sickness and the weather are the two main reasons for which climbers fail to reach the summit or Uhuru peak. May be the changing of weather is not in your hand, but you can prepare to avoid Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness. Medicines like Diamox will help keep the altitude headaches at bay, increasing your chances of a successful hike. As Diamox is a diuretic, you’ll have to pee in every 5 minutes. Take Nifedipine, Dexamethasone or Prednisolone, for High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

Bring The Right Gear

For a successful and enjoyable trekking, don’t compromise with the quality of clothing and hiking gear.

The Kilimanjaro Gears for trekking are, Hats & Caps, ski jacket and fleece jacket , Sunglasses, Shirts & Base Layers, Soft Shell & Down Jackets, Hard Shell & Waterproof Jackets, Gloves, Ski trousers, rain trousers, and fleece trousers, and sport shoes.

The gears for trekking are Gaiters, Socks & Sock Liners, Shoes, hiking boots, Micro spikes, Trekking Poles, headlamps, Duffle Bags, Ski Goggles, hand warmers, hydration pack,  Sleeping Bags, fabric bags (avoid use of plastic), etc.

Planning, Logistics & Other Information

• Visa requirements

US citizen and British people require a passport with at least one blank page and six months’ validity, residential address, a visa to enter Tanzania. You can get Single entry visa upon arrival at Tanzanian airports which will cost you around US$50 or you can obtain one in advance.

• Arriving into Tanzania

You have to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport, the nearest airport of Mt. Kilimanjaro. After visiting your Climb Kilimanjaro Guide and transfer you to your accommodation in Arusha.

• Vaccinations

As it is a country with high risk of malaria, you should take anti-malaria medication and precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Take Malarone, the anti-malaria drug with the least or no side effects.

Take the vaccinations for diseases like, Hepatitis A & B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Measles, Diphtheria, Rabies and Polio.

• Travel insurance

It is essential to get Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance which covers you for the trekking at altitude up to 6,000 meters above sea level.

We’d love to help for the trekking to Mt. Kilimanjaro. As one of the best and experienced Kilimanjaro Tour Operator, we can make your all Kilimanjaro tour arrangements easy. Through our highly skilled and experienced crew member, we will help you to get a successful and memorable summit experience.

Let’s start adventure trekking tour with us visit @ kilisatours.com

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