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

At 5895m, Mount Kilimanjaro is the world's tallest free-standing mountain. People call it the "roof of Africa", and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is high on the wish list of a lot of hikers.

Every year more than 50,000 trekkers, both experienced and brand new, try for the summit. You don't need technical climbing skills to reach Uhuru Peak. When people don't make it, it's often because they didn't know enough about altitude, weren't fit enough, or lost their motivation.

So here's our Climb Kilimanjaro Guide: a few key tips for a safe climb and a good chance at the summit.

Choose a Reputable Company

Picking a reputable, qualified Kilimanjaro tour operator to be your Climb Kilimanjaro Guide makes a big difference, so put it at the top of your plan. Here are a few things to find out about any company:

• Whether their porters get fair wages.
• How much you're expected to tip during the trek.
• Whether their itineraries follow "climb high, sleep low".
• The success rate on each route.
• What the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project says about them.
• The price of their different itineraries.
• Their reviews and testimonials.

Make Sure Your Insurance Covers You

When you travel to Tanzania for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, check that your travel insurance covers trekking on the mountain. That way any treatment for altitude sickness is covered.

Train in Advance

Getting fit and building stamina before climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro makes the trip much more enjoyable. Prepare with training hikes, breathing exercises and regular cardio workouts.

Stay Positive

Your attitude matters a lot. You'll sometimes hear that staying positive can raise your chances of reaching Uhuru Peak by as much as 50%. Nobody can really measure that, but a good mood does help. Having fun with your friends and the crew, and staying flexible, makes the climb more enjoyable.

Plenty of things can get you down on the mountain: tiredness, hunger, the cold and not being able to wash properly. Try not to let the discomfort spoil your mood. Keep smiling and take each day as it comes.

Kilimanjaro Facts

Where Is Mount Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano made up of three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. It's in the northeast of Tanzania, close to the border with Kenya.

How High Is Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro is 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level. It's known as the tallest free-standing mountain in the world and it's the highest peak in Africa, which makes it one of the Seven Summits.

How Much Does a Kilimanjaro Climb Cost?

As an example, a climb on the Machame Route costs around US$3,208 per person, including camping, guiding, porters, accommodation and transfers before and after the climb. The price depends on several things, such as the route you choose, high or low season, and the level of service.

Choosing a Kilimanjaro Trekking Route

Compare the Kilimanjaro routes by their summit success rates and weigh up the pros and cons of each one.

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

Longer routes give your body more time to adjust to the altitude. Machame, the Northern Circuit and Lemosho are good choices: they follow "climb high, sleep low" and have great views along the way.

We like the Lemosho Route best for acclimatization: it's quieter, the views are great and the summit success rate is high. If you'd rather sleep in huts, choose the Marangu Route, but it has the lowest summit success rate. In general, the more days you spend adjusting to the altitude, the better your chance of reaching the top.

Prepare for a Mental Challenge

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro takes mental strength as well as fitness. The altitude, the weather and the slow pace will test you. Summit day is long and cold, and it can take around 15 hours. If you want to be at the top for sunrise, you'll walk through the night in the dark, with little sense of how far you've come. Be ready for that.

Altitude Medication

Altitude sickness and the weather are the two main reasons climbers don't reach Uhuru Peak. You can't control the weather, but you can prepare for Kilimanjaro altitude sickness. Medicines like Diamox can help with altitude headaches and improve your chances of a good climb. Diamox is a diuretic, so you'll need to pee a lot more often (it can feel like every 5 minutes). Nifedipine, Dexamethasone and Prednisolone are medicines used for the serious forms of altitude sickness, High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), as well as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Talk to your doctor before taking any of these.

Bring the Right Gear

For a safe and comfortable trek, don't skimp on the quality of your clothing and hiking gear.

Clothing for Kilimanjaro gear: hats and caps, a ski jacket and a fleece jacket, sunglasses, shirts and base layers, soft shell and down jackets, a hard shell waterproof jacket, gloves, ski pants, rain pants, fleece pants, and sport shoes.

Other trekking gear: gaiters, socks and sock liners, shoes, hiking boots, microspikes, trekking poles, a headlamp, a duffel bag, ski goggles, hand warmers, a hydration pack, a sleeping bag, and fabric bags (please avoid plastic).

Planning, Logistics and Other Information

• Visa requirements

US and British citizens need a passport with at least one blank page and six months' validity, a residential address, and a visa to enter Tanzania. You can get a single-entry visa on arrival at Tanzanian airports for around US$50, or get one in advance.

• Arriving in Tanzania

Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport, the closest airport to Mt. Kilimanjaro. Your Climb Kilimanjaro Guide will meet you there and take you to your accommodation in Arusha.

• Vaccinations

Tanzania has a high risk of malaria, so take anti-malaria medication and protect yourself from mosquito bites. Malarone is an anti-malaria drug known for having few side effects.

Get vaccinated against diseases like Hepatitis A and B, Rabies, Typhoid, Tetanus, Measles, Diphtheria and Polio. Your doctor or travel clinic can tell you which ones you need.

• Travel insurance

Make sure you have Kilimanjaro travel insurance that covers trekking at altitudes up to 6,000 meters above sea level.

We'd love to help you climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. As an experienced Kilimanjaro tour operator, we take care of all your Kilimanjaro arrangements. Our skilled and experienced crew will do everything they can to help you reach the summit and enjoy the climb.

Ready to start planning? Visit us at kilisatours.com.