Trekking Mount Meru: Tanzania’s Newest Adventure Destination for 2024
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Many trekkers show up at Mount Kilimanjaro longing for an amazing wild experience on the world’s tallest unattached mountain.
Are you interested for Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing, to the ‘peak of freedom’ or Uhuru Peak? Mount Kilimanjaro is scrawled onto the bucket list of every new and experienced adventurer.
Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing is not only one experience that you will get, but you will also receive the warm welcome of the local staff singing the song phrased by “Hakuna Matata” which means, “There is no problem”, and will meet the porters often called as “Kili warriors”.
Apart from these, the enjoyable things are flora and fauna of the rainforest zone and unique floras on the side of the rocks at the heather zone as well as the moorland zone.
Famous as the highest freestanding mountain in the world, magnificent Mount Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania, offers to experience the varied ecology from rainforest and heather zones up to arctic zones.
Each year, more than 30, 000 hikers’ attempts for the summit, while only 59% hikers get success. Though the main reason behind the failure is altitude sickness, the factors that enhance the possibility of Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness can’t be underestimated. Those factors can be choosing the unsuitable route as per health and experience, wrong season, lack of proper training, proper precautions to be safe and inadequate gears.
Before Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing, there are some facts about iconic Mt. Kilimanjaro you should know about.
Located in the north-eastern of Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is close to the Kenya – Tanzania border. Formed by three volcanic cones which are Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira, Mt. Kilimanjaro’s nearest city is Arusha whereas the nearest airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Known as the highest freestanding mountain in the world, the altitude of Mount Kilimanjaro is 19,341 feet or 5,895 meters above sea level. Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in the world which means it is not part of any mountain range. Africa’s highest peak Kilimanjaro is one of the seven summits of each continent.
Kilisa Tours is one of the reputed best Trekking Adventures Companies and Tour Operators in Tanzania. Our tailor-made trekking for Mt. Kilimanjaro trekking holidays starts from $2080 per person with an itinerary for 7 Days Machame Route, which includes all camping, trekking, porter service, plus accommodation and transfers either side of your mountain climb.
The price of your Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing adventure varies as per the route you have chosen, the chosen time of the year, the level of professional service, and other similar factors.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro For Beginners for the success summit is highly depends upon the suitability of the route. So, if you are really serious about Mt. Kilimanjaro, it’s very important to choose the route carefully according to the success summit rate and acclimatization profile.
There are seven Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes which are Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Rongai, Northern Circuit, Umbwe, and The Western Breach.
On the base of success summit and better acclimatization profile, Machame, Lemosho, and Northern Circuit routes are preferable. Among these routes, the Northern Circuit route has the highest success summit rate and also offers spectacular superb scenic views.
But we recommend using Lemosho Route as it offers a balance of low traffic, spectacular views, and a high summit success rate. Though Northern Circuit has the highest success summit rate, this route is the longest route among all other routes.
We prefer to take itinerary of 8 Days Lemosho Route for the summit because of enough time for acclimatization.
The Machame Route: the most popular with ‘climb high and sleep low’ climbing route up Kilimanjaro.
The Rongai Route: the easiest and only one route that approaches from the northern side of Kilimanjaro.
The Shira Route: this one offers the experience of serious altitude on the first day.
The Lemosho Route: hands down the most beautiful and longer Kilimanjaro climb route, but expensive.”
“The two distinct trekking seasons which constitute the Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro are January-March and June-October. January-March is generally colder than June-October and there is a higher probability of encountering snow on the summit.”
Located 300km south to the equator, Mt. Kilimanjaro has two rainy seasons, a short one is from November to mid-December whereas the long rainy season from March to May. Due to wet and muddy in the wet season, Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing in the wet season is a very bad idea. However, the altitude above 1800m, there is no rain and you can also choose Rongai Route, the driest route for the summit.
July to October and January to mid-March are the dry season is the Best Time To Climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
To survive against altitude sickness and adverse weather conditions, you need to be physically fit. However, above 2000m altitude, most of the hikers feel symptoms of altitude sickness.
The training for Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing only makes the effect of altitude sickness lesser. You should do some training or join the Kilimanjaro Training Program to enhance your physical endurance.
Your training should include aerobic exercises, running on treadmill, strength training, hiking to the nearest elevation, walking “up & down” on staircase, and breathing exercises.
Aerobic exercises such as walking, swimming, long-distance jogging, and cycling can improve your cardiovascular as well as the respiratory system.
The strength training can make your upper and core body part stronger. For joints, legs, knees, practice lunges, squats, step aerobics, front and reverse leg-curls. We suggest you to start training at least two months before you start trekking.
“Most of the climbers on Kilimanjaro will experience the symptoms of Altitude Sickness which include headaches, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, loss of appetite, and possibly palpitations.
“Do Not Ascend If Your Symptoms Fail To Improve. Descend If Symptoms Get Worse At The Same Altitude”
The symptoms of altitude sickness are similar to those of a hangover whereas the symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) include blue skin and lips (cyanosis), grey or pale complexion, tight chest, cough, and coughing up blood, confusion, decreased consciousness, and difficulty in the walk.
Inform your Kilimanjaro Guides immediately and follow their advice, in the occurrence of any symptom of altitude sickness or Altitude Mountain Sickness.
The risk of Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness will be increased if you’re already suffering from a respiratory tract infection, such as a cold.
Medicines like Diamox can reduce the headache, which increases your chances of a successful hike. Take Nifedipine, Dexamethasone or Prednisolone, in case of High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
For the varied temperature of 20 to -15 centigrade and adverse weather conditions in different climatic zones, Kilimanjaro gears are highly important. Kilimanjaro Gear List includes trekking gears, camping, and clothing gears.
Trekking Gears:
Clothing Gears:
Camping Gears:
As Climbing Kilimanjaro is an adventurous activity, you should consider about safety. Every year, approximately 1,000 people are evacuated from the mountain, and approximately 10 deaths are reported. The actual number of deaths is believed to be two to three times higher. The main cause of death is altitude sickness.
Kilimanjaro Safety should be your first priority when preparing for Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing. There are a few factors to consider while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest freestanding mountain in Africa with an altitude of 19,341 feet and located in the northern part of Tanzania.
As Kilisa Tours is a reputable, registered, and licensed tour company based in Arusha Tanzania, we offer excellent trekking services with a comfortable itinerary at an affordable price.
With decades of experience, our ground staffs have expertise in “How To Climb Mount Kilimanjaro”.
They are learned, dedicated, highly skilled, and well-experienced, to handle any kind of situation. To know more about the trekking packages, visit @ kilisatours.com/mount-kilimanjaro-climbing
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