How To Prepare Before Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

By Pamela Anderson


Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the highest volcanic mountains in the world. It boasts with a height of 5895 meters with one peak called Uhuru. It's massive at the base with a width of about 61 kilometers. The mountain is located in the northern part of Tanzania in East Africa and near the Kenyan border. Many climbers put it in their bucket list as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is considered to be strenuous but non-technical.

You are likely to see adverts describing the climb to the mountain as a luxurious safari or as simple as a walk in the park with no previous climbing experience needed. This does not imply that no prior preparation is required to climb the mountain successfully. It may be the significant difference between having a successful climb or not. Over 50,000 mountaineers climb this mountain yearly and the number is expected to grow by about 25% every year.

The date of the climb is actually the most important thing you need to think about. January, February, August, and September are considered the best months to climb as it is the driest time on the mountain. During the other months, the weather is unpredictable. Climbing during the preferred months guarantees good weather.

Once you choose a date, the next thing you will have to consider is the route to use. You have a choice of six common routes to choose from. There are those that are very popular and crowded such as Marangu and Machame. Then there are those that are less common and therefore quieter.

These are Rongai, Lemosho, Shira, and Umbwe. Umbwe is the least attractive. This is because it is the steepest. Choose a route you are comfortable with and one that increases your chance of getting to the top. The route you choose will also determine the length of your climb.

The next and crucial thing you need to do is to choose the tour or climb operator. This is important as you cannot climb the mountain without a registered guide. A good climb operator will not only offer you the guide as per your route but will also offer a cook, enough water and food and all the equipment you shall need for the climb. Other equipment can be rented during the hike such as sleeping bags. You, therefore, do not need to carry anything else apart from your personal amenities and warm clothing.

There are several things that differentiate the total cost of the climb. These are mostly the route you choose, the agency and how long the trip will take. On a minimum, five days are enough to get to the top and back. However, depending on the agency and the route, six or seven days can pass. You will find some of the agencies choosing one of the days to be a day for acclimatizing. This usually helps increase the success rate of getting to the summit.

Once you settle on this, you need to ensure you get into shape. Do not be fooled by the adverts that describe the climb as a hike. You may not need mountaineering experience, but it does help to have some exposure to hiking long distances. Plan to arrive days earlier to give your body time to recover from jet lag, the strains of a long flight and adjust to the climate.




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