How To Prepare Before Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

By Pamela Anderson


Mount Kilimanjaro is among the world's highest volcanic mountains with a height of 5895 at its Uhuru peak. It is also free standing with a base of 61 kilometers in width. Located in Tanzania towards the north and near the Kenyan border, it is a popular mountain for most climbers. This is mainly because when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, technical expertise is not needed but it can be strenuous.

If you look at the different adverts the climb to the mountain has been portrayed as a luxury safari or identified as a walk in the park. Though one does not need to have climbed a mountain before, you need to plan ahead and prepare to make the climb a success. It is a popular attraction for many climbers with the numbers rising from the 50,000 annual to about 25% the next year.

One of the key things you need to plan ahead is the date of the climb. There are specific months that are preferred to climb due to the appropriate weather. These are usually the driest months of the year such as January, February, August, and September. Climbing during the other months can be strenuous as good weather is not guaranteed.

After selecting a date for the climb, the next important thing to plan is the route you would like to use. Six routes are the most available. They are all different but some are more popular than others. Maranga and Machame are the most preferred. They have the most traffic. If you prefer climbing quietly, go for the other less popular routes.

The routes with a quiet reputation are Rongai, Shira, and Lemosho. Umbwe attracts very few climbers as it the steepest route. You can pick the route you are comfortable with and this will determine how long your trek will be.

You can not climb the mountain without a registered guide. Your next crucial step is to select a climb or tour operator to guide you up the mountain. Apart from offering guidance, a proper tour guide should provide things like a cook, food, water and all the equipment needed for the trip. Other equipment that you may need during the climb can be rented for that period instead of buying. All you may end up requiring are your personal amenities and warm clothes.

The cost of the hike is dependent on several factors. They include the route used, climbing agency chosen and the number of days and nights you are likely to take. Normally it takes a minimum of five days to get to the top however you can take six or seven days depending on the route and the operator. Some of the operators choose one day of the trip for acclimatization to help increase the chances of getting to the summit.

Mountaineering experience is not needed to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Even though some adverts describe the climb as a hike, this can fool you. You will need to get your body ready. It is preferable to take long hikes as this will expose you better. You can also to Tanzania days before your climb to get adjusted to the climate and let your body recover from the long flight and jet lag.




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