Kilimanjaro Climb
Climb up Kilimanjaro
The Kilimanjaro Climb is certain to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience as it soars above the African savannas of Tanzania and Kenya. The highest point in Africa is anchored by Kibo, one of the mountain’s three volcanic cones, along with Mawenzi and Shira. Up to Uhuru Peak, where it ends, it stretches into the sky. The summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is 19,340 feet (5,895 metres) high. Following the first Kilimanjaro trip by Europeans Ludwig Purtscheller and Hans Meyer in 1889, the mountain rose to prominence as a primary alpinism destination for thrill-seekers all over the world. This led to Kilimanjaro National Park’s boundaries being protected as a result in 1973.
TEXT OF THE CHAPTER
The Whole Beginner's Guide to Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing
The Perfect Approach
Pick A Licenced Tour Operator
Verify Your Physical Fitness
Plan the best times to climb.
What to Bring on a Trip
How to Prepare
Which Routes Would Be Best?
What is the cost of climbing Kilimanjaro?
Kilimanjaro Standard Climb:
Kilimanjaro Mid-Range Climb:
Kilimanjaro Luxury Climb:
Costs not included in the Kilimanjaro Climb Cost
Prices Outside of the Mountain
Arrangements in Tanzania
The Tanzanian Diet
Tanzania's Public Transportation
What to Expect While Climbing Kilimanjaro?
Changes Your Body Might Go Through During A Kilimanjaro Trek
What A Kilimanjaro Hike Will Not Do To Your Body
When climbing Kilimanjaro, how to avoid getting acute mountain sickness
Plan the most amazing Kilimanjaro climb possible.
A COMPLETE GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS TO CLIMB KILIMANJARO
The following are the greatest and most useful tips for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for beginners that we at Precious safaris offer:
The Perfect Approach
Although the following advice for getting ready to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is very basic, it never hurts to be reminded:
Pick A Licenced Tour Operator
To help you adequately prepare for the climb, our travel specialists give you the best Kilimanjaro Training Schedule. These training plans are well-researched and represent the professional judgement of numerous knowledgeable previous trekkers. In addition to performing your daily health checks and giving you the best hiking gear on the mountain, our guides will provide you all the knowledge you need on emergency evacuation checks.
Verify Your Physical Fitness
According to our guide on climbing Kilimanjaro, you should be physically prepared and well-trained. Your degree of strength and fitness is very important for your journey and can even affect how successful you are on Kilimanjaro. You will be sleeping at high altitudes when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, therefore a few weeks before to your trip, it is crucial to prepare your body by engaging in strength training exercises like jogs, squats, push-ups, and sprints.
Plan the best times to climb.
The greatest time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is from mid-June to mid-October, when the weather is at its best and the most people come to do it.
Despite the fact that Kilimanjaro may be climbed all year round, the months of March through May see the most rainfall at the top. Except from December to mid-March, when the mountain is extremely cold and covered in snow. Therefore, the driest and warmest months, which are primarily from mid-June to October and December to mid-March, are the best times to climb Kilimanjaro.
What to Bring on a Trip
Body wear – You should dress in as many layers as you can because the mountain is really cold. For your climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, we advise that you bring some long and short sleeve shirts, ski underwear, and light cotton pants. Additionally, it is advised that you have warm Gore-Tex and fleece jackets on hand.
Footwear – Packing enough of socks, hiking boots, and running shoes is imperative for the mountain trip as it greatly aids in successfully reaching the summit.
Headgear – To shield yourself from the sun on the mountain, you can also bring some warm headgear, such as a beanie and a sunhat.
Camping equipment: At Precious safaris, we provide you Kilimanjaro camping supplies like pillows, sleeping bags, blankets, tents, chairs, and more.
Water and snacks are included, in addition to three meals per day on Mount Kilimanjaro provided by Precious safaris. You can also bring a sizable water bottle
and some Kilimanjaro Snacks.
Other – You will receive baby wipes, prescription drugs, toilet paper, a raincoat, sunglasses, binoculars, a torch and batteries, sunscreen and other miscellaneous items.
For further details, see our list of recommended Kilimanjaro equipment.
On the Mountain, What Can I Expect?
If you have already made the decision to take on the challenge of climbing the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, many congratulations! Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is the best thing you will ever accomplish in your life. On the mountain, you can anticipate the following:
The weather on Mount Kilimanjaro is unpredictable, with frequent wet spells. On the mountain, you will see snowfall and rain from mid-December to mid-March. On the mountains, the mornings are milder, and the rain usually starts in the middle of the day.
High altitudes can cause some persons to experience altitude sickness. These signs include dizziness, fatigue, headaches, sleeplessness, and a fast heartbeat.
There are tight weight restrictions for porters on the peak. They are limited to a 15kg luggage limitation.
Emergency evacuation procedures – In addition to this, your Kilimanjaro guides are there to guarantee your safety on the mountain. The guides may advise a climber to descend if they exhibit severe signs of Kilimanjaro altitude sickness, and we ask that you respect their judgement.
Which Routes Would Be Best?
There are many Kilimanjaro routes, but the Machame route, Lemosho route, Rongai route, Marangu route, and Northern Circuit route are the five that are most popular.
Lemosho Highway
Because to the Lemosho Route's lower gate, climbers have more time to adjust to the altitude. Without a doubt, the best way to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is by this route, which provides breathtaking panoramic vistas.
ROUTE LEMOSHO
Marangu Highway
The Marangu Route is the only one of the various Kilimanjaro Routes that provide sleeping shelters. The Coca-Cola route is another name for this route. The huts that line this path offer bottled coke, hence the name. This climb is extremely simple and gives a moderate Kilimanjaro ascent.
The Mangu Route
Machame Highway
Due to its challenging and more arduous paths, the Machame way, also known as the whisky way, makes it more challenging to reach the mountain’s summit.
However, the trip offers stunning views as you go through various Mt. Kilimanjaro ecosystems. The Machame route is highly well-liked since it speeds up mountain summits.
Route Machame
Road to Rongai
The Rongai Route is a lot gentler. This approach ascends the mountain from the far northern region, where it rains less. Although the descent by this path could take longer, it is remote and ideal for climbers who want to avoid the crowds. The trail along this route offers some fantastic views of wildlife.
ROUTE RONGAI
Circuit in the North
A very recent route that begins along the Lemosho route is the Northern Circuit Route. It travels over the Shira route and makes a circuit around the northern slopes. Comparatively speaking, this path is rather remote.
ROUTE OF THE NORTHERN CIRCUI
TOUR OF OUR KILIMANJARO ROUTES VIRTUALLY
HOW MUCH DOES CLIMBING KILIMANJARO COST?
Depending on the amenities you choose on the summit, there are three different ranges for the average cost of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro:
Kilimanjaro Standard Climb:
You may find a wide variety of reasonably priced, high-quality Kilimanjaro hikes in the typical Kilimanjaro Climb Packages, which range in price from US$1500 to US$2000. Precious safaris, which has a partnership with KPAP (so there is an assurance that they would treat their personnel well), is the top tour company among them. The treks we offer are of good quality overall. Private restrooms, mess tents, top-notch Kilimanjaro food, and more are all things we offer. Our Kilimanjaro guides have oxygen on them at all times.
Kilimanjaro Mid-Range Climb:
The average cost of a Kilimanjaro climb is between US$2000 and US$3000. Here, you can find fantastic mid-range businesses (like Precious safaris), whose services are even higher quality and offer excellent value. Better camping and accommodation options, better equipment amenities, and higher quality Kilimanjaro hotel stays are all available to you. From the time you clear customs at the airport until the moment you take off at the end of your journey, you are given comprehensive care and direction.
Kilimanjaro Luxury Climb:
If money is not an issue, you can take advantage of the best deals as part of the opulent Kilimanjaro Climb. Additionally, we at Precious safaris provide some of these opulent Kilimanjaro Climb packages. The majority of our Kilimanjaro guides have completed the mountain’s ascent more than 80 to 100 times, making them essentially Kilimanjaro Specialists. These guides began their careers as Kilimanjaro Porters and have been climbing the mountain for over 7 or 8 years.
We collaborate with KPAP as part of our Luxury Kilimanjaro Climb packages to treat the Kilimanjaro Porters fairly. In addition, we offer more opulent Kilimanjaro equipment, like beds that are properly constructed at each campsite, wifi hotspots on the mountain, and smartphone chargers.
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ADDITIONAL EXPENSES IMPACTING KILIMANJARO CLIMB COST
Prices Outside of the Mountain
Numerous additional factors exist in addition to those mentioned above that can affect the cost of climbing Kilimanjaro. The following additional considerations have an impact on the overall cost of climbing Kilimanjaro.
air travel to Kilimanjaro, African visa, vaccinations before travelling, Kilimanjaro meals and lodging, and any additional activities you have planned, such as a safari or a trip to Zanzibar, before or after the journey.
The ideal spot to be in Tanzania is Zanzibar if you want to travel to other places outside of the mountain and the other national parks. Your Kilimanjaro Climb Cost will increase as a result of the trip extensions.
Let’s talk about some additional elements that influence Kilimanjaro climb prices:
The three major daily expenses of a traveler’s life—transportation, food, and lodging—are rather affordable in Tanzania, especially in Moshi and Arusha:
Stays at Kilimanjaro
The Kilimanjaro Climb Packages include lodging. We offer you lodging on Mount Kilimanjaro in tented camps both before and after your ascent.
After that, you can reserve more nights, but those will add to your overall lodging costs.
There are some less expensive, non-tourist lodging options available, but they are sketchy and filthy and should only be used as a last resort.
In the peak season, you may also find hotel rooms for up to US$2000 per night if you are planning a luxury vacation.
Kilimanjaro Cuisine
The most crucial component of your Kilimanjaro trek is Kilimanjaro food. It is the most crucial step in the climb and gives you the energy you need to ascend Kilimanjaro. We at Precious safaris offer you delicious, sanitary cuisine. You can enjoy delicious Kilimanjaro food starting at £3/US$4.80 at any decent Kilimanjaro restaurant.
Tanzanian Domestic Transportation
You would anticipate using Tanzania’s public transport if you were planned to climb Mount Kilimanjaro on a budget. However, it can be challenging to locate regular public transport in Tanzania. Therefore, Precious safaris arranges roundtrip airport transfers as well as transportation from hotels to the entrances of Kilimanjaro National Park.
If you’re wondering whether you can climb Kilimanjaro for nothing, yes. I’m sorry to have to tell you that it is not doable.
WHAT TO BUILD FOR DURING A KILIMANJARO CLIMB?
Although climbing Kilimanjaro is no easy task, it offers some of the best memories and is the ideal way to see the breathtakingly beautiful African adventure. You are not only ascending the highest mountain in Africa; you are also taking in some of the most breathtaking views imaginable. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. We have provided a thorough overview of the same here:
Changes Your Body Might Go Through During A Kilimanjaro Trek
You might experience any of these physical changes during your Kilimanjaro hike:
#1. Breathing difficulties.
Every breath you take on the mountain has roughly 40% less oxygen because it is over 12,000 feet above sea level.
Therefore, it is common to experience shortness of breath as a result of receiving less oxygen than usual with each inhalation.
Your body responds by speeding up your breathing, or how many breaths you take in a minute. Your body is now attempting to push extra oxygen into your lungs.
On the mountain, using Diamox to climb Kilimanjaro is extremely frequent, thus many hikers decide to pack Diamox in addition to other necessary prescriptions.
#2. Quick heartbeat.
While climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, there is a potential that your heart rate could spike suddenly. As your body adapts to higher elevations, your heart will beat more frequently each minute in order to carry more oxygen. Your body produces extra oxygen in order to keep up with your heart's rapid heartbeat, which raises your heart rate.
According to research, your body will start producing 30–50% more red blood cells on the first night you spend in a high altitude setting as a method to acclimatise to the lower oxygen levels.
#3. Moving the fluid levels.
Your body will focus all energy and oxygen on the organs that require the most oxygen throughout the Kilimanjaro climb: the heart, lungs, and brain.
Other signs of finger and foot edoema exist. when a result, you must leave your rings at home and avoid hiking Kilimanjaro in brand-new boots because they may lead to blisters when your feet grow while on the trail.
#4. Dry skin and dehydration.
Your body may become dehydrated while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, which can lead to dry skin. This is quite typical on the mountain. Your body sweats twice as much when you are over 6000 feet above sea level as it does when you are at sea level.
Aside from this, your skin’s residual moisture is evaporated by the low air pressure. Water consumption on the mountain is so crucial.
What Can Happen To Your Body While Climbing Kilimanjaro?
The physical changes your body goes through at high elevations are not unusual among ardent hikers. Your body might not encounter some of these symptoms on the mountain because they are largely urban legends.
#1. shedding an absurd amount of body fat or weight.
Numerous hikers may take several weeks or even months to complete their route through the AT, PCT, or any other lengthy hike. They lose a shocking amount of weight mostly for this reason. But that does not imply that climbing Kilimanjaro in just 6-7 days will result in weight loss.
The longest hikes are still only a few of weeks long, and while some people may lose weight while climbing Kilimanjaro, it is likely due to dehydration.
#2. Taking Care of Serious Injuries.
On their (very long) journey to the finish line, over 60% of trekkers reportedly experience at least one injury, such as lost toenails, shin splints, sprained knees,
broken ankles or shattered joints.
On the Kilimanjaro Climb, however, this is not the case because our team of specialists will be guiding you continually and making sure you are well-prepared
and safe throughout the entire ascent and descent of the mountain.
How Can I Avoid Getting Acute Mountain Sick While Climbing Kilimanjaro?
We advise you to allow enough time to acclimatise on the mountain in order to avoid serious mountain sickness, which is all too prevalent at elevations over 10,000 feet (3,048 m). Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness will automatically subside after one or two days.
Some of the warning signs and symptoms of Kilimanjaro altitude sickness are the ones listed below:
Altitude sickness symptoms and warning signs include:
- Reduced appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- headaches,
- lightheadedness, or vertigo
- tingling in the fingers, face, and nose
- breathing difficulty
- Fatigue
- Hands, foot, and face swelling
Fortunately, these symptoms often go away in 36 to 48 hours.
SET UP THE MOST AMAZING KILIMANJARO CLIMB
Precious safaris values its customers and works hard to provide them with continuous support, including 24 hour contact assistance, to improve their
Kilimanjaro climbing adventure experience. We at Precious safaris are a fully licenced local business that complies with all Tanzanian government regulations on tourism and hospitality. For thousands of climbers, we have made it feasible to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro.
Contact our travel specialists right away to learn more about the Kilimanjaro Climb!