Hike The Most Scenic Route To The Summit Of Africa's Highest Peak.
For climbing this gigantic mountain, you do need to get your body used to the particular demands of this hike but you don't need to be exceptionally fit. You can start training before a month of your trekking date. Try to eat healthy and maintain a balanced diet during this period. You can add aerobic exercises and staircase training along with cardio vascular activities for your physical training process. The first days will be very tiring for those who do not undergo physical training for the summit. To not lose energy it is important for your body to be accustomed to long walking training or climbing small hills. Walk with simple steps is what we recommend on the Kilimanjaro routes.
The minimum wage for Kilimanjaro Porters is TZS 20,000 (ca. US $9). But it is advisable to pay some tip to them as a gesture of gratitude for their work. For the hard work that these porters put for the climbers these small tips are a mere gesture of gratitude for the porters. It is also customary to pay tips in Tanzania to porters, guides and other staff who make your trip comfortable.
Porters carry all your gear (excluding your day pack) and all the equipment you need on your climb (tents, cooking equipment, food, water etc.) which amounts to around 20kg on their back or head! Beyond this is not advisable legally as it may cause health and other complications to the porters in the long run. If more number of people are climbing in a group, more number of porters are advised to be taken for a comfortable journey.
For those thinking How Many Days Does It Take To Climb Kilimanjaro, it is usually a 5 to 9 days climb. It depends mostly on the route that you take and the days for acclimatization that you give for higher success rates. It is better to walk slow and take time to climb up the summit. This helps avoid altitude sickness caused due to change in climatic zones and weather conditions.
Kilimanjaro is very demanding but bigginner experince is not required in the climbing. Mostly we are asked - What Do I Need To Climb Kilimanjaro? The answer is simple, with the experinced guides and professional trainers offering you equipments to climb the mountain, it is definitely easy for any beginner. Our trained professionals at Kilimanjaro Treks will guide you with necessary knowledge required about the mountain and train you before the climb. They are well trained professionals and are good at handling medical exergencies as well. They help raise spirits of the climbers on the trek when they feel like giving up.
Millenium Camp is at 3,832 metres and that means your sleep that night is maybe the best sleep you'll ever have. This good sleep is very necessary for increasing your capacity to walk the next day. Therefore altitude mainly is the reason why people choose to climb at night.
You can try layering which is a systematic and logical approach to wearing multiple layers of clothing. It is the best way to keep your body in the desired temperature range no matter what the environment is. The temperatures you may encounter on Mount Kilimanjaro can be over 100 degrees to well below zero.
At the Uhuru Point, temperatures can range between 20 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 to -29 degrees Celsius). Mount Kilimanjaro has extreme, variable and impossible weather to predict. It is therefore advised to get many layers of clothing gears for the trek. Layering helps keep the body warm in extreme cold wave conditions on the summit. Kilimanjaro Treks provide these gears as a rental option as well.
Yes you can climb Kilimanjaro for free. If you can get out there and find 10 people to join you climbing Kilimanjaro, we will give you the full Kilimanjaro service on the Machame 7 day trek or Lemosho 8 day trek for free. This is possible if the other members are paying for their trip we can add your expenses of accomodation, transfer, meal and more with their average costs and help you provide a free trip to this majestic mountain.
It depends on your level of fitness and mental stamina if you require training for Kilimanjaro or not. The Bottom Line is that Kilimanjaro is a popular climb, and you do not let the training and hardships put you off. Also we get asked often - Can you climb Kilimanjaro without a guide? For climbing the mountain there are special permissions required which only trained professionals posses. For experinced climbers it is surely possible but for beginners, guides are necessary to climb the mountain.
Yes it is worth using Diamox on Kilimanjaro. This is because anything that is going to help you reach the summit safely should be considered. It is recommended to take Diamox for 2-3 days 2 weeks before departure to test whether you experience any side effects. However this should be done after careful examination of your personal physician to avoid any ill effects.
So now that you know all about Kilimanjaro Faq’s, start planning your amazing Tanzania trip with Kilimanjaro Treks today! We provide the best customised and tailored packages suiting your needs and interests.
Wondering Which Is The Best Route To Climb Kilimanjaro? We get that query often in Kilimanjaro Faq’s. The most popular climbing route up Kilimanjaro is the Machame Route. Rongai, Lemosho and Shira are also more chosen compared to others but Machame is considered best route to Kilimanjaro. The best Kilimanjaro Routes also depends on the experience of the climbers. For more experienced trekkers Umbwe or Lemosho routes are more preffered. For the new trekkers, our well trained guides will help you prepare for the tough summit and help you choose the right route for you.
Yes is it definetly safe to to climb Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro Treks offer a safe and secure climb to Mt. Kilimanjaro. You must however do adequate reserch and serch the right tour operator as every year, around 1,000 people are evacuated from the mountain and approximately 10 deaths are reported. But with Kilimanjaro Treks this is not an issue. Our trained professional guides help the climbers ascend the summit. Theyr are trained to handle medical emegencies and altitude sickness on the route. We also have emergency rescue provisions for our clients on the summit. We take care of our clients safety and security.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (IATA code is JRO) is the closest landing ground to take you to Kilimanjaro. You can book your flights anywhere to here and once after landing our drivers and staff will pick you up from the airport. International flights are not inclusive of Kilimanjaro tour rackages. Therefore the flights must be booked ahead of time to avail discounts. We provide domestic flights and other transfers to our clients however. With Kilimanjaro Treks, your travel is safe, secure and comfortable.
The number of days, weeks or months needed to train for Kilimanjaro depends upon your level of fitness. But usually it requires around a month to be prepared for your trek. It is advisable to do staircase training, cardio vascular exercises and upper body exercises. Eat right and do more of aerobic exercises before the trip. Also if possible you can climb a hill to practice for the trek. Overall it is not necessary to be perfectly fit for climbing the mountain. As apart from physical training, mental preparedness is more important for high success rate on summit.
Still thinking How hard is it to climb Kilimanjaro? For experienced climbers, Mount Kilimanjaro will take around 5 to 6 days to reach the top and is not that hard. Even for new climbers our guides will help you climb the mountain with ease. But you need to give extra days for acclimatization for maximum success rate at the summit. For new climbers however climbing Kilimanjaro becomes easier with our trained professionals and porters who help the climbers carry their essential equipments or gears up the summit.
It definitely worth climbing this beautiful mountain once your lifetime. The cost to climb Kilimanjaro is relatively affordable and does not require such a big time commitment. With our exciting Kilimanjaro tour packages and expert guidance you will make the most of your Kilimanjaro tours. You will get to see beautiful scenery is varied and beautiful. The flora and fauna is mesmerising and fills the travellers with great enthusiasm and spirits. So yes it is definelty worth climbing Kilimanjaro.
The best time to climb Kilimanjaro are from January-March and June-October. Generally January-March is colder than June-October and there is a higher probability of encountering snow on the summit. It depends on the climbers whether they want to experience the snow covered peaks of the summit or the more pleasant time period after June. The beauty of the mountain is at its best during the dry season of June-October. It is advisable to climb the mountain during this time.
On Kilimanjaro snow can occur all year round. November through March for snow here. The scenic beauty of the place is best at these times. However during the peak period of June to September, the weather is pleasant and snow is comparatively less than the cold dry period of March. So there is snow on Kilimanjaro in September but less compared to the other colder seasons.
A good mix of stair masters, uphill treadmill climbs and breathing exercises is the recommended physical Training For Kilimanjaro. Along with this good food, healthy diet, aerobic exercises and more are also great choices to add in your training program. Upper body and lower body exercises can also be added to the training program. Apart from physical training, mental preparedness is more important. According to an estimate, the people who succeed in climbing the summit depend on the determination to reach the peak. Our trained guides will help you achieve that.
Although sighting wildlife is rare on the peak, still if you are lucky you may view some animals here on the mountain. The beautiful flora and fauna attracts many people across globe. You will a variety of wildlife like water buffalo, giraffe, warthog colobus monkeys; bush buck, blue monkeys and dik dik and numerous birds and sometimes even elephants or hyenas are sighted. These animals can be mostly sighted in the dry season during June to October as the weather is pleasant.
A comfortable sleep is very important to get reenergize at next morning to trek as Kilimanjaro hiking is little bit stressful. Kilimanjaro Gears is necessary for a cosy sleep. Essential gears like K-Way Sleeping Bag, Foam Mattress, and Kilimanjaro Pillow can be carried in the trek. Kilimanjaro Treks also provide these gears on rent for which it is necessary to apply beforehand. You can speak to our staff personally regarding any queries about the Kilimanjaro gears.
Any average person being able to effectively climb and summit Kilimanjaro is absolutely attainable. You don’t need to be particularly fit (indeed being too fit can be detrimental) and you do not need any technical climbing skills. All you need is determination and the will to get to the summit. Our trained guides will help you achieve that. Also with various important Kilimanjaro gears the trek is comparatively easier for average climbers as well.
Although many tour operators claim to offer 90% success rate, it is not possible though for many climbers. The challenge on the routes with changing climatic conditions and the altitude, Kilimanjaro climbing requires skilled professionals guiding you up the summit. On an average, Kilimanjaro Success Rate across all climbers and routes is 65%. It depends however on the type of route chosen and acclimatisation days given during the climb. Also we get asked a lot - What is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro? The dry season is the Best Time To Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Also the success rate is higher during this time.
Most asked among Kilimanjaro Climbing Faqs is the hardest route or the easiest route to the mountain. No route is tough with the right guidance and timing for rest and acclimatisation. However there are some tough routes on Kilimanjaro chosen only by trained trekkers. Among them Umbwe is the hardest and steepest route to reach Kilimanjaro summit and is recommended only for truly experienced climbers. The route is short and has less scenic views compared to other routes as the descent is same as the ascent.
Although many people attempt to climb the great mountain, few can actually reach to the top of the summit. More than 35,000 people attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro every year. Only 40% of them successfully reach the summit though. This could be due to many reasons: beginners take time to cope with the changing weather conditions on the route and face acclimatisation or altitude sickness. The climbing process is tough mentally and physically and is highly challenging.
Firstly you have to choose a route that best suites you. You have to then prepare yourself mentally and physically. You have to then pack the right Kilimanjaro gears and equipment’s for the trip as they play an important role in your summit success rate. Kilimanjaro Treks provide its clients with an articulated list of these gears to help them bring all necessary requirements for the trek. In case of various vaccinations, you can take immunisation for yellow fever and malaria or other vaccines before reaching Tanzania, after consulting your physician. Lastly, enjoy your journey to the summit.
The climb up to Kilimanjaro is a tough challenge for many trekkers. After all it is the highest mountain of Africa. It takes minimum of five days to reach the peak. It will take around five to nine days on an average to complete the walk up the mountain. We recommend adding an extra day to acclimatise for high success rate on summit. The time taken depends on the type of route chosen and the time given for acclimatization. It is also better to trek during the dry season as the routes are less slippery and the weather is pleasant.
No, oxygen is not required to climb Kilimanjaro. Although on a high altitude of more than 5000 meters above sea level, it is difficult for many trekkers to breathe due to lack of oxygen on the peak. For this reason many fail to reach the top of the summit due to various health conditions that may occur due to lack of oxygen. Using supplemental oxygen on the summit attempt is one way you can give yourself a better chance of reaching Uhuru Peak to prevent altitude sickness. This is carried by the porters along with them up the top of the mountain in case climbers require it.
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Here's What Some Of Our Awesome Customers Had To Say
We did a two weeks tour in Tanzania with safari and other activities like hikes, beach, boat trips...
We had planned the trip in advance with Gecko Adventure to find our personal best route and accommodations. They were very prompt, kompetent and helpful. We got the tour for a very fair price.
Our guide and driver Rama picked us up in Dar es Salaam and drove us all the way to Kilimanjaro. He did a great job, did everything to make us happy. He knows a lot about the animal and how to find them.
It was a wonderful experience with many highlights. The accommodations were very good, each with its special, personal flair and excellent food. The staff was extremely nice.
Gecko Adventure also organized a PCR test for us. We got the result exactly as planned.
We can only recommend Tanzania in these difficult times. It is like a paradise.
We can also only recommend Gecko Adventure. If we come back to Tanzania, we will book with them again.
Jan 2021
Rama the owner is a very smooth communicator, and it’s easy to be very impressed with his handling of your booking and answering your questions, etc. But despite trusting him a lot, he completely scammed us.
Our first clue that something was amiss was when we tried to find the office that Rama claims to have. He told us specially what building his office was in (it’s also marked on Google maps in this prestigious location). The office does not exist.
Once we realized this, we asked to see the car that was “being repaired” as part of his story. This was the night before we were to leave on our trip. During the trip to see the car (which was honestly bring repaired as described, but based on its condition did not appear ready for departure the next day) we talked casually to him about our trip and how excited we were (that it was our honeymoon).
One hour after he returned us to our hotel, he sent a group WhatsApp text including an unknown person saying that his “business partner” (really just one of his drivers posing as his “partner”) was unsatisfied with the price Rama has agreed to and that the trip (which was to start the next day) would be 3x more expensive!! When I protested that we had agreed to a price weeks ago (Rama had gone so far as to specify what kind of USD bills to bring and I had sent him a picture of the bills laid out on a table), they refused to even acknowledge the deal they had agreed to. It was clear that they decided to take advantage of the information we had given them — that we were on our honeymoon- to try to extort us for 3x the price. How messed up is that?! The trip is now ruined and Rama has been increasingly dishonest in trying to justify this 3x price increase (we’re talking about thousands of dollars). It’s actually been quite embarrassing as Rama has repeatedly made new claims and I just keep responding with a screenshot of previous messages he sent contradicting his new lies. Avoid at all costs!!!
Dec 2020
Very professional from start till the end!
All was planned and structured as we wanted it. We were part of the process from the start and they were also able to adapt to our wishes along the way.
The safari driver was excellent with huge knowledge about nature and animals and you could clearly feel his passion for the work he is doing and his respect towards the animals and nature.
This was not my first time on safari, but definitely one of the best ones
Oct 2020
Everything was planned to the smallest detail. Nothing to worry about 👌 Would definitely recommend booking whatever through Kilimanjaro Trek Tanzania!
I don't have enough words to say how wonderful it was. Rama was incredible, quick with answers and willing to please our wishes. Our guide, called Rama too, was very pleasant, we learned a lot with him and we could really see that he made his best for us.
Oct 2020
The trip was organized perfectly. Rama was always responsive and understanding of last minute tweaks to the itinerary, ensuring that we had the correct information every step of the way. I was very confident that the trip was going to go well before it started largely in part due to Rama's customer service leading up to it.
I couldn't be happier that we chose Kilimanjaro Trek for our safari, and highly recommend it!
Mar 2019
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