Reaching The Top Of Kilimanjaro- 10 Tips For A Successful Climb
Written By
Kilimanjaro Dreamers
11/10/2022
Trekking
There is a solid reason why Kilimanjaro is sometimes referred to as “The Roof ofAfrica.” Africa’s tallest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, is also the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. Kilimanjaro, which is also known as a stratovolcano and is made up of three volcanic craters named Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a massive volcano.
There is no getting past the fact that preparation is necessary to climb Kilimanjaro. It also requires using the right attitude and approach while on the hike. From physical preparation to breaking in your hiking boots to moving slowly and steadily throughout the climb.
Table of Contents
1.Some Helpful Tips and Suggestions for reaching the top of Kilimanjaro
2.Conclusion
1.Some Helpful Tips and Suggestions for reaching the top of Kilimanjaro
We’ve made a list of tips and suggestions to help you reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro
1.1 Prepare Yourself Physically
On Kilimanjaro, every route has particular challenges. You must make sure you are physically healthy to meet — and beat — those obstacles. The last day can require up to 17 hours of hiking in 24 hours, even though most of the trail’s days are rather straightforward and include little elevation increase.
The exercises that can prepare you for a successful Kilimanjaro trek are-
Hiking is the best form of workout since it matches what you will be doing on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Although other workouts like running and weightlifting might be effective, hiking should make up the majority—if not the entirety of your training.
You can also train by taking a heavy backpack with you when you go on outdoor outings. Start with some shorter hikes and work your way up to longer ones if you don’t have much hiking experience.
Even if you’re in excellent physical shape, prepare your body for hiking by putting in some training time beforehand.
You should train yourself to manage a level of endurance because you will be climbing for 4-6 hours every day and 12–14 hours on summit day on Mount Kilimanjaro. The goal is endurance, therefore focus on the length of training rather than intensity.
Spending the time and effort in the months leading up will make your climb much more exciting and possible.
1.2 Packing and Clothing Essentials
On Kilimanjaro, you cannot afford to be cold. This means you must pack enough warm clothing. The hike will begin with a journey through a steamy rainforest. It’s going to be humid. And you may find unpleasant bugs, so carry a repellent. But as you climb higher, the temperature drops, and soon you’ll need to trade in your shorts for insulating clothing to survive Kilimanjaro’s icy ice caps.
Things get very cold as you ascend the mountain and enter the heath zone. Also, the wind picks up, leaving you vulnerable to its full impact due to the low and thin vegetation.
The alpine desert zone is the next zone, and when you get there, it’s extremely chilly, with nighttime lows frequently far below zero.
On summit day, you eventually enter an arctic zone of snow and ice, and you’ll need to cover up in some seriously warm clothing to stay protected from the elements.
Consider packing in layers. It’s one of the best Mt. Kilimanjaro climbing tips that will simplify your life greatly and help you swiftly adjust to the various climate zones on the mountain.
An additional set of warm socks and liners are essential because blisters and chilled feet are the enemies.
Protection for the hands and neck is also required. Make sure to pack extra warm clothing to prevent getting cold. Because freezing fingers, toes, and a cold neck are not enjoyable.
Additionally, be sure to carry UV protection, such as sunscreen and a wide-brim hat. In high altitudes, sunburn is more likely to occur. And, a sunburn will make you feel worse and increase your inclination to become dehydrated.
1.3 Take things Slow
When ascending Mount Kilimanjaro, you’ll frequently hear the words ‘pole, pole.’ In Swahili, it means slowly, gently, or going easy on yourself.
When climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, you should take things slowly to increase your success rate.
You should move slowly during summit night to conserve energy.
It takes time for the body to acclimate to the low oxygen levels in the mountains, therefore you must be patient and gentle with your body as it does so.
You should move slowly during summit night to conserve energy. Take a rest stop in some places. Professional mountaineers use a technique called rest-stepping to assist them to climb mountains.
Do not rush to the campsites; being the first is not at all essential. Take your time and relish the view.
You should feel secure, and the best way to achieve so is to pay attention to and respect your body. Avoid attempting to push yourself past your comfort zone.
1.4 Break in your shoes beforehand
Every year, people travel to Kilimanjaro wearing brand-new boots that haven’t been properly broken in, which leads to blisters. To prevent blisters, you should wear the boots regularly for at least a month.
Before climbing Kilimanjaro, it’s a good idea to hike 100 kilometres in new boots to break them in.
Make sure your boots are insulated, and waterproof, and offer adequate ankle support if you’re purchasing new footwear for the trek.
Wearing the socks you’ll be using for your Kilimanjaro hike in advance is a smart idea. Make sure your socks are soft and appropriate for the hike. This involves taking into account factors such as fabric, seam, and sock liners.
1.5 Pick your route wisely
Choosing the best route for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro depends solely on your personal preference. Here is a summary of what each one will include.
The Marangu Route is the most convenient, economical, and comfortable. You only have five days to reach the summit, therefore your chances of success are slim.
A stunning route is the Machame Route. It takes six to seven days to reach the peak and ascend to the southern side.
One of the best and most successful Kilimanjaro routes is the Lemosho Route. It takes six to nine days to finish and is an extraordinarily gorgeous route over the western side with fewer tourists.
The newest and longest Kilimanjaro climbing route is the Northern Circuit Route. It is quite successful and offers stunning views all along the way.
The only route that approaches the peak from the north is the Rongai Route. Compared to Machame, Lemosho, and Shira, it is a simpler ascent, but it is less scenic.
The Umbwe Route is the most challenging, difficult, and compacted Kilimanjaro route. Only attempt it if you are an experienced climber and you are certain that your body will adjust to the altitude well.
1.6 Keep yourself well hydrated
You lose water considerably more quickly when you are at a high altitude. Drink plenty of water because dehydration might raise your risk of headaches, acute mountain sickness (AMS), general tiredness, and even irritability.
It is pretty typical for many climbers to experience a little headache as a result of the elevation change. Getting enough water can help prevent headaches brought on by dehydration and reduce the associated pain.
Bring a three-litre water bladder as well. The nozzle locks onto your front strap, and it straps to the back of your pack. To quench your thirst, just bite down on the nozzle. You can drink water without stopping or taking off your bag.
Since water bladders may freeze as you get closer to the peak, it is advised to have a backup water supply with you.
Bringing electrolyte tablets to add to your water bottle is also an excellent idea.
One of the most critical things you can do to improve your chances of Climbing Kilimanjaro is to stay hydrated.
1.7 Choose a Longer Route
Choose a longer route to the top than a shorter one for the best probability of success and the lowest danger of Kilimanjaro altitude sickness.
The highest success rate, at 85%, is achieved by those who choose an 8-day climb. For 7-day, 4-day, and 2-day routes, respectively, this success rate falls to 64%, 44%, and 27%.
1.8 Recover
You’ll fall into a pattern on the mountain quite fast. You get up, eat breakfast, and go on a hike. Take a hike after lunch. After dinner, you retreat to bed.
You can take a few steps to promote recovery. The first thing to do is to stop wasting energy for the whole day. As needed, take breaks. When you arrive at a campground, relax in your tent by resting down for a while. After changing out of your hiking gear, put on your sleeping clothes. Even if you don’t feel like it, eat dinner. Calories are necessary for energy restoration.
1.9 Pack Nutritious Snacks
This one is crucial for maintaining your mental well-being. Even if the mountain’s chefs are highly talented, you should carry snacks so you always have something to look forward to.
Snacks like protein or granola bars, dry fruits, nuts, and even M&Ms (as they don’t melt) are recommended.
Don’t worry about calorie intake as you’ll be able to burn almost 4-5 times what you intake.
The night of the summit is when you’ll need it the most, so make sure to save a lot for that.
1.10 Be self-assured
A positive mental outlook will keep you moving forward when tiredness and doubts arise.
It’s essential to remember that in order to reach the top, you must complete each step of the trek one at a time.
It is simple to become overwhelmed and worn out, but keep in mind that you are on vacation. Entertain yourself! In the evenings, unwind with your climbing friends while having fun.
Keep in mind that while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is challenging, you can succeed if you’re well-prepared, determined, and confident in yourself.
Make sure to go through our list of helpful tips and suggestions to conquer Kilimanjaro. If you have any questions/and, or suggestions, feel free to contact us on the following details
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is ultimately a rewarding experience. Ensure to follow the above-mentioned list of tips and suggestions to successfully climb Mount Kilimanjaro. And, then bask in the glory of the summit and experience the picturesque landscape of Kilimanjaro.
