An article about the Best 5 Tips for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro including what to pack, how to get to Mount Kilimanjaro, which route to pick, and more.
Hello, my wonder friends! How have you been? Last month I started to prepare for my next adventure: summiting one of the world’s largest peaks, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Located in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, reaching 5895 meters (19,340 feet). Quite a task, isn’t it?
To help with my upcoming journey, I researched and wrote this list of the Top 5 Tips for Preparing to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro. I hope you enjoy it, my wonder friends!
Tips for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro #01: Plan How to Get to Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and it is located in Tanzania. The nearest airport is the Kilimanjaro International Airport, located 50 km east of Moshi Town and 70 KM away from the city of Arusha.
It is served by multiple international airlines such as KLM, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and many more.
Most nations are eligible for getting a Visa on Arrival and/or E-Visa to Tanzania and some have free visa travel. You can check this website to see if you need to apply for a visa to Tanzania.
I recommend spending at least a few days in Tanzania before attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro so your body adapts to the new timezone and you can avoid climbing while jetlagged.
Tanzania has multiple tourist attractions such as Safaris and the wonderful Zanzibar island so you will have multiple things to do and see in Tanzania, my wonder friends!
Tips for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro #02: Get in Good Physical Shape for High Altitude Climbing
As you can imagine, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a serious challenge that requires a lot of physical effort. Luckily, it’s not a technical climb so you don’t need to be experienced in technical climbing.
The best thing you can do to prepare for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is cardiovascular training, swimming, and weight training to be in prime physical shape. And yes, that might involve dieting so I might have to say goodbye to tacos for a few months!
The ascent is very steep and takes place at a high altitude so your body needs to be ready for this. This isn’t hard for those who live in places located at a high altitude but for the rest of us, we will need to train harder before trying to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
It is also recommended that you try at least a few medium to high-altitude climbs before attempting Kilimanjaro. After all, you shouldn’t try to run before you have mastered walking.
Here is an article with some really helpful exercises to prepare yourself for high-altitude climbing.
Tips for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro #03: Pick the Best Route for Your Climb
There are multiple different routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, each one with a different length and a variance in the number of days. This is crucial since longer routes often lead to a higher success rate due to having time to acclimatize to the high altitude.
Marangu Route (5-6 Days): The preferred route for those short on time. This route offers hut accommodation. Due to the length of days, you have less time to acclimatize.
Rongai Route (6-7 Days): This route approaches from the North of Mount Kilimanjaro and is considered the “off the beaten path” route due to smaller crowds.
Machame Route (6-7 Days): This route is considered the most challenging one, however, it offers great views for photography lovers.
Lemosho Route (7-8 Days): This route is the longest of them all and has the highest success rate due to the number of days for acclimatization.
If you’re a newbie to the high-peak climbing scene, I recommend going with a trusted tour company to ensure you have the best experience possible. For this, I recommend going with Altezza Travel, they are the number one ranked climbing company on Trip Advisor for Kilimanjaro and have group tours every 3 days.
The average price for a Kilimanjaro expedition is 2000 USD per person depending on the season. The company is located on the slopes of Kilimanjaro in the Machame area, near Moshi Town, and they have a hotel where you can rest before and after your expedition. Don’t attempt to summit while jet-lagged!
Tips for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro #04: Buy the Right Gear for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Don’t get fooled by the preconception that Tanzania is a hot country. The summit of Mount Kilimanjaro can get extremely cold (-20 degrees Celsius or -4 degrees Fahrenheit) so be sure to pack accordingly.
The climate changes drastically from start to finish so you also need some light clothing for the first step of the climb. Here is a recommended packing list of things you need to bring before attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro:
Layered Clothing: bring a lot of layers so you can progressively warm up the more you climb.
Hiking Boots: a pair of sturdy waterproof hiking boots is a must. Make sure they are broken in to prevent blisters.
Sleeping Bag: a sleeping bag for sub-zero temperatures is essential. Investing in a high-quality four-season sleeping bag is highly recommended.
Trekking Poles: your knees will thank you on the way down.
Headlamp: on the last day you will be attempting to summit at night so a good quality headlamp to light the way is a necessity.
Photo camera: after all, you need to document the moment you summit. Be sure to keep your camera batteries in a warm place to prevent them from getting drained.
Water: make sure to be hydrated to prevent altitude sickness, my wonder friends!
Tips for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro #05: Get Mentally Prepared for the Summit
Finally, the last tip is to mentally prepare yourself for the summit. Physical preparation will go to waste if your mental preparation is lacking.
Visualizing your success is a key element that professional climbers recommend. Never give up mentally even if you’re tired and cold.
A mantra to help you meditate and focus on your breathing is one of the most important aspects to improve your mental fortitude and conquer any mountain that stands in your way. You can do it, my wonder friends!
I hope you have enjoyed this article about 5 Tips for Preparing to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Don’t forget to subscribe to get more awesome updates and tips straight to your e-mail!
Have you ever climbed Mount Kilimanjaro? Would you like to? What were some of your best Kilimanjaro Climbing Tips? Share your thoughts and let me know what you think!
