Experience a natural high – climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Located in Tanzania in East Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro exerts an almost magnetic pull over travelers. When you combine phenomenal views, unique landscapes and the chance to stand at the highest point in Africa, it’s easy to see why. Here’s what to expect when undertaking the adventure of a lifetime that is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Taking a selfie with the iconic wooden sign located some 5,895 metres (19,341feet) above sea level is a moment you’ll always treasure – the sense of accomplishment will remain with you for life.
On the hike, you’ll pass through many different habitats – from lush forests at the base of the mountain (look out for the distinctive black and white colobus monkeys), open moorland with bizarre giant groundsel plants and finally bare rock. The once impressive glaciers on the summit have shrunk due to global warming, but you’ll still encounter snow and ice at the summit.
One mountain, many paths
There is more than route you can use when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, and they vary in difficulty. There are huts on the mountain, but on most routes, you’ll be camping – there’s nothing quite like waking up in a tent several miles up in the sky to make you feel alive.
Up where you belong
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro doesn’t involve any technical climbing; it’s more of a long, slow hike. Slow is the most important word here – it’s important to take your time on the ascent so that you can acclimatize to the altitude and the thinner air. These are the most challenging aspects of the climb and rushing will only increase your risk of feeling the symptoms of altitude sickness.
The best way to counter these is to walk slowly (your guides will frequently remind you to go “pole, pole” or ‘slowly, slowly”). You’ll spend anywhere from 5 to 9 days on the mountain. On at least one of those days, you’ll descend and sleep lower than the highest point you’ve reached, as part of the adaptation to altitude. The descent after summiting is slower than the ascent, and breathing gets easier with each step as you head back down after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Staying hydrated is also vital – even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Traveling light
One thing you won’t have to worry about is carrying your gear. The almost superhuman porters will go ahead with your bags and tents. Thanks to years of experience, they are able to climb much faster than you will, so you’ll arrive at each campsite to find tents pitched, sleeping bags unrolled and water boiling for the best cup of tea you’ll ever have.
(On a side note, tipping your porters after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is excellent etiquette and absolutely the right thing to do).
Get ready
Before traveling to Tanzania, you need to prepare for this adventure of a lifetime. This includes making sure you’re physically fit and investing in the right equipment (especially rugged footwear). The company you hike with will provide all the meals and drinks you need during the hike, but we’d definitely recommend bringing extra snacks like energy bars or trail mix. Insider tip: bring a can of local Kilimanjaro beer to celebrate your achievement, but watch out for the fact that it may freeze!
Worth the early start
On summit day, your guides will wake you up extremely early in the morning, and you’ll climb the final gravel slopes in darkness (don’t forget your headtorch). This is so you can reach the peak at dawn and witness the sun rising over the entire continent spread out at your feet, before the clouds roll in. At dawn, the air is typically so clear that you can see the twinkling lights of Mombasa, some 280km (174 miles) away on the Indian Ocean coast.
If you’re keen on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the travel experts at Journey Beyond can make it happen for you. We can also create an itinerary that combines the hike up ‘Kili’ with time on safari in Tanzania or Kenya, or a recuperative beach vacation in Zanzibar.