Last Updated on September 26, 2020
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro: Being a place of myth and folklore, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. It’s located in northern Tanzania, which is near the border of Kenya. If you want to climb this mountain, you have to prepare yourself and plan on how to finish the whole trek.
Besides, when you’re going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, you don’t need to have technical skills or a lot of special equipment. Just make sure that you have physical fitness and determination to climb this one of the largest mountains.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
People from all walks of life have already reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro successfully. This doesn’t mean that you take the challenges lightly. You have to keep in mind what lies ahead.
Keep Belief in Yourself
Once you’ve started climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, you should bear a positive mental attitude. This can help you reach the top of this mountain. Walk it one step at a time instead of walking the entire path at once. In this way, you will take the next level and reach the summit.
Throughout the journey, you may get exhausted or find yourself in a doubtful situation. Don’t lose hope, and enjoy yourself with your fellow climbers. Believe in yourself that you can successfully reach the top of the mountain.
Be Determined for a Kilimanjaro Climb
When you’re going to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, you need plenty of determination. There you might be feeling sick and exhausted. But your determination must not supersede your health.
Both you and your guide have to monitor AMS (Acute mountain sickness) symptoms closely. It’s vital that you listen to your body and others in your group if they say that you need to pause your Kilimanjaro climbing.
Decide on a Date
The best times to climb Mount Kilimanjaro are the driest months of the year, especially January or February and August or September. You should decide on a date between January and mid-March or between June and October. Therefore, you will get suitable weather for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
Choose a Climb Route and Duration
Depending on length and difficulty, you’ll find several climb routes of Kilimanjaro. Among all the routes, if you use the Marangu route, you won’t be allowed to camp there. So, you should choose any other route.
It’s because you have to stay there for five days, but six is better. For a successful Kilimanjaro trek, this is an absolute minimum duration that will greatly increase your chance of reaching the summit.
Keep Enough Food and Water
Having sufficient food and water on Kilimanjaro will help you achieve your success. You’ll need enough energy to climb on the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Typically, breakfast should be a combination of tea or coffee, bread with spreads, sausage, and eggs. When it comes to lunch, it usually includes soup, a slice of bread, or sandwiches. Dinner can be similar to lunch. Taking adequate snacks is essential.
Besides, water is crucial in the mountain. You should have to drink at least 3 liters of water a day. As dehydration is one of the major causes of AMS, make sure that you’re always staying hydrated. Here purification tablets can help you drink pure water.
Select the Trekking Guide
Mount Kilimanjaro belongs to the protection of the Kilimanjaro National Park, which is a restricted area. If you want to climb Kilimanjaro, you have to pay expensive fees.
You can only climb the mount with a registered trekking agency. A good climb operator will supply you guides, porters, food, and other essential camping tools. Be aware of lower-end budget operators.
Organize the Essential Equipment
Many operators offer some essential pieces of gears for rent. In this case, you don’t need to purchase them for one-time use. Or, you may not want to lug these things on an extended trip. The equipment you’re going to get for rent usually includes insulation pads, down sleeping bags, and jackets.
Besides that, you need to carry good quality upper and under layers of clothing. Also, you should put gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, warm hat, a day pack, water bottles, and rain protection in your backpack. A high-quality pair of climbing shoes is a must.
Learn What You Can
If you’re going to Mount Kilimanjaro for the first time, you should learn what you can about your trip. You should know what may happen during the journey. In other words, you have to prepare your mind by reducing stress and anxiety for handling upcoming challenges.
We recommend you read people’s earlier trips to Kilimanjaro. You can find them in the form of personal blogs, YouTube videos, or travel forum sites. If you leave a query in a forum post, you may find a friend of yours or a friend of friends (who has done it before).
Prepare for Success
Although you don’t need to train yourself for climbing, you must have a reasonable level of fitness for going a long way to Kilimanjaro. If you don’t have enough fitness, you should work hard and increase your stamina level for your upcoming trek.
Final Words
In a nutshell, these are just some tips for a successful climb, especially when you’re going to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Even though you can climb this mountain without any specific training or equipment, you have to pass through some challenging climate zones.
However, if you’re interested in climbing Kilimanjaro, believe in yourself that you’re going to overcome all the challenges and achieve ultimate success. This is the time to get some adventure in your life. So, let’s hope for the best.
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