Climbing Kilimanjaro
Mountain
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, reaching a height of
5,895 meters (19,336 feet), a dormant volcano, with the diameter at its base
being 40 miles. There are two main snow capped peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi.
 Climbing Kilimanjaro is a once in a lifetime opportunity
and to ensure that you have the best chance of having a successful climb and
reaching the summit it is important to ensure that you use a reputable tour
operator, who will have qualified guides.
A guides job is very
important, he/she is responsible for pacing you so that you do not go to fast
up the mountain, which will give your body the best chance to acclimatise. Your
guide should also be qualified to recognise if you do have altitude sickness
and recommend whether you should descend. They will trek with you or be near by
and should be willing to tell you about the vegetation that surrounds you and
be able to answer any questions you have. Your guide will also manage the whole
team of porters and cooks.
Be wary of companies who offer cheap
packages as generally they are the ones who do not pay their their staff a
decent liveable wage and/or do not provide staff with safe equipment and
clothing and sadly this causes a few porters to lose their lives each year. It
is advisable to do your research very carefully.
There are six main routes up the
mountain ranging in degree of difficulty:
Machame Route
The Machame Route is one of
the most scenic routes on Kilimanjaro that allows you to experience the
southwest and south sides of the mountain, since you go up one way and down
another.
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Marangu Route “Coca Cola Route"
The
Marangu Route is the easiest and shortest route to Kilimanjaro’s summit
and is known as the “Coca Cola” or “tourist” route.
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Lemosho Route
The Lemosho Route is an
unspoilt, remote, little-used route, and a beautiful way up to the Shira
Plateau.
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Rongai Route
The Rongai Route is more
scenic than the Marangu Route, easier than the Machame Route, and the success
rate on the Rongai is very high.
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Umbwe Route
This Umbwe is the most
spectacular and direct way to reach Uhuru Peak.
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Shira Route
The Shira Plateau west of Kibo
is the remains Kilimanjaro’s first volcano. The drive to Shira offers
magnificent views of the Great Rift Valley,
Mount Meru, and Longido, and the plateaus'
parasitic cones extend north of the road, rising from from plain plateau.
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 Whichever route you decide to climb, your
summit day will the the toughest, most challenging and also the longest day.
You will generally start your final summit push at about midnight, to reach the
top at or just after sunrise. This final ascent can take 7-8 hours and then you
will generally have another 7-8 hours descending. Going down can be equally
challenging, especially the first few hours as the route is generally scree so
can be very slippery, it's very steep, so its hard going on the knees and toes.
On any of the routes, on a clear day you have the opportunity of
wonderful views of the East African plains. Just don't forget to take the time
to look behind you. Remember there is no rush and the slower you go the more
chance you have of your body dealing with the altitude. You will hear the
guides and porters saying "Pole-Pole", meaning slowly, slowly.
Slowly
slowly, or, “pole pole,” and an optimistic attitude will get you
there!
No matter what time of the year you climb, it will be very cold
at night at the higher elevations, but can get quite warm during the hiking
day. You will want clothing for both extremes with you. When you start trekking
in the morning it is best to wear layers that you can remove during the day as
you get warmer
 No fires are allowed on the mountain so all
cooking is done with gas bottles, which the porters carry up.
HYGIENE AND KEEPING CLEAN:
With very limited water on the
mountain it is difficult to keep clean. However, everyone around you is equally
dirty, so you do not notice that much. The best way to keep as clean as
possible is to take some wet wipes along with you. The porters will be more
than happy to boil up water for you in the evening for the next days drinking
water and for brushing teeth. At the camps, the toilets are generally
long-drops, which can get rather smelly, so be prepared.
ACCLIMATISATION/ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Most failures are
due to people physically not being able to acclimatise due to the high
altitude. Altitude sickness (often known as acute mountain sickness (AMS))
generally occurs above 2000 meters and can progress to high altitude pulmonary
edema (HAPE) or high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), which are potentially
fatal. The symptoms can range from headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, lack
of appetite and inability to sleep. However when you climb Kilimanjaro, you
will get many of these symptoms due to the vigorous exertion your body is going
through, so it does not necessarily mean you have Altitude sickness. If you
ensure you climb with a reputable company, your guide will be well trained and
will be able to recognise whether your symptoms are serious and will advise
whether you can continue climbing or whether you should descend. You must
listen to your guides advise at all times.
To help your body
acclimatise, keep hydrating by continuously drinking water in small quantities
and walking very slowly. Again a good guide will pace you and ensure that you
do not walk too fast. There is no rush, as when you get to camp, there is very
little to do so you may as well take your time and enjoy the views and take
plenty of photos
BEST TIMES FOR CLIMBING
KILIMANJARO
Although Kilimanjaro can be climbed year round, the best
times of the year for climbing are between August and October and January and
March, from mid March to May it is the wet season. Note that it can rain at any
time. Because of the altitude as you get higher it is very cold no matter what
time of the year you climb. If you plan your climb around the full moon, it
will be extra special.
TIPPING ETIQUETTE
In Tanzania it is
customary to give gratuities to Guide, Cook and Porters subject to your
satisfaction. Gratuities are not included in the price. Many people are not
made aware of this by the tour operator and a left feeling embarrassed at the
end of their climb.
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--> SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT/GEAR
LIST
Please respect the park and keep it's beauty for future
visitors to enjoy, do not throw your litter or plastic bottles on the mountain.
Ensure you take all your own litter back with you
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