Kilimanjaro Climbing FAQ - African Wilderness Adventures

Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing FAQ

So you have decided that you would like to climb Kilimanjaro; what next? What are the Mountain Climbing FAQ?
You will obviously have many questions that you would like answered to help you to prepare for your adventure of a lifetime; but where do you start? You will find below some of the most frequently asked questions that that will help you prepare to climb Kilimanjaro. These questions gives the answers about the things you should know before Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

Which route should I choose?

There are 6 routes used to climb Kilimanjaro, each has its own characteristics and offers a different perspective and challenge. The most popular route is the Marangu route; or Coca Cola route as it is also known, which attracts the majority of all visitors to Kilimanjaro. The Machame; or Whisky route as it is known is also a very popular route and as a result can also be very busy; these routes are typically completed in 5-6 days. The Lemosho and Shira routes approach Kibo from the West and offer a quieter approach as these are less populated routes. The Rongai route approaches from the North and is also a quieter route. These three routes can be completed in 6-8 days which will assist with acclimatization and increase the chances of reaching the summit. Finally there is the Umbwe route the shortest and most direct route to the summit; it is also the least popular and toughest of all the routes..

When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro?

It is possible to climb Mount Kilimanjaro all year round; however the months outside of the rainy seasons are more desirable. The best months are from December to March, and July to October. The finest weather is usually at the beginning of the year from January to March, which are typically the warmest and driest months of the year.

How many people will be in a group?

We have a maximum of 8 people per group. We believe that a small, intimate group is one of the most important factors to ensure our guests will have an amazing experience on Kilimanjaro. We can arrange trips for larger groups if required.
Will I need to purchase travel insurance?
You must arrange adequate travel insurance for your Kilimanjaro trek. You should ensure that your policy covers you for high altitude climbing as most standard policies will not include this. More information is available on our Kilimanjaro insurance page.

How fit will I need to be?

Anyone of reasonable fitness should be capable of summiting Kilimanjaro; it is more likely that altitude sickness, rather than a lack of physical fitness will prevent you from summiting. That said the more preparation and training that you can do prior to climbing Kilimanjaro the more enjoyable you will find it.

What clothing & equipment should I take?

You do not require any technical equipment on Mount Kilimanjaro; however you will experience changing weather conditions and be exposed to temperatures ranging from +30 degrees to -25 degrees, so you should be prepared for this. You should take thin layers that can be added, or taken away depending on the weather conditions. But remember there is a limit to the weight that the porters can carry and your kit bag must be a maximum of 15Kg. You will also have a rucksack that will contain your basic kit for a day’s walking.

How much equipment will I carry?

Your rucksack should contain all of your personal kit for the day ahead; a 30L – 35L rucksack will be sufficient. On an average day you would expect to carry; waterproof clothing, hat, gloves, water, first-aid kit, spare laces, valuables, pack lunch and snacks. Check on Kilimanjaro gear list

How far will I trek each day?

On average you will walk between 3 and 6 miles per day, apart from the summit night when you will walk up to 15 miles. You will usually start your days trekking around 8am and walk for between 4 and 8 hours per day (longer on summit night).
Please see routes overview page for more details.

What are the walking conditions like on Kilimanjaro?

The trail conditions on Mount Kilimanjaro are challenging, but relatively easy compared to the other mountains in the seven summits. The rainforest zone can be wet and slippery underfoot especially if there has been heavy rain. The higher slopes are a mixture of heath covered land, alpine desert and finally the ice covered summit. The terrain changes through the climate zones but are generally comfortable to negotiate with a pair of 3 season walking boots. Some people prefer to use walking poles but do not feel that you have to have them; it is a matter of personal preference. They are however very useful on summit night, particularly on the descent from the summit when you will be tired and will have to negotiate the loose scree on the way back to camp.

What are the toilet conditions?

The toilets on Kilimanjaro consist of small wooden huts in the campsites with a hole in the ground for you to go to the toilet in. They are very basic, but then you are on a mountain in the middle of Africa! However, there is another option…..included in your Bush Explorer trek price is your own personal toilet tent, that will be solely for the use of your group. The porters will carry this up Kilimanjaro and it will be emptied and cleaned on a daily basis. Please ensure you bring enough toilet paper and hand sanitizer for the trek.

What is the success rate of reaching the summit?

Although you can train for climbing Kilimanjaro to ensure you are in good physical condition, whether you manage to reach the summit could be decided by how well you react to being at altitude. There are drugs available that may help you with altitude sickness such as Diamox, or you could visit the Altitude Centre for an AMS susceptibility test. However the best way to increase your chances of reaching the summit is by spending as many days on the mountain as possible to allow your body time to acclimatize. You could also consider climbing Mount Meru before attempting Mt Kilimanjaro, but again this will not necessarily guarantee your chances of reaching Uhuru peak.

What food will be provided on the mountain?

Your porters will carry all of your food for the duration of the trip. Your meals will be prepared by you own cook and will consist of cooked breakfast, with tea and coffee. Either a packed lunch or cooked lunch at camp depending on the length of the days walking. Dinner is usually soup, followed by meat, or vegetables in sauce, with potatoes, pasta or rice. You will also have fresh fruit daily and more than enough food to keep you well fueled for the weeks walking.

Is the water safe to drink?

Apart from the first day when you will bring bottled water from the hotel for your first days walking, the porters will collect your drinking water daily from streams located near the camps. Although the water is generally clean enough to drink, your porters will boil enough water for your next day walking. You may wish to bring additional water treatment tablets, if you have a particularly sensitive stomach.

Water bottle or Hydration Bladder?

Everyone has their preferred method of carrying water in their rucksacks. There is no right, or wrong method; the most important thing is that you have the capacity to carry around 2 litres of water in your rucksack for a day’s walking. The bladder system encourages you to drink more frequently as it is easily accessible; however on summit night the tube and mouth piece are likely to freeze even with an insulated hose making it impossible to drink from. Bottles are often carried inside your rucksack and are not as easy to reach on the go, however bottles are less likely to freeze on summit night and can be placed in an inside jacket pocket to keep warm. We would suggest a combination of the 2; a 1-2 litre bladder for day-to-day drinking and additional storage for summit night and a 1 liter bottle for summit night and for evening use in camp. You may also wish to take a small flask so you have a hot drink for summit night.

How many days should I go for?

To increase your chances of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro you should pick a route with as many days ascending as possible. The Lemosho and Rongai have the best acclimatization schedules allowing 8 and 7 days respectively.

Can I prevent AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness)?

Unfortunately there is no way of ensuring that you will not suffer from AMS as it affects everyone differently. The safest way to ascend to high altitude is by going slowly; the more days you have at altitude and the slower the rate of assent; the greater that chance you have of acclimatizing and ultimately reaching the summit. If you have had no experience of altitude climbing, or trekking; then you may wish to consider the Kilimanjaro treks lasting 7 days or more; such as the Lemosho route, or Rongai routes. In addition to this you should drink plenty of fluids and you may wish to consider taking medication such as Diamox and Ibuprofen to help treat the symptoms. Please visit the altitude sickness for more information.

What vaccinations do I need for Tanzania?

For information on health and vaccinations for Tanzania, please visit our vaccinations page.

Do I need a Visa?

Yes you will need to obtain a visa to enter Tanzania from the USA/ EUROPE. Please see our visa page for details. You should also ensure that your passport has at least 6 months before expiry when you arrive in Tanzania.
Who will take us up the mountain?We are Local Tanzania operator based in the base of the mountain. Our guides are among the best qualified and experienced on Kilimanjaro and unlike other operators, they are all Tanzanian. All the guides we use speak excellent English, and in addition to their knowledge and experience of Kilimanjaro they have received training in; first aid, mountain rescue, local flora and fauna, and history of the mountain and are registered with Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA). More information is available on our guides and porter page.

How much should I tip the guides and porters?

It has become customary to tip your guides and porters after completing your Kilimanjaro trek. However this is a tip and is not obligatory. We have provided a guide for how much you may wish to tip your staff; please view our tipping guidelines page for detailed recommendations on how much to tip each staff member.

Can I hire equipment in Kilimanjaro?

We would advise you to purchase all your equipment prior to arrival in Kilimanjaro, as there is no guarantee of the availability or quality of the equipment for hire at your hotel in Moshi. However hiring items such as trekking poles and gaiters which you may wish to have for this trek, but wouldn’t ordinarily use may be useful. The cost of hiring these items is in the region of; $10 per week for trekking poles and $7 per week for gaiters. If you have any issues with your luggage getting lost in transport then the majority of the kit that you would need could be hired from the hotel if required. We would highly recommend wearing 1 full set of clothes and packing essential items in your rucksack and using this as hand luggage, especially your hiking boots, as hiring poor fitting boots in Kilimanjaro could cause issues on the mountain.

What should I pack in my hand luggage?

To avoid any serious issues of your luggage getting lost in transit to Kilimanjaro; wear and carry as much of your essential items in your rucksack and use this as hand luggage. We would suggest that you wear a complete set of clothing including; socks and liners, trousers, long sleeve shirt, fleece and hiking boots. In your rucksack, pack as much additional equipment as possible such as; waterproofs, down jacket, sleeping bag liner, medications, camera, water bottle/bladder, spare underwear, spare laces, gloves, hat and all documents.

Where can I leave my valuables when on Kilimanjaro?

Essential items such as money, credit cards and passports can be left in the hotel before departing for Kilimanjaro. There are safety deposit boxes available for hire at $0 per day. We would highly recommend locking your valuables away before climbing to avoid them getting lost or stolen on the mountain. You may wish to take some Dollars or Tanzanian Shilling with you to purchase refreshments or souvenirs.

Do you have a question that you still need answered?

We have tried to include as much information as possible on this site, but we would be happy to answer any other questions that you may have, please get in touch we are here to help. Our details are available on the contact page.

10 Things You Should Know Before Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

According to Christinexploring.com, one of our esteemed customer wrote the list of 10 Things you should know before Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

The roof of Africa and the easiest of the seven summits: Mount Kilimanjaro. I quickly realized that Kilimanjaro has a bit of a mixed reputation. Some people will assure you that it it’s no more than an easy hike – everyone’s mountain. Others stress that altitude is altitude and at 19,341 feet, nothing is easy. I guess I fall somewhere in the middle. The first few days were easy – almost too easy. But summit day was tough. Not so much because the hike itself was tough, but because after an hour of sleep, hiking at midnight when you can’t feel your extremities and you’re losing oxygen isn’t fun. Here are ten things I think you should know before climbing Kilimanjaro: