How to climb Kilimanjaro and summit the Rooftop of Africa | Fair Voyage

OUR TOP PICKS FOR YOU IN 2024 – LOVED BY FAIR VOYAGE TRAVELERS

How to climb Kilimanjaro and summit the Rooftop of Africa

Reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro is a dream that many people aspire to. Imagine standing on the Rooftop of Africa, peering out over the landscape below. There are no words to describe the sense of satisfaction you feel when you climb Kilimanjaro and summit.

The great news is that you do not need any technical mountaineering skills to make it to the summit.

Even though Kilimanjaro is not technically difficult to climb, an average summit success rate of 60% (and historically less than 50%) suggests that it's not just a walk in a park either. What makes Kilimanjaro difficult to climb is its altitude. Its summit at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet) above sea level is in the so-called extreme altitude zone.

From as low as 1,500 meters (4,921 feet), climbers may start to feel the effects of high altitude. Altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness (AMS) becomes a serious risk at higher altitudes, typically above 3,500 meters (11,482 feet).

In this blog, we go into more detail about how you can prepare adequately for your climb and acclimatize to significantly increase your chances of making it to the summit.

How altitude affects summit success

One of the biggest barriers to reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro is altitude sickness. In order to acclimatize to the high altitude, it is important to understand what altitude sickness is and how to reduce its impact.

What is altitude sickness?

Altitude sickness or acute mountain sickness (AMS) is the side effect caused by exposure to high altitudes. As a person reaches higher altitudes, the air contains less oxygen which begins to negatively affect the human body. Symptoms usually develop from around 2,500 meters of altitude.

First signs of altitude sickness include headache, nausea or shortness of breath. More severe symptoms include dry cough, fever, vomiting or retinal haemorrhage. Extreme cases can include fluid build up in the brain characterized by loss of coordination, confusion, inability to walk and even coma. If left untreated, AMS can be lethal.

If you are experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness, then immediate descent is necessary. If symptoms do not improve with descent, then you should seek hospital treatment.

The so-called 3 golden rules of altitude acclimatization will help you acclimatize naturally in order to reduce the discomforts and risks associated with altitude sickness. The golden rules are:

  1. Take your time: Choose a route that allows you to ascend slowly over multiple days, and walk slowly during the day.
  2. Stay hydrated: Drink at least 2-3 liters of water every day, or more if in combination with dehydrating substances such as diamox or caffeine.
  3. Walk high, sleep low: Sleep at a lower altitude at night than you've climbed during the day. Some routes offers such a beneficial altitude profile.

Everyone will be affected by altitude sickness in some way, however the 3 steps above will help to reduce the severity of it.

Choosing the right route that allows you to walk high during the day and sleep low at night will also help with acclimatization. We go into this in more detail below.

What to keep in mind when selecting a Kilimanjaro route

So what are the routes that will help to increase your chances of summit success?

The Kilimanjaro routes with the highest summit success rates are those with the best altitude profile so that you can acclimatize to the thin air before attempting your final summit push.

Climbing high during the day and sleeping low at night is ideal. Furthermore, it's important to ascend slowly over multiple days so that your body has more time to get used to the high altitude.

8-day Machame, 8-day Lemosho, 8-day Grand Traverse and 9-day Northern Circuit (including acclimatization hike to Lava Tower) are all excellent Kilimanjaro routes for altitude acclimatization that allow you to hike high, sleep low and ascend slowly over multiple days. With the right preparation and the right guide, these routes all have a summit success chance of close to 100%.

Furthermore, we recommend that you choose the routes that have a duration of at least 7-8 days to give yourself enough time to acclimatize to the high altitude.

Choose the right operator

It is also important to choose a tour operator that employs knowledgeable and experienced guides that have the resources to help ensure you make it safely up the mountain.

A responsible tour operator will ensure that guides are properly equipped, prepared and trained to lead climbers up Kilimanjaro. They will also provide you with enough guides for your group.

Furthermore, they should be able to supply you with high-quality equipment that will help you to feel warm and safe during your climb, which will indirectly help to increase your chances of making it to the summit.

Training exercises to prepare for your climb

Another way to increase your chances of making it to the summit is to do training exercises to prepare you for your climb. This will help to ensure that you are fit enough to handle the challenges associated with climbing mount Kilimanjaro.

The best training you can do to prepare for your mount Kilimanjaro climb is hiking. Running, swimming and cycling are all very good exercises but what you will be doing on Kilimanjaro is hiking.

You will need to condition your body to walk in ascension, over uneven terrain for long periods. Ideally, go hiking in the highest mountains in your area to experience the effect of increased altitudes.

If you live in a city or somewhere flat, taking stairs instead of elevators and targeted muscle exercises are excellent practice that can also help you prepare.

The most important areas on your body to strengthen before your Kilimanjaro climb are your legs and your core. Strong legs are essential as they are going to be doing most of the work, but a strong core will help keep pressure off your back as you climb carrying gear.

In addition to hiking and long walks, targeted muscle exercises such as squats, lunges and deadlifts are great for strengthening the legs.

Try to add and increase weight as you get comfortable with a set of up to 10-15 repetitions each. In addition, core strengthening exercises like pilates, planks, and abdominal work will support your back.

Developing the right mindset when climbing Kilimanjaro

Having the right mindset is just as important as doing physical exercises and preparation. The importance of developing the right mindset is sometimes overlooked when it comes to climbing Kilimanjaro.

However, having the mental stamina, perseverance and a positive attitude will help you to endure that last summit push, which will greatly influence your chances of success.

Climbing Kilimanjaro may very well be one of the most challenging things that you will do. Therefore, you should have a strong belief in your abilities coupled with a strong desire and determination to overcome the hurdles that you will encounter when you climb.

One of the ways that you can prepare yourself mentally for the climb is by saying positive affirmations. By repeating affirmative statements, you are training your subconscious mind to accept the possibility that you will reach the summit.

Regardless of the outcome, if you have done everything necessary to prepare for the climb, and you have developed the right mindset, then you will be able to celebrate the fact that you’ve done everything you could.

Conclusion

The key to increasing your chances of summit success is to prepare adequately for your climb by choosing a longer route that will help you to acclimatize. Choose the right route with a duration of at least 7-8 days to give your body enough time to get used to the high elevation. The best routes are also the ones that allow you to hike higher during the day than you will sleep at night.

You should also do the right kind of training, such as hiking and core exercises, so that you are prepared for the challenges ahead. This coupled with determination and a positive mindset will increase your chances of making it to the top.

However, it is also important to remember that your health and safety should be prioritized over summit success. Therefore, if at any point you become severely unwell or you get more severe symptoms of altitude sickness, do not be afraid to call it a day and descend.

Of course, it goes without saying that if you are healthy, warm and you feel well, your chances of making it to the top will naturally be higher. While there is never any guarantee, with the right preparation and mental stamina, this bucket list goal should be well within reach for most of us.

For more information about planning a Kilimanjaro climb, visit our Kilimanjaro Content Library, contact one of our Kilimanjaro experts directly, or tell us your wishes to get connected with our best advisor.

About the author

Janine is a travel content writer and blogger, with a background in marketing and journalism. She loves travelling and uses her writing to share her passion for responsible travel with others.