Advice for climbing Kilimanjaro!

Please read this blog post for tips and advice for climbing Kilimanjaro! When hiking up the mountain, it is similar to traveling from the Equator to one of the Poles. You will hike through different vegetation zones. Starting in the lush rain forest section and finishing in the alpine desert zone on the summit.

Hiking up the mountain should not be under estimated. Even though many hikers have successfully summited, many have failed. Below is important advice for climbing Kilimanjaro.

Gear advice for climbing Kilimanjaro

When planning your hike, there will be essential gear that you will need to buy or rent. However the hike is not a technical climb, you will not need ropes and other technical gear. You will however be required to buy gear and clothing such as thermal underwear, warm outer jackets etc. For gear advice for climbing Kilimanjaro, please visit our gear list. You can also see a list of gear available to rent, by visiting our gear rental page.

Join a group, the more the merrier!

Joining an existing group climb goes beyond the climb. It’s an opportunity to forge connections, share experiences, and create lasting memories with a community of fellow hikers. Discover the beauty of the mountain alongside individuals who share your passion for adventure and exploration. We have several existing group hikes available and you can see dates for them by visiting our online group schedule.

High altitude advice for climbing Kilimanjaro

When hiking up the mountain, you will gain a significant amount of elevation in a very short period. The biggest cause of altitude sickness is going too high, too fast. Nobody can predict who will get altitude sickness and who will not. Altitude sickness affects every person differently, irrespective of their age, fitness levels, etc.

Here are some tips to help your body cope with the quick rise in altitude.

• Pole pole (slowly slowly in Swahili) . You will hear the guides and porters repeat this every day on your hike. Hiking up the mountain is not a race. The more time you give your body to adjust the lower the chance of getting altitude sickness. Our advice for climbing Kilimanjaro is to pace yourself right from the start of the hike.
• Keep hydrated! Make sure you drink enough water! You should aim to drink a minimum of 3 litres of water per day.
• Eat enough. Eat as much as you can during the first part of the hike at lower altitudes. You will most likely have a loss of appetite at higher altitude. Your body will need all the energy available to reach the summit!
• Sleep. we recommend bringing a good set of earplugs to reduce outdoor noise. Noise travel at night and sleeping in a tent can be very noisy. Accommodation on the Marangu route is communal A-frame huts, ear plugs are essential when sleeping in a room filled with 10 hikers!

Mental advice for climbing Kilimanjaro

It is possible to summit Kilimanjaro successfully. Many before you have succeeded. This should be at the topmost in your mind when preparing for the summit attempt. Our mental advice for climbing Kilimanjaro is that you should always remain in a positive state of mind, but not overly arrogant. For your preparation, try to anticipate various different scenarios, which you may encounter on the mountain. Try to work out the most suitable course of action, mentally by yourself or even as a group. Your mental stamina will, without a doubt, make the really difficult sections, like from Kibo to Uhuru, easier to complete.

Enjoy the experience!

Reaching the summit is the main goal of your hike. However it is important to stop and take a look around. Our advice for climbing Kilimanjaro is to enjoy the views and cherish this once in a life time experience! Your positive attitude will make the trip more enjoyable. It will also increase your chances to succeed and summit the mountain!