Introduction
Mount Kilimanjaro is undoubtedly the crown of Tanzania. On a clear day, its snowcapped peak can be seen from above on a flight to Kilimanjaro airport. Standing at 19,344feet, it is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest walkable summit in the world. Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano but not extinct. With the help of porters and a guide, it is possible to walk all the way to the summit without any specialized mountaineering equipment – or – experience – and Kilimanjaro can be conquered by any reasonably fit person.
The oldest person to successfully conquer Kilimanjaro is an 89-year-old American woman Anne Lorimor.
The youngest person to successfully climb the mountain is 6 years old Coaltan Tanner. The minimum age for climbing Kilimanjaro is 10 years old, but the park authority grants exceptions to children who have significant experience trekking.
Approximately 50,000 people climb Kilimanjaro every year. 35% of the climbers fail to summit. So how can you ensure that you are among the 65% of the climbers that actually do make it to the summit even at the first try?
Why People Fail To Make It To The Top
1. Altitude Sickness.
Altitude sickness is a group of symptoms that can strike if you walk or climb to a higher elevation, or altitude, too quickly. The pressure of the air that surrounds you drops at higher altitude and there is less oxygen available.
Anytime you go above 2,500 meters (8,000 ft.) you can be at risk of altitude sickness and Mount Kilimanjaro is at an altitude of 5,895 meters (18,000 ft.) so altitude sickness is real when it comes to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro folks! Anyone can develop altitude sickness, no matter how fit, young, or healthy they are, even Olympic athletes can get it.
What are some tell-tell signs and symptoms of altitude sickness?
Dizziness, headache, muscle aches, nausea.
So how can you lower chances of suffering from altitude sickness?
By acclimatization – Climb high and sleeping low which allows your body to adapt to the altitudes as you go higher in your climb.
2. Choosing The Right Route For You.
Are you a first-time climber or seasoned climber? Be careful that you choose a route that allows you to minimize the altitude sickness pitfall. Some routes like the Rongai and Umbwe although beautiful and with spectacular scenery along the way offer the poorest opportunities for acclimatization and summiting. So best not to go down this route if you are prone to altitude sickness.
The northern route (although longest and rather expensive), the Marangu route (popular and crowded sometimes), the Lemosho, The Machame routes offer the best chances for acclimatization and have a higher success rate for its climbers. So, the key is weighing the disadvantages and advantages of each route before deciding which one to take for you.
3. Educate Yourself About The Weather And The Best Time To Take On The Challenge.
While climbing Kilimanjaro, climbers will experience five distinct ecological zones on their way to the top. Weather conditions near the base of the mountain tend to be tropical to semi-temperate and are relatively stable all year round. Each zone gets colder and drier as the elevation increases. The summit is in the arctic zone, characterized by ice and rock.
Choose the right time of year to climb. Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of the year, but there are two rainy seasons – Late March to end of May and November. The best Months are December to March and July to October, usually cloudless days.
During the day temperature at 4000m tends to be 15°C. When the sun is covered, temperatures drop. At night, temperature falls to -10°C. At the summit, temperatures are about 5°C during the day and drop to between -18°C and -22°C at night.
4. Choose A Company With A Reputable Guide Service.
This is vital as you need a guide service that is well trained and equipped to navigate you to the summit. Good quality service and safety should be paramount. Ensure that you have the right equipment, and that guiding service provider can assist you secure the ones that you may not personally have.
5. Prepare Well For The Climb.
– Minimum of 8 weeks before your scheduled climb, 1 to 2 hours every day do Cardiovascular exercise such as running, jogging, cycling, and even aerobic dance classes and light weights.
– The most effective activity to prepare for climbing Kilimanjaro is to hike as much as possible.
– Drink 3-4 liters of water every day, even during the climb. Water is usually provided by your guiding service.
– Ensure about 70% of your calories are coming from carbs. Food during the climb is geared towards getting you to the summit.
– Stretching and warm up to avoid muscle strains or injuries.
Once you start the climb, keep a positive mental outlook as this is important for the confidence to reach the top.
Conclusion
As the saying goes knowledge is power. With accurate knowledge on how to [prepare and what to expect as you embark on this lifetime challenge, you can be sure that your chances of getting to the top are much higher than some backpacker who randomly decides out of the spur of the moment to climb the Kilimanjaro.
It would be out of pure luck that they made to the top if at all they do. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” Let your life be the adventure that it rightly should be and let the mighty Kilimanjaro turn you into a storyteller of its grandeur for generations to come.
Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller
Ibn BattutaMount
