A Kilimanjaro climb is a very special type of adventure, beyond a traditional vacation. Unlike popular beach vacations or simple hiking tours, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro requires certain preparations. After all, this adventure takes hikers to the highest point of Africa at 5,895 m/19,340 f. This is often the highest altitude many climbers to ever achieve, making this trip a true adventure of a lifetime. In this way, Kilimanjaro adventures are dangerous and unless the trekking party is staffed by the professional guides and equipped with proper equipment, the hikers are exposed to certain high altitude-related risks.
Please note, a set of proper gear is critical – you can’t climb Kilimanjaro in your usual hiking outfit.
There are some other important moments to keep in mind when preparing for this mind-blowing adventure in the heart of Africa. In this article we’ve summarized the key recommendation tips for a successful and hassle-free Kilimanjaro adventure.
Tanzania is an East African country that lies on the equator and Mount Kilimanjaro is just 205 miles from the equatorial line. Because of this, there are no traditional seasons here, but dry and rainy seasons instead.
The dry seasons are:
From late December to early March – because it is also the Christmas holidays period, this time is especially popular among tourists.
From early June till early October – though it is surprisingly cooler than in the “winter” dry season, the weather is sunny and the sky is clear.
The rainy seasons are:
From mid-March till late May is the “big” rainy season. It is called like this not because of the intensity, but because it lasts longer than the “small” one, which, in its turn, starts in late October and lasts till mid-December.
Although the majority of climbers prefer the dry season for their Kilimanjaro adventure, the rainy season has several distinct advantages. You may read about them and other interesting facts about seasons in Tanzania in our special article here.
ALSO REMEMBER: dry season does not necessarily mean that there are no rains at all – Kilimanjaro is a mountain, after all, and like all significant peaks, the weather may change at any moment. Having a rain poncho in your daypack at all times is essential. Similarly, the rainy season doesn’t mean that it is showering the whole day – normally, it starts drizzling at midday, and the rain grows stronger by evening. Sometimes, there may be no rains at all.
Thus, one shouldn’t expect a clean sky in January and rains in May as something inevitable – the weather will likely be like this, but it is not certain. Because of that, whatever date you chose for your adventure it is essential that you have a full set of Kilimanjaro gear for all types of weather.
One needs to hike an average of three to five miles every day through a rugged terrain on a Kilimanjaro climb. This requires good stamina, and a strong cardiovascular system. If you currently spend most of your time sitting in an office, there are several things you can do to get ready for your Kilimanjaro adventure:
Running and bike-riding are excellent exercises to prepare for Kilimanjaro. A 3-mile run or a 5-mile bike ride every other day is a good start. Swimming is also an excellent activity to strengthen your heart and blood vessels.
If you have a gym membership, running on a treadmill will be helpful. Also, performing some planks and squats will make your legs stronger and better prepared for long Kilimanjaro hikes.
While working out in the gym, it is important to focus more on aerobic and cardio activities than on muscle building. For Kilimanjaro, stamina is much more important than physical strength.
If you live close to the countryside, long (6-10 miles) hikes cross-country are the best way to get ready for the future mountain climb. This is something similar to what you will be doing on Mount Kilimanjaro. Focus on hills and steep inclines to prepare your body for the slopes of Kilimanjaro.
Also, if you bought new hiking boots for the Kilimanjaro tour, a cross-country hike is an excellent opportunity to break them in. Taking new, unused boots for a Kilimanjaro trip is certainly not a good idea. You are likely to get painful blisters and calluses with brand-new boots, and this could turn what originally seemed to be an exhilarating adventure into a torturous walk. If you ‘break in’ your new hiking boots through training exercises, they should be comfortable and ready in time for your Kilimanjaro climb.
We recommend to start exercising physically for Kilimanjaro 3-4 months before the start of your Kilimanjaro adventure. We also suggest that you take a break from doing workouts and walks the two weeks before you arrive in Tanzania so that your body can fully rest and re-energize before the Kilimanjaro climb.
We have a special article on our website for those who want to know more about a proper training plan for Kilimanjaro.
You will traverse several climatic zones as you make your way from the starting trailhead to Kilimanjaro’s summit. In fact, the Kilimanjaro trip is like a journey from the tropics to the Arctic over the course of seven days. The weather, vegetation and environment will change dramatically and a hiker should be ready for this.
Primarily, one needs to take proper clothes and footwear for this trip. The list includes hiking pants, a fleece jacket, membrane pants and jacket, storm pants and jacket, synthetic T-shirts, hiking boots and many other things.
Have a look at our detailed packing guide to understand what is required for this epic adventure.
At the core of proper Kilimanjaro outfitting is the idea of “layering”. This technique helps to keep your bodily temperature well-regulated, while providing good insulation ventilation. There are special types of layering for warm weather in lower camps, and for the colder conditions at the higher elevations. You will read more about this in detail in our guide.
Also, sometimes we see hikers in jeans and training sneakers attempting to climb Kilimanjaro. Either they weren’t instructed properly by their guides or decided to ignore the advice. Either way, hiking in jeans is always a very, very bad idea. Jeans should be left at home, together with everything made of cotton or other fabric with bad wicking for sweat.
A very popular question we get from tourists is whether there are any mandatory vaccinations for visiting Tanzania. In short, the answer is “no” – one does not need any specific vaccines to enter Tanzania. There is a small reservation though – people arriving from the countries with high risk of Yellow Fever transmission should have a certificate as proof of vaccination against this disease.
The list of countries with high risk of yellow fever can be checked at the WHO website here.
At the same time, there are some vaccines which we recommend having, not because of a visit to Tanzania, but for travel in general. Sadly, certain diseases are still present and can be contracted everywhere, even well-developed countries of the western world are not an exception.
Recommended vaccinations are as follows:
● Tetanus
● Hepatitis of A and B type
● Typhoid
● Poliomyelitis
You will need a passport valid for international travel to pass immigration and officially arrive in Tanzania. Make sure that your passport is at least six months valid from the day of your scheduled arrival date to Tanzania, and that it has at least two blank pages for visa and an entry stamp.
Our team will also require your passport information to process the entry permits to the National Park. Please be assured that all your personal and identity information is kept in strict confidentiality.
Proper nutrition is very important for a comfortable and safe Kilimanjaro adventure. Your body will need many additional calories for you to reach the peak of Kilimanjaro. Energy consumption on a Kilimanjaro hike is about double one’s usual amount and eating well is very important.
Here at Swahili Expeditions we’ve designed our special Kilimanjaro menu that is both tasty and energy-rich. Our mountain cooks have been trained by restaurant professionals and they will surprise you with a variety of meals offered every day in the dining tent. We normally serve beef, chicken, salads, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, potatoes, beans, spaghetti and cheese, and other popular continental meals.
Halal, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meal plans are available at no extra charge.
Please let us know if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions before the start of your adventure. Our team will make sure that proper adjustments are made to the supply lists and that the cooks get properly instructed.
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