How Hard is it to Climb Kilimanjaro?
While we've assisted people in their 70s, a 5 year old 👇, amputees, and quadriplegics to the summit, and while in theory, pretty much everyone could climb Kilimanjaro, nonetheless, many people have told us that climbing Kilimajaro is the hardest thing they've ever done in their lives - and some of these people have been professional athletes (rugby players).
While you don't have to be born extraordinary to climb Kilimanjaro, you need to be willing to be extraordinary for the 7 or 8 days you're on the mountain, as the ascent tests most climbers' mental and physical reserves to close to their limits.
Don't Underestimate the Effects of Altitude
When beginnning a climb, many climbers are surprised at how slowly their guide has them trekking, as initially, progress is straightforward. Conditions are usually pretty temperate, there's no difficult or dangerous terrain to surmount, and the average steepness on most of the routes is around 10% - 1 in 10.
Use a "Pole Pole" Pace
It's usually towards the end of day 2 that the logic of what Tanzanian mountain guides describe as the pole pole (slowly, slowly) pace, hits home. For most trekkers things are usually pretty much plain sailing until somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 metres, when the effects of altitude begin to assail you.
And if you've rushed your way to this altitude, you'll find that your body has failed to undergo the necessary physiological adaptations to ensure that you can continue to move comfortably at this height. It is the guide's experience from the earliest days of his career as a porter, that have trained him to be pre-emptively cautious when moving at altitude, and clients do well to pay heed to his experience.
The Final 500 metres is Incredibly Hard
Assuming you've trained hard before the climb, followed the advice of your guide, have acclimatised properly along the trail, enjoyed great food, rested well and stayed well-hydrated... nevertheless, nothing really prepares you for the final 500 vertical metres of the climb to the summit.
However fit you are you really need to dig deep into your mental reserves, as at this altitude your body is objecting in the strongest terms to the wisdom of your being here. Whoever you are, it's pretty much impossible to sustain continuous progress. Everyone needs to pause at least every few minutes and stop and get their breath back.
Watch Kilian, one of the strongest people in the world at high altitude👇. He's in the process of breaking the world record for the fastest supported climb as it stood at the time; he doesn't want to risk losing a single second for fear of missing the record by a hair's breadth. But he simply has no choice. The altitude get us all!
But anyone who's found it in themselves to dig deep, and to fight for the summit of Kilimanjaro will tell you the same thing: the achievement is quite literally life-changing.
This is a safari itinerary that is recommended when the wildebeest migration is towards the south of the Serengeti.
This is a safari itinerary that is recommended for around January to February when the wildebeest migration is towards the south of the Serengeti. (Please note that dates depend on availability of flights and receipt of full payment).
Following a rigorous 8 days spent on Kilimanjaro this is a good, varied use of limited available time on safari, which strikes a good balance between game viewing, fascinating cultural insights, and activity on-foot.
After a very challenging trek on Team Kilimanjaro's Excel Series, this safari is a great use of limited time to enjoy some game viewing, fascinating cultural exchange, and vigorous on-foot activity in the heart of the African bush.
We read widely divergent estimates of deaths on Kilimanjaro, but how dangerous is it really? In this post we share our own experience of the dangers.
First of all - you can definitely still climb Kilimanjaro during COVID-19! There is absolutely no impediment within Tanzania. Issues only potentially arise with your own country's rules.
Although there is no requirement to have a PCR test for COVID in order to enter Tanzania, many climbers are nonetheless required by their airline to show evidence of a negative COVID test before boarding the flight home.
Since the onset of COVID-19 and the immediate and dramatic subsequent loss in booking numbers suffered by tour operators as a consequence of travel restrictions imposed both by governments worldwide, and initially, the Tanzanian government itself, it has been surprising to TK that the Tanzanian government has not made more effort to make information available to prospective travellers explaining how to go about ensuring that they are able to comply with their own country's travel requirements on returning from their Kilimanjaro climb or Tanzanian safari.
Most of this donation was given to the orphanage on 12th November 2020. Funds received during the climb will be given on 20th November, the day after the climb ends.
Kilimanjaro’s Western Breach is a beautiful and breathtaking place but represents the most risk-associated assault route to Kilimanjaro’s summit, of the four options currently sanctioned by Tanzania National Parks.
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