Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness - Introduction and Cause
Technically an ascent of Kilimanjaro is classified as entry into the Extremely High altitude zone. Altitude is defined on the following scale: High Altitude Classification of Zones
- High 2,500 - 3,500 meters
- Very High 3,500 - 5,500 meters
- Extremely High 5,500+ meters
No specific factors such as age, sex, or physical condition can be used to predict susceptibility to altitude sickness. Some get it and others simply don't. Most people can go up to 2,500 m without significant discomfort.
What Causes Altitude Sickness?
Air at sea level comprises about 21% oxygen, while the barometric pressure averages about 1 bar (1000 mbar). As altitude increases, the oxygen concentration remains the same but since the pressure falls the number of oxygen molecules per breath is reduced.
At 3,500 meters the barometric pressure is only about 630 mbar (depending on weather conditions), so there are roughly 40% fewer oxygen molecules per breath. In order then to supply adequate amounts of oxygen to your body your breathing rate - even while resting - must increase.
This extra breathing increases the amount of oxygen in the blood, but not to sea level volumes. Since the amount of oxygen required for activity is the same, the body must adjust itself to coping with less oxygen. This process is known as acclimatisation. Failure to give your body the opportunity to undergo this process may lead to a dangerous condition known as AMS, or acute mountain sickness.
Arusha Pedal Series club aims to organise a group ride three times a week - on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, and Saturdays. All keen cyclists are welcome to join.
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.
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