Without any prior experience at climbing peaks this high, we conquered Kili. We’ll share a few tips that we think will help you reach the roof of Africa.
Conquering Mt Kilimanjaro is all a mental game. If you are relatively able bodied, don’t have any significant pre existing conditions that will affect you, e.g. a bad back or bad knees then your chances of conquering Kilimanjaro are mainly in your head. Yes you need to be able to walk for 4-8 hours per day and we definitely suggest taking the longer routes to allow your body to acclimatise. There is no need to be a hero particularly if you’ve never been to altitude this high before. The key is to maintain a positive attitude that you will make it to the top, you’ll be surprised how far this will get you.
Get a good pair of shoes and wear them in. This seems pretty straight forward but you need to get yourself a comfortable pair of shoes and walk them in. They don’t have to be super hiking boots but a good pair of trail walking shoes that are waterproof is an absolute must. There’s nothing worse than wet shoes. Speaking of getting wet, it is very difficult to get anything dry once it is wet, so if you’re investing in gear make sure it’s waterproof and quick dry. Also get a couple of plastic ponchos, they’re great for when it rains as they are quick to put on and can cover you and your day pack. And when it does rain cover up ASAP, don’t wait to see if it’ll pass, it’s not worth the cold wet clothes.
Do you research and go with the best company you can afford. Every company does things in their own way, check all them out on Trip Advisor. Chose the one you feel most comfortable with and be willing to spend a bit of extra money if it means you go with the one you want. It really does make a difference, the food, the gear, the guides, it is all aimed towards getting you to the top. You want to know that they care about your health and wellbeing so make sure that they do health checks daily, checking oxygen levels and heart rate. We also suggest paying the extra money for the portable toilet. It is a small plastic portable toilet but it’s clean, hygienic and is a much better alternative to the long drops in camp. It is a small luxury but after 4-5 days you’ll be thankful.
Prepare for the cold on summit night. No matter how cold you think you’ve been before, you will be colder on the summit night. So wear extra layers of everything, gloves, socks, thermals, etc. Also get the chemical heat packs and put them in your gloves and shoes. A good tip too is to put your camera batteries and phones in a pocket closest to your body so that they don’t freeze, that way you can still capture the moments at the top.
Bring your own music. You will spend between 4 and 8 hours per day walking and as you gain altitude your breathing becomes very heavy. Having music helps to keep your mind from focusing on your breathing and keeps you entertained as you pound away ‘pole pole’ for hours on end. It will also help at night when the wind and rain sets in to get a good night sleep. I’d also suggest a solar powered battery pack to keep your music source and cameras going.
Finally and most importantly ENJOY IT! Don’t forget to look up once in a while and soak in the ever changing scenery. Get to know your guides, they’re great people with great stories and they’ll be interested to hear yours. It’s not easy but for the determined you will be rewarded for all the effort you put in to get to the top. It will be one of the most satisfying experiences of your lifetime.
If you want a more detailed account of our climb, check out Chapter 4 of our Travel Journal
To Africa, europe and beyond 