Can you climb Kilimanjaro if you are afraid of heights?

There is nothing on the mountain that will stop you from reaching the summit if the only obstacle is your fear of heights. There are a few areas that may make you feel a bit uneasy, but you can choose a different route, one that avoids the more difficult spots.



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People With Poor Physical Fitness: While fitness levels vary among individuals, it's important to recognize that Mt. Kilimanjaro is a strenuous climb. It requires days of hiking up the mountain under extreme conditions, so those who are not fit enough to endure such an experience should not attempt it.

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As we have said, Kilimanjaro is not a technical hike and is perfectly suitable for beginners with little or no experience. The most difficult part of the climb is dealing with altitude and also if your not use to camping it's going to be a challenge.

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More than 75% of climbers will experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness when climbing Kilimanjaro. That said, while you can't necessarily avoid altitude sickness altogether on a Kilimanjaro climb, you can reduce its severity.

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You want to be in good physical shape to climb Kilimanjaro, but there's no need to be super-fit. This is a trek, not a climb after all, and if you can run for 30 minutes two to three times a week, and enjoy an all day hike at weekends, you should be fine. That said, many people do underestimate Kili.

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Machu Picchu is tough, but easier And though this is a challenge, you'll find that it's both shorter and easier to scale than Kilimanjaro.

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Most people agree that Kilimanjaro is harder than Everest Base Camp. While there are aspects of the Everest Base Camp trek that are harder than Kilimanjaro, the general feeling is that Kilimanjaro is the harder of the two treks. The main reason for this is summit night – it's a biggie.

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Compared to other major mountain chains, Mt. Kilimanjaro is remarkably safe. Statistics show that there is only a 0.03% chance of dying on the mountain—a far cry from mountains like Everest. Around 30,000 people climb Mount Kilimanjaro every year.

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How many people per year die on Kilimanjaro? Most Mount Kilimanjaro deaths are attributed to altitude sickness, particularly Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).

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So is it worth using taking altitude sickness tablets on Kilimanjaro? In short, yes. Anything that is going to help you reach the summit safely should be considered a worthy investment. We recommend taking Diamox for 2-3 days 2 weeks before departure to test whether you experience any side effects.

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At this height, the air pressure (and the amount of oxygen it contains) is less than half that at sea level, and has been said to be comparable to 'working with only one lung'.

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Senior climbers on Kilimanjaro are just as likely to get to the summit as younger people. It just take us longer! Just to reiterate: if you are over 50, you are just as likely to get to the summit of Kilimanjaro as those who have yet to reach their half century.

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The official minimum age to summit is set by the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities, although the risks of trekking at altitude mean it is advised against rushing into this trek with a child. For this reason, most tour operators only offer this trek to children aged 12 and upwards.

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There are no showers on Kilimanjaro. Therefore, it's best to really scrub yourself in the last shower you take before your climb begins.

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On Everest climbs, bringing supplemental oxygen is a matter of course, and some companies tell trekkers they'll provide it on Kili as an extra “boost” meant to reduce the more unpleasant symptoms of altitude. Still, the short answer is “no.”

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Climbing Kilimanjaro most days are not very hard because the trails are not steep it's mostly dealing with the altitude, however the summit night is extremely difficulty as this is the coldest, windiest section of your adventure. An ascent of 4,084ft with 49% less oxygen and a descent of nearly 6,870ft.

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According to recent studies, it is estimated that up to half of the climbers attempting Kilimanjaro will fail to reach the summit. This sobering statistic is due to a number of factors, ranging from altitude sickness to even the climber's own attitude.

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The average cost to climb Kilimanjaro is $2000 to $6000, the price varies from cheap, budget operators to large Western travel agents selling outsourced climbs at an inflated price. There are various, unavoidable fixed costs to any tour operator and if a climb seems too cheap, you've got to ask yourself why.

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Avoiding AMS
  1. Walk high, sleep low. It is best to gradually climb higher each day, then descend lower to sleep. ...
  2. Slow and steady. ...
  3. Drink much more water than you think you need. ...
  4. Diamox. ...
  5. Low oxygen saturation.
  6. Cerebral oedema.
  7. Pulmonary oedema.


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Overall summit rates on Kilimanjaro (across all routes & climbers) are estimated to fall between 45% and 65%.

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Kilimanjaro is very popular with both experienced hikers and first time adventurers because it is considered to be the easiest of the seven summits. Scaling the mountain requires no technical skills or equipment, such as rope, harness, crampons or ice axe.

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Every year, numerous deaths on Mount Kilimanjaro are linked to altitude sickness and heart attacks brought on by pre-existing medical conditions. Sufferers of altitude sickness experience a number of symptoms, ranging from a mild headache to a life-threatening lack of oxygen.

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