How do I prepare for Kilimanjaro altitude?

Hands down, the most effective activity to prepare for climbing Kilimanjaro is to hike as much as possible! Reaching the summit is essentially a very long, multi-day hike at increasingly higher altitudes. Hiking at high altitudes is the best way to prepare your heart and lungs for what's to come.



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Hiking up and Down Hills is the Best Training Hiking up and down hills with weight is by far the best training you can do. Try to build up from 3 hour to 8 hour hikes once a week. Taking regular and increasingly longer hikes will help develop the muscles that you need when you arrive on the side of Kilimanjaro.

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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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Another option for acclimatization is to tackle Mt Meru first, Tanzania's second-highest peak (4566 m). After summiting that mountain, you can safely choose a five-day program on Kilimanjaro, because your body will be sufficiently prepared for the altitude, despite the shorter route. Drink more water!

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Be sure to come prepared and you'll have the best chance of success. 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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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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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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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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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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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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Most of the mountaineers use to hike 3-10 miles per day, depending on what figure you're in and how much elevation gain there is. You may have to hike 7-8hrs on Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing.

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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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We generally advise that the best time to climb Kilimanjaro is during the warmest and driest times of year, from December to mid-March and mid-June to the end of October. However, although these are considered to be the best times to climb the mountain in terms of weather, they are also the busiest months.

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The public toilets at campsites are long drops that are open to anyone. They're usually used by mountain crews and climbers travelling with budget tour operators. Understandably, the public toilets aren't as clean as the private toilets. And being long drops, they can get quite smelly.

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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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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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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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