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How fit do you need to be to climb Kilimanjaro?

A reasonable degree of fitness is sufficient for climbing Kilimanjaro for most people, provided that they can acclimatize well. We recommend training for at least two months prior to coming to Tanzania. If you are already in hiking shape, great.



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Climbing Kilimanjaro does require a certain level of fitness, but the average active person can achieve the summit if they're prepared both physically and mentally. summit day is very long, up to 15 hours.

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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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A reasonable degree of fitness is sufficient for climbing Kilimanjaro for most people, provided that they can acclimatize well. We recommend training for at least two months prior to coming to Tanzania. If you are already in hiking shape, great.

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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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Overall summit rates on Kilimanjaro (across all routes & climbers) are estimated to fall between 45% and 65%. Summit success rates by climbing duration – don't try to do Kilimanjaro on an itinerary that is shorter than a week or you'll set yourself up for failure.

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The Statistics of Kilimanjaro Summit Struggles This sobering statistic is due to a number of factors, ranging from altitude sickness to even the climber's own attitude. The success rate of climbers attempting Kilimanjaro is estimated to be between 45% and 65%.

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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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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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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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You can have temporary weight loss after your Kilimanjaro Climb. This weight loss is a result of dehydration and may be regained after you are finished the climb. For some people Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a way of losing weight. People must deliver the goods weight loss through the hiking training.

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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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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 to conclude, depending on your current level of fitness, you are certainly going to need some training to take on Kilimanjaro. You do not have to be Usain Bolt fit, but as long as you're moderately fit, healthy and prepared you can climb Kilimanjaro without doing yourself a mischief.

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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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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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Kilimanjaro's altitude is a significant challenge, but climbers do not need supplemental oxygen to climb Kilimanjaro or reach the summit. To reach to the summit you use the acclimatization method of walking slowly “pole pole” climb high, sleep low.

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Despite standing at a height of 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), Mount Kilimanjaro does not have a traditional “Death Zone” like those found in high-altitude mountaineering, as its summit falls well below the 8,000-meter mark.

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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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Approximately 30,000 people attempt to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro every year and on average the reported number of deaths is about 3 to 10 fatalities per year.

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Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is absolutely worth it. Of course, there are risks to conquering this peak, but these are easily overcome by knowing what to expect and taking the necessary precautions to ensure it is a safe experience.

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Several factors affect the cost of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, including the type of Kilimanjaro operator, food, accommodation, guides, porters, longer routes, and high-altitude hiking gear. In addition, Kilimanjaro National Park fees and airfares can also add to your trip cost for the Kilimanjaro trek.

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