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Is it scary to climb Kilimanjaro?

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is not without risks and considered dangerous. Every year, about ten climbers fall to their deaths, and the number is estimated to be much higher, while another 1000 are evacuated to safety from the traps of the mountain.



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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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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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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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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 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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The Statistics of Kilimanjaro Summit Struggles According to recent studies, it is estimated that up to half of the climbers attempting Kilimanjaro will fail to reach the summit.

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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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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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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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The overall success rate on Kilimanjaro is 65%, while the success rate on 5-day routes is just 27%. 6-day routes have a 44% success rate, 7-day routes a 64% success rate, and 8-day routes a success rate of 85%.

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How fit do you need to be to climb Kilimanjaro? Climbing Kilimanjaro is graded strenuous and you should be in good physical fitness and have experience of multi-day trekking or walking trips prior to undertaking a Kilimanjaro climb.

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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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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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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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The full day is 12 – 14 hours of trekking and covers 11.2 miles/ 18.1km. 1,245m/ 4,084 feet up the mountain from Barafu or 1,095m/ 3,592 feet up from Kosovo Camp to the summit.

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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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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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For the best results, plan for 8 weeks of training before your Kilimanjaro Trek. This will allow you to build your endurance and strength. In addition to regular gym workouts, make sure you also go for walks in order to stimulate relevant muscle development. Try to do a one or two day hiking trials in your area.

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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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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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Apart from Acute mountain sickness, other dangers climbers are warned against while climbing Kilimanjaro are:
  • Hypothermia (loss of heat due to cold)
  • Slipping and falling off rocks.
  • Getting hit by avalanches.
  • Falling off cliffs.
  • Heart attacks.
  • Diarrhoea.
  • Cold and respiratory infections.
  • Twisting your ankles.


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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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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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Percentage of Deaths Some 30,000 people climb Kilimanjaro every year, and the reported number of tourists deaths is about 10 fatalities per year. That is a only 0.03% chance of death; it's practically zero. Put another way, there is only one death per 3,333 climbers.

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