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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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'.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Statistics of Kilimanjaro Summit StrugglesThis 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%.
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.
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.
Can smokers climb Kilimanjaro? Of course they can! While there is a popular myth that smokers (whose lungs are accustomed to oxygen deprivation due to smoking) suffer less from high-altitude sickness than the people without this harmful habit, this has not been proven at all.
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).
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
The Kilimanjaro National Park Authority has set ten years for every adventure seeker for their Kilimanjaro Hike. Still, we usually recommend a minimum age of 13 years to be a part of the extraordinary Kilimanjaro Trek.
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.
Kili, which is the highest mountain in Africa at 5,985m, can take around a week to climb to the summit, but if you head to the less visited western side of the mountain you can do a one-day excursion, which incorporates some hiking on the high moorland.