Planning a Kilimanjaro Climb

by Birgit
(Australia)

Four Elephants with Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance

My great story about climbing Kilimanjaro will have to wait. We just booked our trip for September 08. For now I can share what I learned planning:

Don't skimp on expenses. It's not worth it. People fail to reach the top not because they lack fitness but because they ascend too fast. Every day spent on the mountain adds a few hundred dollars per person to your expenses, so people try to keep the trek short. AMS is the main reason for failed summit attempts.

You don't have to be fit. It can actually be a hindrance because it tempts you to walk too fast. You can't go too slow.

You need mainly mental strength, and you need to approach a Kilimanjaro climb as the serious undertaking that it is. The idea that "anyone can do it" is sort of correct, but it gives the wrong impression. You don't need specialist skills, but that doesn't mean it's easy.

The ATR (African Travel Resource) website (we booked through them) has excellent info on climbing Kilimanjaro. It's a good place to get a first idea on what is involved. It also does a good job of highlighting the issue of porter abuse and exploitation, something that I definitely do NOT want to contribute to...

Anybody seriously thinking of climbing Kilimanjaro would do well reading Henry Stedman's guide book:

Kilimanjaro: The Trekking Guide to Africa's Highest Mountain

That's the best book on climbing Kilimanjaro, period. Excellent read. Not only does he know the mountain like nobody else, he's a good writer to boot. He has a website, too, that has great info: ClimbMountKilimanjaro.com

The company that ATR uses on the ground in Tanzania (African Walking Company) is considered one of the best on the mountain. It's not one of the luxury outfits, but certainly also not one of the budget operators that skimps on everything (including safety!) to save a buck... A solid and experienced operator at a very reasonable price.

Better food and better tents and better everything DO make a difference if you camp out in adverse conditions for days and days and subject your body to this height.

Experienced guides make a difference, too, if you want to live through it. People die up there of AMS every year.

And knowing that the staff and porters are treated fairly is important to me, too. I gladly pay a few hundred extra for that.

The route we chose is Rongai, the only route that approaches from the north. Less than 1% of the climbers use this route. (Again, money is a big reason since the drive to get to that side costs extra.) To me less people is a huge plus. So is more wildlife and drier weather.

The descent is via Marangu, so you do get to see both sides of Kilimanjaro. (Rongai has the reputation of being less scenic, but everybody who's used it seems to have loved the wilderness feel of it.)

Also, overall the gradient is easier compared to other routes. After all, my mother who is coming with me will be 64 then... It's the dream of her life. Took me only 14 years to convince her that she can do it!