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Fitness, routes, altitude, kit and what summit night is really like — honest advice from our lead mountain guide.
Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres, and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. You do not need to be a mountaineer to climb it — no ropes or special skills are needed — but you do need to prepare. I have reached Uhuru Peak more than 200 times, and these are the things I tell every climber.
Choose a route with time to acclimatise
The single biggest reason people do not reach the top is altitude, not fitness. The more days you spend on the mountain, the better your body adjusts. We recommend at least seven days. The Machame route is our favourite: beautiful scenery and a “climb high, sleep low” profile that helps acclimatisation. The Lemosho route (8 days) is quieter and has an even better success rate.
Get fit — especially for walking
Start training at least eight weeks before your climb. Walk as much as you can, ideally on hills and in the boots you will use. Build up to long days of five or six hours. Stair climbing and cycling help too. You don’t need to run marathons — you need legs that are used to walking for hours.
Walk slowly: pole pole
On the mountain you will hear “pole pole” — slowly, slowly — all day. Walk slower than feels necessary, drink three to four litres of water a day, and eat even when you are not hungry. Tell your guide honestly how you feel; we check your oxygen level and pulse every morning and evening.
Know the signs of altitude sickness
Headaches, tiredness and poor sleep are normal above 3,500 metres. Serious signs are confusion, stumbling or breathlessness at rest. If these appear, the cure is to go down, and your guide will make that decision for your safety.
What to pack
- Broken-in waterproof hiking boots.
- Layers: thermal base layers, fleece, a down jacket and waterproof shell.
- A four-season sleeping bag (we can rent you one in Moshi).
- Warm gloves, a hat, a buff and sunglasses.
- Walking poles, a headlamp and a water bladder or bottles.
Summit night
You leave camp around midnight and walk slowly up the dark scree slope under the stars. It is cold — often minus ten degrees — and hard work. Then, around sunrise, you reach Stella Point on the crater rim and the sky turns orange over Mawenzi. An hour later you are at Uhuru Peak. Nobody forgets that moment.
After the climb
Book a night at a comfortable lodge in Moshi, have a hot shower and celebrate. A gentle day at the Materuni waterfalls, or a safari or beach trip, is the perfect way to recover.
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