How to Plan to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

From its first sightings by outsiders, Mount Kilimanjaro has had a romantic and mysterious appeal. Described by Ernest Hemingway as "wide as all the world, great, high, and unbelievably white in the sun," the famous glaciers that top the African continent's highest mountain (19,340 feet high; 5,895 m) attract many climbers every year. Yet despite its reputation as an "easy" peak to summit, roughly a dozen people die on Kilimanjaro every year.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

1. Plan your trip to Tanzania sooner rather than later: Kilamanjaro's glaciers are melting fast. They've lost 82 percent of their mass since first being measured in 1912--and by all reports, will be gone entirely within 15 years. Find more information on National Geographic's Web site (news.nationalgeographic.com).
2. Decide whether you want to climb all the way to the top, part way up, or take a tour around the base. Most reasonably fit people who take the time to properly acclimatize, are adequately equipped, and carry sufficient food and water may be able to reach the summit. The trip shouldn't be taken lightly: Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)--pulmonary and cerebral edema-- along with hypothermia, kills climbers and porters alike. You may be happy ascending to 15,000 feet (4,572 m) or so, or just enjoy touring the dramatic scenery around Kilimanjaro's base.
3. Research guide companies, most of which operate a variety of tours. It is not possible to climb or tour the area without a guide service, so arrange this in advance. Many guide services can be found on the Internet. Seek out climbers who have been there, and ask lots of questions.
4. Start training at least three months ahead of time. Know how much weight you will be expected to carry on the climb. A good training day would be to complete a 3,000-foot (914 m) vertical ascent while carrying a pack of 25 to 45 pounds (11.3 to 20.4 kg). Try to do this once a week. The more weight and vertical gain the better. Climbing or walking at high elevations will also help. See 25 Design Your Workout Schedule.
5. Keep in mind that your level of fitness bears no relation to your susceptibility to mountain sickness. If you can run 5 miles in 45 minutes, you are probably fit enough to make the climb, but you still need to find out how your body handles the thin air of extreme altitude. Climb to 10,000 feet (3,048 m) at least once during your training. Ask your doctor what the symptoms of AMS are and what to do if it strikes you or a climbing companion.
6. Pay close attention to what is included in the guide service. Most offer porters, sleeping quarters, food, water and cooking arrangements on and near the mountain. Expect to pay $800 to $1,000 for the guide and porter service, with additional expenses for plush accommodations such as a fancy lodge at base camp. Find out if park fees are included in the package.
7. Select a route. Most guide companies offer a choice of routes up the mountain. The easiest, Marangu, is heavily traveled and less scenic than others. The more difficult Machame route is also very popular. A reputable guide service will help determine the best route for you based on your fitness and mountaineering experience.
8. Plan your overall schedule. If you're arriving in Africa after a long flight, rest up and go on a safari before heading for the mountain. Some companies will book a comprehensive trip for you, including round-trip airfare, and hotel and safari reservations. See 445 Pack for a Safari.
9. Research the weather. Climate zones on Kilimanjaro range from tropical to arctic. Kilimanjaro can be climbed any month of the year, but the least favorable weather is typically from March through May.
10. Get a detailed list of items you need to bring from the guide service and as well as items they will provide. Comprehensive lists are also found online at sites such as Peakware.com. If you're bringing your own equipment such as tent, sleeping bag or camp stove, make sure that you've taken it for a dry run at extreme altitude, and that all of your gear can handle potentially very rough weather. Mountaineering boots, synthetic thermal underwear, wind- and waterproof-outerwear, glacier sunglasses, a fleece hat and heavily insulated gloves are all essential.
11. Get several maps and study them before you go. The more you know beforehand, the more comfortable you'll be later.
12. Get all necessary vaccinations as directed. Make sure you have adequate health insurance, including medical evacuation, for your trip. See 431 Travel Abroad.
13. Be respectful of the guides and porters, and tip them at the end of the trip. When booking your trip, ask the guide service about tipping policies.

Tips & Warnings

• The guides are there to provide expertise and assistance, but they're not babysitters. Be aware of your limitations and your surroundings, and rely on your own judgment. Then again, if altitude sickness makes a claim on your body, your judgment is one of the first things to go.
• Kilimanjaro's rule of thumb: Don't climb fast.
• A pulse-oximeter is a medical device that accurately indicates how well you are adjusting to the altitude by measuring your oxygen saturation. A portable hyperbaric bag (or Gamov bag) is an artificial pressure chamber used in emergency situations to treat AMS if the patient cannot descend fast enough.
• For a first-rate interactive presentation of Kilimanjaro's history, culture, geology, resources, fitness guidelines and tour recommendations, visit altrec.com/features /crownofafrica.
• Check out the documentary Kilimanjaro: To the Roof of Africa (mos.org/kili) and read summit logs by other climbers at Peakware.com.
• People die every year from hypothermia caused by inadequate equipment and AMS. Many of those who die are local Chagga porters who are no more acclimatized than the tourists whose gear they carry on their heads.
• The drinking tubes on hydration packs often freeze solid. Bring Nalgene bottles (nalgene-outdoor.com) to carry water as well or you won't have any to drink.