Travel Advice 12 Things I Wish I Knew Before Climbing Kilimanjaro 2nd January, 2024

But how are you to know what to expect without climbing Kilimanjaro yourself? This guide will cover some of the most important things our experienced team and guides have said they wish they knew before climbing Kilimanjaro to make the journey to the summit as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

From the importance of physical preparation to our equipment recommendations for climbing Kilimanjaro, we’ll be sharing invaluable advice from the team at Kandoo Adventures on what to expect from your Kilimanjaro trek. So, read on for some insightful tips and guidance about climbing Kilimanjaro before you embark on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Kilimanjaro has its own climate zones which can be split into 4 distinct areas and the weather changes drastically as you ascend the mountain. The highest area, known as the Glacial zone, is often covered in snow and the high winds at this altitude make the temperature feel far lower than it is.

The best thing you can do is bring lots of layers as you can add or remove pieces of clothing to adapt to changing weather, activity level and body temperature. Check out our Kilimanjaro gear list for a more detailed list of all the clothing you need to climb Kilimanjaro.

Drinking plenty of water is even more important than eating when climbing Kilimanjaro. Your guides will encourage you to drink water all day long even if you don’t feel thirsty and the general rule of thumb is that you need to drink at least 3 litres of water per day on this high-altitude expedition.

Minor symptoms of altitude sickness such as headaches can be treated with painkillers and by maintaining your water intake. The drug Acetazolamide (Diamox) is also widely considered to be effective in managing altitude sickness and can be bought before your departure to Kilimanjaro.

Before attempting to climb Kilimanjaro you will need to train your body to cope with long periods of physical exertion. Not only this, but you need to be extremely mentally resilient for the best chance of success. Each of the seven routes requires a demanding 8 hours of walking up to 1500m of ascent each day, but the trek requires no real mountaineering skills.

It’s not over just yet! After you’ve taken photos at the top and had a moment to take in your great achievement, you will head back down to Mweka campsite via Barafu Camp for lunch, dinner and a well-earned sleep. On the final day of your trek, you will descend a further 1300m to Mweka Park Gate from where you can transfer to your hotel.

With the light of your head torch to guide your feet, you will be climbing a steep path for between 6 and 8 hours to reach Stella Point on the crater rim if you are taking the Machame route or Gillman’s point on the Marangu route. You should hopefully reach this point in time to witness the sunrise. From there the track is less steep but it is another 45 to 60 minutes to the summit.

Depending on which Kilimanjaro route you choose, it takes between 5-9 days to reach the summit and descend to the finishing point. By choosing a longer route, you have more time to adjust to the altitude, a decreased chance of suffering from altitude sickness and ultimately the best chance of success on your Kilimanjaro trek.

Kandoo Adventures have an impressive summit success rate of 95% on all our Kilimanjaro routes which is due to the time dedicated to acclimatisation. For more information, check out our blog on the best route to climb Kilimanjaro.

Here you will find all the essential gear you will need to climb Kilimanjaro and where possible we have included links to gear that we personally use and recommend. You will need EVERYTHING on this list so be sure to follow it exactly and make sure you are prepared.

This is of course providing that you are happy to carry them in your own daypack!

We recommend building a training plan 6 to 12 weeks prior to your climb to build your endurance. The training plan should include strength training, aerobic exercise and most importantly, weekly hikes around the countryside with a heavy bag. For more detailed information, check out our Kilimanjaro training plan.

These figures are per group, not per climber and you will be sent a copy of the tip recommendations and estimated numbers for your group. The size of your group, however, can only be confirmed on the first day of your climb.

The tipping announcement will take place on your last night on the mountain where the team will gather to celebrate with you. Representatives will come to your hotel once you reach the bottom of the mountain to accept the tip on behalf of all the porters and they will distribute the money themselves.