Travel Diary Climb Kilimanjaro For Charity 6th August, 2024

Every year tens of thousands of people reach for the roof of Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro – the tallest mountain in Africa. The popularity of climbing Kilimanjaro is due to her wild beauty, varied climate zones and the fact that no technical climbing experience or skills are required. However, do not underestimate Kilimanjaro, not everyone reaches the summit, it takes plenty of training, lots of determination and a positive state of mind and even then, altitude sickness can strike.

With the summit at 5,895 meters, the altitude makes it a far more challenging climb than expected and pushes your body to its limits. Those who make it are rewarded with breathtaking views across the whole of north Africa, weather permitting.

It’s no wonder than that so many people set their sights on conquering Kilimanjaro to raise funds for charity. The mountain is challenging yet manageable for most, exotic enough with it being in Africa but far enough that it feels out of your normal comfort zone. Trekking up Kilimanjaro is the kind of challenge you might only attempt once if your lifetime so why not do it for a good cause!

Climbing Kilimanjaro for charity is a huge undertaking and preparation is key. You don’t want to ask people for their hard-earned donations then not put in the legwork to succeed! There are a number of factors you will need to consider before attempting to climb Kilimanjaro for charity.

The first is fitness, although no technical skills are needed, this is a long trek that takes you to a high altitude very quickly. Kandoo Adventures factor in plenty of acclimatisation time but everyone will have to adjust to the increasing altitude as we trek day after day.  For this reason alone, whilst we believe most people with a reasonable level of fitness can summit the mountain, we would strongly suggest training for the climb by conducting aerobic sessions, strength training and taking long hikes, ideally over consecutive days, is the best way to prepare yourself for your Kilimanjaro trek.  

The second thing to consider is what time of year you are planning your Mount Kilimanjaro climb for charity. The two main seasons to trek the mountain are January to March and June to October. Whilst January to March is colder than the latter period, it is less crowded which often provides for a more relaxed trek. December is also a popular trekking time as it coincides with the festive holidays, however, it is the coldest period on the mountain and temperatures will get below zero at night. This is not an issue as we provide insulative tents that will keep the weather out, but it will make the trek more challenging than climbing during milder months.

The last and most important thing to consider is what route you will take up the mountain. There are seven official routes up Kilimanjaro, however, we would suggest taking either the Lemosho, Machame or the Rongai route. The Lemosho and Machame routes begin at separate points on the west side of the mountain and take the Southern Circuit approach to the summit via Barafu and Stella Point. Both can be completed on a 7 day itinerary which gives you plenty of time to acclimatise to the altitude. The Rongai route is the only northern approach route and is usually significantly quieter than the other routes. This is also a great trek if you need to climb in the monsoon period as the northern side of the mountain is far drier during the wet season.

Whilst there are other things to consider before you climb Kilimanjaro for charity such as packing lists, trekking insurance, altitude acclimatisation, how to get to Kilimanjaro and how to take care of yourself, the three points above are critical to planning a successful climb. 

Once the seed of an idea has been planted, you’ll need to consider how best to start planning your Kilimanjaro trek for charity. Now the excitement really starts! Think about who you are climbing for, who you want to climb with, how you want to climb and what you might like to do afterwards.

1. Choose a charity

Your climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for charity idea might have started because you have a specific reason to want to fundraise or a particular cause you want to support. You might have decided to climb first then do it for charitable reasons afterwards. Whichever way round you come at it, climbing a mountain for charity is a noble mission. Your chosen charity should be one that means something to you and one whose purpose is something you believe in. When you’re on the side of the mountain, legs wobbly and nose cold, having a reason to keep on putting one foot in front of the other is not to be underestimated.

Before you start shouting about your charity expedition, talk to your intended charity and see if they can offer any support. They might have a donation platform you can use to collect money, they may have merchandise you can wear to promote the charity, sponsorship forms or other materials to help you go about your fundraising.

2. Get a group together

Okay, so you’ve decided on a charity climb of Kilimanjaro and set your heart on a charity to support. Next think about who you want to trek with. There may be a group of you already who have decided together. Maybe your family or friends want to come too. Whoever you decide to climb Kilimanjaro with, make sure that everybody in your group understands the preparation, planning, training and mental stamina needed to summit the tallest mountain in Africa. This will be a wonderful adventure whether you summit or not, however you’re more likely to raise more money for reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and therefore the more of you that successfully achieve this, the better your charity donation will be.

3. Pick a travel partner

Your next step is to pick a tour operator you can trust. Look for adventure travel companies who are well established, have excellent Trust Pilot reviews, have high summit success ratios and who have supported charity treks before – a company like Kandoo Adventures!

We have sent numerous charity climbs up Kilimanjaro, and other peaks, over the years we’ve been operating and know what hoops our groups need to jump through, how best to support their charitable aims and what resources we can support them with.

From an ethical and sustainable perspective, the team at Kandoo stick to a Leave No Trace ethos of removing all waste that we create from the mountain. We are travel partners with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) which advocates for fair pay, fair working conditions and aims to stop the exploitation of porters and support staff on Kilimanjaro. You can also check out our Staying Safe on Kilimanjaro blog to find out how we look after both our staff and guests.

Consider carefully which route you want to take and what season you climb in. This might be dictated by the time you have available for your Kili climb and the ability of your group. There are a number of routes up the mountain, and all of our Kilimanjaro treks allow plenty of time for acclimatisation. The travel experts at Kandoo HQ can talk you through the options and guide you as to which route and itinerary will best suit your charity climb.

4. Start fundraising!

Once you have a charitable cause to support, a group of people to trek with, a company who will support you on your Kilimanjaro charity climb and a date for your climb, you can start asking people for money. Your charity may have sorted you out with branded sponsorship forms which are great for passing around friends, family and colleagues. To reach even more people, we’d recommend using an online fundraising platform. There are plenty of these to choose from. Take into consideration how they take their fee, how much they charge you to use the platform, whether they charge for card transactions and how much of your fundraising total you get to actually keep before committing to your provider.

Once you have decided on the best fundraising platform for your needs, remember to customise your page - explain why you’re doing what you’re doing, who for and when, to ensure the best possible chance of lots of donations. Share via email, social media, company newsletters, local publications and your chosen charity to spread the message far and wide.

5. Climb Kilimanjaro

The last job on the list – climb Kilimanjaro.

This is the easy part, right?!

With plenty of preparation, training and the right mindset, you’re ready to go. Take lots of photos, update your followers when you can, take a shot of your summit success and enjoy every minute. This is the trek of a lifetime and you’re not just doing it for yourself – you’re supporting a worthy cause at the same time.

After your climb, consider taking a few rest days to recuperate by signing up for a Tanzanian wildlife safari or head on over to the coast for some rest on the beach. You have earned it!