Although you can climb Kilimanjaro anytime of year, June through October and December through March are the better times. Other months fall in the rainy season, which makes for a less pleasant trip.
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Yes. Ice and snow can be found year-round on the mountain's upper reaches. There are massive glaciers, ice fields, and towering walls of ice that blaze in the equatorial sun. While the glaciers have recently receded, probably due to global warming, they remain, for now, an overpowering and unforgettable sight.
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On our trips over 98% of climbers make it to the top. Yet, of all people who attempt Kilimanjaro every year, fewer than half make it to the top. The difference? We use a sensible and gradual approach designed by Everest Mountaineers. We provide plenty of good food, clean water, and warm comfortable shelters. Plus, our skill, experience, and attention to safety build real confidence in our climbers. It is so much easier to summit when you are well fed, well rested, healthy, and in good hands.
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The minimum age is 10.
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Altitude sickness is a combination of symptoms that are sometimes experienced above 10,000 feet (3,050 meters) in elevation. At higher elevations, just about everyone experiences some symptoms such as occasional headaches, shortness of breath, or mild nausea. These symptoms are easily treated with rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications. Less frequently, people may experience more serious symptoms that can require more intensive treatment such as oxygen or immersion in a pressurized bag, or even evacuation. (We are equipped and prepared to treat all of these symptoms.)
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Get in moderate to good physical condition before you start your trip. Drink lots of water. Avoid diuretics such as caffeine or alcohol at high elevations. And consult with your physician about preventive medicines such as Diamox. Most important: go slow. Gradual adjustment to altitude is the best medicine. We design our trips so the mountain is approached at a gradual enjoyable pace. We recommend taking at least 7 days to ascend the mountain. If you are especially concerned, an extra day of acclimatization can be arranged.
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Usually you will experience every season: summer, winter, spring, and fall, on a Kilimanjaro climb. The trek begins in a warm tropical forest, and then ascends to a cool plateau alive with wildflowers. Higher still, the vegetation gets sparse and the air takes on an autumnal chill. Near the top you find snow, ice and arctic cold. At the summit it can get as cold as 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Obviously, you need to bring a wide range of clothing.
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Good sturdy hiking boots. Winter and summer clothing. A frameless pack, sleeping bag, water bottle and personal items. (We will provide a complete packing list well before you depart.) You do not need any technical climbing equipment.
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Kilimanjaro is a strenuous adventure but you don't have to be an elite athlete. Anyone in good health, with a reasonable degree of physical conditioning and a determined attitude can make it to the top. No climbing skills are required. Even the most challenging portions are still a hike (a steep hike, but a hike nonetheless.) No ropes or technical gear are involved. It is recommended that you be able to jog for five miles or for 10,000 meters without difficulty. It is a good idea to have followed a regular routine of aerobic exercise at least 4 to 6 months before the climb, but neither age nor physical disability need be a deterrent. Our guides have taken people from age 15 to 78, and people with severe disabilities. Determination is the critical factor.
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Not on our trips. We hike across the haunting open spaces of the Shira Plateau, a seldom-traveled route that provides a more authentic wilderness experience, where few, if any people are encountered along the way. In contrast, most people attempt the mountain from the Marungu or "cola" route. This route is a crowded, noisy, and dirty affair. Although less than half the throng ever make it to the top, it can still be busy on the summit at times.
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You get what you pay for. We don't compromise in the crucial areas of quality, care and skill. Nor do we compromise in the area of ethics. We provide a high-quality experience by selecting a more scenic, less crowded route, by providing ample porters, comfortable shelters and good food. We provide extra care through our first aid and rescue skills, extensive safety equipment and well planned health and safety protocols. We use only highly skilled guides and porters, and we care for them. We pay good wages. We make sure our guides and porters have comfortable and safe shelter, nutritious food and manageable loads. And we ensure that they are outfitted with proper clothing. Finally, we pay our park fees, carry out all refuse, and follow all of the park rules and regulations.
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