1, Pick More Days for a trek

For the highest chance of success and the lowest risk of altitude sickness, choose a longer journey to the summit rather than a shorter one. 

When climbing Kilimanjaro, your chances of success increase significantly depending on the number of days you spend on the mountain. People who opt for an 8-day climb have the highest success rate, at 85%. This success rate decreases to 64% for 7-day, 44% for 6-day, and 27% for 5-day routes.

2. Do Regular Hikes

The best exercise to prepare for Mount Kilimanjaro is hiking because that is what you will be doing on the mountain. Other exercises such as running and weightlifting can help, but the bulk of training, if not all of your training, should be hiking.

Adding a backpack with some weight in it on your outdoor excursions will help you train as well. If you don’t have a lot of experience hiking, start with some shorter jaunts and build up to longer ones. On Kilimanjaro, you will be hiking 4-6 hours a day and on summit day, 12-14 hours, so you want to condition yourself to handle this level of activity. Endurance is key, so train for duration rather than intensity.

3. Make water your best Companion

At high levels of altitude, you dehydrate much quicker. Dehydration can increase your chances of headaches, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), overall fatigue, and even grouchiness, so drink plenty of water.

For many climbers, it is quite common to get a slight headache because of the change in altitude. Drinking sufficient amounts of water can help stave off added discomfort associated with dehydration headaches. Water is collected from the nearby mountain streams and treated with Aquatabs water purification tablets. It is provided at campsites only, so we recommend carrying at least 3 liters of water to keep hydrated while you hike. It is also wise to drink at least a liter of water before and after you climb each day on the mountain.

4. Pole Pole

Pole, pole is a phrase that you will often hear while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. In Swahili, it means slowly, gently, softly, quietly, be calm, or take it easy.

When taking on a challenge like Kilimanjaro, remember slow, and steady can mean the difference between successfully reaching the summit and turning back early. 

5. Proper Gears

While climbing Kilimanjaro, it is of the utmost importance to make sure you have the right gear.  One of the essential items for your climb is a pair of waterproof boots that have been broken in on your long training hikes with the same style of socks you plan on wearing. 

Blisters are the enemy, as are cold feet, so an extra pair of warm socks and liners are key.  Hand and neck protection is also necessary.  Freezing fingers, toes and a cold neck, are no fun so make sure you bring extra warm gear to keep from getting cold.  You can always peel off layers later (and you will during your descent). 

6. Pack Snacks

At high altitude, people often lose their appetite. 

Even with the extreme levels of exertion, getting the calories in to keep you going can be a strangely challenging task. To make sure a decrease in appetite doesn’t make you run out of the fuel you need to make it to the top, we encourage you to bring some of your favorite, high-calorie snacks to munch on for your climb.

We will feed you very well, but you may find a desire to eat some comfort snacks from home. The idea is to pack goodies you will eat even if you don’t have an appetite. Yes, junk food and candy are totally fine!

7. Hike, eat, sleep, recover.

On the mountain, you will quickly find yourself in a routine. You wake up, eat breakfast, hike. You eat lunch, hike. You eat dinner, sleep.

Getting adequate sleep is important on the mountain, but easier said than done. As the body is adjusting to the altitude while at the same time overcoming jet lag, you may find yourself waking up frequently throughout the night or not being able to sleep altogether. This is pretty common on the first few nights. It is a positive sign if your sleep quality improves as time passes. It means that you are recovering better from the daily activities and that you are acclimatizing too.

8. Choose a good company

Despite what seems like an endless list of “recommended” Kilimanjaro companies, there are only a handful of world class operations on the mountain. While it is always good to ask people you know for their recommendations, you need to do your own research. Many companies out there do not have standardized procedures which means that the service they provide can be hit or miss. Therefore, established operators with a long-standing reputation for excellence are the only guide services you should consider.

An experienced guide knows how to set the right pace for the group. He or she knows how to detect and treat altitude sickness. The guide understands how to improve your chances of reaching the summit, successfully and safely. And perhaps most importantly, good guides can coordinate a rescue in emergency situations because they have been trained in safety protocols.

It is often tempting to choose the lowest price when making booking decisions. Resist this urge when it comes to climbing Kilimanjaro. Cheap or unknown companies cannot be relied upon for safe and quality services.

9. Tell yourself, Yes I can

Believe in yourself. Remember, you don’t walk the path all at once, you walk it one step at a time and as long as you take the next step, you will reach the summit.  It is easy to get overwhelmed and exhausted, but remember, you are on vacation.  Enjoy yourself!  Kick back and relax with your fellow climbers during the evenings and have fun. 

Summit day may seem daunting, but your mindset can change everything.  If you find yourself plagued with doubt, remind yourself that you are tougher than you think and you can achieve anything. Many people tell us they did not think they would make it – BUT THEY DID ANYWAY – AND SO CAN YOU!

Remember, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro is a challenging task but if you come prepared, take your time, and believe in yourself; you can make it to the top!