Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and does not require any technical climbing! All you need is walk slow but steady. For the summit to be reached, your body must sufficiently acclimatize itself. It is important to be physically, emotional and spiritual prepared for the Kilimanjaro Trek. Another important part of the preparation is having the proper equipment before you depart to Tanzania. See the Mount Kilimanjaro packing list for details.

Physical preparation
It is very important that your body is properly prepared for the physical challenge of the Kilimanjaro. The better prepared you are, the better you plan to conquer the highest point of Africa. Good preparation will make a significant contribution to your own confidence and your mental strength.

Mental preparation
Mt. Kilimanjaro is an amazing experience and anyone is able to reach its summit (Uhuru peak). Think about this when you prepare yourself for the expedition. You will not be alone as Primetime Tanzania Adventures – Kilimanjaro “Climb It Clean It” Team will make you feel welcome and will be there with you in every step of the way. Always think positively and you will enjoy the climb!

Medical check-up
Before starting a physical training program, it’s always wise to get the approval of a doctor. Also knowing your health conditions from the doctor is every essential key as you will be hiking at a high altitude and its very risky if by a mistake you didn’t consult a doctor and found out you have heart or lung problems and you need evacuation from the Mountain.

If you are planning to climb Kilimanjaro we highly recommend reading our altitude sickness (Acute mountain sickness) guide to be familiar what it is, its cause and prevention.

The definition of altitude Sickness (Acute mountain sickness)
Is an illness that ranges from a mild headache and weariness to a life-threatening build-up of fluid in the lungs or brain at high altitude. Acute altitude sickness is the mildest and most common form. Because more people are traveling to areas of high elevation like climbing Kilimanjaro.
• High Altitude: 1500 – 3500 m (5000 – 11500 ft)
• Very High Altitude: 3500 – 5500 m (11500 – 18000 ft)
• Extreme Altitude: above 5500 m (18000 ft)

The climb can be attempted in anything from 6 – 10 days. We recommend a minimum of 6 to 8 days and it depends on what route you take – this will maximize your experience and reduce the risk of altitude sickness. We will customize your itinerary and route to suit your needs and time available.

This is shorter and can take 3 – 4 days. It is a good warm up for Kilimanjaro. Again, we will customize your itinerary to suit your needs and time available.

The best times for climbing Kilimanjaro are the driest months of the year, especially Jan, Feb and Aug, Sep. But any time between Jan—mid March and June—October offers reasonable and chances are good. The most important issue is safety, being able to enjoy the hike and have a great experience.

We don’t recommend trekking when it’s a rainy season as the effects of rain, mud, snow, ice and cold can be very strenuous on the body. Correspondingly, your chances of a successful summit also increases significantly with nice weather. Of course, the mountain gets more foot traffic during these periods as well. But remember, we cannot predict the weather, so you should be prepared for the worst.

It is easier to measure your day by time rather than distance. You will get up at sunrise, have breakfast and set off about 8am. You will trek between 4-6 hours per day, but will stop for lunch and your guide will monitor your progress. The night that you summit is slightly different.

The summit trek is started at midnight, and you should reach the summit by sunrise, which is stunning. This is the best time as it is the calmest and clearest part of the day.

We will provide you with a full kit list which you should put in a large rucksack that a porter will carry for you. The maximum weight should be 20kg. You should then take a day pack, which you will carry. In this, you should take your camera, water and anything else needed for that day.

This will vary between each client as we tailor make each trek to suit your needs, however, generally the following:

• Free advice prior to your trip to Tanzania and around East African Countries
• Meet your team of professionals and experienced guides and porters prior to your trek
• We will meet you in Moshi or Arusha and transfer to the mountain gate
• Food – breakfast lunch and dinner
• Drinking water
• Accommodation – tents or huts depending on what route you opt for.

Your personal equipment – we can arrange for you to buy/hire equipment that you do not bring.
Tips for your guide/porters and chef

For 1 or 2 clients – you will have a head guide who will be in charge of your trek and an assistant guide, a chef and porters to carry your bags and equipment for the trek. If you are a larger group then there will obviously be more staff.

It is normally the guide that makes your experience special, they are fabulous people, many who have had years of experience of climbing this truly amazing mountain.

It is very important to ensure that you have the correct insurance for your trip. Please ensure you inform your insurance company that you will be climbing the mountain. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide this insurance for you. You will need to provide us with the following details before your climb, in case of emergency: Insurer, policy number, and medical emergency number.