5 tips on how to do a successful mount Kilimanjaro climbing campaign

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Globe Runner

Africa is certainly a land of wonders and Mount Kilimanjaro is one of them. This dormant volcano is formed with three different volcanic cones- Shira, Mawenzi, and the Kibo. Amidst this, only Kibo is dormant while the other two have gone extinct. Being the highest mountain in Africa it is one of those places which offers exhilaration and thrills on the full scale. The mountain is located in the African country of Tanzania, in the Kilimanjaro national park.

Because of the ethereal beauty of the clouded peak, this is a popular mountain climbing site. Apart from the researches who climb up the mountain to study about the decreasing ice sheets and the glaciers, mountaineers, and local tourists too climb up the mountain.

The geological contours of the top of the mountain are quite entrancing with a number of landforms like the pinnacles, ridges, the Saddle Plateau, and even the Great Barranco Ridge.

The Tanzania National Park authority governs trekking to the summit of Kilimanjaro. You would be amazed by knowing the fact that you cannot rule out this trekking from the list of difficult mountain climbing events because of the dropping temperature, the steep slopes, and the harsh winds.

Though trekking to the summit seems to be the favorite sports of the adventurers, it is important for every individual to exercise certain cautionary steps. These are not only for the safety but also for gaining the maximum memories from this trekking trip.

If you are a newbie to the world of trekking, then these tips will definitely helps you while climbing Kilimanjaro, at a height of 4,900 meters.

Make sure you are choosing the longer route

As the mountain is quite wide in diameter, officially, seven routes are there for the trekking- Lemosho, Machame, Marangu, Mweka, Rongai, Shira, and the Umbwe. Some are shorter while some are longer. Now the choice of these routes will highly affect your success rate of reaching up to the summit. The reason of this ambiguity is that longer the route, your body can accustom with the mountain ambience lucidly. If you plan on choosing a shorter route and saving some extra bucks and also a few days, then you will be decreasing your success route. This is why it is ideal to choose the longer distance and give your body the time to adapt to the changing weather and geographical conditions. Lemosho is the ideal one for you while you can also go for the Machame.

Carry enough things to keep yourself hydrated

The air high up in the altitude is dry and water vapour is barely there. This is why your body can get dehydrated easily. And once your body will start losing water, you will have difficulty in breathing and you might feel drowsy and nauseous too. This is why carrying enough amount of water or other fluids is suggested to avoid the risks of getting completely dehydrated. As the trekking can last for eight days, it is not possible to carry the water supply for so many days. This is why you can carry the purification tablets and gather the water from the numerous mountain streams.

Be calm and slow down your pace

It is not like you are climbing your building to the fifteenth floor using the stairs. This is a mountain and here you will have to take care of your speed. Unlike in other trekking, mountain climbing in Kilimanjaro does include a speed limit. More the speed, more will be your discomfort. You should walk slow during the daytime because that will allow your body to accustom with the decreasing oxygen levels. If you go on spending more energy in climbing faster, your body will use up the oxygen, leaving you out of breath. You can even ask your trekking guide to opt for rest-stepping which is usually employed while climbing the Karakoram ranges or the Everest.

Carry the right gear

While climbing the mountains, taking a proper gear is must. Without the proper one, you won’t be able to go too far, let alone reach the summit within the destined number of days. As the temperature will drop drastically as you will rise up along the slope, it is suggested to carry extra warm protection. Cold blister is very common and so carry extra socks for protection. Make sure you are carrying gloves, and other warm clothes to keep yourself from freezing. Carry a scarf and a brimmed hat to protect your face and head from the sunburns. Carrying light-weighted clothing is suitable as it won’t make your backpack heavy.

Get yourself trained with the climbing issues

One of the main difficulties faced during the Kilimanjaro trekking is coping up with the oxygen deficiency. This is why train yourself prior to your Kilimanjaro holidays to low oxygen levels. One of the best ways to do so is to use the stairs for climbing rather than the elevator. Also, practice walking more since the trekking is done by foot. This will make the muscles of your thighs and your calves strong enough to let you walk on the rugged terrain of the mountain. Also, make sure you are carrying the pills necessary for curbing the altitude fears and the drowsiness.

Lastly, be positive, both mentally and physically and then watch the wonders. The entire trekking routes are full of amazing scenic beauties that will make your journey more interesting and overwhelming. Be sure to spend each moment till your heart is contented.