Made the summit six months ago with my 39-year-old son I am 67. Took the Lemosho route and had no real problems. All 12 people in my group were able to reach the summit. I think it is doable for most people and you don’t need to be in ridiculous shape. Pace is very slow. Even the last night is not too bad, but it is freezing cold on top. The porters make it all possible.
As a native of Kilimanjaro, Marangu village, I grew up watching hordes of tourists gearing and trekking up. As an acclimated Midwesterner now, having lived in Iowa and Michigan for nearly three decades, its time to go home and it give it a go (via Marangu route)! Thanks for the tips! Karibu tena kaka!
I climbed it as an unfit 61 year old who had prepared by walking around 5-10 miles two or three times a week. I would say that the best prep is probably to regularly walk at least 15 miles but slowly and sometimes back-to-back. I don't think working out in the gym gives the right practice for what you will face which is walking very slow but very long days. Perhaps some stair work would help as you do a lot of slow climbing and the final ascent is brutal, steep climbing for 6-8 hours. We flew into Africa on Monday which took most of the day, stayed at a hotel then climbed next day though I came from the UK so no real jet lag (2 hours difference). We took the Lemoshu route from the West which is the most scenic as it starts in rain forest and you do the Baraco Wall which most people say was the highlight of the climb second only to being at the peak. Ours was 6 days to the peak and another to get down as we skipped Shira-1 and went straight to Shira -2 on the second day but most routes stop at Shira-1 then do Shira-2 the next day. That probably would have been better as what we did was really hard. Personally, walking poles were very useful. I never used to own any for normal hikes at home but when I got some I realised that they take a lot of the strain from your legs and are really useful walking uphill and especially useful climbing down steps that are bigger than usual as my hip is held together with metal plates after a motorbike accident and I find high steps hard to step down. There were a couple of downhill sections when I was better not using them so it is good to get poles that will pack small very quickly to put them on your pack temporarily. Climbing the Baranco Wall has to be done without poles as you need your hands. It is odd that you saw few people using poles as on my trip about 99% of everyone in all the groups we met were using them. I bought some £200 boots that were fitted by an expert and although I spent months trying to break them in and used stretching devices, they kept pinching so I ended up taking my old £70 boots on the trip and did not have a single issue the whole trip. I agree good socks are essential. I used thin-to-medium thickness merino wool socks (Bridgedale) that cost around £10 a pair I think and they were fantastic. I had no blisters and my feet were warm even on the final ascent with no other socks used. Others were wearing two pairs of thinner socks and still getting blisters and cold feet. I am surprised at your experience with food. We were fed three meals a day and usually at least three courses per meal. I know quite a few climbing companies do the same. Yes there was porridge in the morning and it was not very tasty but they also provided several things you could add like honey or chocolate spread or just sugar plus there were also pancakes and bacon and fruit and bread etc. I should also note that nausea and lack of appetite are usual side-effects of altitude. Taking your own snacks for the actual walking is essential and put them somewhere that you can reach easily without stopping. Also at least two or three litres of water each day for the walk. For the final ascent have wide-mouthed screw lid bottles as anything fancy, like camelbacks or even flip spouts, will freeze. Have some good quality waterproofs in your day bag at all times as it can rain heavily without warning and once you get wet you will struggle to get dry again and be miserable. I was lucky not to ever get rained on but that is rare. You will need a very good quality hooded puffer jacket for the final climb. I was able to rent one for $20 as that is the only day I needed it but it was essential for that night. Good gloves, preferably heavy mitts with liner gloves, will also be needed for the final ascent. For the other days I tended to wear a thinner puffer jacket and maybe a fleece in the evenings and early mornings but as I had unusually good weather I usually stripped to a thin t-shirt during the day. Brings a 'Buff', aka something to cover your mouth and nose, as the mountain is covered in very fine alcanic dust that gets everywhere and especially in your nose and lungs. Get some sunglasses that wrap around to cover all the gaps as the sun at altitude is very bright and could damage your eyes. Ideally get some that can cope with sun off snow (rating 4). Also a high rating suncream as more UV gets through at altitude. Bring some medicine (eg DIAMOX) to reduce altitude sickness. Anyone can get AS and often the athletes get it worse than the unfit people. I bought a good quality sleeping bag rated to -18 and it was a great buy as while others were wrapping up in all their clothes at night, I was sleeping in my underwear and staying warm even after having to go to the toilet tent in the middle of the night. One or more nocturnal visits to the toilet every night will happen for everyone and Diamox makes it worse :-) I would recommend you get a sleeping bag that stuffs into a sack rather than one that has to be rolled up as I heard several people say how hard it was to roll theirs small enough to pack every morning. Also allow for the fact that your sleeping bag could take up half the space in your big bag. If possible get one that packs small as not all do. Mine had straps all around the sack to pull it even tighter Take a good tip to give to the crew when you get down. They will carry the tents and cook the food etc. and they work incredibly hard and you wont make it without their help.
Thanks for watching. I did address some of the things you mentioned with a later video with my top ten tips. Mount Kilimanjaro: 10 TIPS for climbing Africa’s tallest mountain ruclips.net/video/QRVE3-TRmIM/видео.html
I watched your video before or trek. Thank you. We did the Lomosha route 8 days. Three days lead time helped a lot. We brought excellent sleeping bags and inflatable mats. I asked about food before we left and they may have kicked it up a notch for us because it was amazing. Did not end up taking the Diomox. Did use poles, did use spikes at the top ( after falling twice). The summit night was brutal but we survived. Thanks for the video!
I made it last year. I trained my butt off, hiking with a weighted bad up to 20 miles, jogging up to 7 miles and getting over 100k steps in per week. I studied breathing exercises, hydration and every aspect to ensure success. People who think this is a "tough hike" could be in for a rude awakening. You may make it, but you'll be miserable. I was only really challenged the last 2 hours to the summit and the 3 hours back down to the camp. Otherwise I felt great and had a good time. The company you go with has a HUGE impact. This guy sounds like he got the wrong company who had bad food. our food was amazing and diverse and they pretty much provided everything except for what we needed in our day bag and clothes, etc. Finally, hydrate A LOT. It's an amazing country and experience. Enjoy!
Thank you for the information, every bit of experience and perspective can be a big help to prospective climbers, it is very much appreciated, and best of luck getting to the top next time!
It was fun. Not that difficult if you plan and pack properly. We got lucky with a good weather window for our summit attempt. It was still freaking cold but I heard that it gets even colder. My only advice. Go slow and take your time. Don’t over exert yourself early on. Also drink plenty of water. Overall it was one of the best climbing experiences of my life.
My wife and I, both 67, are doing the Lemosho route in 2 weeks. Our outfitter is Ultimate Kilimanjaro. We're both in great shape and confidence is high, even though I had surgery in April to repair a torn tendon in the right foot. I'll he using a brace on that foot. We hiked the Salkantay Trail in the Peruvian Andes a few years back, reached 15.2k with no problems.
I successfully climbed Kilimanjaro via the Machame route in 6 days, back in February. I agree with nearly everything you've said in this video, especially the comments about having good socks and a good sleeping bag. However, I think that taking walking poles was a very useful thing to do, especially on the last day. After getting to the top I was exhausted and the scree / gravel slopes were difficult to go down when you're struggling to even stay awake! That was the only time I really used walking poles. If I were to do it again, or was to recommend it to anyone else, I would also suggest taking enough time before to climb the mountain. While having a day beforehand to rest before climbing the mountain could be useful, I think it is best to spend as much time on the mountain as possible. Every extra day of acclimatisation is key. Any route you take up the mountain is going to have amazing views, but the trip is going to be a lot more enjoyable and easier if you're acclimatised.
Good job making it to the top. My main point about the walking poles was I didn’t see many people using them, and no one in my party used them (including the ones who made it to the top).
Hello Sir, can we buy all gears and needed supplies from a place in Tanzania itself? Or can our tour guiding company charge and provide us the most fitting ones?
We just got off Kili - a group of 24 women and all of us used trekking poles. I typically don't like poles, but they were great on the mountain. Especially for some support coming off of the summit. One of our guides said that when you hike with poles you get four legs instead of two. It made us chuckle. Sorry you got sick, what a bummer. I hope you get to go back and try again soon.
Good of you to share some of the issues you encountered. As you stated, some of these were basic. Any meat on the mountain is bad news and fried chicken is a no no for sure. Trekking food needs to be carb rich...bread, omlettes, soups, potatoes. You can also bring protein bars. but remember you need to carry what you bring. Cheap boots are a terrible idea on the mountain.....one blister can ruin everything. If you spend money on gear, socks and boots need to be your focus area....and break them in before you do the trek. On sleeping bags, its best to rent them. Comfort level 0 to negative 10 should work. You can buy and pack your own liner which is lite weight and adds several degrees of comfort. For drugs, you need to bring a little of everything. Poop, non poop, headache, cold, pepto, band aids, etc. You are 6-10 days with no resources other than what you pack. Lots of great advice on line.....its an easy enough trek with the exception of summit night and the hike down. (BTW - Hiking poles are good for decent) Good luck.
I went the Northern Circuit route, and had a wayyy over-dimensioned sleeping bag (comfy to -23°C/-9°F, and was warmer than the rating suggests). This was brilliant! We had a brilliant chef for the food, and had 3 course meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That was worth it. The chef also knew how to take into account all major food sensitivities (we had one lactose intolerant, one nut allergic, and one allergic or sensitive to eggs). Amazing crew! The meals should be designed to give you a lot of calories, with food at higher altitudes needing to be more carb rich and more easily digestible. Having a good chef makes it easier to get the required amount into your body. If you get undernourished or dehydrated then acclimatisation will not go well, and then the trip is suddenly over... I found that using double socks was extremely comfortable: a liner sock (very thin) of merino wool, and a thicker warm wool sock. This prevents chafing and keeps feet dry and nice. Hiking poles are useful, the porters don't need them, mostly because they are superhuman. We tourist-y types gain a lot from using them, particularly on descents! They really save the knees a lot, but require some training to use efficiently. Most of the people I saw at the summit were using poles then. You may not have seen many trekking poles, because people often keep them collapsed during easier days and during ascents at lower altitudes. One thing that surprised me was how much focus our team had on hygiene, giving us warm water morning and evening to wash up, as well as soap. This did a lot for comfort, and reduced odds of chafing due to salt buildup in clothes, as well as making sleep more comfy. Hand hygiene was also taken proper care of at all times in camp (access to hot water for hand washing, soap, and hand disinfectant). About arriving early, I had 2 nights at the hotel before starting (arrived late, slept, met group and did some stuff, slept, started trip) and I think that is the minimum. The hotels, whether in Arusha or Moshi are at a fairly decent altitude, although staying in Arusha allows you to get used to 1400m (4500ft) altitudes, so is a good start to the acclimatisation if you live low, like myself. I have only good things to say about the organiser (a Swedish company working together with a Tanzanian operator), and the Tanzanian crew were amazing
I went Machame route last month. I have a physical job but little training. I watched videos though and prepared clothing . I followed the guide.. did not get clever. I was smart.. when i got to base camp lunchtime i said can we go go for the summit in the afternoon. We left at 1pm.. we was at the summit by 6.30pm and back down by 11pm.. when the other groups were just heading up. Best decision.
Yes i discussed it with my guide.. the hike to base camp in the morning is only about 2 to 3 hours so you are there by noon. He said i was fit to go if i wanted to. We had lunch and left for the summit. We did not see anyone else going up or coming down..we was at the summit alone. I think leaving at night with no sleep and in a queue of people would of been much more uncomfortable. It saves you a day basically too.😊
We did Lemosho Route for 8 days and succeeded. We had good enough food, but was severely unlucky with the weather. Even though january is dry, we had 10-15 hours of rain a day. Apparently getting more common due to climate change. Gaters, wet pants, panchos saves our lives. I had goretex boots, hindsight, I would have had double goretex if I knew of the rain. Also, for a lot of Lemosho you do 100% need poles as you do a lot of downhills too, especially going down from Lava Tower on acclimatizing day and going from Karanga to Barafu. And of course down from summit & to Millennium and to exit. Every single person used poles, that we saw. With the slippery mud rocks and pouring rain, no chance of survival without the poles to balance you. So while I found your video useful, and of course it is your opinions on your channel - I think you only speak for your route, your weather conditions and your situation. We loved the porridge actually as it kept us warm, full but not heavy. Bring some granola to add on top! Ps. Zara Tours was great.
I didn’t make it in January. Can’t help getting altitude sickness. Best to keep an eye on any early signs as I had to be evacuated from the final camp after doing an 8 day trip in pouring rain, wading through mud for the majority of the trip. My route was chosen to take it slowly to allow for altitude, but even so, 60% of our group didn’t make it for one reason or another. I’ve been at altitudes as high or higher in the past, with no sickness. But on day 1 I slipped into a driver ants nest and was bitten hundreds of times. I then had an allergic reaction which probably contributed to being more susceptible to altitude sickness.
Drink a tonne of water, take insulated flasks for summit night, mits not gloves for summit night. Take it slow Read the wim hoff method and stick to it throughout the climb. Put on the oxymeter, do the wim hoff method, then put it back on. Altitude issues gone. Salomen insulated boots and a good warm sock. Perfect. Thrudark insulated jacket, game changer. Summit night is absolutely ruthless no matter how hard you train. All about the mindset
I got COVID-19 on Kilimanjaro. 🤦🏻♀️ We also did 6-day Machame route in February. I was extremely ill on the 4th day (2nd day of fever & 4th day of cough) and attempted to summit with a fever and severe respiratory symptoms but had to turn back at 5200 meters of elevation. The poles were extremely useful for me, as were gaiters. I have to go back one day.
Tragic…I got COVID at upper base camp while attempting to summit Aconcagua in Jan 22….had to get an evac out…trying again this Dec! Also did Kili western approach in 2019. Keep on trying!
I didn't hear anything about Diamaox, which is the altitude adjustment pill. Also, drink LOTS and LOTS of water. I brought that UV light to purify the water we received. Also a "toilet man" is key. This dedicated porter brings a Coleman camping toilet up the mountain with a small tent for your private use. It cost $150 in 2012. Also, the gaiters help keep dust and ants off your legs.
I successfully summited in 2016 at the age of 49 via the Lemosho Route. I was reasonably fit, but t was hard. I tried to avoid using altitude tablets but ultimately the altitude got me. I got to Stellar Point and turned back. I was shattered and had no energy to go round the crater to Uhuru Point.
Thank you for sharing! This is useful - Im preparing to hike the mountain soon and hopefully I can make it. How about eyewear? And did you practice hiking beforehand?
I had a pair of snow sunglasses that I think I got off of Amazon, can’t remember I hiked and hit the treadmill A LOT. Also walked my dog while wearing a weighted backpack with like 40 pounds in it, nearly every day for months.
Thank you so much for making this video, I will be hiking Mt. Kili in a couple of months, I have 2 questions: #1 What company did you hire to do the hike with? #2 What day did you make it to before you had to quit and go down the mountain?
On your video you say you will share the reasons you didn't summit. Getting to your hotel a day early with sleep before the climb should have been sufficient to summit. The routes are nearly all the same so listening to your guide and going at their pace should be enough. The food is fine and most people get sick because of altitude but push through. So, it sounds like you either didn't adapt to the altitude, were going too fast or were not fit enough. Perhaps?
Agree on all points made. PLUS-Hiking Poles ARE one of the most useful items you could have on a trek. The amount of relief given to the knees and legs while using them should not be underestimated. This video shows what happens when you dont plan your trip correctly.
I approached Kili and a combination of variables that will increase or decrease likelihood of success. Fitness, hydration, acclimating to altitude, calorie intake, proper rest and avoiding things like sickness. If we approach them all deliberately, we'll have a higher likelihood of success. If we don't respect the mountain, we decrease the likelihood of success.
How much hw and research did you do, prior to going on your trip? In terms of guide groups, acclimatizing and physicality. Would you go back again? Thanks for sharing your experience.
I read quite a lot. There weren’t many RUclips videos back then (2016), but I pretty much devoured all info I could find. I don’t think I will attempt it again, but not 100% sure. Good luck with your climb, if you choose to go.
Im sorry it didnt turn out as planned. Homemade wanderlust just went and did some vids on her excursion- some similar changes if there was a do over mentioned. Have you done any other amazing trips?
I’m sorry you didn’t make it to the top. As I’m sure you’re now aware, Kilimanjaro is one of the most underestimated hikes out there, if not the #1. Countless people expect to make the climb, particularly since pictures make it seem so doable (at least much more so than many other famous peaks). However, I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard from people, including several very experienced hikers/trekkers, with a story similar to yours. The nausea from altitude sickness certainly isn’t the only reason there are so many failures trying to summit. As you found out, proper hydration & food (especially breakfast, ironically) is huge. And despite the unbelievable efforts of the porters in hauling all the equipment & provisions up the mountain (much like the Sherpas on Everest, they are truly unbelievable), after watching just a couple RUclips videos of different hikes (w/different companies) I found myself questioning if food poisoning was an issue for those eating a lot of the meals provided with their excursion. It didn’t look absolutely horrible, but considering how hard it must be to keep everything clean & unspoiled in those conditions, I’m with you on this. It’s probably best to pack as much of your own food as you think you’ll need instead of depending on their services for every meal. But as to the difficulty of summiting Kilimanjaro… The biggest problem I’ve heard about is from those underestimating the effect the altitude will have on their body. Believe it or not, while it matters what particular trekking route you take & how much time you spend acclimating on that trail, climbing Kilimanjaro is generally seen as a more physically demanding trek than Everest. This is due to the altitude & steepness of the ascent, which is done in a shorter period of time than Everest. In fact, Kilimanjaro’s overall success rate is just over 40%, while Everest’s is just under 90%. While this is a bit misleading as many more people attempt Kilimanjaro, that’s still a pretty telling number of failures. All those attempting to make the trek should be taking Diamox. It’s only available via a prescription in the US. While I’ve seen ads for getting a diagnosis, script, & meds online, I’d stick with visiting your family Dr, PA or NP instead (tho your local Urgent Care facility might write the script, after telling them why you need it, of course). This was the first video of yours that I’ve seen & I just saw where you posted this a couple years ago. In that time, I hope you’ve gone back, or are making plans to go back & make the summit. Regardless, thanks for your honesty here & all the best in your trekking future.
I broke my ankle on the 3rd day made it to Stella Point and & couldn't take it no more. Poles & Gaiters would go on any hiking trip with me. I'm a vegetarian the company did their best to fix my meals but this time I may bring some meals from home. I hated there breakfast meals but lunch & dinner was good.
Thanks a lot for all this information. It has helped me to gather more information for my personal adventure. Great job! In case someone is interested - I am looking for a hiking partner for the NC up Kilimanjaro. At this moment, I am only by myself, but I would like to open a group tour. The tour company is Nafika Tours. Dec 21 - 29 (9 days). I intentially chose the longest route, so acclimatization has the highest chance. A little about me: Female, 44 years old, vegan, likes to read, gentle soul, fit, adventurous If you're also planning a trip to Kilimanjaro or would like to join, drop me a message, and we can chat more about details! Looking forward to hearing from you!
I have summitted Kilimanjaro four times, failed once. I failed due to wearing well- fitting boots on summit day. I learnt that you need a bit loose-fitting boots, to allow for the warm pairs of socks that you puton on summit day.
Honestly everyone from North America before hiking a mountain like this should go take a vacation to a high altitude (4500ft-5000ft +) city in the USA like in Colorado, or Wyoming, or Arizona, or New Mexico. Go take a week vacation to one of those places practice running, and do some small mountain / tall hill climbing. If you have any adaption time needed in those places to climatize to higher altitudes to have your typical run times from lower altitudes or you need any meds to do so of any kind then climbing a super sized mountain shouldn't be in your cards.
I summited Kilimanjaro in August 2022.... agree with most of your comments, except the hiking poles were essential to me. No way I would have made it on summit day without them. The earlier days is when I didn't use them, they are less necessary then. I would also recommend using Diamox pills for altitude sickness. I didn't get a hint of altitude sickness while on Diamox.....but bear in mind, it is a diarrhetic, so there will be side effects. I had a 27 hour journey from America to Moshi, so I got there a day early to fight the jet lag and the travel weariness. Good call there. Another thing I'd recommend is sleeping pills. I was struggling *mightily* on summit day, largely bc I had gotten *zero* sleep the night before. Was too anxious. A sleeping pill would have helped, if only for a few hours. The effects of a sleeping pill will wear off, however having no sleep will not. Was running on fumes for summit day and was not comfortable. I took machame route too, in six days. Try it again! Now that you won't make the same mistakes, you can do it!🤜
People always over train for this walk, it's not a climb, just go slow and rap up, remember it's just a big hill, drink plenty of water and eat, it's very easy to do, my mate did it in his work boots, it's no biggy, just chill out, you not Edmund hillary lol
My mistake was taking up smoking before I did the climb. I smoked about 50 cigarettes a day in the weeks leading up to the hike, in the hope that it would train my lungs to cope with less oxygen. Unfortunately it didn't work and I couldn't quit the week before the climb. I also got really bad bronchitis three days after the summit attempt.
I’ve updated the video summary based on the suggestions that hiking poles are useful.
Made the summit six months ago with my 39-year-old son I am 67. Took the Lemosho route and had no real problems. All 12 people in my group were able to reach the summit. I think it is doable for most people and you don’t need to be in ridiculous shape. Pace is very slow. Even the last night is not too bad, but it is freezing cold on top.
The porters make it all possible.
Congrats on making the summit
As a native of Kilimanjaro, Marangu village, I grew up watching hordes of tourists gearing and trekking up. As an acclimated Midwesterner now, having lived in Iowa and Michigan for nearly three decades, its time to go home and it give it a go (via Marangu route)! Thanks for the tips! Karibu tena kaka!
Wow, interesting post. Good luck with your climb! Thanks for watching.
I climbed it as an unfit 61 year old who had prepared by walking around 5-10 miles two or three times a week. I would say that the best prep is probably to regularly walk at least 15 miles but slowly and sometimes back-to-back. I don't think working out in the gym gives the right practice for what you will face which is walking very slow but very long days. Perhaps some stair work would help as you do a lot of slow climbing and the final ascent is brutal, steep climbing for 6-8 hours.
We flew into Africa on Monday which took most of the day, stayed at a hotel then climbed next day though I came from the UK so no real jet lag (2 hours difference). We took the Lemoshu route from the West which is the most scenic as it starts in rain forest and you do the Baraco Wall which most people say was the highlight of the climb second only to being at the peak. Ours was 6 days to the peak and another to get down as we skipped Shira-1 and went straight to Shira -2 on the second day but most routes stop at Shira-1 then do Shira-2 the next day. That probably would have been better as what we did was really hard.
Personally, walking poles were very useful. I never used to own any for normal hikes at home but when I got some I realised that they take a lot of the strain from your legs and are really useful walking uphill and especially useful climbing down steps that are bigger than usual as my hip is held together with metal plates after a motorbike accident and I find high steps hard to step down. There were a couple of downhill sections when I was better not using them so it is good to get poles that will pack small very quickly to put them on your pack temporarily. Climbing the Baranco Wall has to be done without poles as you need your hands. It is odd that you saw few people using poles as on my trip about 99% of everyone in all the groups we met were using them.
I bought some £200 boots that were fitted by an expert and although I spent months trying to break them in and used stretching devices, they kept pinching so I ended up taking my old £70 boots on the trip and did not have a single issue the whole trip.
I agree good socks are essential. I used thin-to-medium thickness merino wool socks (Bridgedale) that cost around £10 a pair I think and they were fantastic. I had no blisters and my feet were warm even on the final ascent with no other socks used. Others were wearing two pairs of thinner socks and still getting blisters and cold feet.
I am surprised at your experience with food. We were fed three meals a day and usually at least three courses per meal. I know quite a few climbing companies do the same. Yes there was porridge in the morning and it was not very tasty but they also provided several things you could add like honey or chocolate spread or just sugar plus there were also pancakes and bacon and fruit and bread etc. I should also note that nausea and lack of appetite are usual side-effects of altitude.
Taking your own snacks for the actual walking is essential and put them somewhere that you can reach easily without stopping. Also at least two or three litres of water each day for the walk. For the final ascent have wide-mouthed screw lid bottles as anything fancy, like camelbacks or even flip spouts, will freeze.
Have some good quality waterproofs in your day bag at all times as it can rain heavily without warning and once you get wet you will struggle to get dry again and be miserable. I was lucky not to ever get rained on but that is rare. You will need a very good quality hooded puffer jacket for the final climb. I was able to rent one for $20 as that is the only day I needed it but it was essential for that night. Good gloves, preferably heavy mitts with liner gloves, will also be needed for the final ascent. For the other days I tended to wear a thinner puffer jacket and maybe a fleece in the evenings and early mornings but as I had unusually good weather I usually stripped to a thin t-shirt during the day. Brings a 'Buff', aka something to cover your mouth and nose, as the mountain is covered in very fine alcanic dust that gets everywhere and especially in your nose and lungs.
Get some sunglasses that wrap around to cover all the gaps as the sun at altitude is very bright and could damage your eyes. Ideally get some that can cope with sun off snow (rating 4). Also a high rating suncream as more UV gets through at altitude.
Bring some medicine (eg DIAMOX) to reduce altitude sickness. Anyone can get AS and often the athletes get it worse than the unfit people.
I bought a good quality sleeping bag rated to -18 and it was a great buy as while others were wrapping up in all their clothes at night, I was sleeping in my underwear and staying warm even after having to go to the toilet tent in the middle of the night. One or more nocturnal visits to the toilet every night will happen for everyone and Diamox makes it worse :-) I would recommend you get a sleeping bag that stuffs into a sack rather than one that has to be rolled up as I heard several people say how hard it was to roll theirs small enough to pack every morning. Also allow for the fact that your sleeping bag could take up half the space in your big bag. If possible get one that packs small as not all do. Mine had straps all around the sack to pull it even tighter
Take a good tip to give to the crew when you get down. They will carry the tents and cook the food etc. and they work incredibly hard and you wont make it without their help.
Thanks for watching. I did address some of the things you mentioned with a later video with my top ten tips.
Mount Kilimanjaro: 10 TIPS for climbing Africa’s tallest mountain
ruclips.net/video/QRVE3-TRmIM/видео.html
Great write up, by the way
Wow thank you so much for these tips!!!
Awesome write up! I wish I had this when I climved vack in 2021. Good advice all around!
Excellent write up!!!!!Very helpful tips!Thank you
I watched your video before or trek. Thank you. We did the Lomosha route 8 days. Three days lead time helped a lot. We brought excellent sleeping bags and inflatable mats. I asked about food before we left and they may have kicked it up a notch for us because it was amazing. Did not end up taking the Diomox. Did use poles, did use spikes at the top ( after falling twice). The summit night was brutal but we survived. Thanks for the video!
I made it last year. I trained my butt off, hiking with a weighted bad up to 20 miles, jogging up to 7 miles and getting over 100k steps in per week. I studied breathing exercises, hydration and every aspect to ensure success. People who think this is a "tough hike" could be in for a rude awakening. You may make it, but you'll be miserable. I was only really challenged the last 2 hours to the summit and the 3 hours back down to the camp. Otherwise I felt great and had a good time. The company you go with has a HUGE impact. This guy sounds like he got the wrong company who had bad food. our food was amazing and diverse and they pretty much provided everything except for what we needed in our day bag and clothes, etc. Finally, hydrate A LOT. It's an amazing country and experience. Enjoy!
The food sucked, notably the porridge. Congrats on your climb.
@@DistinctiveDestinations What company did you go with?
@@Ben-eh1qt Climbing Kilimanjaro
@@DistinctiveDestinations do you remember how much it was? Just curious. I'm doing the 7 day Machame Route this July!
Not really but it was mid-range at the time. 2016
Thanks for this video! I love your honest and genuine perspective which is often lost in RUclips.
Thanks for watching!
thanks so much for sharing!
doing this next year with my mum super excited
Good luck with the climb! Thanks for watching.
Thank you for the information, every bit of experience and perspective can be a big help to prospective climbers, it is very much appreciated, and best of luck getting to the top next time!
Good luck if you attempt the climb.
I'm doing this next week and your video was very helpful. Thank you.
Good luck with your climb. Start packing now, if you haven’t already.
How was it?
@TravelTrade718 how was the climb? Difficult.
It was fun. Not that difficult if you plan and pack properly. We got lucky with a good weather window for our summit attempt. It was still freaking cold but I heard that it gets even colder. My only advice. Go slow and take your time. Don’t over exert yourself early on. Also drink plenty of water. Overall it was one of the best climbing experiences of my life.
I am due to climb next September so this is a very honest video.I have taken this all on board. Thank you
Thanks for watching and GOOD LUCK.
did you get to climb as of yet? how did it go?
Thanks for your informative and very applicable advice for many of us with hope to make the trip one day; hopefully one day you get to make it again.
Thanks for watching! Good luck if you do try it.
My wife and I, both 67, are doing the Lemosho route in 2 weeks. Our outfitter is Ultimate Kilimanjaro. We're both in great shape and confidence is high, even though I had surgery in April to repair a torn tendon in the right foot. I'll he using a brace on that foot. We hiked the Salkantay Trail in the Peruvian Andes a few years back, reached 15.2k with no problems.
Good luck. Drink lots of water
I successfully climbed Kilimanjaro via the Machame route in 6 days, back in February. I agree with nearly everything you've said in this video, especially the comments about having good socks and a good sleeping bag. However, I think that taking walking poles was a very useful thing to do, especially on the last day. After getting to the top I was exhausted and the scree / gravel slopes were difficult to go down when you're struggling to even stay awake! That was the only time I really used walking poles.
If I were to do it again, or was to recommend it to anyone else, I would also suggest taking enough time before to climb the mountain. While having a day beforehand to rest before climbing the mountain could be useful, I think it is best to spend as much time on the mountain as possible. Every extra day of acclimatisation is key. Any route you take up the mountain is going to have amazing views, but the trip is going to be a lot more enjoyable and easier if you're acclimatised.
Good job making it to the top.
My main point about the walking poles was I didn’t see many people using them, and no one in my party used them (including the ones who made it to the top).
Hello Sir, can we buy all gears and needed supplies from a place in Tanzania itself? Or can our tour guiding company charge and provide us the most fitting ones?
@udanawijerathne3642 I believe some outfits supply most of the needed items. Still best to bring the stuff you need/want like boots, etc
We just got off Kili - a group of 24 women and all of us used trekking poles. I typically don't like poles, but they were great on the mountain. Especially for some support coming off of the summit. One of our guides said that when you hike with poles you get four legs instead of two. It made us chuckle. Sorry you got sick, what a bummer. I hope you get to go back and try again soon.
Thanks and congrats on your climb.
If I do decide to try again, I’d bring poles after all the comments.
Thank you for sharing the lessons you learned...it's helpful and appreciated.
Thanks for watching, good luck
Thanks for the helpful information.
Good luck
Thank you☘️♥️
Thanks for watching!
Good of you to share some of the issues you encountered. As you stated, some of these were basic. Any meat on the mountain is bad news and fried chicken is a no no for sure. Trekking food needs to be carb rich...bread, omlettes, soups, potatoes. You can also bring protein bars. but remember you need to carry what you bring. Cheap boots are a terrible idea on the mountain.....one blister can ruin everything. If you spend money on gear, socks and boots need to be your focus area....and break them in before you do the trek. On sleeping bags, its best to rent them. Comfort level 0 to negative 10 should work. You can buy and pack your own liner which is lite weight and adds several degrees of comfort. For drugs, you need to bring a little of everything. Poop, non poop, headache, cold, pepto, band aids, etc. You are 6-10 days with no resources other than what you pack. Lots of great advice on line.....its an easy enough trek with the exception of summit night and the hike down. (BTW - Hiking poles are good for decent) Good luck.
Thanks for watching and the feedback
I went the Northern Circuit route, and had a wayyy over-dimensioned sleeping bag (comfy to -23°C/-9°F, and was warmer than the rating suggests). This was brilliant!
We had a brilliant chef for the food, and had 3 course meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That was worth it. The chef also knew how to take into account all major food sensitivities (we had one lactose intolerant, one nut allergic, and one allergic or sensitive to eggs). Amazing crew! The meals should be designed to give you a lot of calories, with food at higher altitudes needing to be more carb rich and more easily digestible. Having a good chef makes it easier to get the required amount into your body. If you get undernourished or dehydrated then acclimatisation will not go well, and then the trip is suddenly over...
I found that using double socks was extremely comfortable: a liner sock (very thin) of merino wool, and a thicker warm wool sock. This prevents chafing and keeps feet dry and nice.
Hiking poles are useful, the porters don't need them, mostly because they are superhuman. We tourist-y types gain a lot from using them, particularly on descents! They really save the knees a lot, but require some training to use efficiently. Most of the people I saw at the summit were using poles then. You may not have seen many trekking poles, because people often keep them collapsed during easier days and during ascents at lower altitudes.
One thing that surprised me was how much focus our team had on hygiene, giving us warm water morning and evening to wash up, as well as soap. This did a lot for comfort, and reduced odds of chafing due to salt buildup in clothes, as well as making sleep more comfy. Hand hygiene was also taken proper care of at all times in camp (access to hot water for hand washing, soap, and hand disinfectant).
About arriving early, I had 2 nights at the hotel before starting (arrived late, slept, met group and did some stuff, slept, started trip) and I think that is the minimum. The hotels, whether in Arusha or Moshi are at a fairly decent altitude, although staying in Arusha allows you to get used to 1400m (4500ft) altitudes, so is a good start to the acclimatisation if you live low, like myself.
I have only good things to say about the organiser (a Swedish company working together with a Tanzanian operator), and the Tanzanian crew were amazing
Congrats on your climb!
Well written summary, thank you.
What company did you use for the northern circuit ?
Climbing Kilimanjaro
What company did you use?
I went Machame route last month. I have a physical job but little training.
I watched videos though and prepared clothing . I followed the guide.. did not get clever.
I was smart.. when i got to base camp lunchtime i said can we go go for the summit in the afternoon.
We left at 1pm.. we was at the summit by 6.30pm and back down by 11pm.. when the other groups were just heading up. Best decision.
Interesting, I didn’t think that was even an option.
Yes i discussed it with my guide.. the hike to base camp in the morning is only about 2 to 3 hours so you are there by noon. He said i was fit to go if i wanted to. We had lunch and left for the summit. We did not see anyone else going up or coming down..we was at the summit alone. I think leaving at night with no sleep and in a queue of people would of been much more uncomfortable. It saves you a day basically too.😊
We did Lemosho Route for 8 days and succeeded. We had good enough food, but was severely unlucky with the weather. Even though january is dry, we had 10-15 hours of rain a day. Apparently getting more common due to climate change. Gaters, wet pants, panchos saves our lives. I had goretex boots, hindsight, I would have had double goretex if I knew of the rain. Also, for a lot of Lemosho you do 100% need poles as you do a lot of downhills too, especially going down from Lava Tower on acclimatizing day and going from Karanga to Barafu. And of course down from summit & to Millennium and to exit. Every single person used poles, that we saw. With the slippery mud rocks and pouring rain, no chance of survival without the poles to balance you. So while I found your video useful, and of course it is your opinions on your channel - I think you only speak for your route, your weather conditions and your situation. We loved the porridge actually as it kept us warm, full but not heavy. Bring some granola to add on top! Ps. Zara Tours was great.
Thanks for watching and the feedback
Helpful video🎉 Thank you for sharing. What company did you use?
Climbing Kilimanjaro
Did it with my dad August 2023!
Congrats on your successful climb
I didn’t make it in January. Can’t help getting altitude sickness. Best to keep an eye on any early signs as I had to be evacuated from the final camp after doing an 8 day trip in pouring rain, wading through mud for the majority of the trip. My route was chosen to take it slowly to allow for altitude, but even so, 60% of our group didn’t make it for one reason or another. I’ve been at altitudes as high or higher in the past, with no sickness. But on day 1 I slipped into a driver ants nest and was bitten hundreds of times. I then had an allergic reaction which probably contributed to being more susceptible to altitude sickness.
Sorry to hear that you didn't make it, but i understand. Will you try again?
Drink a tonne of water, take insulated flasks for summit night, mits not gloves for summit night. Take it slow
Read the wim hoff method and stick to it throughout the climb. Put on the oxymeter, do the wim hoff method, then put it back on. Altitude issues gone.
Salomen insulated boots and a good warm sock. Perfect.
Thrudark insulated jacket, game changer.
Summit night is absolutely ruthless no matter how hard you train. All about the mindset
Thanks for the comment.
I got COVID-19 on Kilimanjaro. 🤦🏻♀️ We also did 6-day Machame route in February. I was extremely ill on the 4th day (2nd day of fever & 4th day of cough) and attempted to summit with a fever and severe respiratory symptoms but had to turn back at 5200 meters of elevation. The poles were extremely useful for me, as were gaiters. I have to go back one day.
Sorry to hear that.
Seems poles are more used than I saw based on the comments.
Tragic…I got COVID at upper base camp while attempting to summit Aconcagua in Jan 22….had to get an evac out…trying again this Dec! Also did Kili western approach in 2019. Keep on trying!
@greggs7330 good luck with your climb!
Thanks for the advice :) will you be attempting it again?
I've debated it back and forth. Probably not.
Good luck with your climb, if you are attempting it.
I didn't hear anything about Diamaox, which is the altitude adjustment pill. Also, drink LOTS and LOTS of water. I brought that UV light to purify the water we received. Also a "toilet man" is key. This dedicated porter brings a Coleman camping toilet up the mountain with a small tent for your private use. It cost $150 in 2012. Also, the gaiters help keep dust and ants off your legs.
Good tips, thanks for watching
The tour company is also an important choice. Go with a company with good client care reputation, my husband and I made it in October 2022
Congrats on your climb
I successfully summited in 2016 at the age of 49 via the Lemosho Route. I was reasonably fit, but t was hard. I tried to avoid using altitude tablets but ultimately the altitude got me. I got to Stellar Point and turned back. I was shattered and had no energy to go round the crater to Uhuru Point.
If you turned back, how did you summit?
I love your map!
Thanks
Do you plan on climbing any American volcanoes since you climbed the tallest non American one?
I climbed Ometepe in Nicaragua. Maybe Hawaii eventually.
Thank you for sharing! This is useful - Im preparing to hike the mountain soon and hopefully I can make it. How about eyewear? And did you practice hiking beforehand?
I had a pair of snow sunglasses that I think I got off of Amazon, can’t remember
I hiked and hit the treadmill A LOT. Also walked my dog while wearing a weighted backpack with like 40 pounds in it, nearly every day for months.
By the way, good luck with your climb!
Thank you so much for making this video, I will be hiking Mt. Kili in a couple of months, I have 2 questions: #1 What company did you hire to do the hike with? #2 What day did you make it to before you had to quit and go down the mountain?
Good luck with the climb!
1) Climbing Kilimanjaro
2) The last day. I quit right before the final summit push. Was at the last base camp.
@@DistinctiveDestinations thank you so much, have a great day
By the way, there’s another video I did with my top ten tips on the channel
Mount Kilimanjaro: 10 TIPS for climbing Africa’s tallest mountain in Tanzania
ruclips.net/video/QRVE3-TRmIM/видео.html
i made it to the top twice used sticks both times
Nice work
On your video you say you will share the reasons you didn't summit. Getting to your hotel a day early with sleep before the climb should have been sufficient to summit. The routes are nearly all the same so listening to your guide and going at their pace should be enough. The food is fine and most people get sick because of altitude but push through. So, it sounds like you either didn't adapt to the altitude, were going too fast or were not fit enough. Perhaps?
Starting off tired isn’t a good idea. More rest would help anyone.
Likely a combination of all those factors.
Agree on all points made. PLUS-Hiking Poles ARE one of the most useful items you could have on a trek. The amount of relief given to the knees and legs while using them should not be underestimated. This video shows what happens when you dont plan your trip correctly.
I approached Kili and a combination of variables that will increase or decrease likelihood of success. Fitness, hydration, acclimating to altitude, calorie intake, proper rest and avoiding things like sickness. If we approach them all deliberately, we'll have a higher likelihood of success. If we don't respect the mountain, we decrease the likelihood of success.
Thanks for your feedback
Absolutely brutal summit night. The rest is easy dont underestimate it
I don’t know about easy…lol
How much hw and research did you do, prior to going on your trip? In terms of guide groups, acclimatizing and physicality.
Would you go back again? Thanks for sharing your experience.
I read quite a lot. There weren’t many RUclips videos back then (2016), but I pretty much devoured all info I could find.
I don’t think I will attempt it again, but not 100% sure.
Good luck with your climb, if you choose to go.
Im sorry it didnt turn out as planned. Homemade wanderlust just went and did some vids on her excursion- some similar changes if there was a do over mentioned. Have you done any other amazing trips?
@@BucksMom218 yeah I think so. Check out the rest of the channel.
I’m sorry you didn’t make it to the top. As I’m sure you’re now aware, Kilimanjaro is one of the most underestimated hikes out there, if not the #1. Countless people expect to make the climb, particularly since pictures make it seem so doable (at least much more so than many other famous peaks). However, I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard from people, including several very experienced hikers/trekkers, with a story similar to yours.
The nausea from altitude sickness certainly isn’t the only reason there are so many failures trying to summit. As you found out, proper hydration & food (especially breakfast, ironically) is huge. And despite the unbelievable efforts of the porters in hauling all the equipment & provisions up the mountain (much like the Sherpas on Everest, they are truly unbelievable), after watching just a couple RUclips videos of different hikes (w/different companies) I found myself questioning if food poisoning was an issue for those eating a lot of the meals provided with their excursion. It didn’t look absolutely horrible, but considering how hard it must be to keep everything clean & unspoiled in those conditions, I’m with you on this. It’s probably best to pack as much of your own food as you think you’ll need instead of depending on their services for every meal.
But as to the difficulty of summiting Kilimanjaro…
The biggest problem I’ve heard about is from those underestimating the effect the altitude will have on their body. Believe it or not, while it matters what particular trekking route you take & how much time you spend acclimating on that trail, climbing Kilimanjaro is generally seen as a more physically demanding trek than Everest. This is due to the altitude & steepness of the ascent, which is done in a shorter period of time than Everest. In fact, Kilimanjaro’s overall success rate is just over 40%, while Everest’s is just under 90%. While this is a bit misleading as many more people attempt Kilimanjaro, that’s still a pretty telling number of failures. All those attempting to make the trek should be taking Diamox. It’s only available via a prescription in the US. While I’ve seen ads for getting a diagnosis, script, & meds online, I’d stick with visiting your family Dr, PA or NP instead (tho your local Urgent Care facility might write the script, after telling them why you need it, of course).
This was the first video of yours that I’ve seen & I just saw where you posted this a couple years ago. In that time, I hope you’ve gone back, or are making plans to go back & make the summit. Regardless, thanks for your honesty here & all the best in your trekking future.
Thanks for watching and your comments
Did you try again?
No. Probably won’t but haven’t completely ruled it out either.
I broke my ankle on the 3rd day made it to Stella Point and & couldn't take it no more. Poles & Gaiters would go on any hiking trip with me. I'm a vegetarian the company did their best to fix my meals but this time I may bring some meals from home. I hated there breakfast meals but lunch & dinner was good.
Going to attempt it again?
Thanks for watching
@@DistinctiveDestinations I summited April 18, 2023. I choose the Lemosho Western Breach with no issues.
I got back on Monday, we successfully submitted, you did not say why you failed. AMS?
Mostly vomiting.
Congrats on your climb!
@@DistinctiveDestinations sorry to hear that, sounds very much like altitude sickness
Thanks a lot for all this information. It has helped me to gather more information for my personal adventure. Great job!
In case someone is interested - I am looking for a hiking partner for the NC up Kilimanjaro. At this moment, I am only by myself, but I would like to open a group tour. The tour company is Nafika Tours. Dec 21 - 29 (9 days). I intentially chose the longest route, so acclimatization has the highest chance.
A little about me: Female, 44 years old, vegan, likes to read, gentle soul, fit, adventurous
If you're also planning a trip to Kilimanjaro or would like to join, drop me a message, and we can chat more about details!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Good luck with the climb.
Make sure that your tour provider offers vegan food and they are aware in advance.
I have summitted Kilimanjaro four times, failed once. I failed due to wearing well- fitting boots on summit day. I learnt that you need a bit loose-fitting boots, to allow for the warm pairs of socks that you puton on summit day.
Do you have a boot recommendation?
Congratulations on making it!
Honestly everyone from North America before hiking a mountain like this should go take a vacation to a high altitude (4500ft-5000ft +) city in the USA like in Colorado, or Wyoming, or Arizona, or New Mexico. Go take a week vacation to one of those places practice running, and do some small mountain / tall hill climbing. If you have any adaption time needed in those places to climatize to higher altitudes to have your typical run times from lower altitudes or you need any meds to do so of any kind then climbing a super sized mountain shouldn't be in your cards.
Thanks for the advice
It’s actually a easy 5000 one , need good condition and not much technique
Thanks for watching
I GOT TO THE SUMMIT IN 5 MINUTE ON RUclips DIDN'T EVEN BREAK A SWEAT LOL
Yeah it’s much easier to do at home on the couch.
Climbing without hiking poles is not something I would do.
Thanks for watching
I summited Kilimanjaro in August 2022.... agree with most of your comments, except the hiking poles were essential to me. No way I would have made it on summit day without them. The earlier days is when I didn't use them, they are less necessary then. I would also recommend using Diamox pills for altitude sickness. I didn't get a hint of altitude sickness while on Diamox.....but bear in mind, it is a diarrhetic, so there will be side effects. I had a 27 hour journey from America to Moshi, so I got there a day early to fight the jet lag and the travel weariness. Good call there.
Another thing I'd recommend is sleeping pills. I was struggling *mightily* on summit day, largely bc I had gotten *zero* sleep the night before. Was too anxious. A sleeping pill would have helped, if only for a few hours. The effects of a sleeping pill will wear off, however having no sleep will not. Was running on fumes for summit day and was not comfortable. I took machame route too, in six days.
Try it again! Now that you won't make the same mistakes, you can do it!🤜
Thanks for watching. I added a pinned comment about the hiking poles, seems a lot of people recommend them.
@@DistinctiveDestinations Yep, just noticed that, good call.
Poles were great for some. I didn't use them much, helpful on steep parts going down.
Hello, did you went with an agency ? And how much did it costs ?
🌷 ｐｒｏｍｏｓｍ
Thanks for watching
Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
People always over train for this walk, it's not a climb, just go slow and rap up, remember it's just a big hill, drink plenty of water and eat, it's very easy to do, my mate did it in his work boots, it's no biggy, just chill out, you not Edmund hillary lol
Thanks for watching
My mistake was taking up smoking before I did the climb. I smoked about 50 cigarettes a day in the weeks leading up to the hike, in the hope that it would train my lungs to cope with less oxygen. Unfortunately it didn't work and I couldn't quit the week before the climb. I also got really bad bronchitis three days after the summit attempt.
I’ve heard of people doing that, seems to work for some people