A Guide to Practical Questions about Mount Kilimanjaro Hikes.

A Guide to Practical Questions about Mount Kilimanjaro Hikes, This blog is definitely for you if one of your goals this year is to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. If you want to know more about hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro, read this detailed book.

What kind of training do you think will help you the most when you go up Mount Kilimanjaro?

You will need to do a lot of leg lifts, stretching, hanging knee raises, lunges, and goblet squats. You will also need to walk a lot with a weighted backpack and poles. You should make sure you can go a long way and remember to be able to go down to the base of the mountain. These workouts will tone and build up the muscles you use when you hike up a mountain. This will give you more speed, quickness, and endurance to enjoy nature’s beauty.

What did you bring that you didn’t need and wish you hadn’t?

It seemed like we had too many clothes. Also, there are way too many food and drink mixes. There was a lot of food and the water tasted good.

What did you bring that made you so happy?
You’ll need to pass the time when you’re not hiking in the mountains, so bring a pair of earbuds and some music or an audiobook that you enjoy. Because you will be going up and down some steep parts of the mountain, you will definitely get your hands dirty, so a good portable nail brush will be very helpful.

A List of Useful Questions About Hikes to Mount Kilimanjaro

Can I bring my cell phone up the mountain? Does the mountain have service? It’s dead. How do I charge it?
If you want to hike Mount Kilimanjaro, you should travel small and get rid of any extra luggage. Yes! You can definitely bring your phone with you on the hike up the mountain. In some parts of the mountain, there is no service, but there are also some great places with service. You should ask your guides because they know all the great places on the mountain that offer service. It will also be very helpful to bring a good power bank with you on your mountain hike. Some shelters have charging stations that are driven by the sun.

Do I need to bring a camera with me to take pictures on the mountain?
You don’t need to bring a camera with you on your hike up Mount Kilimanjaro because the camera on your phone will work just fine. While some phones, like the iPhone 12 Pro and up and the Samsung S22, have great cameras that can take great pictures, they’re not as good as professional cameras.

Does a woman have to have a shewee at night?
There are public toilets at every camp stop, so you don’t really need a shewee. What if you don’t feel safe using the public bathrooms for your short calls? You can bring your own and ask the porter to find you a private space where you can go.

How much did I leave as a tip?
Tipping is most helpful when you give a separate tip to each guide, cook, and porter. It will also help if you can put away envelopes with smaller amounts of money for tips. There is a limit to how much cash you can bring on the hike up the mountain, but you can always ask your tour company to hold on to your tip money. Then, when you get to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, you can find it with your driver guide.

You can always tip your crew when you get back from your walk. As a guide, $20 a day for the guide, $15 a day for the assistant guide and cook, and $5 to $10 a day for the porters. If you want to be extra nice, don’t be afraid to tip more than the amounts listed above.

How many days before I get there should I get used to the new time?
You should get here at least two days before your mountain hike trip. It’s not easy to hike Mount Kilimanjaro, so you will need to get a lot of rest and get used to the new time zone in Tanzania before you start your hike.

How is it really to climb Kilimanjaro?
It takes the same amount of time to hike from the Equator to the North Pole as it does to climb Kilimanjaro. It’s also a great way to bond with others, but it needs to be carefully planned, and it’s much better and safer if a reputable tour company plans the whole thing for you.

How do I get to Kilimanjaro?
Tanzania has three main airports that people can use to get there:

Dar es Salaam
Zanzibar
Airport of Kilimanjaro (JRO)
This one is the best for Kilimanjaro because it is only 50 kilometers from Arusha and 42 kilometers from Moshi. Along with flights to Tanzania, you might also want to look into flights to Nairobi, Kenya. From Arusha, it’s only a five-hour shuttle bus ride or a one-hour trip to Nairobi. But if you want to go to Kenya, you might need a multiple-entry Kenya visa, which can cost up to $122. This is needed if you’re flying out of Kenya and living in Tanzania for more than two weeks, for example. This could make the money you saved on airfare less valuable or even disappear.

When choosing which flights to buy, you should think about the whole trip. Say you want to spend a few days in Zanzibar after the climb. You would buy one-way passes from your home to Kilimanjaro Airport for the climb, then from Kilimanjaro Airport to Zanzibar, and finally from Zanzibar back home.

How many days before I get there should I be?
We suggest that you get here a day early. This is where you can relax, meet other trekkers, and get a full explanation before the climb starts. More importantly, there is enough room for error to make sure that your climb doesn’t get derailed if your plane is late or your bags go missing. Seriously, this extra day is a great idea, especially considering how airlines are currently running after the pandemic.

In spite of this, we know that getting to Kilimanjaro might be hard. We’ll do our best to work with your arrival time. For example, if you get here late the night before the climb, we’ll still be there to pick you up!

Should I get a visa before I go to Tanzania?
Yes, most people from outside of Tanzania need a visa to visit. People from the US, Canada, the UK, and most of Europe can get a visa when they get to the airport. People with US passports pay $100, and everyone else pays $50. US people, on the other hand, can stay longer on their visas.

If you are a citizen of another country, please check with your government to see if you can get a visa when you get there, or if you even need one. There are some Africans who don’t need a visa to enter Tanzania, for example. Also, your passport needs to be good for at least six months after the date you leave.

What shots do I need to get before I go up Mount Kilimanjaro?
There are no extra vaccinations needed to enter Tanzania. But if you are coming from a country where yellow fever is common, the Tanzanian government wants proof that you have been vaccinated against it when you get there.

Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, yellow fever, tetanus, polio, MMR for measles, mumps, and rubella, and meningococcal meningitis are just a few of the vaccines that are common in developed countries that you should talk to your doctor about getting.

Which path is the best way to get up Mount Kilimanjaro?
There are seven different ways to climb Kilimanjaro. Our picks are the nine-day Northern Circuit, the seven-day Machame, and the eight-day Lemosho hikes. These roads have both a high success rate and beautiful scenery.

Is Kilimanjaro a difficult mountain to climb?
You don’t need any special climbing skills or gear to climb Kilimanjaro. This makes it the easiest of the Seven Summits to reach in many ways. The peak can be reached by anyone who is fairly fit. Having said that, it will be one of the hardest things most people will ever do! As we say in Kilimanjaro vs. Everest Base Camp, we think it is a lot harder than going to Everest Base Camp!

How about now? When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro?
The mountain can be climbed all year. These are, however, the best months to climb: July through October and December through February. These are the hottest and driest months. In general, July, August, and September are the busy months on the mountain. Another important thing to think about is the full moon. It is truly amazing to climb Kilimanjaro on a clear night with only the moon to help you instead of a flashlight. It would be amazing to see the ice sparkle at night.

What kind of food is being made?
Your cook and his helper will make you fresh, healthy, tasty meals every day using food from the area. Our meals have been carefully planned to make sure they are tasty, easy to eat, and full of energy. You can expect clean water, fresh fruits and veggies, meat, nuts, and snacks along the way.

The main carbs in the meals are meat and rice, potatoes, and pasta. Fresh fruits and veggies are part of every meal. There will also be a variety of hot drinks, like instant coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, with most meals. You might want to add some extra comfort foods, like chocolate, gum, sweets, health bars, and energy drinks with powder.

Are there any special plans you can meet?
Do you have any special food requests? Do not worry. You can be vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free and still eat well. If you have a special diet, please let us know so we can talk about what we can and cannot do.

How do I go to the bathroom and take a shower?
This is a trip for outdoor fun in the wilds of Africa. You can’t take a shower on the mountain. You will be given a bowl of warm water to wash your hands and face. For the rest, you can bring wet wipes. At each site, we set up a bathroom tent with a plastic toilet.

There are also simple public toilets with holes in the ground, which are usually dirty and should be avoided. Find a place behind a tree or rock to go to the bathroom if you need to while you’re exploring. There is, however, a small baggie that you will need to carry used toilet paper to camp and throw away in a container.

What is the weather like on Kilimanjaro?
Because Kilimanjaro has a big rise in elevation, the weather can be very different at the top. It can be 30° C (86° F) on the fields around the mountain and -7 to -29° C (20° to -20° F) at the base. So make sure you’re ready and bring the right clothes! You can find out more about the weather at Mount Kilimanjaro.

What is it like to stay on Mount Kilimanjaro?

Our first night in Moshi is at a nice resort, and our last night is at the same resort, after a long day of hiking. It has lovely views, nice rooms, and all the comforts you could want. Two people sleep in a four-season dome-style mountain tent for three people during the climb. You have to pay extra for a single-person tent if you want one. Our tents are modern, with a flysheet on the outside and big vestibules where you can store your stuff while you sleep.

Why do most hike groups have a certain number of people?
A normal hike group on Mount Kilimanjaro has between 6 and 10 people, and no more than 12 people. There are porters, bosses, and guides for each group.

Can I climb with a group even though I’m by myself?
Yes, we love it when solo tourists come with us on tours! We’ll put you with other visitors who will become your friends very quickly. Getting “stuck” on a mountain in Africa for a week is the best way to get to know someone better. If you want to bring your own tent, you will need to pay an extra $200. For your comfort, we can try to put you in a tent with someone else if there is someone in your climb group who is free to share.

How can I get in shape for Kilimanjaro?
Kilimanjaro is not a mountain for people who are easily scared. Too many people try this but fail to get to the top! Depending on how fit you are now, we suggest that you start working out at least two or three months before the climb.

What kind of bags should I bring?
You will need at least two bags to climb Mount Kilimanjaro: There’s one that you’ll wear on your back.
Your duffel bag is the second bag. A helper will carry it for you.
You can bring your water and lunch with you every day in the backpack, which also has room for snacks, rain gear, and a camera. This bag should be able to hold 30 to 50 liters.

Your backpack bag is where you’ll keep all of your extra clothes, gear, and toiletries. One more small bag is a good idea to keep things you don’t want to carry up the hills. This is safe to leave at your hotel.

How many bags can I bring?
To make it easier on the workers, don’t pack more than 14 kilograms (31 pounds) in your duffel bag when it’s full. Instead of a hard bag, luggage should be round and soft. Keep in mind that most domestic planes only let you bring 15 to 20 kg (33 to 44 pounds) of luggage with you, so plan ahead.

Aim to keep your daily bag under 9 kilograms (20 pounds) for your own comfort. How to Choose a Backpack for High-Altitude Hiking can help you choose a backpack for high-altitude hiking.

Is it safe to climb Kilimanjaro?
There are always deaths on these huge mountains. Kilimanjaro is no different. The main reason people die on Kilimanjaro is altitude sickness. This happens when you go up the mountain too fast and don’t give your body enough time to get used to the altitude.

Still, Kilimanjaro is a safe mountain to climb as long as you go with a good tour company and follow one of our suggested routes. The local staff and guides have been trained to keep you safe and can help hikers who get hurt or sick. We care most about your health and safety on every Kilimanjaro climb.

How do you get mountain sickness?
If you go to a higher level and the air pressure drops, your body can’t adjust quickly enough to the less oxygen it takes in with each breath. This is called altitude sickness. A lot of climbers make the mistake of going up Kilimanjaro too fast. You won’t be alone if you feel a little sick at high altitude on Kilimanjaro. Because of this, it’s very likely that you’ll get sick from the high air when you climb Kilimanjaro. People who have mild to severe altitude sickness are the ones who really need help.

Remember that your chance of getting altitude sickness is not affected by your age, gender, or how fit you are. It doesn’t mean you won’t have it again just because you haven’t had it before. This is why we always tell our clients to do everything they can to avoid getting mountain sickness.

What if the climb hurts me or makes me sick?
All climbers in Kilimanjaro National Park have to pay a rescue fee, which is part of the price of our plan. In case you get hurt or sick and can’t continue the climb, the guides and helpers will gladly help you get down.

If you come down and are taken back to the camp early, we won’t be able to make up for the days you missed on the mountain. Also, just to be safe, we require all of our guests to get adventure travel insurance that covers any medical bills and evacuation costs that might come up.