samedi 25 août 2018

How To Prepare Before Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

By Pamela Anderson


Mount Kilimanjaro is among the world's highest volcanic mountains with a height of 5895 at its Uhuru peak. It is also free standing with a base of 61 kilometers in width. Located in Tanzania towards the north and near the Kenyan border, it is a popular mountain for most climbers. This is mainly because when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, technical expertise is not needed but it can be strenuous.

Some of the adverts refer to the climb as a walk in the park or a luxury safari. Previous mountaineering experience is not needed however proper planning is required to make the climbing a success. Prior planning and preparation may be the difference between how much you enjoy your climb. There are very many climbers who are attracted to the mountain yearly. It is estimated that over 50,000 climbers attempt the climb and the number is growing by 25% per year.

The date of the climb is actually the most important thing you need to think about. January, February, August, and September are considered the best months to climb as it is the driest time on the mountain. During the other months, the weather is unpredictable. Climbing during the preferred months guarantees good weather.

After selecting a date for the climb, the next important thing to plan is the route you would like to use. Six routes are the most available. They are all different but some are more popular than others. Maranga and Machame are the most preferred. They have the most traffic. If you prefer climbing quietly, go for the other less popular routes.

The routes with a quiet reputation are Rongai, Shira, and Lemosho. Umbwe attracts very few climbers as it the steepest route. You can pick the route you are comfortable with and this will determine how long your trek will be.

You can not climb the mountain without a registered guide. Your next crucial step is to select a climb or tour operator to guide you up the mountain. Apart from offering guidance, a proper tour guide should provide things like a cook, food, water and all the equipment needed for the trip. Other equipment that you may need during the climb can be rented for that period instead of buying. All you may end up requiring are your personal amenities and warm clothes.

There are several things that differentiate the total cost of the climb. These are mostly the route you choose, the agency and how long the trip will take. On a minimum, five days are enough to get to the top and back. However, depending on the agency and the route, six or seven days can pass. You will find some of the agencies choosing one of the days to be a day for acclimatizing. This usually helps increase the success rate of getting to the summit.

Once you settle on this, you need to ensure you get into shape. Do not be fooled by the adverts that describe the climb as a hike. You may not need mountaineering experience, but it does help to have some exposure to hiking long distances. Plan to arrive days earlier to give your body time to recover from jet lag, the strains of a long flight and adjust to the climate.




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