Mount Kilimanjaro Tours: Plan Your Next Climbing Adventure

By Dominique Martin


There is an experience of a lifetime literally takes tourism to a new level. Mount Kilimanjaro tours are not for the faint of heart. In the seven to ten days it takes to make the trek, climbers will actually experience five climate zones before making it to the top.

Knowing something about the local culture is helpful. It is likely that your guide would be from the ethnic group of Chagga. This group of people have extremely diverse origins. They were immigrants with various beliefs, customs and languages. They evolved into clans that eventually formed the Chagga. Early on, the clans were open to the teachings of missionaries, and today they are predominantly Christian.

To date, the youngest person to make the climb was a ten-year-old boy. The oldest climber was eighty-four years old. While you do need to be fit, you do not need to be a triathlete to experience this journey. As long as you take it slow and follow the advice of the guide, you should be successful.

It is wise to do your research to carefully select the tour guide you want to accompany you up and down the mountain. There are multiple websites that offer planning tips and suggest research materials. Check to see how long the company has been in business and the average success rates of their climbs. The best case scenario may be to use a guide based on the recommendations of former climbers.

Careful planning is necessary. There are different types of checklists. Travel documents, hiking gear, clothing are some of the categories that require thought and research. Warm layered clothing and good shoes are so important. Make sure your shoes offer good support and can stay dry. If you buy new shoes, be sure to break them in before your trip.

Even very healthy people can experience negative reactions to the extremely high altitude. Perhaps the most common is a malady known as acute mountain sickness-AMS. The quickest remedy is to escort the climber to a lower altitude. Careful, steady and slow climbing is the best prevention. The tour websites have a wealth of information about AMS, and it is wise to be well informed so you can recognize the symptoms.

With sudden falls in temperature, hypothermia is also a health risk. Invest in the best clothing possible. This is not a place to cut corners. The exposure to the sun as these altitudes poses certain issues that climbers should appreciate. The effects of ultraviolet light are much more intense than a day at the beach. An excellent pair of sunglasses is essential to prevent snow blindness and simply to protect your eyes.

This adventure and a successful climb to the top can give you bragging rights that even exceed sky diving. Not to mention the spiritual experience of being so near the sky. There is a oneness with nature that you cannot imagine. The friendships you form on this trek may last a lifetime. All the beauty of Tanzania awaits. First climb the mountain to see the top of Africa, then consider a safari to see the incredible wildlife. The memories will last as long as you live.




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