Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization. Standing at 5,895m above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest free standing mountain in the World and the highest point on the African continent.  The stunning mountain of Kilimanjaro stands in splendid isolation above the surrounding plains, with its icy peak looming over the Savannah.  This unique environment makes Kilimanjaro one of the most highly sought after peaks in the world and one of the greatest adventure challenges you can undertake. If climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is on your to do list, than here is your chance to do it right. Don’t be fooled by the cheap Kilimanjaro climbs that exploit people on the ground in Tanzania. You need to gather all the facts about climbing Kilimanjaro and then pick up the phone. We have put over 1,000 people on the summit of Kilimanjaro, we know what we are talking about. 

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

This information and article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization is designed to help you be informed. If you are interested in joining the Ian Taylor Trekking crew, let by Everest Summiteer, Ian Taylor, to experience this trip of a lifetime! Check out our up coming trips

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

1). Some information about KilimanjaroKilimanjaro is located in the East African country of Tanzania and sits in the Kilimanjaro National Park near the small town of Moshi.  It is comprised of three distinct volcanic cones:  Kibo 5,895m/ 19,341 feetMawenzi 5,149m/ 16,893 feet and Shira 3,962m/ 12,998 feet. Uhuru Peak is the highest point of the three cones and is located on Kibo’s crater rim.  Two of its three peaks, Mawenzi and Shira, are extinct, while Kibo, its highest peak, is dormant and could erupt again, however the last major eruption has been dated to between 150,000 to 200,000 years ago! 

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

2). Some information about Kilimanjaro’s weather. Mount Kilimanjaro presents extraordinary extremes of weather and climate. Its location means that at its base you will experience equatorial climate but its high altitude creates Arctic conditions at the summit.  Unique to Kilimanjaro, from the base to the summit of its peak, you will pass through five main climatic zones.  You will start in the the Lower Slopes, which rises to around 1,800m/ 5,905 feet, and consists of bush land and farmland. Here, the temperature is up to around 30°C and this region receives variable volumes of rainfall.  Next, you will enter the rain forest, which reaches about 3,000m/ 9,842 feet, features the highest levels of rainfall. The climate is humid here and you are shielded somewhat from the sun’s full glare by widespread cloud cover.  The next zone is the Moorland, which takes you up to around 4,000m/ 13,123 feet, is drier and cooler than the rain forest area.  Though generally cooler, the lack of cloud cover means that the sun’s radiation is harsh here, and its daytime heat contrasts with cold nights. Read more about the best months to climb Kilimanjaro

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

3). The risk of going to high altitude on Kilimanjaro.  After the Moorland, you enter the Alpine Forest.  This barren band, rising to 5,000m/ 16,404 feet, is drier still. Typically, day times are sunny and warm, while at nights, temperatures can now dip below freezing.  Finally, you will enter the Arctic zone.  With its harsh icy landscape, this band occupies the top of Kilimanjaro, up to over 5,800m/ 19,028 feet above sea level. Temperatures drop well below freezing, although the thin atmosphere makes the sun’s rays potent, so protection is essential. The air temperature may fall as low as -20°C, although the wind-chill factor can make it feel colder still. The temperature high on Kilimanjaro vary from month to month and day to day. 

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

4). What route should you climb Kilimanjaro. One of the main factors you need to consider when deciding to climb Kilimanjaro is what route you will take to give you the best possible chance at successfully and safely reaching the summit.  Less than 50% of people make the summit each year because they don’t take enough time to acclimatize. Read more about the keys things to know before signing up to a Kilimanjaro climb.

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

5). Do I need to train before going to Kilimanjaro. Excellent conditioning and acclimatization are key to success with the lower levels of oxygen at these high altitudes, one of the major factors on the mountain is making sure that you have an optimal acclimatization plan up the mountain.  It is for this reason that we only offer seven or eight day trips up the mountain, which we have found give you the best possible chance at summiting as well as increases your overall enjoyment of the journey.  We currently have a 95% success rate on our eight day trips and 85% on our seven day itinerary.  There are seven official routes up the mountain, however, because of the poor acclimatization schedules on some of the routes, we only offer three of these.  We offer the Lemosho route, the Machame, and the Rongai routes up Kilimanjaro and only over 7 or 8 days on the mountain. 8 days is best.

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

6). Will I be sleeping in a tent on Kilimanjaro. Every route we offer up the mountain has camping accommodation which is carried up the mountain by porters and reassembled daily by our staff.  The local porters are an essential part of the journey on Kilimanjaro as without their assistance, it would be a far more difficult process. We have had the same group of porters and guides now for 8 years. Our amazing team porter all necessary camping gear, chairs, tables, cooking equipment, food, medicine, oxygen and fifteen kilograms or thirty three pounds of your personal equipment from the base of the mountain to the high camp and back down.  You will see these porters along the trail rushing in front of you, making sure they arrive in the camp well before you to set up the camp site and the chef will begin preparing the daily meals so that you will have a fresh, warm meal when you arrive to camp.

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

7). What is summit night on Kilimanjaro like. The summit night on Kilimanjaro proves to be the most difficult day on the mountain, with typically an 7/8 hour ascent and 3 hour return to the high camp to rest and refuel, before descending another 3 hours to a lower Mweka camp at 3,100m/ 10,170 feet.  You begin the trek around 12am, walking through the night, guided by the dim light of your head torch, through the dusty trail. Generally, as the sun begins to rise over the African Savannah, you are passing Stella Point 5,756m/ 18,885 feet on the Crater Rim of Kilimanjaro. 

The stunning Glaciers guiding you to the summit are in full sight and their beauty pushes you the final forty-five minutes to the Uhuru Peak.  This is a trying day for the most experienced, fittest of trekkers, so it is a day to be prepared for, however, the reward of standing on the summit will surely be one of the most memorable moments of your life. Read our training advice for climbing Kilimanjaro.

This spectacular journey up the highest point on the African continent is rivaled by few, its unique perspective of walking above the clouds over the African Savannah makes this trek one of the top in the world.  If you are interested in taking on this trip of a lifetime, or for more information on Mount Kilimanjaro read more BLOGS.

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization

8). Sign up with a professional Kilimanjaro team.  If you like our article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization E-MAIL US and get professional advice, sign up and keep getting that professional advice 5 days a week. 

We hope this article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route, Best team, Best Acclimatization helps you make the right decision for your Kilimanjaro climb. We have the team, set up, guides, staff, food and support network to give you the best chance at successfully reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro. Ian has climbed Kilimanjaro 20+ times.

Article on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Best route Best team Best Acclimatization Walk on the Roof of Africa with us and we guarantee you will have the time of your life.