The question, How hard is it to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?, can be challenging to answer because difficulty varies from person to person. Having summited Mount Everest and climbed Kilimanjaro over 40 times, I can guide you through the key factors that determine the challenge of this trek.
Altitude, pace, preparation, and weather conditions all play a role. With Kilimanjaro’s Number 1 Guide leading our team, we ensure a safe and successful climb, which sets us apart. What also set us apart from other teams is the level of service we offer, with better food, chairs, tents and more support. We also use Kosovo Camp as our High Camp, this offers a higher rate of success. By considering these factors, you’ll have a clearer understanding of whether you’ll find Kilimanjaro difficult to climb. Also check out our upcoming trips or just pick up the phone and talk with us.
Understanding High Altitude
First of all, you need to understand altitude, and what effect the lack of oxygen has on the body. This alone is the number one reason why people are not successful on the mountain.
The success rate on Kilimanjaro ranges between 55% – 65% overall. On a peak that is not technical, why would so few be making it to the top? Answering this question is simple.
The reason so many people do not make the summit is because they are not allowing enough time to acclimatize when going to high altitude. It takes a long time to acclimatize to low oxygen environments.
In our opinion and from watching thousands of people on Kilimanjaro we high recommend a minimum of 8 days using Kosovo Camp as High Camp. We have also developed our own unique itinerary that offers 95% success and 100% on most trips if you show with the correct training.
More Acclimatization Improves Safety and Success
Proper acclimatization is crucial for your safety and success when climbing Kilimanjaro. As we ascend, the goal is to gradually increase the production of red blood cells, allowing the body to transport more oxygen to vital organs and muscles.
This adaptation is essential to keep your body functioning as oxygen levels drop with altitude. When you climb above 5,500m/18,000 feet, you enter the lower limits of the ‘death zone,’ where the body struggles to survive long-term due to the extreme lack of oxygen.
Without adequate acclimatization, the risks of altitude sickness increase significantly, making this zone a potentially life-threatening environment. Ensuring a steady pace, proper hydration, and extra days on the mountain can greatly improve your body’s ability to adjust and enhance your chances of a safe and successful summit.
Speaking from Experience
Remember, Kilimanjaro’s summit sits at 5,895m/ 19,341 feet. You are trying to sneak to the summit, then get down below the danger zone, as quickly as possible. You also need to be able to have enough red blood cells to actually make this happen.
So, the more days you spend acclimatizing lower down, then the better chance you have at a safe and successful summit. You also limit your risk of serious altitude issues.
I used to climbing Kilimanjaro four times a year, I now climb twice a year and every time I am there I see a wide range of issues from hypoxic blindness, serious fatigue on the summit night, guides aiding hypoxic trekkers upward not down.
I also see very few people fully prepared for the summit night on Kilimanjaro. Most people coming down can not even carry their own backpack and stumble off the mountain. Shocking but prior physical preparation and importantly the correct acclimatization are so important.
Spend Enough Time on the Mountain
Ian has personally climbed Kilimanjaro 40+ times. He has done so over 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 days. After years of running different trips and routes up the mountain, we have come to the conclusion that the only way to climb Kilimanjaro is over 8 days using Kosovo Camp as High Camp. Check out our unique itinerary. If you want to have a safe and successful summit of the mountain, you have to have a minimum of 8 days in order to do so.
Any less than this will not give your body enough time to acclimatize to the lack of oxygen. The reason people try and climb the mountain in less days is simply because of cost. The more days you spend on the mountain, the more expensive it is. However, if you are taking on this once and a lifetime trip to Tanzania, why not give yourself the best chance!
Train for the Terrain
The next most important aspect of how difficult you find the Kilimanjaro climb is your training. You are going to be walking, on uneven, up and down hill terrain for 8 days. These days will be a minimum of 4 hours of walking and a maximum of 14 hours! You MUST come prepared for this. Check out our step by step approach to training.
On the summit night, if you are on one of our trips and start from Kosovo Camp 4,900m/ 16,076 feet. You will be walking up almost 1,000m/ 3,280 feet at high altitude. Then, you still have to continue down from the summit 5,895m/ 19,341 feet all the way to Mweka Camp, which is at 3,100m/ 10,170 feet.
This is a huge amount of elevation to cover in one day both uphill and downhill. This is a very challenging day and you must come prepared for it. CLICK HERE for some training advice.
What Training you Need to Do
We recommend that you spend at least four or five days a week, doing some sort of intense physical exercise. This should be done for approximately six to eight months prior to your start date of your trek. We recommend spending at least four days a week either walking up hill on a treadmill or on a stair-master (stair master is best) for one to two hours a day.
Carry Weight While Training
You will also want to build up to carrying 10-12 kilos (22 – 25 lbs) in a backpack on your back. Doing this type of daily training sessions, along with one longer day a week out in the hills, is ideal. In your longer session in the hills, you will want to walk from 4 – 7 hours, going up and down hills with the weighted pack on. We cannot stress enough how important this is to your training.
If you do this type of training, building strength and endurance, you will be ready for the trip. If you do not have access to mountains or hills to train on, you can always add extra weight to your backpack. Also, you could just do longer walks on the stair master in the gym if need be. CONTACT US and we will help you prepare and train for this amazing adventure. CHECK OUT our day by day video’s from each day on the trail.
Bringing These Two Things Together
Going into a low oxygen environment is both physically and mentally challenging. By training hard and approaching the climb with respect and doing your research, you will be better mentally prepared for the climb.
If you go into the climb with confidence, strength and good physical conditioning, then you are giving yourself the mental strength to know you can achieve the summit and return safely. If you decide to sign up on one of our climbs you will have access to our team who have the expertise and knowledge on Kilimanjaro. We want to make sure you get the right information for your trip! GET IN TOUCH TODAY!
How Difficult is it to Climb Kilimanjaro?
You can definitely make Kilimanjaro a much more difficult climb than it needs to be! Make sure you choose the right itinerary, with a minimum of 8 days on the mountain. Also, make sure you are doing the correct training and preparation, to give yourself the best chance of success!
Make sure you choose a team that has the correct acclimatization, professional guides, support, pacing, tents, safety equipment and food to give you a better overall experience. Our team is award winning in Kilimanjaro and our head guide was named the Guide of the Year! We have the team both before your trip and on the mountain that will give you the best guidance and support to make your goals a reality!
Ian Taylor Trekking have helped over 4,000 people on the summit of Kilimanjaro with a 95% success rate on our unique 8 day Lemosho route climbs. Join our one of our amazing trips up Kilimanjaro and sign up for a trip of a lifetime! Follow us on Instagram.