Rongai Route 7 Days

We want you to have access to update information, so feel free to reach out at any time. Here are important pages you need to review during your preparation.

1). It’s official we have Kilimanjaro’s Number one Guide leading our team.

2). Pick the best acclimatization itinerary for your Kilimanjaro climb

3). Get training and learn the best way to prepare for your Kilimanjaro climb

4). Get FREE constant advice from our professional team

5). Understand the daily distances up and down Kilimanjaro

6). Have the right clothing and gear for your Kilimanjaro climb

7). Pacing each day on the trail is critical to success

8). Why hydration is critical at high altitude and in low oxygen environments

9). What sort of food will I be getting on my Kilimanjaro climb

10). These are the vaccinations needed for your Kilimanjaro climb

11). Get the Top 10 Tips available for your Kilimanjaro climb

12). The elevation gains on your Kilimanjaro climb

13). What are the best trekking boots for your Kilimanjaro climb

14). Where do I get Insurance to cover my Kilimanjaro climb

15). What are the best months to climb Kilimanjaro

16). What is the summit night like while climbing Kilimanjaro

17). What is the easiest way to climb Kilimanjaro

18). 20 reasons to pick Ian Taylor Trekking for your Kilimanjaro climb

19). How difficult is it to actually climb Kilimanjaro

20). Read some REVIEWS from our trips. Do to the Testimonial page.

21). Our TOP 50 TIPS for a safe and successful ascent of mount Kilimanjaro

22). Find out more about going on Safari in Tanzania with us

23). What our key elements to a successful Kilimanjaro climb.

24). What is the most beautiful route up Mount Kilimanjaro.

25). The truth about climbing the Baranco wall on Mount Kilimanjaro

26). Learn more about the best acclimatization for your Kilimanjaro climb

27). What does a normal day climbing Kilimanjaro look like

28). What additional expenses will you have on your Kilimanjaro trip

29). What are the two main differences between Climbing Kilimanjaro and the Everest Base Camp Trek

After years of running trips on Kilimanjaro, we have decided to compile a list of some of the most important things we have learned. Here are our top 50 tips as you start working your way to the summit of Kilimanjaro.  We have helped over 3,000 people reach the summit and have 95% success on our 8 day Lemosho Route trips.

Ian has climbed Kilimanjaro 40+ times and our head guide on the mountain was voted Kilimanjaro’s Number 1 Guide. At Ian Taylor Trekking we run over 30 quality Kilimanjaro climbs each year. We are a world leader in offering quality climbs on Mount Kilimanjaro and happy to schedule a free personal assessment with you.

You can read our Top 50 Tips here.

After climbing Mount Everest and leading over 40 Kilimanjaro climbs, I know how you need to prepare to be successful. Depending on your hiking experience and training Kilimanjaro will be easier for some people and much harder for others. The keys to success are in acclimatization along with building up to long distance hill walking 5+ hour hikes carrying weight once a week.  It is important to supplement the longer hikes with daily training that focus on building strength and endurance.

Assess where your at

When deciding to climb Kilimanjaro, you need to consider your current ability, access to training facilities, and how much time you have to dedicate to training. All of these things will determine if you are successful on the climb. If you think running and walking on the flat with a weighted backpack are enough, you need to think again. Leg strength and endurance training are important for safety and success.

Plain and simple, spend more days acclimatizing on the mountain and build up specific physical training. This will give you the best chance at safely reaching the summit and getting back down again without guides having to carry your backpack. These are the two main reasons why people are not successful reaching Uhuru Peak on Kilimanjaro.

The Two Main Factors

Firstly, In my opinion you need a minimum of 8 days on Kilimanjaro. Taking eight days on Kilimanjaro will give you the best acclimatization process and the best experience possible. Climbing Kilimanjaro is truly one of the great trekking experiences. So why not spend more days on the mountain to get the most out of your experience. I know it costs more, but you will come away with a much richer experience.

Secondly, you need to make sure that you are coming with the right training and preparations.  We are available 5 days a week, to make sure you are getting the best information on the climb.  We want to make sure that you have the tools to be safe and successful.

Not everyone will have access to hills, but this is the best way to train your body and legs for down hill hiking. Depending on your chosen adventure you do need to assess the level of downhill. We have elevation gains available for all of our key trips. I encourage you to review the daily elevation drops and what type of terrain you will be walking on.

For example, on our Inca trail treks you will be drop 700m/ 2,296 feet to 1,000m/ 3,280 feet on different days all on steep rocky stairs. On Kilimanjaro you will drop 2,800m/ 9,186 feet in one day on scree and rock and this is very challenging on your legs and joints.

You have just walked for days on end you have reached your goal but not you have to retrace your steps, often in a quicker time frame. Hiking downhill will take its toll on your joints.  Fore sure, the downhill hike will take more wear and tear on your joints and muscles than the uphill.

You do need to use effective training techniques to minimize the impact on your body.  Descending using good technique means that you move faster and feel lighter. Remember, 80% of accidents happen on the way down.

Keeping Knees Healthy

We live in Eagle-vail Colorado with amazing access to altitude and a wide range of mountain terrain to train on. In Colorado we can train all year round on hilly terrain preparing for Kilimanjaro, Himalayan trekking and mountaineering trips. I know most of you are joining our trips from sea level and with minimal access to hill training. I encourage you to get out to Colorado doing some multi-day hiking in preparation for your chosen adventure.

If you do not have access to hills and mountains, you must figure out other ways to prepare your knee joints to handle downhill stress. From a knee perspective, downhill hiking means eccentric loading and typically thousands of repetitions of it. Eccentric loading (the lengthening phase of a contraction) is especially challenging to what is called the patellofemoral joint of the knee. This is where the knee cap, meets the femur. Inadequate strength, poor mechanics and lack of exposure to this type of loading can turn downhill forces into injury producing stress. Prior to your trekking trip you need to start implementing sport specific training into our general preparedness programming.

Hiking Uphill and Downhill

Hiking uphill is all concentric muscle action (muscle active while shortening) at the knee joint without any eccentric loading (loading while muscle is lengthening). Concentric only exercises tend to cause less mechanical stress, load and pain to joints and tendons than do exercises that have eccentric phases. What goes up must come down.

You must prepare our body and specifically your knees to handle downhill hiking. Depending on the trip, you really need 6 months of some sport specific training into our general preparedness programming.

The strength movements below are similar but slightly different in specific ways. We purposely only hit each one once per week because too much volume of these exercises could quickly lead to an over training injury, so be careful. I would recommend adding in additional hip flexor and quadriceps mobility work at the end of your training sessions as well to maintain good length tension relationships and to protect your spine.

The Point of These Exercises

Increase vertical loading volume of the knees with a sight posterior to anterior (back to front) force vector. Get exposed and accustomed to decelerating the vertical and forward forces using primarily a knee strategy.  Transition from doing most lunges and squats with a 3 points of contact foot position to a more heel elevated position where we contact and press through the forefoot.

The 3 points of contact foot position is the most stable position for the foot and encourages a balance of hip and thigh musculature – great for general preparedness training. Transitioning to a heels elevated position where the forces are applied through the forefoot places most of the stress on the quadriceps and knees – optimal for downhill hiking training.

Exercises for Downhill Hiking

You should consider adding these movements into your weekly training 2 times per week. Add 3-5 sets of 10-15 repetitions (per leg)

1). Heels Elevated Goblet Squat
2). Forward Alternating Lunge with Farmers Carry Loading
3). Forward Alternating Drop from Box Lunges
4). Banded Posterior to Anterior (PA) Forward Lunges

Carrying Weight

One of the best ways of mitigating the risk of musculoskeletal issues is by carrying a light pack. Then build up the weight you carry over time. An overly heavy backpack is not recommended in the early stages of your training.

Extract its biggest toll on your body during steep and/or long downhill sections, so a hiker should always aim to travel as lightly as the dictates of their skillset and the environment into which they are venturing allow.

If you are carrying weight on longer hike you should slowly build up the weight you carry. You should also consider carry water uphill and dump as much water/ weight as possible for your downhill. Always assess the weight you are carrying for each hike and always build up slowly over time. You do not want to get injured.

1). La Sportiva Trango Tech GTX

In our opinion, La Sportiva have great footwear options at the moment.  Finding a boot that will last a long time, be comfortable, waterproof and have good support, is always our goal.  This option is both a great trekking boot as well as a light mountaineering boot for alpine climbs. They are crampon compatible, however still a lightweight option good for a Kilimanjaro climb.  Having the slightly more rigid sole helps keep your foot sturdy and protected on the trails on Kilimanjaro.  They will also be a warm option for the cold night spent going up to the summit!  These boots would be a great option for the trekking portions on Mount Elbrus or Aconcagua as well.

2). Salomon Quest 4 GTX

Another great option is the Salomon Quest 4 GTX Trekking boots. More and more people are using these trekking boots on a wide range of our trekking adventures in Nepal and around the world. They are comfortable, sturdy, waterproof and a very resilient trekking boot. They will give you the warmth you need on the cold night walking to the summit as well! We would recommend these boots for Everest Base Camp, Aconcagua, Mount Elbrus, and a range of other treks.

3). Scarpa Kenesis

Ian has used the Scarpa Kenesis pro GTX trekking boots for a few years. They are a little heavier than other trekking boots but a great boot for Kilimanjaro. If you maintain them well, you will have them for years.  Scarpa are always re-inventing trekking boots and if they fit your foot correctly, then they may be the right boot for you. They work great and last a long time.

4). Mammut Trovat

Ian has also used a range of Mammut trekking boots over the years. He really likes the Mammut Trovat guide High trekking boots. They are really durable, reliable and will last a long time. The high ankle support is great for the rocky terrains you will encounter and all around a great boot for Kilimanjaro.  All these boots will last a long time if you look after them well.

5). Meindl Vakuum

You could also consider using the Meindl Vakuum trekking boots for your Kilimanjaro climb.  These are also a good option a wide range of trekking peaks and multi-day trekking adventures. These are a very popular boot and we see a lot of clients arriving to Tanzania in this option. They are an excellent choice for mixed rocky terrain and long distance hiking.  These boots will be with you for many miles as they are an extremely durable boot.  Also, this could be a good option for you if you feel the cold in your feet as they will be a warmer option.

Once you have signed up to one of our Kilimanjaro climbs, then we will send you our 35 page trip Dossier.  The Dossier includes an itemized kit list, training advice and other relevant information to help you come fully prepared to Tanzania.

What you Should Considering Packing for Kilimanjaro

We will you an exhaustive list on signing up, but you do not have to be followed word for word.  We appreciate that trekkers have their own preference regarding clothing, but we hope this list will ensure nothing is overlooked.

Talk to the Experts

We have a wealth of experience climbing Kilimanjaro and available to help you as you prepare for this trip. Feel free to get in touch with us at any time.

Q). Is it difficult to climb Kilimanjaro?

A). The question how difficult is it to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is a very tough one to answer! If you are used to hiking long distances weekly covering 1,000m/ 3,280 feet, carrying your backpack with weight. Along with, training 5 days a week and in good physical conditioning. You might find it straight forward. Also you have 8 days on the mountain, this gives added acclimatization and safety. We use Kosovo Camp at 4,900m/ 16,076 feet which helps on the long and challenging summit night. Learn more.

Q). What are the best months to trek Mount Kilimanjaro?

A). Traditionally, the weather on Mount Kilimanjaro is fairly predictable. Kilimanjaro has dry seasons and rainy seasons. Some months have more sun, some months have to more cloud cover and other months are colder than others higher on the mountain. We highly recommend January, February, June, July, August, September, October and we like a New Year trip from December into January. Learn more.

Q). How difficult is the Barranco wall?

A).  A lot of people have fears when it comes to the Barranco Wall.  However, the truth about the Barranco wall is that 95% of this infamous place on Kilimanjaro is just slow walking. There are just a couple of scrambling sections on the lower and upper most part of the wall.  They do not require any technical experience, just a bit of extra focus, good balance and core stability. Learn more.

Q). What will the food be like on Kilimanjaro?

A). Every company is different. We only run Kilimanjaro tours to the high quality. We only serve hot meals each day with 3, 3 courses meals a day on Kilimanjaro. Learn more.

Q). How much is the visa fee to enter Tanzania?

A). Right now the visa fee ranges from USD $50 to $100. For US clients it is $100, while most European countries will pay $50.

Q). What vaccinations do I need to enter Tanzania?

A). Tanzania does NOT have Yellow Fever in the country, so they only require you to show proof of vaccine for Yellow Fever if you are from a country that does have Yellow Fever. Or transiting for more than 12 hours in an airport located in a country with risk of Yellow Fever Virus transmission. Here are some recommended for vaccinations entering Tanzania: Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Poliomyelitis, Cholera, covid19 and tablets to protect you from getting malaria. Learn more.

Q). How much does it cost to climb Kilimanjaro?

A). After putting over 3,000 people on the summit we have developed a quality system and unique itinerary for a successful Kilimanjaro Summit. If you want to give yourself the best chance of success you will be paying $400 to $500 per day to have 35+ quality staff, quality tents, equipment, safety equipment, quality food and all the systems in place. So, for a 7 day Machame route tour you will pay anywhere from $2,500 to $4,000 including airport pick up and drop off and hotel nights on either side of the trip. For a 8 day Lemosho route climb you will pay anywhere from $2,900 to $4,500 depending on the hotels, service the company offers prior to the climb. If you have a western guide it can cost even more. Remember 8 days on the mountain gives you the best and safest chance of standing on the summit. Learn more.

Q). What additional expenses will I incur?

A). Here are some additional expenses that you will incur. Visa Entry, meals in Arusha, Tips, laundry, souvenirs, insurance, helicopter evacuation cover.

Q). How much should I tip the staff and can I give individual tip for the porter who carried by backpack?

A). We recommend tipping the staff as a group on the last morning of the trip in Mweaka Camp before descending to the gate. The tips can be given to Athumani or Head Guide and they will distribute to the Dream Team. We recommend $300.

Q). What insurance do I need to have?

A). We recommend having Global Rescue Helicopter evacuation along with their or any insurance that covers trip cancellation cover, repatriation along with medical expenses.

Q). What challenges will I face climbing Kilimanjaro?

A). You will possibly experience rain, wind, hot, cold temperatures all in one week. High UV levels from the sun, so stay covered up. The higher realm of Kilimanjaro sits in Extreme altitude.  The biggest summit day of your life! Going up 1,000m/ 3,280 feet from Kosovo Camp to the summit and back down to Mweka Camp. Possible physical fatigue, depending on physical preparation. You will not sleep as well as you would at home. It can be challenging to sleep in a sleeping bag and tent if you have experience doing that.  Learn more.