Trekking Holidays: The Kili Climb
Trekking holidays aren't just for the keen walker, technical trekker or summit bagger.
Trekking holidays are in fact great for everyone with a little bit of an adventurous spirit, health and fitness and stamina, and there is one summit challenge achievable by all; the Kilimanjaro climb.
To climb Kilimanjaro you don't need experience, you don't need to know how to use ropes, axes or special equipment.
You just need good health, experience of walking for long periods of time and a wish to succeed.
You also need a very good and reputable trekking or holiday company who know what they're doing, can supply the correct equipment and expert knowledge.
With an experienced Guide and a few trusty local porters the mountain is more than obtainable.
The key issue, as with any high mountain, is the altitude which can affect anyone regardless of fitness and trekking ability.
There's no knowing how it will affect you until you start climbing unless you have previously trekked somewhere as high.
Kilimanjaro is 5,895 metres high and altitude can start to affect you at around 3,000 metres.
The best prevention for altitude sickness is ascending slowly and ensuring you acclimatize gradually.
This can mean climbing higher in shorter bursts and not exceeding a certain height too quickly.
Headaches, nausea and exhaustion are very common symptoms as are nose bleeds.
If you travel with a good tour operator their Guides will recognize the symptoms and be prepared to help you deal with them.
Altitude is one reason for picking a reputable company but in addition to this is the welfare of the Guides and porters on the mountain.
It is very easy for companies to pay porters below minimum wage and make them work without a break.
A professional and responsible company will ensure they meet the requirements of the IMEC, International Mountain Explorers Connection, who work tirelessly to improve the conditions of porters on Kili and in Nepal.
Check to see if the company you book with are accepted operators of the IMEC.
Your porter will become your best friend on trek especially at the end of a long day trekking when they welcome you at camp with hot tea and popcorn.
Treat them well and they will look after you on trek.
The trek to Uhuru Peak isn't an easy ride by any means, and some days will be especially grueling but if you are newer altitude and trekking then you can select a slightly less demanding route.
The Lemosho route provides a couple of days extra for acclimatization and an average day of around 5-6 hours trekking, compared to other routes where over 6 or 7 hours is required.
When booking ask your travel consultant which route they think is most suitable for your level of experience.
If they are good at their job they will know.
Thus with the right Guide, the right route and the best medical information on dealing with altitude your chances of summiting are about 70-80%.
And here's the deal, you might not summit.
In fact 20% of those that try fail usually due to exhaustion, severe altitude sickness or the lack of ability to fight the cold.
It gets very cold at the top and it is usually on the summit day that people fail.
It is a hard slog to the summit, often in cold and bitter winds, with snow and ice on the ground.
Here you will need your Guide more than ever.
Remember it pays to go slow.
And the best thing about Kilimanjaro is that it's in Tanzania.
What better way to end your hard trek than with a stay on the tropical island of Zanzibar.
Sitting pretty in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar has golden beaches, beautiful sunrises and plenty of amazing food.
Just ask your tour operator to add on a few days to your trip.
Trekking holidays are in fact great for everyone with a little bit of an adventurous spirit, health and fitness and stamina, and there is one summit challenge achievable by all; the Kilimanjaro climb.
To climb Kilimanjaro you don't need experience, you don't need to know how to use ropes, axes or special equipment.
You just need good health, experience of walking for long periods of time and a wish to succeed.
You also need a very good and reputable trekking or holiday company who know what they're doing, can supply the correct equipment and expert knowledge.
With an experienced Guide and a few trusty local porters the mountain is more than obtainable.
The key issue, as with any high mountain, is the altitude which can affect anyone regardless of fitness and trekking ability.
There's no knowing how it will affect you until you start climbing unless you have previously trekked somewhere as high.
Kilimanjaro is 5,895 metres high and altitude can start to affect you at around 3,000 metres.
The best prevention for altitude sickness is ascending slowly and ensuring you acclimatize gradually.
This can mean climbing higher in shorter bursts and not exceeding a certain height too quickly.
Headaches, nausea and exhaustion are very common symptoms as are nose bleeds.
If you travel with a good tour operator their Guides will recognize the symptoms and be prepared to help you deal with them.
Altitude is one reason for picking a reputable company but in addition to this is the welfare of the Guides and porters on the mountain.
It is very easy for companies to pay porters below minimum wage and make them work without a break.
A professional and responsible company will ensure they meet the requirements of the IMEC, International Mountain Explorers Connection, who work tirelessly to improve the conditions of porters on Kili and in Nepal.
Check to see if the company you book with are accepted operators of the IMEC.
Your porter will become your best friend on trek especially at the end of a long day trekking when they welcome you at camp with hot tea and popcorn.
Treat them well and they will look after you on trek.
The trek to Uhuru Peak isn't an easy ride by any means, and some days will be especially grueling but if you are newer altitude and trekking then you can select a slightly less demanding route.
The Lemosho route provides a couple of days extra for acclimatization and an average day of around 5-6 hours trekking, compared to other routes where over 6 or 7 hours is required.
When booking ask your travel consultant which route they think is most suitable for your level of experience.
If they are good at their job they will know.
Thus with the right Guide, the right route and the best medical information on dealing with altitude your chances of summiting are about 70-80%.
And here's the deal, you might not summit.
In fact 20% of those that try fail usually due to exhaustion, severe altitude sickness or the lack of ability to fight the cold.
It gets very cold at the top and it is usually on the summit day that people fail.
It is a hard slog to the summit, often in cold and bitter winds, with snow and ice on the ground.
Here you will need your Guide more than ever.
Remember it pays to go slow.
And the best thing about Kilimanjaro is that it's in Tanzania.
What better way to end your hard trek than with a stay on the tropical island of Zanzibar.
Sitting pretty in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar has golden beaches, beautiful sunrises and plenty of amazing food.
Just ask your tour operator to add on a few days to your trip.
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