If you have finally decided that you want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and you are wondering how to make your journey to the top of Africa successful then make sure you read all our tips that can help you reach your goal.
Prepare proper gear
While climbing the mountain, it is crucial to make sure you have the proper gear. One of the most important items for your climb is a pair of waterproof boots and thick socks. Blisters are a climber’s biggest enemy, as is cold feet, so get yourself an extra pair of warm socks and liners packer. Neck and hand procession is also crucial. Freezing neck, toes, and fingers, are not fun at all so make sure you bring all the needed extra warm gear to keep you from freezing. You can always take off the extra layers later when descending the mountain. Since it is much easier to get sunburned in high elevation and it will increase your discomfort and chances of dehydration, make sure you carry a sun hat and sunscreen.
High-calorie snacks
At high levels of attitude, most people often lose their appetite completely. Even with the extreme levels of exercise, getting enough calories in your body to keep your body can be a hard task. To make sure you do not run out of fuel you need to take you to the top, we advise you to bring some of your favorite, high-fat and high-calorie snacks to eat during your climb.
You will have enough food with a tour guide, but you may feel the need to eat some comfort snacks. The idea is to pack some snacks that you will eat even if you do not have any appetite. Candy and junk foods are totally fine since you will burn off every calorie of that junk, and these treats will provide you with all the needed energy to push you to the top. You will also want to pack things that don’t freeze or melt. Hard candy, protein bars, nuts, and chocolate are the best option.
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Knowledge is crucial
When going into the unknown, it is important to have some expectations. Set your expectations by reading as much material you can about your journey. You will learn what can happen on Mount Kilimanjaro before it happens. In other words, you will prepare your mind to handle all the possible challenges during the trip ahead of time, reducing the magnitude of anxiety and stress.
We encourage everyone who plans to climb Kilimanjaro to read about other people’s experiences when climbing the mountain. You can also watch Youtube videos, read personal blogs or travel forum posts. Contact some of them and ask for more detailed information about their experience.
Make sure you recover
Getting enough sleep on a mountain is much easier said than done. Since the body is adjusting to the altitude change you may find yourself constantly waking up throughout the night or not being able to sleep at all. This is very usual for most people on their first few nights. You can do some things to recover your body faster. First, do not spend energy needlessly, take more breaks when needed and relax in your tent often.