| There is only room here to cover this subject in | | | | have an fruitless climb. Make sure that you are |
| brief; bellow are a few questions commonly asked | | | | properly informed and equipped. I would say most |
| about climbing Kilimanjaro. | | | | guides have [or at least claim to have] a success rate |
| We hear the Marangu route is overcrowded and | | | | to the crater rim in excess of 90% and to Uhuru |
| should be avoided? | | | | peak at around 85%. It is said that reaching the |
| Marangu route must be booked in advance, this | | | | summit is a bonus, but should never be seen as the |
| route uses huts for accommodation and to avoid | | | | sole aim of the climb - but who starts to climb |
| overcrowding numbers are strictly supervised. It is or | | | | Kilimanjaro without wanting to reach the summit - to |
| at least was the most popular route for first time | | | | do this be prepared and listen to your guide because |
| climb. Most operators now recommend the Machame | | | | he knows best! |
| route for your first attempt on Kilimanjaro. | | | | How cold does it get on Kilimanjaro? |
| Does an extra day help acclimatization? | | | | The temperature at the top of the mountain vary; at |
| Most guidebooks recommend that climbers spend an | | | | times it is only a degree or two below freezing, but it |
| extra day during the Marangu route climb. Statistics | | | | is possible to have temperatures as low as minus 25 |
| can be quoted to back up an argument for or against | | | | degrees Celsius, especially in with wind chill factor. At |
| an extra day for acclimatization. Every person I have | | | | times there are snow blizzards and to walk across |
| ever spoken to who took the extra day did not | | | | the saddle in a blizzard is hard work. It has been |
| regret it. All other matters aside an extra day spent | | | | known for snow to stop climbing on the mountain for |
| on the ascent is great because it makes the whole | | | | short periods. |
| climb more relaxed and gives an opportunity to go on | | | | What should I know about altitude sickness? |
| some pleasant walks. The most important factor for | | | | There are different types of altitude sickness. "Acute |
| success is the overall approach to the climb, listen to | | | | mountain sickness" is common, and is not as |
| your guide. | | | | frightening as its name suggests. The symptoms are |
| If there is a problem on the mountain what are the | | | | headaches, nausea and vomiting, though not |
| rescue procedures? | | | | everyone suffers from all the symptoms. Normally, |
| The national park operates a rescue service, and the | | | | symptoms fade after a few hours, but if they do |
| huts on the Marangu route are linked to each other | | | | not a climber may need to turn back, especially if |
| and to the park headquarters by radio. In the vast | | | | vomiting is leading to dehydration. |
| majority of emergency cases, the problem is altitude | | | | A much more serious type of altitude sickness is |
| related and the solution is an immediate and rapid | | | | called oedema. This is a build-up of fluid in the body, |
| descent. All registered guides are experienced at | | | | and when the fluid collects in the lungs or the brain a |
| dealing with such cases and can bring climbers down | | | | serious condition develops which requires immediate |
| to safe altitudes very quickly and without park | | | | action which is a rapid descent to a lower altitude, |
| assistance | | | | where recovery is usually miraculously fast. |
| The success rate on Kilimanjaro is less than forty | | | | I recommend sun creams with SPF 30, as the sun |
| percent. Is this true? | | | | near the equator is very strong. Don't forget to have |
| Some people climb Kilimanjaro without taking the | | | | something to protect your lips as well and not |
| climb seriously and have a nasty shock as they | | | | forgetting personal items & toiletries toothpaste |
| realize what they have let themselves in for. | | | | & tooth brush, body lotion, toilet paper and |
| Therefore they may be inadequately equipped and | | | | other personal hygiene items. |
| fed, they then have a miserable time and usually | | | | |