Do you have any idea that an eight-year-old girl, Roxy Getter from Florida in the US is the first young female to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro all the way to finish up 5,895 meters in July this year? And did you know that Kyle Maynard, an American who has neither hands nor legs also climbed this mountain to the top unassisted? Apart from accomplishing the quest of reaching at the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, some tourists do for the sake of making world records such as a group of 30 female footballers from 20 nations who vowed and managed to play a 90 minute football match above 4000 meters in July 2017!
To manage to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa as well as the world’s tallest freestanding mountain with 5,895 meters which is equivalent to 19,341 feet is among the things on the bucket list of several people worldwide.
There are a lot to learn and be aware of if you have a dream that one day you wish to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Jumia Travel, the leading Pan-African travel agency has some tips to share and believe would be of a greater assistance if you take them into consideration.
Search for a trekking company. Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is not an easy task that anyone can manage. It requires experience and expertise to be able to perform those activities that is why there are certified people and companies in the industry. Therefore, if you want your trip to be a successful one kindly research on the various companies available in the industry.
Prepare for a budget. Just like any other activity, in order to be successful on your way to the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro you will have to allocate a budget early. That budget will cover costs of items such as the whole trip which normally takes not less than five days, food, shelter, clothes, medications and other fees to mention a few. All those will be taken care of by the company you will hire, so it’s better to make arrangements prior to a trip.
Know which seasons are suitable for climbing. Since Mt. Kilimanjaro is on the same position all seasons of the year, it doesn’t mean that you can climb at anytime you want to. To climb it depends a lot on the changes in seasons of the year. It is wise to seek for advice from the experienced climbers and trekking companies on the field if you want your trip to be a safe and successful one. It is advised that between January to March and from June to October are the better months to climb the mountain. January and March, the weather is warm and it’s less crowded while from June to October the mountain is busy due to summer holidays to most people from northern hemisphere, but the weather is cooler and pleasant. You are advised to avoid rainy months of April, May and November, and you are also insisted to carry clothes to keep you warm due to winter experienced at the peak of the mountain throughout the year.
Choose a right and easy path. There are seven routes to take you to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro with their own difficulties, population and scenery beauty, hence choosing the right one should be at your top priorities. There are three routes on the Southern side - Machame, Umbwe and Marangu; two routes on the Western part - Shira and Lemosho as well as Rongai found at the North-East. And the seventh route which is a newly one starts when you approaches on Western side from Lemosho start point around the mountain. A path you choose will determine how many days you will spend on the way, usually it takes five to ten days to finish the whole trip. It’s recommended that routes which will take you long and ascend at a gradual level are likely to make you complete a trip safely and successfully due to allowing climbers to acclimatize to altitude. Marangu route is traditionally considered as the easiest one but Rongai, Lemosho and the Northern Circuit have scored a higher success rate.
It will take you several days to reach to the top. To be able to climb up to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro will depend heavily on which route you will choose. Each route has a certain number of days to be spent on the way. Experienced climbers suggest that routes which will take you long are likely to make you successful to the peak. That will allow you to cope with the difficulties along the way and body to adapt to change in altitude. Not all the climbers achieve a goal to reach to the top, some of them do, others don’t, others get stuck in the middle of the way while others die. Hence, its better to know all the complications and be prepared to encounter any situation in case it happens and you are advised not to force yourself once your body doesn’t want to.
Make a decision to climb alone or with a group. There are no any established laws which requires a climber not to take a trek alone. But there must be a presence of a tour operator to guide you due to challenges you might encounter enroute. Most people prefer to climb together with a husband, wife, family or friends to make the whole experience memorable and exciting.
Ask for what to pack in your bag. Do a prior communication with your tour operator to know what to pack in your backpack. They have experience and know what are the stuffs are needed on the way and exact weight to carry. Due to the longevity of the journey to the top and routes’ difficulties, you are advised to carry only what you have been asked to.
Prepare for a trip. To climb to 5,895 meters is not an easy task as it requires preparations especially if you don’t exercise regularly. Therefore, prior to your trip you need to exercise a lot, do some hikes if you will have to, do a health check-up to make sure your body is physically fit. It’s also advised to have a comprehensive insurance if you its possible.
Do a thorough health check-up. You are urged to be cautious toward your health before, during and after the climbing of the mountain. Make sure you see a doctor before you decide to go for a climbing, don’t hide health issues to your tour operators, make sure the tour operators have medical facilities to take care of you when anything happens on the way. In addition to that, after a successful completion of your trip make sure you do a health check-up again to prevent any further complications.
Sky's the limit, if you have a determination to do something and you put a focus and hard working on it you are going to achieve eventually. For those quick tips shared by Jumia Travel on how to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro then you must have got a clue on what to know before taking an initiative.
Comments
Post a Comment