Questions You Should Ask Me

About Climbing Kilimanjaro

1. The summit sits at 19,341'. How do I train for high altitude?

You can't really train for altitude, although there are many folks out there who would love to sell you a "Jason" Halloween mask with promises of improving your ability to tolerate low oxygen levels.  But really all you do (so I'm told) is increase the muscles in your diaphragm and scare the neighborhood children when you come running by in your serial murderer costume.

I'm not a doctor or a specialist, but everyone I've spoken with who is "in the know" has said, "don't waste your money."  My American guide on Kilimanjaro put it best: "what your mama and daddy gave you by way of genes will determine whether you're going to have a problem with altitude."  Notably, according to Jeff, even those who have summited K2 or Everest could come to Kilimanjaro and have altitude sickness.  It's an equal opportunity destroyer.  

The best thing you can do is get yourself in good physical shape, and go pole pole to acclimate.  Follow your guide's instructions about pace, and your odds of reaching the summit will increase exponentially.  

2.  What are the best snacks to bring for my day pack?

This is important, because most people's instinct is to load up on Power Bars and the like.  But some of the best advice I received was to bring Snickers.  They taste good, and when you're struggling to eat because of exertion and altitude, you don't want to stick something in your mouth that tastes bad.  I also brought another personal favorite:  Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  One mistake I made was leaving my jerky in my hotel room.  You are most likely going to want to alternate between sweet and salty.  But it really boils down to what YOU like.  Bring something that will be easy and enjoyable for you to eat, as it will be important to keep your calorie levels up. 

And of course, it is paramount that you drink at least four liters of water per day.  This is your best defense against altitude sickness. 

3.  If I'm a woman, how can I plan for bathroom issues?

Oh, I thought you'd never ask!  I strongly urge you to consider investing in a Female Urinary Director.  There are many brands, such as Shewee and Freshette, so find what works for you and PRACTICE!  I personally prefer the Freshette, but do some research and find what works for you. 

Did I mention PRACTICE?  And I don't mean just out in the woods.  You want to be able to pee in your tent at night, in the dark, into a plastic bottle without spraying everywhere.  This is easier said than done.  I also strongly recommend that you bring two doggie pee pads.  I put one down whenever I needed to pee at night, and there was more than one occasion where I saved the bottom of my tent and sleeping bag from urine saturation due to clumsy misdirection or not paying attention to how full the bottle was before I started...  You will be drinking upwards of five liters of water per day, so just be aware that you WILL need to deal with the issue of peeing at night, and you probably aren't going to want to leave your tent.  

4.  How fast should I walk?  

See answer to Question 1.  You need to do what feels comfortable, but pay attention to your guide.  He knows what paces work, and for some it may seem too slow.  But there is a reason for the pole pole pace:  to allow your body to acclimdate.  Period.  If you want to summit, take it slow.  If you want to bolt up the mountain, you probably aren't going to see Uhuru Peak.

5.  Should I climb if I have a fear of heights?  Is there anything I can do to overcome my fears?

I already mentioned that I wasn't a doctor, but I would say that if you have acrophobia, check with your doctor first to see if there are any serious problems with climbing a mountain where there is some scrambling and some uncomfortable drop-offs.  I for one have pretty severe acrophobia and fear of falling, but it turned out that 98% of Kilimanjaro was just fine.  There were just a few spots that made my spine tingle, but I made it without too much freaking out.  If you take one of the routes scaling the Barranco Wall, you might find it to be a little challenging, but I can attest that it was not nearly as bad as I had made it out to be.  Most of conquering Kilimanjaro is mental.  It is best not to overthink these areas, as most of the time you will probably find that you worried yourself sick for nothing.  Also, remember that your guides will be there to ensure your safety, and they will help you master the "monkey business" if you follow their instructions. 

6.  What is the best route?

That's a matter of opinion, but most like Lemosho or Machame.  I have done both, and both were good for different reasons.  If you don't want to deal with Barranco (something I recommend you don't stress about), then take Rongai or Marangu.  Check this page for detailed descriptions of all the routes: https://www.dirtyfreedomadventures.com/routes

If you do have a fear of heights and have some difficulty with steep areas, it is best to avoid the Umbwe to Western Breach.  

7.  Do I need any technical climbing skills to climb Kilimanjaro?

No.  While there is some scrambling on the Barranco Wall and in a few other places (depending on your route), the rest is basically just hiking up a mountain.  The most important thing you can do to prepare is to train vigorously (and prepare mentally as noted above).  In Larick's experience, the people who have had the most trouble are those who come undertrained.  We can help you find a trainer and/or regimen to assist. 

8.  What surprised you most about your climb?  

Well, it had to be my state of mind at the summit.  Of all the emotions I could possibly experience, I would not have though anger would be one of them.  But that is the emotion I had there--anger.  I thought, "why am I here? This is not fit for human being or animal!  I want my Mom!  Get me outta here!"  This is an example of how the Kilimanjaro experience is different for everyone.  And this will be part of our preparation with you.  We want you to be prepared for what will be coming so diminish anxiety and angst.  I regret not having been ready for this emotion, but in retrospect, I welcome it.  It was part of MY experience--my climb.  And when I climb again, I know I will have a different experience because I will be better prepared.

Update: Since I originally wrote this section, I had a second Kilimanjaro summit in February 2024! It was completely different from last time. I was excited and full of energy and took in everything around me. It just goes to show—everyone’s experience is different, even for the same person doing it more than once. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to see it again in my lifetime.

9.  If you could give me your best advice to succeed, what would it be?

This one is easy: Follow your guide’s pace! Period. He/they know much better than you what it takes to summit Kilimanjaro, regardless of how much mountain climbing experience you’ve had. Also, be sure to drink four to five liters of water, eat as much as you can, and rest. Finally, don’t forget to train for descending. Most people focus entirely on climbing uphill, but the fact is that you spend half of summit day and ALL of the last day descending a very long distance over steep terrain. Don’t neglect to train these muscles.  

10.DO I NEED TO TIP MY STAFF, AND IF SO, HOW MUCH?

Yes, please!  Tipping is expected and therefore compulsory. See our Tipping Guidelines for direction.