Fitness and Training for Kilimanjaro
When it comes to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Fitness is a broad topic. Climbers may think about how fit they need to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. But the answer is the more fit they are; the easier it becomes to climb the mountain, and the easier it is to reach the summit.
As Mount Kilimanjaro has a gradual slope, it is not very steep and is walk able; hence it doesn’t need exceptional fitness levels. Children, older people, and people of all types of weight categories and gender have all reached the top.
Kilimanjaro is one of the world’s most impressive and accessible high summits. However, a solid Kilimanjaro training plan will allow you to better prepare for the climb and give you more opportunities to enjoy yourself while on the mountain.
All successful climbers share an attitude that means high levels of grit and determination. Reaching the top of Kilimanjaro is a long slow grind, but if you are determined to take just one more step even when you are tired, the Local Moshi team can help you get to the top.
If you are comfortable walking for 6-7 hours with an ascent of 1000 meters, you are indeed fit enough to succeed in Kilimanjaro.
Similarly, if you can do a whole hour of spinning, a vigorous aerobics class can jog at a decent pace for 45 minutes, and then there is no reason you can’t summit Kilimanjaro. The bare facts about the climb are that you will probably walk 6-7 hours daily with a rough ascent each day of 1000 meters.
Practice Hiking
The very must thing before climbing Kilimanjaro is practicing hiking. The best training to climb Kilimanjaro is to get a boost in your walking and get lots of miles under your belt.
Whether this is two to three hours walking locally or full days away on your nearest hills, you need to clock up lots of hours on your feet more than anything else. The best cure for this is spending lots of hours walking.
Hiking practice lets you understand the stress your joints will be under and how well you can deal with this. It also allows you to wear your boots, which takes time and can often be uncomfortable.
Start with a comfortable distance that suits you and slowly try to work your way up to a 5-6 hour trek. If you can do this a few times, you’ll be in good stead to climb Kilimanjaro.
Aerobic Training
Aerobic (or cardio) training will be critical in allowing you to climb Kilimanjaro. Aerobic means ‘requiring free oxygen’ and refers to adequately using oxygen to meet energy demands during exercise via aerobic metabolism.
Aerobic exercise builds up your cardiovascular system allowing you to process limited oxygen more effectively. This is key for Kilimanjaro as it is a long-distance exercise at altitude, giving the body less oxygen per breath.
Aerobic exercise, unlike anaerobic exercise, requires oxygen for elongated periods. Examples of aerobic exercise include lane swimming, long-distance jogging, walking and cycling.
One crucial thing we tell our customer is to don’t rush up the mountain! Trying to ascend too quickly is a huge mistake. Our porters can often be heard saying “Pole Pole” meaning ‘Slow Slow’ in Swahili. Because of the altitude, your body needs time to adjust -no matter your fitness levels! However, having a good cardiovascular system will help with this, but it won’t prevent it. Kilimanjaro is not a sprint; it’s a marathon! We recommend putting the slowest hiker in the front of the group.
Depending on fitness, we recommend a 3-6 month Kilimanjaro training plan. Your hiking practice will help, but we also suggest running 6-12 km three times a week. If you’re using a treadmill, remember to set a slight incline.
Strength Training
Strength Training is also essential to add to your training before climbing Kilimanjaro. But it is not as necessary as aerobic training, strengthening your upper body, core, and in particular, your legs which increases your chances of success.
As you will be on your legs for at least 7hours a day, bringing them strong enough to climb Kilimanjaro successfully is essential.
To strengthen your legs, we recommend doing the following exercises:
- Squats
- Front and reverse leg curls
- Lunges
- Step aerobics
Remember, when doing these exercises, keep watch of your technique. Exercises with poor technique will more often harm you than help you.
Building upper body and core strength are also crucial, as you’ll be standing for hours and carrying gear.
We recommend the following exercises to strengthen your upper body and core:
- Shoulder presses
- Back and shoulder flyes
- Sit-ups
- Kettle-bell
- rows/swings
Remember to stretch after all exercise sessions!
Increasing flexibility will allow your body to recover more quickly overnight after trekking all day. No one wants to trek for 7 hours after waking up with stiff joints aching all over!
Stretching
Most sports injuries occur due to inadequate stretching. This is particularly true in the mountains, where repetitive movements over challenging terrain put a lot of stress on joints and muscles.
We recommend adopting a regular stretching regime to loosen your muscles and increase suppleness. You must spend 10 minutes every morning stretching your main muscle groups. So book your trip of a lifetime, put on your boots and get out there walking!
Mental Stamina
Mental stamina is equally important as physical stamina because there will be a point during your trek where you will feel like quitting and heading back down the mountain. But you don’t need to quit. Just keep a positive attitude and dig deep to push through, which is one of the valuable and essential skills.
Training your mental stamina is not easy, but there are ways to accomplish it. Set your exercise goal that pushes your body to what it thinks is its limit. You need to push yourself and your limit to climb Kilimanjaro.
A great way to achieve this is long-distance running, such as half marathons and full marathons. A marathon will push you to your limit whilst having an achievable goal in sight – the finish line.
If you can do this with your friend or training partner, then the entire better, as you will push each other to achieve more. Remember, that final push when your head is telling you to stop will allow you to get into the state of mind required to scale Kilimanjaro.
Understand the climb and apply it to your training – We highly recommend you to be training 4 – 5 times a week with heavy weight in your backpack, and at the same time, don’t forget to do interval training. Remember, on your climb; you will be moving up and down hills on steep and challenging terrain up to almost 6 hours on most days and 14 hours on the summit attempt.
MounT KILIMANJARO
Climbing PACKAGES
Kilimanjaro Climbing will unlock some of the routes as well as adventurous moments.
KILIMANJARO
ROUTES
Lemosho Route which is the newest route and an alternative to Shira route is undoubtedly the most scenic route to Kilimanjaro.
Whiskey” route, the Machame route is presently the most prominent route on the mountain Contrasted and Marangu.
The Marangu route, otherwise called the “Coca-Cola” route, is the oldest, most settled route on Kilimanjaro known as the “Coca Cola route”
Rongai Route is the only route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the north, which is also close to the Kenya border.
Umbwe Route is the least used, least crowded route on the mountain. For good reason, it is also the most difficult route on the mountain.
Kilimanjaro faq's
We are committed to providing our guests with an unparalleled level of Kilimanjaro, ensuring all the questions answers are solved according to their interest.
Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed whenever consistently. Most voyagers lean toward climbing amid the dry seasons: December to March, June to October. Many think about the greatest months to climb Kilimanjaro to be January, February, and September.
The base age limit set by Kilimanjaro National Park for kids trekking to Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro is 10 years of age.
You can anticipate that tropical should cold conditions on Mt Kilimanjaro. Contingent upon the course picked, you will start your trek in dry fields or tropical woodlands with normal temperatures somewhere in the range of 25⁰C and 30⁰C. You will at that point climb through different landscapes and weather zones to touch base at the for all time snow-topped summit. Expect rainfalls and below zero temperatures on your trek.
You can anticipate that tropical should cold conditions on Mt Kilimanjaro. Contingent upon the course picked, you will start your trek in dry fields or tropical woodlands with normal temperatures somewhere in the range of 25⁰C and 30⁰C. You will at that point climb through different landscapes and weather zones to touch base at the for all time snow-topped summit. Expect rainfalls and below zero temperatures on your trek.
Indeed, all Tanzania National Park (TANAPA) charges are incorporated into our Kilimanjaro cost. Presently, the protection charges at Kilimanjaro National Park are US$70 per individual every day and US$50 per individual every night for outdoors. Group section charges and Tanzanian Forest Services Agency (TFS) expenses (relevant for Rongai, Shira and Lemosho courses) are additionally incorporated into our Kilimanjaro cost.
Testimonials
What our visitors say
"Best, no complains, Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater 6 days luxury safari package was what we needed for our one year anniversary. Tanzania Tribe Safari made this happen and we are greatful to book with them. My family was treated like they have known us for a long-time. Our driver Peter was super experience and know what he’s doing. Thanks all!"
via TripAdvisor
Emily Johnson
Florida
“The team around were like a family. It was fun and just a great Safari adventure. We had the adventure we wanted and are grateful. Asante sana team Tanzania Tribe Safari!!”
via TripAdvisor
Bonuch G Alexander.
France
“My husband, daughter and myself cannot say enough about how wonderful a trip we had, how great this travel company is– in particular our Safari guide Tumsifu, he could spot animals miles away even with our binoculars. Thanks and looking for another tour with you..”
via TripAdvisor
Jasmine Holland.
Amsterdam
“Mount Kilimanjaro climbing was a monster but our guides really helped us and created the best experience, we had the best view of the mountain via Machame route. Full moon was spectacular on day 3. We all got a along well with other climbers, thanks to the guides, and all of you climbers who joined my trip. Special thanks to Toni our chef!”
via TripAdvisor
Layla Hansen. .
German
"We have amazing and wonderful experience with Tanzania Tribe Safari team & guides on climbing .Thank you for a wonderful trip!."
via TripAdvisor
Edmond Volland.
San Francisco
latest news
