Climbing a mountain is undoubtedly a momentous achievement that many people (including me) have on their bucket list. However, if you are of an average build and average fitness, this dream can sometimes seem out of reach. With Kilimanjaro being so popular with beginner climbers, the question I was asking myself is if an average person can successfully climb this mountain
Mt Kilimanjaro is perfect for the average person since it does not involve any technical climbing skills to get to the top. As long as you train for a few months and be mentally ready for many days of walking, you can successfully climb Kilimanjaro. The average person is able to successfully climb Kilimanjaro in 7 days and thousands of people make it to the summit every year. Let’s look at what it takes for the average person to climb Kilimanjaro and what you should expect on the climb as a person who does not climb mountains for a living.
Can an average person climb Kilimanjaro?
Kilimanjaro does not require any technical mountaineering skills. This means that almost everyone can successfully make it to the summit.
With that being said, there are many people who don’t make it to the summit but this would be attributed to lack of prior training in preparation to climb Kilimanjaro or the failure of the body to acclimatize to the lower breathable oxygen due to the high altitude on this mountain
To successfully climb Kilimanjaro, you need to be both physically and mentally fit. The journey up the mountain is not easy but it is achievable.
How long does the average person take to climb Kilimanjaro?
This is one of the most common questions that lingers in people’s minds before climbing a Kilimanjaro. The number of days needed to climb Kilimanjaro to the highest peak (Uhuru Peak) depends on the route you take.
For an average person, it takes seven to nine days to complete hiking Kilimanjaro. It is recommended that you add at least one or two days extra to acclimatize and get used to the high altitude.
The seven to nine days route has those extra acclimatization days within the itinerary. This gives you a better chance of successfully hiking the mountain since they reduce your risk of developing mountain sickness.
For an inexperienced average person, hiking tours with short climbing time (below 7 days) are normally not recommended. Your body will not have gotten enough time to acclimatize as you go to higher and higher altitudes and this will result in the development of mountain sickness whose first and most important cure is a quick descent.
For shorter routes, which include Marangu, Umbwe, and Machame, the minimum number of days spent is 5 days and 4 nights on Kilimanjaro. These routes register low success rates and would not be recommended for the average person unless you plan to spend a few days on one of the higher camps to get yourself acclimatized before attempting to get to the summit.
For longer routes, the treks can take 8 days which included a nighttime Summit Attempt. The nine-day routes offer a nighttime and daytime summit attempt.
How difficult is the Kilimanjaro climb for the average person?
This is a loaded question that you will need to check on various aspects before making your conclusion.
Oxygen and Altitude
To start with, you need to fully understand how altitude and amount of oxygen will affect you and why many people don’t make it to the summit of Kilimanjaro.
Each year, there is a percentage success rate of people making it to the summit. On average, the success rate is 42%. This is a low rate because people schedule fewer days and minimal time to familiarize themselves with low oxygen surroundings.
From 5,500m and above there is very little breathable oxygen. This means that nothing can live, survive or stay long term above this altitude. The Kilimanjaro summit is above this zone and you will need to climb and descend quickly to avoid health complications due to mountain sickness.
In addition to this, moving to a low oxygen zone can be a great challenge both mentally and physically. Therefore, you need to undertake enough training (especially mental training) before climbing the mountain. If you hike Kilimanjaro while physically fit and with enough mental strength, then you will reach the summit at ease and return safely.
Training, acclimatization, enough food, proper tents, pacing, and safety equipment are essential to enable easy climbing of the mountain.
Lastly, hiking the mountain as a group makes your hiking experience easier. You will be in a position to motivate each other to the top.
Which route is best for the average person when climbing Kilimanjaro?
There are various routes used to hike Mt. Kilimanjaro. Every route has a varying difficulty level. These routes do vary depending on the climbing time, scenic beauty and difficulty.
Here is a list of the routes used to climb Kilimanjaro.
Lemosho route
If you decide to step up in cost and also add an extra day to your trip, making it an 8-day trip, Lemosho will be the best route to use. It has scenic views and an interesting approach from the west of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Machame route
This is the most preferred route for a short climb and the fact that it has huts for accommodation instead of using tents. The Machame route can be completed in 5 days and this short time can have bad effects on your acclimatization if you don’t spend some extra days on one of the high altitude camps to acclimatize.
Machame route is a very busy route during the high peak seasons and many people prefer it to other routes due to its lower level of technicality.
Budget Guide companies like this route as well, due to the fact that they don’t need to invest in expensive camping gear for their climbers.
When I climb Kilimanjaro, I plan to stay away from this route due to what I have heard about it.
Rongai Route
Rongai Route a great approach to the north of the mountain which is close to the Kenyan border. It has little amount of vegetation and receives a low amount of rainfall. This route is quiet compared to the other routes.
Northern circuit
If you have no issue with spending money and time during the hike, then this route might be worth checking out. It has the same approach as the Lemosho route, however, it heads north where you will find yourself nearly alone.
Can I climb Kilimanjaro if I’m old?
There is no age barrier when it comes to climbing Kilimanjaro.
Older people also have successful climbs. They are as likely to get to the summit of Kilimanjaro as those of other age groups, only that it might take longer for them. This is not an issue because everyone is advised to go slowly to give their bodies time to adapt.
Here are a few tips for old trekkers on Kilimanjaro
Do not resist joining a public trek even though you are traveling alone
As long as there is a guide per two trekkers, you should not feel as if you will be slowing down the group. Having that in mind, you can move as fast/ slow as you like. Older trekkers are more social, patient and fun too. Public trekking is way cheaper and exciting than having a private trek.
Visit a doctor before going for your hike
Make sure that your doctor approves of your hiking tour. Visiting a doctor also improves your confidence about the climb. If you have any preexisting medical complications make sure you get advice on how you can take your medication during the hike
Inform your traveling agency of any preexisting medical conditions you may have experienced.
This includes any medication you may be taking and any special arrangements your doctor has recommended as you hike Kilimanjaro. Hiking guides are not physicians but any information given regarding your health will help them make an informed decision in case of any emergencies along the way.
Your slow pace does not mean you will be walking after dark times.
This is not likely to happen. The average distance one covers in one day is 8km. This distance is remarkably short and one usually starts early since you are camping on one of the routes you will be using. Always remember that you should give your body time to acclimatize and this can be made possible by using a slow pace.
Avoid packing too much in your itinerary
It is advisable to give yourself a day between the landing day (in Tanzania) and kicking off the trek. If you also have time, take a one day break before taking your flight back home.
Carry your walking poles to avoid straining your knees.
Just to encourage you: Anne Lorimor, 89 years, from Arizona is among the few old trekkers that reached the Uhuru peak of mt. Kilimanjaro. This was her second successful climb after having summited the mountain 4 years earlier at the age of 85 years. Here’s a video of her.
How young can I be to climb Kilimanjaro?
The minimum age limit to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is 10 years. There is no maximum age limit for the hike.
There are some companies that break the rules on this restriction through and the youngest person I found to have climbed Kilimanjaro was 7. I am not sure how they were able to do this but here is the video to prove it.
How fit do I need to be to climb Kilimanjaro
You don’t need to be a star athlete for you to climb Kilimanjaro but you will need to be fit enough to be able to walk for several consecutive days and still have enough strength to do the hardest part of the climb, The summit day and descent.
I have written an entire post on the fitness required when climbing Kilimanjaro. Check it out for more details and a few tips to help you prepare.
Do I need to train to Kilimanjaro
In most cases, everyone is in a position to walk slowly but few people are in a position to walk for many hours, several days in a row, as expected when hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.
You do not really have to be fit when deciding to go to Kilimanjaro, but to ensure that you make it on Summit day, you will need to train and get physically fit.
If you have never hiked before, start training as early as four months before the actual hiking day. Look for nature trails with uneven ground. You can also practice by climbing any mountain or hill within your reach. Make your training fun and enjoyable.
What happens if I go to Kilimanjaro without having trained
The main challenge you will face if you try climbing Kilimanjaro without training will be the effect of high altitude on your body.
The main factor that hinders people from reaching the peak of Kilimanjaro is not their fitness but the inability of their bodies to acclimatize to the altitude.
According to the High Altitude Medicine & Biology. Oct 2010 journal, Acute Mountain Sickness affects nearly 47% of climbers no matter what itinerary they take.
47% (89/189) of climbers from all itineraries were AMS positive at 4730 m
Source: Incidence and predictors of acute mountain sickness among trekkers on Mount Kilimanjaro | High Altitude Medicine & Biology
This means that you stand a 50% chance of developing mountain sickness when you try to summit Kilimanjaro no matter what your level of physical fitness is and no matter what itinerary you use.
Not being physically fit complicates your summit attempt since you will be fighting two (Pun Deliberately chosen 🙂 ) uphill battles: Mountain sickness and fatigue.
This means that even though you don’t need to be a superstar athlete to make the summit attempt, you will need to have a good degree of physical fitness and stamina to enable you to reach the summit on summit day.
Is there a recommended weight to climb Kilimanjaro
When climbing mountains with high altitude, which is the most significant factor to success, having thoroughly adaptation is the climber’s power to weight ratio. If you are heavy, you will struggle to hike Kilimanjaro.
Here are the physical limitations guidelines used to check if you are physically fit for the Kilimanjaro hike. Your Body Mass Index results should be:
- In the range of 18-15
- Maximum of 29
- Someone who is 5’7’’ tall should not weigh more than 185lbs. If you are 6ft tall you should note your weight should be under 97kgs.
These are not rules that are enforced by the mountain management but following the guidelines helps you be in the best physical shape to climb Kilimanjaro.
Which time of the year guarantees a successful climb for a beginner
You can trek Kilimanjaro any time of the year. However, some months are characterized by the cold weather, a lot of rainfall as well as snow at the peaks.
Trade winds normally influence Kilimanjaro weather. The Rongai Route is mostly recommended for the wetter months of April or May. During that time the Northern side of Kilimanjaro is drier than the Southern side.
There are strong winds that carry little moisture but blow very strongly from April to October hence it’s dry during this period.
There are two main hiking seasons which is the best time to hike Kilimanjaro: January to March and June to October.
During the January to March season, you may encounter snow at the peak because it is colder than June to October. Good thing is that this season is often quieter with less traffic than in the June to October season.
What are some of the sceneries you will see on your way to the peak?
Foothills
Kilimanjaro foothills are occupied with many impressive waterfalls. There is the Kuringe waterfalls that are found in the dense forest. The Kilasia waterfall is more striking since it features 98 foot high and drops into a swimming hole which is accessible to people for swimming.
Lava tower
This is one of the volcanic rocks formed long ago as a black tower. It is a common crossing point for all routes used during climbing.
Shira plateau
Shira plateau is a distorted volcanic crater. You will get to see incredible views of glaciers. It also serves as a warm-up for a steeper hike that is ahead of you. In the recent past, animals used to live there but nowadays they rarely seen.
Karanga valley
This is the right spot for you to see glaciers. As you descend into the valley for a night camp you will come across the Heim glacier. It is a nice spot to capture great memories. Once you have arrived at the Karanga Valley it means that you are almost ready to reach the peak of the mountain
Stella point
Stella point is among the tough spots to reach on the mountain. It has an elevation of about 18,000 feet and as you climb it you might just feel as if you are at the top of the mountain. The view from the top is spectacular!
Western Breach & Great Barranco Wall
These are the two most striking rocks that you will face as you approach the summit. Once you conquer the wall, you will see an unbarred view of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Uhuru peak
Uhuru is the Swahili name that means Freedom. This is the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro which is 19,341 feet tall. From there you will enjoy the freedom of seeing the incredible views of Tanzania and Kenya.
Is food provided during the hike?
fresh food consisting of a well-balanced diet plus some assortment snacks is offered to the climbers in Kilimanjaro. Every climb team has a cook who prepares fresh meals for the climbers and the guides.
Tasty food is provided since at various altitudes people often lose their appetite. Not eating can be very risky since it will interfere with acclimatization. The food equips you with enough energy to continue with the hike.
There is enough food provided for each client and staff for the entire hike.
Winding Up.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the most life-transforming experiences. You will come out stronger than before (both mentally and physically). Also, you will get to hold on to long-time memories of an incredible adventure. Having read all the guidelines in this post, you are now set for the actual Kilimanjaro hike. Enjoy!
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