Five Things You May Not be Prepared for When Trekking Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro has been a magnet for hikers for decades. As Africa’s highest mountain, it has real status. But it is also widely considered as an easier option than many of the other iconic trekking challenge destinations, such as the Everest Base Camp. It takes six to seven days, making it logistically easier for anyone who has work commitments. And you can actually reach the summit – without the need for specialist climbing equipment – which feels like a real achievement. But because Kilimanjaro is viewed as something of a friendly mountain, many adventurers go in under prepared. So, what do you need to know?

Five Things You Might Not Expect to Struggle With When Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro

You might struggle to sleep

It’s easy to imagine that after days spent trekking, you’ll sleep like a log. But altitude can make sleeping difficult. And that’s hard to deal with if you’re not prepared for it. Rather than stressing out, take precautions before your trip. If you can familiarise yourself with some relaxation techniques, such as meditation, you will hopefully find ways to get the rest you need. However, it’s important to remember that sleeping tablets are a definite ‘no’, as they can make the effects of altitude sickness worse.

Altitude sickness can affect anyone

Altitude is a strange thing. It doesn’t matter if you are an elite athlete or a couch potato; your levels of physical fitness have no influence over whether or not it will affect you. And it doesn’t matter if you’ve struggled in the past or have trekked at altitude untouched. Every experience is different. So, reaching Kilimanjaro’s summit, which is 5,895 meters (19,340 feet) above sea level, may be more difficult than you were expecting. At Choose a Challenge, we try our best to pace our ascents, giving our group members as much time to acclimatise as possible. But you may still feel a little the worse for wear.

It can be really cold at night

Regardless of the time of year you travel, when you move up to higher altitudes, it can be really cold at night. At the summit, Kilimanjaro’s nighttime temperatures can range between -7°C and -29° C. While we don’t usually operate treks during the coldest times of year, it can still get pretty chilly. So, keep that in mind when you’re packing for your trip.

You’ll probably lose your appetite

Altitude affects different people in different ways. But it’s not uncommon for people to lose their appetite on the Kilimanjaro trek. Unfortunately, you still have to eat, otherwise you’ll lack the energy to cover the distance. All of your meals are provided on the Choose a Challenge trek, and they’re carefully planned to ensure that you have the right calories and energy to see you through. So, even if you’re struggling, do your best to eat as much as you can.

You need to drink a lot

When you’re trekking, it can be tempting to try and keep your water intake to a minimum to reduce the number of loo breaks. But it’s really important that you don’t do that when hiking Kilimanjaro. Keeping up your water intake is one of the best ways to help reduce the impact of altitude. And yes, it does mean that you’re probably going to have to find multiple rocks to pee behind (which is where a shewee or similar can be really useful for female trekkers), but that’s much, much better than the alternative.

Trekking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is an experience of a lifetime. You’re going to be tired. You’re going to be sore. And the chances are that you’ll experience at least some of the symptoms of altitude sickness. But you’ll have the views, the camaraderie, and such an epic sense of achievement at the end of it that it’ll be worth every ounce of discomfort.

So, are you ready to take on the Kilimanjaro Challenge? Find out more.