Kilimanjaro Hiking via Northern Circuit Route

We camp in two-man tents; these are usually expedition-style (ie sleeping room only). Camps are usually simple, in remote locations with great views! We have communal dining areas (usually with tables and chairs/stools) and toilet tents, and the local crew look after us very well. We stay in hotels (of a 2-3* standard or equivalent) at the start and end of the trip; standards may vary between different hotels, but they are generally clean and comfortable with good facilities

The food provided is plentiful, often local in style and freshly-cooked, and will give you plenty of energy. In some regions, there may be less variety than you are used to, and in others, fresh meat or produce can be harder to come by. Being vegetarian or having other dietary requirements is not usually a problem provided you let us know well in advance while having a trip briefing with your guide. Please do not expect as much variety as you would have access to at home – we may be in very rural or remote areas and among people of a different culture who may not understand your requirements, however willing they are to help. If you know there are plenty of foods you cannot eat we strongly recommend you bring extra snacks from home so you can top up your energy supply. Please feel free to ask us for advice.

First, let’s put your mind at rest. There are public toilets at every camp stop on a Kilimanjaro trek. You’re going to need to lower your expectations though. Forget porcelain loos with lockable doors, marble sinks with soap dispensers, hot water and hi-tech hand driers. We’re talking about a wooden shack (usually without a door, let alone a lock) that surrounds a deep hole in the ground.

You’ll have to get used to squatting and near-zero privacy. Also, while the Park staff do their best to keep these facilities clean, it’s an uphill struggle because almost everyone on the mountain uses them. This means that the erm, bouquet, of Kilimanjaro’s public ‘long drop’ loos, can often be challenging. However, the natural views afforded by these dunnies are sensational so swings and roundabouts.

Can you get a private toilet on Kilimanjaro?

Trekking Kilimanjaro is an immensely bonding experience. In time you’ll come to regard your guides, porters and fellow trekkers as honorary brothers and sisters. All the same, this doesn’t necessarily mean you’d be comfortable ‘dropping your fudge’ in front of them. Don’t panic. There is an alternative to the ‘toilet shack’

The Second option is the ‘portable private loo’. This amounts to a proper chemical toilet (with a seat, no less!) that is contained within its own discreet tent for total privacy. A portable private loo is for the exclusive use of you and your group only. As with the shacks, though, it is only set up and available in camp.

The trek’s porters are responsible for cleaning, maintaining and transporting the loo between camps, so at least you have the assurance that your ‘comfort breaks’ will be sanitary and conducted in privacy.

Your safety and that of the rest of the group is our first priority. Our trips are designed and planned with safety in mind. Your crew will be equipped with communication devices like phones that can use to report any emergencies as well as medical kit and other safety apparatus appropriate to the destination.

Sometimes it happens with people want to climb without sufficient acclimatisation and end up with altitude sickness or, at very the least, nausea and headaches but to give yourself the best chance of reaching the top, it is a very good idea to choose tours with more number of days also whatever else you do, walk pole pole (slowly), drink a lot of liquid, suck glucose tablets and don’t eat too much. (You won’t feel like eating anyway)

Since Shizi Safari has a high success rate for reaching to the peak of Africa with our experienced guides, chefs and rest of crew will make sure that you have the best experience during your climb and reaching to the highest peak (Uhuru Peak) of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Your luggage, food, water and equipment is transported for you from one night-stop to the next. If there is easy road access this is done by vehicle; if not then porters will carry them throughout your expedition. Space is limited and hard-sided luggage is not suitable, so it is essential that your kit is packed in a soft bag, rucksack or expedition kitbag. You should also bring a small daypack to carry for items needed during the day as you will not have access to your main luggage until the evening.

Other luggage can be left in the hotel (storeroom) while you are on the mountain.

We are using specialised Airbus AS 350 B3 helicopters, positioned at Moshi Airport in Tanzania from Kilimanjaro sar. It’s the ideal location for high altitude search and rescue operations for Mt Kilimanjaro. And their team is highly experienced and have a perfect safety record.

During the trek, it is likely that all climbers will experience at least some form of mild altitude sickness. It is caused by the failure of the body to adapt quickly enough to the reduced level of oxygen in the air at an increased altitude. There are many different symptoms but the most common are headaches, light-headedness, nausea, loss of appetite, tingling in the toes and fingers, and a mild swell of ankles and fingers. These mild forms are not serious and will normally disappear within 48 hours. Please visit your physician for any preventative medications.

Your leader will arrange a collection of tips for the local support crew at the end of your trek, and you will be provided with a guideline amount in advance. Tipping is not obligatory, but once you see how hard they work on your behalf you will be happy to donate something! All our local crew are paid wages but bear in mind that the average wage in many countries you travel to is far below what you would spend on a normal night out. Common tips for satisfactory service are from about US$10 to US$15 per group per day for the guide, US$8 to US$10 per group per day for the cook and US$5 to US$10 per group per day for each porter.

Your safety and that of the rest of the group is our first priority. Our trips are designed and planned with safety in mind. Your crew will be equipped with communication devices like phones that can use to report any emergencies as well as medical kit and other safety apparatus appropriate to the destination.

Sometimes it happens with people want to climb without sufficient acclimatisation and end up with altitude sickness or, at very the least, nausea and headaches but to give yourself the best chance of reaching the top, it is a very good idea to choose tours with more number of days also whatever else you do, walk pole pole (slowly), drink a lot of liquid, suck glucose tablets and don’t eat too much. (You won’t feel like eating anyway)

Since Shizi Safari has a high success rate for reaching to the peak of Africa with our experienced guides, chefs and rest of crew will make sure that you have the best experience during your climb and reaching to the highest peak (Uhuru Peak) of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The mountain can be climbed all year round, There are, however, a couple of rainy seasons – April-May and November-mid-December – that are best avoided. We recommend January-March and mid-June-October are the best months as the skies tend to be clear and the mountain quieter.

At Shizi Safaris we recommend to trek in January-March and July-October. These are our favourite months because

The weather is usually good and the skies are often clear during these months.

Because they both fall just before the rainy seasons, they tend to be quieter than other months. People are probably afraid that the rains will come early, so opt to avoid these months. But in our experience, the rains are more likely to fail than arrive early. Thus the mountain is usually emptier, and quieter. And yet the weather is still lovely.

Note that early in June and late December, though they also fall outside of the rainy seasons, only just, are not such good times to be on Kilimanjaro according to our experience. The clouds tend to linger after the rainy season, even if the rains have largely finished, so views are restricted.

Full Moon and New Moon treks: We are offering Full Moon Kilimanjaro treks because we realised that the final push up the slopes of Kibo to the summit -a walk that is traditionally done at night – is best done under the light of a full moon. Visibility is that much greater, of course, due to the brightness of the light reflected by the full moon.

You’ll always be accompanied by a team of guides and assistant guides. If someone becomes ill, they’ll be escorted safely down the mountain by an assistant guide. You won’t be left on the mountain without a guide!

At higher altitudes, the air is thinner, there is less available oxygen and it becomes more difficult to breathe. There are serious risks involved with high-altitude hiking, including altitude sickness, acute mountain syndrome and pulmonary edema, all of which can result in death. Before you go on a high-altitude hike, you need to train your body to work efficiently and effectively in environments with less oxygen.

Step 1:

Begin training at least two months in advance. This is especially important if you plan to hike at altitudes of more than 13,000 feet.

Step 2:

See a doctor for a medical checkup in the early stages of training to ensure that high-altitude hiking is a safe and recommended activity for your age and physical condition.

Step 3:

Hike as often as possible. The best thing you can do to prepare for higher-altitude hikes is to hike as often as possible and at higher altitudes if available. Start gradually, increasing the distance and altitude of your hikes with each week of training so that your body and lungs can become accustomed to functioning at increasing levels of altitude.

Step 4:

Participate in interval training. Interval training is a method of training the cardiovascular system by elevating the heart rate significantly and then allowing it to recover for a period before elevating it again. According to outdoor conditioning website Body Results, this prepares the cardiovascular system to deal with the stress of limited oxygen levels at higher altitudes. Interval training could consist of running sprints, running hills or using the interval setting on a treadmill or exercise bike. Body Results recommends choosing one day a week for interval training and doing six repetitions of whatever exercise you have chosen.

Step 5:

Work on developing a breathing rhythm and deep breathing. Your ability to control and conserve your breath and expand your breathing capacity will come in handy when the oxygen.

Kilimanjaro’s final ascent to Uhuru Peak is made at night because of the weather patterns on Kilimanjaro and also a climber cannot see the challenge such as the steep parts when ascending because it is normally dark. The midnight trek to the summit is designed to ensure your safety as if you summit during the day, you run the risk of being caught in snow, hail or rainstorms. You’ll also get the most amazing views from the summit with the sun rising in the pink and apricot skies of dawn, and you’ll be well on your way down before the clouds roll in at 10 a.m. sharp

While Kilimanjaro requires no technical abilities, it is both physically and mentally demanding. The main reason people don’t reach the summit or are required to be evacuated is due to Altitude Sickness. To reduce your risk of Acute Mountain Sickness you should choose a route that allows the body to properly acclimatize, extra acclimatization days and routes that climb high and sleep lower are recommended. It is important to climb at a slow pace and to stay hydrated by drinking at least 3 liters of water per day. A CamelBak or other type of water bladder simplifies drinking during the trek.

On most days, you’ll hike about 10 km (6.2 miles) and this will be at a slow pace so that you can adjust to the elevation. We don’t do route marches!

From there, the temperatures will decrease as you move through Mount Kilimanjaro’s ecological zones. At the summit, Uhuru Point, the night time temperatures can range between 20 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 to -29 degrees Celsius). Due to Mount Kilimanjaro’s great height, the mountain creates its own weather.

Yes, our guides carry well-stocked first-aid kits with equipment for cuts, scrapes and blisters: they also carry common over-the-counter medicines and some emergency supplies. They don’t carry prescription medicines so please bring your own supply.

We also carry emergency oxygen (for use in emergencies only – not as summiting aid and it has to be requested by the customers) and pulse oximeter to measure your oxygen level and heartbeat every day on the mountain.

Remember to tell us if you have any special dietary requirements – because both meat and nuts form a substantial part of the food on Kilimanjaro. One of the marvels of a trek on Kilimanjaro is the skill with which the cooks are able to conjure up tasty and nutritious food despite little in the way of equipment and ingredients. Our chefs are also able to obey almost any dietary restrictions so that vegans, vegetarians, gluten and lactose intolerants and those with restrictions due to their religious beliefs are all accommodated. Just make sure you tell us in advance of any dietary restrictions you may have.

A typical Kilimanjaro breakfast will involve eggs (boiled or fried), porridge, a saveloy (possibly with some tomatoes too), a piece of fruit such as a banana or orange, some bread with jam, honey or peanut butter and a mug or two of tea, hot chocolate or coffee.

Lunch on Kilimanjaro is usually hot or prepared at breakfast and carried by the trekker in his or her daypack. This packed lunch often consists of a boiled egg, some sandwiches, a banana or orange, and some tea kept warm in a flask and carried by your guide.

At the end of the day’s walking, afternoon tea is served with biscuits, peanuts and, best of all, salted popcorn. The final and biggest meal of the day, dinner usually begins with soup, followed by a main course including chicken or meat, a vegetable sauce, some cabbage, and rice or pasta;  Potatoes will usually be eaten on the first night as they are so heavy.

SAMPLE FOOD MENU FOR OUR KILIMANJARO TREKS

Below is an example of a typical day’s menu option whilst on one of our treks to the summit of Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro:

BREAKFAST: Eggs made to order, sausages, toast, hash browned potatoes, banana bread/muffins, granola with cold milk, selection of fresh fruits, fruit juice, hot coffee, lemongrass tea and cocoa

LUNCH: Chicken breast sandwiches, pasta salad, crudites, salami and a selection of fresh fruits

AFTERNOON TEA: Hot coffee, lemongrass tea and cocoa served with homemade cookies with cheese, popcorn and roasted nuts

DINNER: Different soups, Chinese rice / Italian-style lasagna, green bean salad, fresh fruit salad served in a watermelon

TRAIL SNACKS: Mixed nuts or fresh-roasted peanuts, mixed dried organic fruits, fresh locally grown fruits. Home-made cookies, candy bars, popcorn. We advise bringing a small selection of your favourite snack bars from home too.

VEGETARIAN, VEGAN, DAIRY-FREE, GLUTEN-FREE, FOOD ALLERGIES, WE’VE GOT IT COVERED

Vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free and other special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice, so please let us know during the planning phase of your trek. Similarly, if you suffer from any allergies we can make sure these foods do not appear on the menu and are even not taken on the trek by any group members if you wish

DRINKING WATER

In addition to our care and attention to what we consume on a nutritional front, we take very seriously our drinking water requirments and the need for fresh water

We purify all our clients and staff drinking water

Kilimanjaro began to grow about 750,000 years ago as a result of lava spewing out of three main centres – Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi, It kept growing until their cones reached a height of about 5000 metres about half a million years ago. About this time, Shira collapsed into a Caldera and became inactive, but Kibo and Mawenzi continued to erupt until their peaks reached about 5500 metres. Mawenzi was the next to die, but Kibo continued to be active until about 360,000 years ago, during which time there were some particularly violent eruptions, including one which filled the old eroded caldera of Shira with black lava.

From an estimated final height of 5900 metres, Kibo gradually fell silent, and through intermittent eruptions continued for thousands of years, the whole mountain began to shrink and Kibo’s cone collapsed into a series of concentric terraces. Erosion in the form of glaciers which came and went, wore the peaks down even more, as did a huge landslide about 100,000 years which created the Kibo Barranco.