A Kilimanjaro Safari will take the ambitious traveler to a tourist destination that was legendary long before Ernest Hemingway's famed short story. The highest mountain in Africa, the tallest free standing mountain in the world, it is one of the jewels of the continent and Tanzania's top tourist destination. What makes the mountain unique is that despite its altitude, it has a relatively gentle slope, making it a trek rather than a climb.
Fortunately, almost any reasonably fit person can reach the summit of the mountain at Uhuru Point, at an altitude of 16,771 feet. Of course, it can become a challenge to become that reasonably fit person, and 41% of those who begin the walk don't make it. To the average tourist, Tanzania is pretty far from home, and there's no sense making that long a trip only to fail to reach the summit.
While there's no risk of falling into a deep gorge, the danger presented by the altitude ought not to be taken lightly. Anyone 55 years old or above is well-advised to consult a doctor to make sure it's safe to try Kilimanjaro. The danger is that above 8,000 feet the human body is prone to be afflicted by adverse effects from the thin air, beginning with Altitude Mountain Sickness or AMS, then progressing to the greater dangers of HACE or High Altitude Cerebral Edema and HAPE or High Altitude Pulmonary Edema.
Of these, Altitude Mountain Sickness, or "altitude bends", is relatively mild, and could be thought of as an early alarm that the trekker should proceed no further. As he or she will likely be vomiting or bleeding from the nose, light-headed, or suffering a tingling in the extremities, proceeding further might not be much of an option. Those deciding to tough it out risk seeing their AMS progress to HACE or HAPE, either of which can be deadly.
Unfortunately we have no test to determine who might be more susceptible to any of these problems brought on by the low density of air at high altitudes. The best one can do is to undertake fitness training in the 8 weeks prior to heading to the mountain. The goal ought to be to develop the capacity to hike 50 miles in seven days while carrying a gallon of water in a backpack.
It is also important to pack properly for the trip, both to nourish oneself and to defend oneself against the elements. It is absolutely crucial to keep well hydrated, and it is crucial to keep dry and warm. Details as small as an extra pair of shoelaces become a very big deal once halfway up a mountain.
The mountain does afford a range of expertise levels in the form of six different approaches. One might select a particular approach using a combination of metrics, including difficulty. The Machame approach demands six to seven days and is considered the most demanding, but it is also the most scenic.
Despite an altitude just short of the Himalayas or the Andes, Kilimanjaro is not very steep, and can therefore be walked without resorting to high-tech climbing gear like ropes, hooks, and cleats. This fact, along with its iconic status, accounts for much of its attraction to tourists from around the world. It can also make trekkers dangerously underestimate the preparation necessary to enjoy a Kilimanjaro safari in safety.
Fortunately, almost any reasonably fit person can reach the summit of the mountain at Uhuru Point, at an altitude of 16,771 feet. Of course, it can become a challenge to become that reasonably fit person, and 41% of those who begin the walk don't make it. To the average tourist, Tanzania is pretty far from home, and there's no sense making that long a trip only to fail to reach the summit.
While there's no risk of falling into a deep gorge, the danger presented by the altitude ought not to be taken lightly. Anyone 55 years old or above is well-advised to consult a doctor to make sure it's safe to try Kilimanjaro. The danger is that above 8,000 feet the human body is prone to be afflicted by adverse effects from the thin air, beginning with Altitude Mountain Sickness or AMS, then progressing to the greater dangers of HACE or High Altitude Cerebral Edema and HAPE or High Altitude Pulmonary Edema.
Of these, Altitude Mountain Sickness, or "altitude bends", is relatively mild, and could be thought of as an early alarm that the trekker should proceed no further. As he or she will likely be vomiting or bleeding from the nose, light-headed, or suffering a tingling in the extremities, proceeding further might not be much of an option. Those deciding to tough it out risk seeing their AMS progress to HACE or HAPE, either of which can be deadly.
Unfortunately we have no test to determine who might be more susceptible to any of these problems brought on by the low density of air at high altitudes. The best one can do is to undertake fitness training in the 8 weeks prior to heading to the mountain. The goal ought to be to develop the capacity to hike 50 miles in seven days while carrying a gallon of water in a backpack.
It is also important to pack properly for the trip, both to nourish oneself and to defend oneself against the elements. It is absolutely crucial to keep well hydrated, and it is crucial to keep dry and warm. Details as small as an extra pair of shoelaces become a very big deal once halfway up a mountain.
The mountain does afford a range of expertise levels in the form of six different approaches. One might select a particular approach using a combination of metrics, including difficulty. The Machame approach demands six to seven days and is considered the most demanding, but it is also the most scenic.
Despite an altitude just short of the Himalayas or the Andes, Kilimanjaro is not very steep, and can therefore be walked without resorting to high-tech climbing gear like ropes, hooks, and cleats. This fact, along with its iconic status, accounts for much of its attraction to tourists from around the world. It can also make trekkers dangerously underestimate the preparation necessary to enjoy a Kilimanjaro safari in safety.
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