BootsnAll Travel Community

"I'm so confuuuuused!!" as Vinny Barbarino would say. I'm planning to climb Kili in September with my girlfriend. I'm looking for people's opinions on WHICH ROUTE will help maximise reaching the summit?

We are healthy. I'm average fitness, but my girlfriend rarely exercises, which she is a bit worried about. She will shortly begin a gym program and realistically will manage 2-3 days/week until we leave. We have never hiked any mountain, and between us have probably camped under the stars a total of 4 times in our lives! I've narrowed it down to a few choices...

* Shira or Lemosho Route 8 days; Machame 7 days; Rongai 6 days; Rongai 7 days.

From my understanding so far, Shira/Lemosho would be the best due to better acclimatisation. I've read that Rongai would be better if you're not very confident in your fitness level. However that 1 or 2 days less on the mountain would make it much more difficult to acclimatise. So which would be better?

* I've also read somewhere if we join a safari before the climb, one which involves a walk up to about 3000m for one of the days, then doing the 6 day Rongai Route would be sufficient (since we've had a chance to acclimatise a bit). If this is the case, then we'd prefer this route, since it's quicker. What does everyone think?

Bucketlist,

The Lemosho route is beautiful with less people and takes 8 or 9 days which is the secret to success. The more days you take the better chances you have of getting to the top.

It really is all about acclimatization not raw fitness. We hiked 40 to 50 miles in preparation but that was also to break in our boots. I saw very fit people tossing chow in the higher camps trying to climb the mountain in 5 or 6 days. That's false bravado if you ask me and you walk away disappointed.

8,000 to 10,000 people fail each year mostly because they try to save money and take less days. Extra days are a few hundred dollars which is nothing compared to flying over there and buying a trip & gear.

This 50 something dumpy flatlander made it climbing to Crater Camp in 8 days and summating the morning of the 9th. We were not hungry from 13,500 on up but no vomiting or big headaches. The guides have you walking slowly from day one, it is not a race.

Have a great time...

What you say makes total sense. Although since we are probably going to be doing a safari for about 1 week prior to the climb (the usual Ngorongoro, Tarangire etc), I was wondering if that additional time to acclimatise to the conditions and low altitude (I think the are generally is just under 2000m) and get over jet lag etc... would mean we didn't need as much time on the mountain compared to people who just fly in from sea level?

Or perhaps it makes no difference being at that altitude (just under 2000m) for that week before the climb?

To throw another spanner in the works, one reputable (i think) company website said the longer you're on the mountain, the more it can lead to "camper fatigue", especially if you're not a regular camper, and so it can actually decrease your chances of summitting since more things can go wrong. Catch 22 I guess.

I read your story on your climb with your son, and I have to say it was inspirational. Good on you. What an amazing experience to come away with.

Hi Bucketlist

if you are not campers, why not do the Marangu Route. It offers huts all the way up, so you wont be sleeping in tents. I am going early June and will be taking the Marangu route most of the way and then crossing over to stay in the crater. I have added 2 extra acclimitization days to help with acclimitizing. I booked with the Marangu Hotel (they are a guide company 1st and a hotel second) i custom made my trip. I am the loan climber, other than the guide porter etc. Good Luck
if you can go in June you are more than welcome to come along with me.

Bucketlist,

Doing the safari prior to the climb will remove your jet lag but won't assist in the acclimatization process.

As I said in my article, the folks we met doing the safari first (while we were doing it afterwards) were grinding away about their upcoming "performance". It really doesn't matter if you do it before or after, you're in Africa, you have to do both! The parks are awesome!

"Camper Fatigue?"
That's like saying short people are height challenged (I'm not tall gang, it's just an example). You will be hiking 56K to 72K and 5900 meters up. the higher you go the less hungry you will be and sleep is less efficient. Your body runs on less O2 and the cold zaps your strength. Fatigue? Ya think? I'll say this, on the descent, at around 4500 meters, as the oxygen gets richer, you will start to understand what the heck you just completed. Battered and tired as you will be, the glow of accomplishment starts radiating from your very center. The feeling can only be experienced.

Huts vs tents?
Huts have more trash, noise, people and a well beaten path.
Tents have more interesting trails to hike. I had never spent more than two consecutive nights in a tent. I found them completely comfortable. Our outfitter (Tusker) team did all the set up and tear down...we simply ate and slept.

Thanks for the kudos on my article.

Ga' day mate

Hi,

We did a 4 day Meru and 8 day Kilimanjaro on Lemosho for about $2600 usd. Had a good time saw a lot of stuff, made both summits and would recommend it to anyone.

Cheers,

Tim

I did the Shira route last year. Like cheesehead, I'd never camped in a tent much before...in fact I think I'd only ever slept in a tent once in my life!

Camper fatigue? Me, not really. Probably helped that I tented with a bloke that's very experienced, so I had some advice on best ways to pack, best ways to set things up etc. Like with Tusker, the tents were all assembled and pulled down for us, we just had to fit our stuff in and get comfortable, but with a fairly small 2-person tent that can be a challenge in itself! ;-)

I was super fit before I went, did lots and lots of training, worked my butt off. Got all the meds, all the shots, the first aid kit with treatments for all sorts of ailments, but I still got sick. Giardia it was, so days 5 and 6 of the trek were super uncomfortable for me. I tell ya, there's not many comfortable spots between Karanga and Barafu to um, empty the bowels!

Yes, I was sick the day before summit day. I loaded up on pills and by dinner time it had settled down and I had no problems on summit night...well, no gut problems. It was cold (hands were nearly frostbitten despite wearing 2 layers of gloves), it was steep, and that last bit to Stella point, the scree was surprisingly loose and powdery which made it even harder to get up.

But I did. In fact, was equal first in my group to make it (7 of us made Uhuru).

In my view, the most important things to make the top are:
1. Preparation, including choosing the appropriate route, and doing your research into the company and guides, understanding AMS and other medical issues you might face (talk to a doctor who knows, or read stories by doctors who specialise in this area...Dr Jim Duff is well regarded).

2. Be sensible on the climb:
- drink lots
- walk slow
- eat as much as you can comfortably eat (don't stuff yourself)
- take as many opportunities to do additional acclimatisation walks as you can (afternoon walks to Lent Hills or Arrow Glacier during Shira were great for me!).
- LISTEN TO YOUR GUIDES


3. Have a positive attitude.
- make the most of getting to know the others in your group, and your guides, and the summit porters if you have them (funny guys in our group!).
- enjoy the experience of being on the mountain, don't just have a single minded focus of getting to the top. The journey is as important as the result, and if you start pinning everything on making it, you will fear NOT making it and that can lead you to disobey one of the points in 2 - listen to your guide!
- look in all directions, not just at your feet. You're not likely to see any of the things you're seeing ever again, so make the most of it!

Cheers,
Coxy