Kilimanjaro safety- all you need to know.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, One of the Seven Summits, the highest peak in Africa, is a challenging adventure that requires careful preparation and attention to safety. Here are some safety tips for climbing Kilimanjaro:
Is it safe to climb Kilimanjaro?
Safety comes first on Kilimanjaro. It simply has to. This means having the right equipment and clothing, climbing with experienced and responsible mountain guides, eating good food, and choosing the route that lets you acclimatize properly.
Mt Kilimanjaro is a hard trek and should never be underestimated. And yet so many do underestimate it!
Firstly, roughly half of all trekkers attempting to scale the mountain don’t make it to the summit top. Also, every year, approximately 1,000 people are evacuated from the mountain, and approximately 10 deaths are reported.
You’re putting yourself in danger if you don’t do the necessary research and preparation. You’re also playing with fire if you fail to choose a qualified Kilimanjaro tour operator company as your climbing partner.
The main cause of death is altitude sickness. Everyone Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro should be familiar with the symptoms of altitude sickness. Everyone trekking Kilimanjaro should choose an operator like HK-Hiking Kilimanjaro Expedition Company that has the proper safety systems in the mountain.
Kilimanjaro Safety Overview
Here are the key factors to consider when it comes to Kilimanjaro’s safety:
- Altitude Sickness Awareness,
- Experienced Kilimanjaro guides
- The right safety equipment
- Choose a Reputable Tour Operator
- Nutritious food and safe water
- Medical Check-up,
- Weather Conditions,
- Physical Fitness,
- Emergency Evacuation Plan.
- Malaria
- Covid-19
Why safety on Kilimanjaro must come first for Us.
We discuss the different factors to consider to ensure you have a safe Kilimanjaro hike, we want to point out three reasons why your safety on the hike should be a primary concern for both you and your trip operator.
Kilimanjaro Mountain Guide Training.
You need to know that your guide has the proper training to know how to detect the early signs of altitude sickness, and what to do about it. Our guides undergo Wilderness First Responder training, which teaches essential skills for managing medical conditions in remote locations.
We’ve partnered with the Sentinel Outdoor Institute, a high-altitude medical training organization that runs in-depth training courses in Tanzania to ensure our guides are kept up to date with emerging medical protocols.
Carrying emergency equipment is useless if your guide doesn’t know how to use it.
A note on guide-to-climber ratio
It’s our mission to ensure a safe and successful summit for everyone. We have a guide-to-climber ratio of 1 to 2, so for every two climbers, we have one trained mountain guide. This allows for more careful observation and evaluation of the group’s condition.
How We Work to Keep You Safe on Mountain Kilimanjaro
Staying safe on Kilimanjaro starts with understanding the risks and knowing how to mitigate them. We ask all our climbers to fill in a comprehensive medical questionnaire, and in the case of some pre-existing conditions, we may ask for confirmation from your doctor that you are fit to climb. Your guide will need to know any existing medications you are taking (including over-the-counter) and whether you are taking Diamox to help acclimatization.
Daily Health Checks & Monitoring.
Communication with your guide is important. If you’re feeling under the weather, have a headache, nausea, or any other symptom, you must tell your guide. While hiking, your guide will be keeping a lookout for any early signs of trouble:
- Are you having difficulty on the trail, stumbling, or very tired
- Are you eating well, or is your appetite diminishing
- Do you keep stopping to catch your breath, and having difficulty breathing
- Are you drinking enough water
- Any signs of erratic behaviors or confusion
Daily Health Check.
- Every day, you’ll have a one-to-one meeting with your guide for a comprehensive health check-up:
- Using a pulse oximeter to measure your blood oxygen saturation and resting pulse rate, using this data in combination with:
- Symptom picture, using the Lake Louise Scoring System to determine whether you are showing signs of altitude sickness
- Self-assessment questions to determine how you are feeling
- Constant monitoring prevents a mild case of altitude sickness from escalating into an emergency.
Emergency Oxygen & Medical Supplies
Our team carries a comprehensive medical kit, including bottled oxygen, and a portable stretcher.
- We carry supplemental oxygen for emergency use only.
- The only cure for acute mountain sickness is immediate descent to a lower elevation.
- In the case of an injury that prevents a climber from descending on foot, we use a portable stretcher that is provided by the National Park at each campsite.
- Oxygen can be administered to alleviate AMS in combination with immediate descent.
- We carry a first aid medical kit to treat minor injuries
Helicopter Evacuation on Kilimanjaro
In the event of an emergency, we use a search and rescue service that operates out of Moshi. After a distress call, a helicopter will be dispatched to the nearest landing point and the patient can be airlifted off the mountain and taken to the local hospital in Moshi. Of note, in the event of adverse mountain weather, a helicopter may not be able to land, and if this is the case, a manual evacuation will need to take place via a stretcher provided by the National Park.
Other Important Safety Aspects on Kilimanjaro Climb.
It’s important that you take responsibility for your safety, including:
- Don’t ignore symptoms. If you have a headache, loss of appetite, nausea, or any unusual symptoms, tell your guide immediately
- Don’t try to “push through”. Mild signs of altitude sickness can often be successfully treated without evacuation, but ignoring them can be dangerous
- Keep an eye on your teammates. If you see someone struggling or behaving erratically, tell your guide
- Follow your guide’s instructions at all times on the mountain.
Altitude sickness Awareness,
Altitude sickness is a negative health effect of high altitude.
The percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere at sea level is about 21%. As you climb higher, the percentage remains the same but the number of oxygen molecules per breath is reduced. Near the summit of Kilimanjaro, you acquire roughly 50% fewer oxygen molecules per breath. The body therefore finds it hard to adapt and function as normal with less oxygen.
Altitude sickness is caused by a failure of the body to acclimatize (adapt) quickly enough to this lower level of oxygen intake. The resultant symptoms are unpleasant and include things like headaches, nausea, fatigue, insomnia, and dizziness.
Don’t rush to the summit.
You will often hear the phrase “pole, pole” while on your Kilimanjaro climb. This is Swahili for “slowly, slowly”, and should be your motto for this incredible journey. There is no rush. Take your time and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you!
Altitude sickness is common
Having said that, it’s perfectly normal to get mild altitude sickness.
In fact, at over 3,000 m, more than 75% of Kilimanjaro trekkers experience at least some form of mild altitude sickness (also known as acute mountain sickness or AMS). It’s therefore more than likely that you’ll experience some form of mild altitude sickness symptoms when climbing Kilimanjaro.
Note that it’s only when your altitude sickness becomes moderate to severe that you have to abort your climb and descend to a lower altitude. Those with only mild altitude sickness can continue their climb, though they’re closely monitored by their guide for any signs of a worsening condition.
We recommend visiting your GP before your Kilimanjaro climb to discuss the fact that you’ll be doing a high-altitude trek. Some people like to bring a medication like Diamox with them on the climb to help prevent and alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness.
Do fit people get altitude sickness?
It may surprise you, but age, sex, and physical fitness do not affect your likelihood of getting altitude sickness. And just because you haven’t had it before doesn’t mean you won’t develop it on another trip. So, everyone should prepare for it.
It’s important to choose a good route.
Not all Kilimanjaro routes are created equal. Some offer better acclimatization than others.
Specifically, the Lemosho route, Northern Circuit, and Machame route all offer great acclimatization opportunities. This makes the summit success rates for these routes the highest. And that’s a major reason why you climb the mountain, after all!
Other routes tend to lead to more altitude sickness than others given their poor (or inferior) acclimatization profiles. The Umbwe route and Marangu route, for instance, have low summit success rates because they demand trekkers ascend the mountain very quickly. A relatively high percentage of trekkers climbing these routes don’t acclimatize adequately and develop AMS.
The Shira route is also a risky route from an acclimatization perspective. This is because it has a very high starting point: 3,600 m. With most of the other routes, you start between about 1,600 m and 2,300 m. This makes a big difference. By starting so high, you risk developing altitude sickness right at the start of your trek.
It’s good to ‘climb high, sleep low’
At HK- HIKING KILIMANJARO EXPEDITION COMPANY we follow the ‘climb high, sleep low’ principle to best adjust to the high altitude. This means that you hike to a high altitude and then head back down the mountain to a lower altitude for the night to let your body adjust.
Certain routes allow you to do this, namely the Lemosho, Northern Circuit, and Machame. This is a major reason why we prefer these routes over others: we love seeing our climbers standing and smiling at the summit!
The Rongai, Umbwe and Marangu routes don’t offer opportunities to climb high and sleep low. This is partly why they don’t enjoy as high summit success rates as some of the others
The right safety equipment and Gear
Once you embark on your climb, the only resources available to you are the ones that you and your team carry up with you. Your Kilimanjaro team is equipped with essential equipment to monitor you throughout the climb. They check you multiple times a day to ensure you’re acclimatizing well.
Below we list and explain the various equipment your mountain crew brings on the mountain to look after your safety.
A pulse oximeter
The oximeter is placed on a climber’s fingertip. The oximeter uses two beams of light that shine into small blood vessels and capillaries in your finger. The sensor reflects the amount of oxygen in the blood. This simple piece of equipment gathers the required information within seconds of being applied to your finger.
Bottled oxygen
Bottled oxygen is only for emergencies. It’s never used to assist those who haven’t adequately acclimatized to the higher altitude.
The most immediate treatment for moderate and serious altitude sickness is descent. No matter which one of the seven Kilimanjaro routes you’re trekking, it’s always possible to descend the mountain, and descend it quickly.
A portable stretcher
A stretcher is brought on every climb so that there’s a means for evacuating any climber who may need to descend but is unable to walk on their own.
A first-aid kit
This kit has what’s needed to treat minor scrapes, cuts, and blisters.
Hiking on Kilimanjaro takes you through five major climate zones, from the warmth of the low slopes to the bitterly cold, sub-zero temperatures at the summit.
In addition to the medical and emergency equipment, the quality of the kit used in camp is also an important consideration. Weather on any mountain can be unpredictable, and keeping safe, warm, and dry at night is imperative to the health of any climber.
- Rugged tents suitable for changing mountain conditions, that stay dry even in torrential rain
- Comfortable waterproof dining tent with table and chairs
- Sanitary toilet facilities
Arriving for a Kilimanjaro climb without proper cold-weather clothing, adequate hiking boots or a sleeping bag appropriate for expedition conditions is asking for trouble. We’ve put together a comprehensive packing list for Kilimanjaro explaining what you need and why.
- If you haven’t got the right boots, you can easily turn an ankle or injure yourself on the rocky trails
- Without effective rain gear, you’ll get soaking wet and quickly turn hypothermic
- If you don’t protect yourself from the sun, you can end up with a nasty case of sunburn or sunstroke
- Never stay in wet clothes
- Our Kilimanjaro packing list details everything you need to bring to be properly prepared
Choose a Reputable Tour Operator.
All the points that we’ve covered in this article are extremely important for Kilimanjaro’s safety. Above all, you need to be sure to choose the right Kilimanjaro tour operator. This decision can make or break your climb. Seriously.
At HK-Hiking Kilimanjaro Expedition company we prioritize your Kilimanjaro safety above everything else. We aim to treat the initial causes of any sickness rather than waiting for the symptoms to appear. Prevention is key.
We like to think of ourselves as a value-for-money operator. At HK-Hiking Kilimanjaro Expedition Company we focus on keeping the Kilimanjaro climb costs to a minimum without compromising on safety, quality equipment and nutrition.
By choosing to climb Kilimanjaro with HK-Hiking Kilimanjaro Expedition company, you are choosing:
- an operator that understands Kilimanjaro
- guides who know how to deal with altitude sickness
- an operator with the necessary safety and medical equipment
- a safe climb!
Hygiene, food and water safety.
It’s imperative to the success of your climb that you regularly eat nutritious meals. It’s also vital that you have safe drinking water and stay well hydrated throughout your trek.
Eating sufficient and nutritious food
It’s vital that you get adequate, good-quality, and nutritious food for a successful Kilimanjaro climb. You’re putting your body through intense exercise and so need sufficient fuel or it will start to break down.
Your Kilimanjaro cook provides you with breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the mountain, as well as hot drinks and snacks. Some people also like to bring some of their favourite snacks from home during the trek as well.
At Hiking Kilimanjaro, our awesome cook Eric ensures you’re getting plenty of fresh fruit and veg every day, as well as ample protein and carbs to fill you up. Every day includes a cooked breakfast and dinner, and sometimes a cooked lunch as well. On other days, you’re given a packed lunch to carry with you.
We advise that try to eat all three meals provided, even when you’re not hungry. Loss of appetite is common high up on the mountain. This is because you’re feeling the effects of the high altitude. But just because you don’t feel hungry, doesn’t mean your body doesn’t need the fuel. You’re going on long treks each day, and your body really needs the sustenance to stay strong and healthy.
Safe drinking water.
Your mountain crew provides you with all the water you need on the mountain, both for drinking and cleaning. They fetch it from the streams lower down on the mountain, and carry it up to the higher camps. The water that is for drinking is purified using purification tablets. You don’t therefore need to worry about bringing your water purification tablets on the trek.
Each day before starting off on the hike, we recommend having a good long drink at camp. At this point you’ll also fill your hydration pack and water bottle. Note that you’re responsible for carrying your drinking water during each day’s trek, which is why we suggest in our Kilimanjaro packing list that you bring along a three-liter hydration pack as well as a water bottle.
For those who don’t like the taste of tablet-purified water, we recommend bringing a few flavors of sachets that you can add to your water supply.
Staying hydrated.
Hydration is key to staying healthy throughout your trek. Here are a few notes about staying hydrated during your trek
Don’t wait till you’re thirsty to drink liquids, as you’re already dehydrated when the thirst response kicks in. Sip on your water throughout the day.
It’s a good idea to drink a cup or two of water before you leave camp in the mornings. Firstly, this helps you to keep all the water in your hydration pack for the trail. And secondly, it’ll help prevent you from getting dehydrated on the trail, and so keep you functioning at your best.
Note that you shouldn’t stop drinking fluids when the day’s hiking is over. You should keep drinking to help replenish your body’s fluids. Also, always drink a bit more than you feel you need, as our body’s thirst response calls for less water than we need.
And remember, drinking water has the added bonus of helping to alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. So sip on!
Malaria
Most of Tanzania is within a recognized malaria zone, with Kilimanjaro National Park sitting pretty much on the border of that zone. (As shown in the map below.) This means Kilimanjaro climbers need to take precautions against contracting malaria.
How can I protect myself from malaria?
Most foreigners visiting a malaria region adopt a two-pronged approach to malaria prevention:
- They take anti-malaria meds.
- They try to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing long garments, using insect repellent, and sleeping under a mozzie net.
The good news is that most of Kilimanjaro is too high and cold for mosquitoes, so it’s only traveling to and from the mountain, and when sleeping in the rainforest section, that mosquitoes are a concern.
We always advise visiting your local GP to discuss traveling to a malaria zone and following his or her advice.
Covid-19
As mentioned, your safety is our top priority when you climb Kilimanjaro with us, so this means we take protecting you from COVID-19 very seriously. Please read Can I climb Kilimanjaro during the coronavirus pandemic? for information on our COVID-19 procedures and safety measures.
Note too that we’re happy to arrange and take you to the nearest hospital for a Covid-19 test should you wish to have one while in Tanzania with us. We’ll organize to get your results for you too.
Our health and safety form
At HIKING KILIMANJARO COMPANY, we ask all our climbers to fill in a health and safety form before they start the trek. This asks you to provide details on things like dietary requirements, allergies, and pre-existing medical conditions. It’s just another way by which we can ensure we’re looking after you and keeping you safe!
And, finally, don’t forget…
Before heading off to Tanzania for your Kilimanjaro climb, you need to look into:
- travel insurance
- medication
- vaccinations
Travel Insurance
It’s very important to note that we don’t allow anyone to climb Kilimanjaro with us without travel insurance. This is the case with any reputable Kilimanjaro tour operator.
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, it’s best to discuss these with your doctor before booking your climb. Discuss the potential risks of climbing Kilimanjaro with him or her and ask for advice on how best to train, what medications you could take, and so on.
We can recommend World Nomads as a reputable travel insurance company you might like to consider using. They offer coverage for more than 150 adventure activities, including high-altitude trekking.
Medication
Be sure to bring enough of any prescribed medication with you to Tanzania. We also recommend that you keep these on your person at all times while on the mountain (versus in your luggage being carried by a porter).
Vaccinations
Lastly, be sure to have any necessary vaccinations done before your trip to Tanzania. In terms of vaccinations – there are no specific vaccine requirements needed to enter Tanzania. However, be aware that the Government of Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination upon arrival if you are traveling from a country with risk of yellow fever.
We suggest you talk to your doctor about getting the following vaccinations if you don’t already have them:
- Hepatitis A and B
- typhoid
- yellow fever
- tetanus
- polio
- measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
- meningococcal meningitis (Africa and Asia)
Physical Preparation
Safety begins at home before you arrive in Tanzania.
- Medical check-up from your doctor, discussing any existing medical conditions or medications you’re taking
- Kilimanjaro Recommended vaccinations and for the areas you are traveling to
- Consider taking Diamox to help acclimatization, discuss this with your doctor for any interactions with existing medications
- Arrange your travel insurance for Kilimanjaro Climb – it’s mandatory to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover emergencies
You should have a good standard of fitness to hike over rugged terrain for multiple days. While it’s not technical, the hiking is tough and exhausting. Start your fitness program well ahead of your climb, follow our complete guide to training for Kilimanjaro.
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
We take your safety very seriously and don’t believe in leaving anything to chance. Emergencies can and do occur due to the nature of the remote, high-altitude environment. HK-Hiking Kilimanjaro Expedition with an operator who has well-trained guides, robust safety procedures, and good quality equipment reduces the incidence and severity of any issues that arise.
You can prepare yourself by being fit, bringing the right gear, and taking adequate precautions on the trail.
