Steps To Summit Mount Kilimanjaro Successfully

Planning to summit the tallest mountain of Africa? The trek to the majestic mountain offers a variety of climate zones and picturesque views alongside. Read ahead to learn some things you should do prior to as well as during the trek.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain of Africa and a large number of people flock from around the world to summit the highest peak. With a variety of climbing routes, the trekkers enjoy the fabulous scenic beauty encompassing the glittering streams, steep hills, woodlands and gorges through the different climate zones. If you are planning to trek along the magnificent routes to reach the peak, you should consider a few things before you head to Africa.

Acclimatization on a higher altitude
While climbing the mountain, you will hear the words �pole pole�, which is Swahili for slowly slowly. The guides will be constantly asking you to walk gently on the paths for the slower you walk the better you acclimatize. Your guides will be assisting you at every step, so you should choose an operator that provides the most experienced ones. Before you go on the trip, consult your doctor and get medication prescribed in case you feel altitude sickness. Also ask your operator if the guides are taking along the appropriate medical apparatus such as oxygen cylinders and re-compression bags if the sickness gets severe. It is also advised that you drink plenty of water during the trek to help you acclimatize better.

Essentials In Your Backpack
The trek will be of six to eight days, based on your preferences. You should pack everything you are going to be needing for the trek. As you climb higher, there will be variations in the climate and you will need to have enough goods to deal with the changing temperature. Before leaving, shop for the essentials such as jackets, sleeping bags, blankets and more. Though you can rent these items for the trek, you might get them in smaller sizes.

Pack the daily essentials and pack light, you shouldn't carry too many items for it will become hard for you to climb the mountain. Some companies, however provide personal porters and you can hire one to carry your backpack for you. This will take off the loads from your shoulders and you will climb with some ease. If you prefer to go there in the busier season which is June to October, you should book the trek, the porters and the hotels in advance.

Choose The Dates And The Route
The seasons that are great for the climb are January to March and June to October. During these two seasons, the weather is the finest with little or no rain at all which makes the climbing safe. Good weather conditions let the trek become a memorable experience because of the clearer sky and some breathtaking views of the lakes, streams and hills. For a magical experience, you should choose the dates that coincide with the time when the full moon is visible. It's so because you will summit to the Uhuru peak at nighttime.

You have better chances of successfully climbing the peak, if you choose a longer route. Machame Route is the most recommended one as it's great for acclimatization, so has the best success rate. It is a challenging trek through five different climate zones and offers gorgeous views throughout the way. It is the most famous route, so it will be crowded during the peak seasons. The other route with highest success rate are Lemosho and Shira which offer many small canyons and fascinating views of the west Kilimanjaro.

Selection Of Tour Operator
No matter how many articles you read and websites you visit to get all the Kilimanjaro facts, you can't climb the mountain without proper guidance. You need an organized trek to ensure that you summit Mt. Kilimanjaro successfully. There are a number of operators who arrange treks and provide all the basic necessities to the trekkers but their services vary from excellent to absolutely negligent. You should be careful when you choose your operator. Hire an operator who is primarily focused on assisting the climbers to summit successfully and safely.