CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO – IS IT REALLY THAT DIFFICULT?

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

“Kilimanjaro Climbing was the most beautiful experience of my life and if given a chance I could re-live the experience again and again.”

Having witnessed the Mountain myself I can safely say that I made it up till the summit and back alive! So Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro may not be that difficult as it may appear. However, some climbers suffer immensely due to altitude sickness and other complications related to the elevation of the mountain.

This is mostly due to the following reasons:

  • Lack of Guidance
  • Lack of proper training
  • Technical drawbacks of the tour operator

But believe me, it wasn’t that difficult with the number of tour operators in Tanzania – Jerry Tanzania Tours. Hats off to their excellent crew members and we were simply awestruck for the services they provided us with a great breakdown of Kilimanjaro Climb Cost. Jerry Tanzania Tours took us with a group of 10 members all in our mid-20s. And the gist of the journey is as follows:

  • Their drivers picked us up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
  • We were taken to a hotel at Moshi and had our lunch and rested for a while
  • After a nice day of rest at the hotel, we started for the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate the next day.
  • Jerry Tanzania provided us with a transfer for all our group members.
  • At the entrance we waited for some time, we registered for our Kilimanjaro Climbing and our bags were weighed
  • We started our climb that day and reached the camp around noon.
  • Every day we were provided with 3 meals a day, hot beverages, hot water for washing, and our tents were erected by the Kilimanjaro Porters who carried all our luggage up the mountain.
  • We reached the mountain peak after 6 days of climb and descended the day we summited the peak.
  • In the end, we had a Tipping ceremony where all Kilimanjaro Crew members were tipped by our group
  • After a day’s rest at a hotel in Moshi, we were provided with an airport transfer that dropped us back at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha.

 

 

 

Was Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Really That Difficult?

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Honestly, yes it was difficult. But I could manage the tough climb due to two things:

  • Excellent Training and Preparation before the Climb
  • Support from Kilimanjaro Guides and Porters of Jerry Tanzania who were optimistic and encouraged us when we thought of giving up

When you start planning for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, there are many important decisions that one has to take some of which are:

  • Deciding which Kilimanjaro Route to Choose for the climb
  • Which is the Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro and if that period suits you
  • Which is the right Tour Operator for Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing?

The answer to the first question is that I chose the 8-Days Lemosho Route Packages the Lemosho Route Cost that was charged to us was $1910 and this included roundtrip from the airport, accommodations (2 nights in Moshi and 6 nights on the mountain), Park Fees, Taxes, Kilimanjaro Crew Fees, Transfers, Food, etc.

The answer to the second question is that we were told by the Kilimanjaro Route experts of Jerry Tanzania that the period from June to October is the best time for Kilimanjaro Climbing. We there planned our holidays in September which is truly the Best Time to Climb Kilimanjaro.

The answer to the third question – which tour operator is the best for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Tours depends on various factors such as:

  • How well do they treat their Kilimanjaro Porters
  • Do they treat their Kilimanjaro Crew well?
  • Are they traveling responsibly to Mount Kilimanjaro?
  • Are they certified?
  • Are they Local or based outside Tanzania?

So after researching a lot, I was finally suggested the name of Jerry Tanzania Tours by one of my friends who did climb Kilimanjaro some years back with this company.

Climbing Kilimanjaro – My Experience on Kili

While most of the time I felt like giving up, on the Mountain, what kept me going was the dream to view the world from an elevation of 6000 meters above sea level.

I was cold and in pain, in the cold bustling winds of the peak of Kili and life seemed to be even more important at that point as survival was our only instinct. What many climbers wouldn’t tell you is it is like going closer to losing your senses completely on Kili and then returning alive. What saves us is the experience of the trusted Kilimanjaro Guides who have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro 80 to 90 times in their lifetime.

Call me crazy or an idealist, after everything I have experienced on the mountain I am ready to do it all over again. And I do suggest my readers and Climbing enthusiasts for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at least once in their lifetime to experience what freedom is like!