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Climb KILIMANJARO and say: "I was at the Top of Africa"

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The Summit Preparations Memo What you must Know Altitude Sickness

KILIMANJARO
Things you need to know

Who can do it!!	Anyone can climb Kilimanjaro. You do not need to be super fit or have a mountaineering background. You do however need to prepare your body for the climb by walking steep hills 3 to 4 weeks before the climb. Do plenty of leg exercises. If you know of a building with lots of stairs, this is the best place to get ready. Kilimanjaro is a regular 30 to 40 degree gradient climb.
How long it takes?	Kilimanjaro has many routes, some very difficult some very short, but the best to take is Machame route which is a 7 day hike and will take you around Kilimanjaro. You will enjoy spectacular views of the mountain and the landscape and will give your body time to acclimatize.
What about equipment?	You need to be WORM. It gets very cold at night and sometimes it is windy. A good Down sleeping bag is a must as well as good inner, middle and outer layer of protective clothing. We supply tents and sleeping bags for those who do not have it.
Best time to do it.	From May to November and from February to March are the best times to do it.
What kind of weather?	The weather is variable. Sometimes it is rainy, sometimes it is sunshine and sometimes it is just cold. But for the adventurer this is not a problem. Remember that although it may be raining in the land below, you will be above the clouds most of the time.
Is it cold?	It is normally ok but it can get very cold: During the climb to base cam you will experience temperatures of 14 degrees during the day up to 22 degrees. But at the top and during the summit attempt, you must expect -10 and sometimes down to -15 degrees.
Food?	We supply all the food needed for your body to cope with the climb. Mainly you will be eating rice, noodles and soups for main meals and some kind of muesly and plenty of fruit. If you have any special requirements we can customize your menu but remember that weight is a limiting factor , so one must be practical about it.
Who carries it all?	Although you can carry your goods yourself, this is definitely not recommended. Your body will be finished by the 5th day and then you need to climb for 7 hrs to the summit. We use porters to take all the goods and one porter is assigned per person. We set a weight limit per person of 7kg maximum. If you need to take any special equipment we then assign extra porters. Porters are very honest hard working people. They will carry all your load, setup camp, cook and lift camp every day so that all you have to worry about is the landscape and walking.
Altitude sickness?	Nobody should get sick at 5890 mt. it is a case of listening to your body, taking your tablets, drinking plenty of water and listening to your guide. Most people find the pace of the summit day ridiculously slow, but there is a good reason for this. Your body needs to get used to the altitude slowly. You must also consciously breathe deep in and out and this can only be done in a slow mode. Yes some people's body will simply not cope with it, but by the time you get to base camp you will be able to gauge whether you should summit or not. I any case ;getting to base camp is already the most gratifying experience
What to take along?	Cameras , deffinitelly Spare batteries and spools (you need spare ones as they tend to freeze with the cold) 2 pairs of good wool socks a good set of thermal underwear (long sleeves) Head torch and batteries. 3 to 4 changes of underwear 1 long pant (jean) 2 long sleeves vests or tshirts 1 good jersey pair of thermal gloves Balaclava for your head and face 1 short (for the sunny days) Waterproof and weatherproof jacket (not just a windbreaker) waterproof and weatherproof pants Sleeping bag. Sweets and chocolates. Small flask for the summit. Sun glasses (you do not need snow glasses) Sun cream and lip balm. Altitude tablets. Yourself!!!

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