Climbing Kilimanjaro Pt.1: Preparing for the Climb
If you’ve landed on this page, chances are you’re either thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro or you’ve already made the bold decision to take it on. Either way, welcome! This post is the first in a three-part series all about my Kilimanjaro adventure. And we’re starting with everything that went into the preparation: from training and gear to paperwork and mental prep.
This is the stuff I wish I’d known before I set off. So let’s dive in…
Why I Decided to Climb Kilimanjaro
Climbing Kilimanjaro has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to link it with my travel missions by making it a separate mission. Due to the challenge being no easy feat, I also decided that it would be a great idea to raise money for charity whilst completing the climb. I always struggle with asking friends and family for donations during events but this felt like something that was worth shouting about and I was proud to be sponsored for. I have currently raised £850 (and counting) for Fowler’s Syndrome UK and I couldn’t be prouder to complete an extravagant task for an underappreciated charity.
For me, this wasn’t just a holiday, it was a full-on mission. I’d been dreaming of Kilimanjaro for years, and in February 2025, it finally happened. But before I stood on that summit, there was a LOT of prep involved.
What to know before Climbing Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro should not be taken lightly and I’m not going to lie to you, I fully underestimated how challenging it would be. I’ve listed all the points that you should be thinking about when deciding to take on the challenge of climbing the roof of Africa.
Choosing a Tour Company (And Why It Matters!)
One of the first big decisions I had to make was choosing the right tour company. You have to climb Kilimanjaro with a registered guide, solo treks aren’t allowed. But not all companies are created equal.
Here’s what I looked for:
- Good reviews and summit success rates
- A responsible approach to porter welfare
- Fair prices (without cutting corners)
I ended up going with Adventure Alternative and spoiler alert: I was really glad I did.
What Route Should You Choose?
There are quite a few routes up Kilimanjaro, and each one comes with its own pros and cons. I chose the Northern Circuit route because being a longer route (9 days), this allows for more time to acclimatise meaning that there is a higher success route on the Northern Circuit route compared to other routes. Reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro was important to me because I felt that it was a lot of money to pay and I knew that I would have been disappointed if I didn’t summit, so choosing a route that gives myself the best chance to summit was important.
Here’s a quick look at some of the most popular options:
- Machame Route – scenic and popular, good for acclimatisation
- Lemosho Route – great views, quieter start
- Marangu Route – hut accommodation, but less time to acclimatise
- Rongai Route – drier side of the mountain, more remote
- Northern Circuit Route – more time to acclimatise, very quiet trails
Choosing the right route depends on your fitness level, budget, time, and how well you think you’ll handle the altitude.
Paperwork, Jabs & Travel Bits
Yep, the admin side of adventure! Here’s a quick list of the essentials:
- Passport (obviously!)
- Tanzania visa – I applied online, it was an easy process and cost $50
- Travel insurance – This must cover high altitude trekking and helicopter rescue. I got mine through TrueTraveller
- Vaccinations – Within the FAQs below, I have noted all the vaccinations that I took before entering Tanzania but I strongly advise checking with your GP for recommendations before your climb
- Cash in USD or Tanzanian Shillings– for tips, souvenirs, or last-minute kit in Moshi (I rented trekking poles on arrival)
Getting Fit (Without Losing Your Mind)
Okay, let’s talk training. You don’t need to be an ultra-marathon runner to climb Kili, but you do need a good base level of fitness and some mental resilience. I unfortunately didn’t take training as seriously as I should have (and definitely felt my lack of training on the mountain!) but here’s what a decent training routine looks like:
- Lots of hiking – I took lots of weekend walks but adding hill walks into my regular routine would have been extremely beneficial
- Strength training – I did some basic leg training but I know that I would have benefited from more cardio and core training. Training arms would have also made some of the slightly more technical parts easier.
- Practice hikes with a weighted backpack – a game changer! Similar to the above, training with a weighted backpack prepares your upper body for the heavy lifting efforts that you will be putting it through.
I wish I had trained more because I don’t think I would have found Summit night so exhausting if my legs (and arms) were more prepared for the climb.
What I Packed (And What I Should’ve Left Behind)
Packing for Kilimanjaro is like prepping for four seasons in one week. You’ll go from sweating in a t-shirt to layering up like you’re in the Arctic.
Some must-haves:
- A decent sleeping bag (rated for cold temps)
- Proper hiking boots you’ve already broken in
- Base layers + a warm down jacket
- A good head torch with spare batteries
- Pee bottle – this was perfect when the other to our set in during the early houses of them morning and it meant not having to leave my tent
- Poncho – probably the item that I was most grateful for having because the weather turns quick on the mountain so it’s good to be prepared. Also, the particular poncho that I bought doubled up as tarpaulin and each rainy day I would place it under my sleeping mat in the tent to give me an extra layer of protection against the rain, ensuring a decent night’s sleep
And some things I probably didn’t need:
- Too many “just-in-case” outfits – mainly additional trekking trousers and base layers
- I took way too many hats, one sunhat and one beanie is perfect for lightweight packing
- Half my toiletries bag…
If you want a full gear list, check out this packing list or my post about what I did and didn’t need. If you prefer visuals, you can check out the below video to see what I took and what came in useful during my trip:
Mental Prep: The Underrated Element
Honestly, this was a big one. Climbing Kilimanjaro is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. I tried to prepare myself by reading real stories, watching videos, and reminding myself why I was doing it. Summit night was particularly tough for me mentally and I had to often remind myself the reasons for completing so having a clear ‘Why?’ is a benefit when beginning your prep for the climb.
Top tip? Go in with an open mind, be ready for the unexpected, and don’t worry too much about the summit, focus on enjoying the journey.
FAQs – Climbing Kilimanjaro Preparation
The cost of climbing Kilimanjaro really varies depending on the route, the company you go with, and what’s included in your package. I personally went with Adventure Alternative and found their prices to be fair without cutting corners. They were great when it came to porter welfare and had a good summit success rate too, which was important to me.
On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from £1,500 to £3,500 for the trek itself. This usually includes your guides, porters, food, park fees, and camping equipment. For the climb itself, I paid £2495 for a 9 day route that included all of the above. But don’t forget to factor in other costs too; Such as flights, tips for your guides and porters, travel insurance (make sure it covers high-altitude trekking), vaccinations, and any gear you might need to buy or rent.
It definitely adds up, but for me, it was worth every penny!
The recommended vaccinations will regularly change depending on where you are in the world and what the current climate is like within Tanzania. Therefore, I highly recommend checking this with your doctor. I’m from the UK and climbed Kilimanjaro in February 2025, you can find a list of all my vaccinations that I took below:
–Hepatitis A (2 doses required. Cost: Free onNHS)
–Hepatitis B (3 doses required. Bought from a travel clinic. Cost: £55 per dose)
–Polio (1 dose required. Cost: Free on NHS)
–Tetinus (1 dose required. Cost: Free on NHS)
–Typhoid (1 dose required. Cost: Free on NHS)
–Rabies (3 doses required. Bought from a travel clinic. Cost: £80 per dose)
Not all of the above vaccinations are necessary for entry into Tanzania and my partner only took the vaccinations that were free on the NHS. However I wanted to be as safe as I could be and give myself the best chances of summitting, which is why I took all of the above.
The best times to climb Kilimanjaro are generally during the two dry seasons: January to mid-March and June to October. I climbed in February and the weather was pretty kind to us overall, with clear skies and only a few rainy moments.
The dry seasons tend to give you better trail conditions and views, which makes the whole experience that bit more enjoyable (and safer). That said, the weather on the mountain can change quickly, no matter when you go, so it’s best to be prepared for everything, from blazing sun to freezing cold nights! Also be aware that the dry seasons will be the most popular time to climb, so depending on your route, expect crowds and plan accordingly.
It depends on the route you choose. Most treks range from 5 to 9 days. I went for the Northern Circuit route, which took 9 days in total. It’s one of the longer routes but gives you more time to acclimatise, which can really increase your chances of reaching the summit.
I knew I’d be gutted if I didn’t make it to the top after all that effort (and money!), so going for a route with a higher success rate made sense for me. Plus, it was quieter and more scenic, which made for a really special experience.
I’ll be totally honest, I didn’t train as much as I should have and I definitely felt it, especially on summit night! In hindsight, more hill walks, cardio, and strength training would’ve made the whole thing feel a bit easier on the legs (and arms).
I would highly recommend doing some hikes with a backpack to prepare your body for the conditions that you will be hiking in and get used to carrying your kit. Mentally, I tried to prepare by reading other climbers’ experiences and making sure I was aware of the strong mentality that I would need once on the mountain.
If I could go back, I’d take training a bit more seriously, but don’t let that scare you off! With the right mindset and some decent prep, it’s totally doable.
Final Thoughts Before the Climb
Preparing for Kilimanjaro was half the adventure. It tested my patience, my planning skills, and my ability to Google every tiny worry at 2am. But it was so worth it.
In the next post, I’ll take you through what it was actually like on the mountain, from day one to summit night.
If you’ve got any questions about prep or want help figuring out your own climb, feel free to drop a comment below or get in touch via email, I love chatting all things Kili!
Related Posts
Part 2 of my Kilimanjaro Experience dives into my experience on the mountain and gives an insight into exactly what to expect for those keen to take on the challenge of climbing Kilimanjaro.
You can also check out my review of the tour company that I used, Adventure Alternative.
View more of my blog posts around my whole experience of preparing for and climbing Kilimanjaro on my main Kilimanjaro page. From training plans and my opinions of what I did and didn’t need on the climb, you will find lots of helpful advice.
In the meantime, happy planning and hiking!⛰️
