{"id":31157,"date":"2018-12-07T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-06T21:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures?p=31157&#038;preview=true&#038;preview_id=31157"},"modified":"2024-09-18T16:28:23","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T06:28:23","slug":"what-climbing-kilimanjaro-is-really-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/what-climbing-kilimanjaro-is-really-like\/","title":{"rendered":"What climbing Mt Kilimanjaro is really like"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>One by one, we high-five our Intrepid lead guide James and walk under the arch that signals the start of our hike up Mt Kilimanjaro, <a href=\"\/tanzania\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tanzania<\/a>. A mixture of excitement, nerves and questions of whether I\u2019ll succeed sends a shiver up my body. My eyes water.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I have expectations to reach the summit, but as we walk under that arch, the realisation that the next five days are a massive unknown really hits me.<\/p>\n<p>There are 12 of us in the group, and we\u2019re all as nervous as each other as we make our way to Mandara Hut (2700 metres). We suss out each other\u2019s fitness, hiking ability and experience in altitude, as we ask \u2013 and give \u2013 recommendations on the best way to tackle the mountain.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31159\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31159\" class=\"size-full wp-image-31159\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Rowan_kili1-e1543903785278.jpg\" alt=\"Two trekkers on Mt Kilimanjaro\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Rowan_kili1-e1543903785278.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Rowan_kili1-e1543903785278-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Rowan_kili1-e1543903785278-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Rowan_kili1-e1543903785278-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-31159\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The only way is up. Photo by Rowan Waters.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>On this section of the hike we\u2019re lead by Vendelin, a quietly spoken, beautiful soul. He is one of six guides that will lead us towards the summit. He lets us in on the first secret to summit Kilimanjaro: walk slowly, or as he says \u2018pole pole\u2019, which is Swahili for slowly slowly.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"\/kilimanjaro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>FIND OUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TREKKING MT KILIMANJARO HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Our first few nights on Kilimanjaro go a little like this: a few acclimatisation walks, games of cards, lots of laughs, big meals and a good night\u2019s sleep. Which leads me to the next tip: eat a lot, drink plenty of water and sleep as much as you can.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31163\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31163\" class=\"size-full wp-image-31163\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Tanzania_Kilimanjaro_climb_Rocky-Portrait-0027.jpg\" alt=\"An intrepid guide\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Tanzania_Kilimanjaro_climb_Rocky-Portrait-0027.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Tanzania_Kilimanjaro_climb_Rocky-Portrait-0027-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Tanzania_Kilimanjaro_climb_Rocky-Portrait-0027-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Tanzania_Kilimanjaro_climb_Rocky-Portrait-0027-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-31163\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">One of our great guides. Photo by Lucy Piper.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The following day starts with a crisp morning and a deep blue sky. The contrast with the lush green forest is beautifully scenic. We walk beneath a hive of bees in the foliage above; the sun\u2019s rays penetrate the trees, creating a light show through the morning fog.<\/p>\n<p>As we start walking, a fellow traveller jumps and spins excitedly in anticipation of the day\u2019s hike. It\u2019s a heart-warming moment that sends me back to my childhood, excited to be outside and exploring the world. I\u2019m struck by the realisation that hiking gives me a childlike appreciation of nature as I touch, smell and soak up my surroundings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"post-title single-post-title\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/adventures\/climbing-kilimanjaro-advice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>RELATED: WHAT I WISH I KNEW BEFORE CLIMBING KILIMANJARO<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We exit the forest and slowly walk our way through the semi-arid grasslands of the low alpine zone \u2013 the second climate zone of Kilimanjaro \u2013 sharing stories of past hikes, and supporting each other as our friendships grow. As we reach the arid desert environment of the high alpine zone, the fast moving clouds give us glimpses of the snow-covered summit which spikes steeply into the sky. My heart rate spikes too.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31164\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31164\" class=\"wp-image-31164 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Tanzania_Kilimanjaro_climb_Approaching-Kibo-0300.jpg\" alt=\"Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Tanzania_Kilimanjaro_climb_Approaching-Kibo-0300.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Tanzania_Kilimanjaro_climb_Approaching-Kibo-0300-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Tanzania_Kilimanjaro_climb_Approaching-Kibo-0300-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Intrepid-Travel-Tanzania_Kilimanjaro_climb_Approaching-Kibo-0300-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-31164\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The long walk to the top. Photo by Lucy Piper.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>We reach Kibo Hut (4703 metres), our last stop before our summit attempt. Tonight\u2019s different to the seemingly luxurious previous nights on the mountain; we\u2019re advised to attempt a few hours\u2019 sleep before being woken at 11pm to start walking to the top.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"\/search?region=Kilimanjaro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>EXPLORE OUR RANGE OF ADVENTURES TO MT KILIMANJARO HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The sky is still light and I\u2019m too excited to sleep; despite the high altitude, I\u2019m feeling surprisingly good, and looking forward to the night ahead.\u00a0 As the sun sets behind the mountain, the fading light slowly skips up the face of the adjacent Mawenzi Peak.<\/p>\n<p>I sit quietly, taking in this magnificent view above the clouds as the light begins to fade; we\u2019re almost at the summit of the roof of Africa.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31161\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31161\" class=\"wp-image-31161 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/rowan_kili3-e1543903867151.jpg\" alt=\"The sun rising in Tanzania\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/rowan_kili3-e1543903867151.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/rowan_kili3-e1543903867151-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/rowan_kili3-e1543903867151-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/rowan_kili3-e1543903867151-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-31161\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Sunrise above the clouds. Photo by Rowan Waters.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A few hours later and in complete darkness, apart from the light of our head torches, we start ascending the steep slope. One foot in front of the other, we give a new definition to the phrase \u2018pole pole\u2019. We don\u2019t expend any more energy than we have to, stepping slowly, quietly and deliberately, as we walk the ten metres of trail before pausing, turning sharply, and walking the next ten, zig-zagging up the steep mountain face.<\/p>\n<p>It feels like this momentum has become my life. At this pace, I can\u2019t even think about the end goal. For seven hours, I concentrate on my slow steps\u2026 rest\u2026 water\u2026 readjust my balaclava\u2026 This is how we make our way up the mountain on this bitterly cold night.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"\/subscribe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>SUBSCRIBE TO INTREPID\u2019S NEWSLETTER FOR MORE TRAVEL TIPS, STORIES, GIVEAWAYS &amp; MORE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>More steps, a wobbly climb through a rocky outcrop, and a sign that reads Gilmans Point. Beyond the sign is a beautiful sight for sore legs: the plateau of the mountain, with only a gradual rise to the highest point. I check my surroundings; very softly, in the distance below, are tinges of blue, orange and yellow. It\u2019s still too early for sunrise, but the hint that it will be soon upon us brings feelings of relief, joy and satisfaction that the summit is in our sights.<\/p>\n<p>We step with purpose along the plateau, soaking it all up as the sky lightens; we\u2019re almost there. A smile breaks out across my face as the pain subsides and we float towards the summit. My emotions are in overdrive: exhaustion, pride, bewilderment and an overall feeling of euphoria of what we\u2019re about to achieve. I realise trekking mountains in my thirties has an uncanny likeness to the nightclub days of my twenties.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_31160\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-31160\" class=\"wp-image-31160 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/rowan_kili2-e1543903828838.jpg\" alt=\"Two hikers on top on Mt Kilimanjaro\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/rowan_kili2-e1543903828838.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/rowan_kili2-e1543903828838-425x239.jpg 425w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/rowan_kili2-e1543903828838-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/rowan_kili2-e1543903828838-585x329.jpg 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-31160\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Quiet reflections on the roof of Africa. Photo by Rowan Waters.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I turn full circle, in absolute awe of this beautiful landscape. The sun is rising over Mawenzi Peak, blazing a strong orange against the bluest sky I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n<p>My fellow group members and I high five each other; we embrace and share grins of absolute joy as we stand on the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, at almost 6000 metres above sea level.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ready for a challenge? Tie up your boots and tackle Mt Kilimanjaro now &#8211;\u00a0<a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"\/kilimanjaro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">check out our trip info here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Feature image by Lucy Piper.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mt Kilimanjaro is one of the most challenging hikes in the world. This is what a trek to the roof of Africa really looks like. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15994,"featured_media":31162,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[455,286],"tags":[1183,65,395,73,2287],"class_list":["post-31157","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","category-stories","tag-active-adventures","tag-africa","tag-mt-kilimanjaro","tag-tanzania","tag-trekking-and-walking","ipf_theme-walking-trekking","ipf_region-tanzania"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.3.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What It&#039;s Really Like Climbing Kilimanjaro | Intrepid Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Climbing Kilimanjaro is one of the most challenging hikes in the world. 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