Kilimanjaro makes a great family vacation! YES, children age ten and
older can climb Kilimanjaro. The Tanzanian park authority does not allow
children under the age of ten to climb over 3700 meters/12,000 feet. If
your children are up for the adventure, you will want to take some
extra precautions before you go:
First, discuss the trip with your pediatrician. Improper exposure to
altitude can be very dangerous for a developing brain, and if your
child has any health concerns it may not be worth your while to attempt
Kili as a family at this time. A few years in the development of a
child can make a big difference, depending upon your child's age and
stage of development it may be best to wait.
Second, prepare your
child physically and mentally well in advance. Purchase good quality
equipment and get your child used to wearing it and using it. Make
family treks to break in your boots a frequent event in your household,
and practice walking with a few water bottles in your pack. Discuss the
possible challenges that you will face as a family on the mountain (bad
weather, difficult days of hiking, symptoms of altitude sickness) and
develop a family mantra to use to encourage one another as you train and
again to encourage one another on the mountain. Be realistic about
what your child can expect, but make an effort to discuss it with them
in a positive nature with the emphasis of the conversation being on
their ability to make it to the summit! If possible, try to take your
child on a few short high altitude hikes to get a sense for how their
body will respond.
Finally, be extra selective in choosing your
route and outfitter. At KiliBound Adventures, we strongly recommend
that children use the Lemosho Route due to the extra time it allows for
acclimatization. Acclimatization is one of the biggest factors
influencing whether or not you summit safely. It is not universally
considered safe for adults or children to use oxygen during the summit,
it is much better to allow your body extra days to acclimatize
naturally. Look for outfitters that offer private toilets (you don't
want your child using the public long drops, they are very dirty) and
personal porters to carry your child's day pack and help them along the
trek. Ask your outfitter how the staff feels about having children
along for the trek, some are more comfortable working with that
clientele than others.
So now you know that children can climb
Kilimanjaro, but should your child climb? Climbing Kili is one of the
most challenging and rewarding experiences of your life, and the
families that have climbed with us have felt it especially meaningful to
summit with their children. That being said, safety first! Listen to
your gut, Kilimanjaro will wait for you.