Can Children Climb Kilimanjaro?

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.

Questions?  We can put you in touch with climbers of all ages who have summited successfully, just contact us and request to speak with a parent or child who has climbed with us.  We are always here to answer any of your questions about climbing Kilimanjaro!

What gear do you need to climb Kilimanjaro?

Most Kilimanjaro outfitters will provide clients with a tent, sleeping mat, mess tent, cooking supplies, water filters, and emergency medical equipment (oxygen, hyperbaric chamber- always ask about these critical pieces of emergency equipment!).  Most Kilimanjaro outfitters will also carry the majority of your personal gear, and may offer pieces of gear for rent. KiliBound Adventures offers the following items for rent: sleeping bags, thick foam mattresses, cots, duffel bags, gaiters, & trekking poles. Some outfitters carry additional gear for extra comfort such as a private toilet and private shower.

KiliBound Adventures recommends you bring the following gear for your Kilimanjaro climb.  Always bring gear for rain and cold regardless of what season you are climbing Kili in, the weather is very unpredictable. You can email any questions about gear to KiliBoundAdventures@gmail.com!  We are happy to recommend specific products and companies.

From the bottom up…

PERSONAL CLIMBING GEAR:

¨ Boots: Your most important item!  Make sure that they are above the ankle, water proof, and broken in before you get on the mountain.  There should be enough room in your boots for two pairs of heavy socks.
¨ Socks: Heavy wool or similar material.  3 pairs.
¨ Liner socks: Optional in the warmer months, but essential in the colder months!  Silk or synthetic materials are best.  3 pairs.
¨ Camp shoes: Optional, but highly recommended for your personal comfort.  You will want to slip out of your boots after a long day of trekking.
¨ Gaiters: Highly recommended to keep dust, mud, and snow from getting into your boots or getting your pants excessively dirty. Available for rent.
¨ Hiking pants: Convertible pants work well and double as shorts at lower elevations in warm weather. 2 pairs.
¨ Long underwear: Necessary!  It can get very cold very quickly.  2 pairs top & 2 pairs bottom.
¨ Lower body fleece layer: Usually not needed until summit day, you will be happy that you have this!  Also handy for being comfy in camp. 1 -2 pairs fit to layer.
¨ Waterproof pant layer: Required regardless of what season you are climbing, your wet items will not dry quickly at high altitude so it is better to keep them dry!  Try to get windproof & waterproof. 1 pair.
¨ Undergarments: Bring old pairs and throw them out at the end of the day.  Cotton does not dry well at high altitudes, bring synthetics. 
¨ Upper body fleece: 1-2 base layers, 1 vest layer, 1 expedition layer, sized to be worn on top of each other.  Minimum 2 layers.
¨ Waterproof jacket: Waterproof, windproof, must have a hood!  Choose a lightweight jacket that will fit over your layers.  1 jacket.
¨ T-shirts: Wicking fabric or synthetic t-shirts to wear around camp and on the first days of hike when it is warm.  2-3 T-shirts.
¨ Hat: One hat to protect your face from the sun, one to keep you warm! 2 hats.
¨ Balaclava: Very helpful on windy days to keep you warm!  A buff will also work to protect your face from windburn.
¨ Bandanas: Bandanas are very handy!  Bring several!
¨ Gloves: one light pair to be worn under an expedition pair of gloves.  2 pairs.
¨ Pillow/pillowcase: Small travel pillows are inexpensive but add to your comfort greatly!  You will be provided with a small pillow (it is quite small!), if you prefer you can simply bring a pillowcase. Also, a stuff sack of clothes can double as a pillow as well.
¨ Sleeping bag: Rated to 0 degrees Fahrenheit preferred.  Available for rent.
¨ Sleeping bag liner: Silk liners are lightweight and easy to carry, fleece liners are also available for extra warmth. 
¨ Water bottles: You need to be able to carry 3 liters of water.  2 liter bladder systems are highly recommended along with a 1 liter Nalgene-type bottle.
¨ Head lamps: Helpful at night when digging in your duffel to get your gear out for the next day or hanging from the roof of your tent in the evening.  1-2 lamps.
¨ Poncho: Minimum of one for you and one for your day pack!  The throw away kind are acceptable.  Some daypacks come with their own waterproof cover.  2 ponchos.
¨Sunglasses: Polarized lenses are best, the sun is very bright when reflected off the glaciers! 1 pair.
¨Adjustable trekking poles: Highly recommended!  Available for rent.

PERSONAL TOILETRIES/ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

¨Sun screen: The higher the SPF the better!  The sun is very strong during the dry season, and it is easy to get burned even on cloudy days.
¨ Lip balm: SPF 15 or higher if you can find it, the elements are very harsh on your lips.
¨Water flavoring powder: Adding flavoring powder to water encourages you to stay hydrated!
¨ Personal first aid kit: Bring an anti-inflammatory, ibuprofen, anti-diarrheal, Band-Aids, blister cream, and whatever medications or vitamins you take on a regular basis.
¨ Plastic bags: Plastic bags of all sizes can be handy for separating clean/dirty clothes in your duffel, carrying trash, or organizing toiletries.
¨ Wet wipes/dryer sheets: wet wipes help you keep clean on the mountain; dryer sheets placed in your duffel will help keep your stuff smelling fresh!
¨ Camp towel: quick dry towels can be purchased at any outdoors store – do not bring a towel from home, it will not dry and you will be stuck lugging around a wet towel all week!
¨Personal toiletry items: deodorant, toothbrush, tooth paste, biodegradable soap & shampoo, dry shampoo, nail clippers, tissues
¨Throat drops/candy & trail snacks: for a little pick me up on the trail.
¨Feminine hygiene products: Ladies, better to be safe!  Altitude can affect all of your bodily systems in strange ways!
¨ Duffel bag: Must measure 30inx12inx12in so that it fits into our waterproof carrying sacks.  Available for rent.
¨ Daypack: Big enough to carry your water for the day, your camera and sunscreen, and your extra rain layers.
¨ Camera & extra lithium batteries: You don’t want to miss a single shot!  Charge your batteries ahead of time and bring them with you.  Bring extra batteries for EVERYTHING, the cold at night can zap batteries of their charge quickly!
¨travel notebook: So you remember every detail!
¨ binoculars & power adaptors: for safari.  Tanzania uses a three prong plug, 220v. 
¨ insect repellent: for safari, no bugs on the mountain!

Preparing for a Kilimanjaro Climb - Physical Preparations

If you still haven't decided whether or not you are physically fit enough to climb Kilimanjaro, or you have decided to climb and are now starting your physical training - listen up!

First go to your doctor to discuss any pre-existing conditions that may impact you during your climb.  If you are taking any medications on a regular basis, visit with your doctor to discuss whether or not you should take these medications on the mountain and possible side effects at high elevations. If you plan on taking medicine for altitude sickness ask your doctor about possible interactions with your other medications.  ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS talk to your doctor before you book a climb, and inform your outiftter of any medical concerns that you have. Upscale outfitters can often help accomodate for some basic medical needs on the mountain, and should be able to give you a number of safety options in the event that you need to be evacuated from the mountain.  Your outfitter should have guides trained in basic first aid, wilderness survival, and treamment of acute mountain sickness (always ask before you book a climb!).

Since you will be doing mostly walking on the mountain, your physical training should focus on walking. If there are not places near you to hike, you can walk on the treadmill at a steady uphill rate.  If you will be carrying any of your own gear you should start hiking/walking with your gear on your back.  Most outfitters carry your tents, clothing, and food items.  Double check on this, especially if you are climbing with a lower budget outfitter.  Most outfitters expect you to carry your personal day pack which should contain any clothing layers you may need during the day, your rain layer, your camera, sunscreen, snacks, and 2-3 liters of water.  Some outfitters offer a personal porter to carry those items for you at an additional cost.  If you will be carrying any of your own items, load up your water and your gear into your day pack, put on your boots, and start walking ASAP! Expect to walk 5-8 hours a day on your hike.

As you are preparing your body, remeber to prepare your gear - especially your boots!  Your boots should be the first gear item you purchase, and they should be very well worn in by the time you step foot on the mountain. More on gear next time!

Should YOU climb Kilimanjaro?

Climbing Kilimanjaro is not easy, but it is not impossible for the average person to make it to the top!  If you want a vacation that is challenging, rewarding, and truly a once in a lifetime experience, Kilimanjaro is your destination.  Nothing compares to standing at 19,340 feet knowing that it was your feet, your effort, your spirit that got you there!  I've yet to see someone do it with a dry eye.

Should you attempt Kilimanjaro?  First consider if you have any pre-existing medical conditions - these do not necessarily mean that you cannot or should not climb, but you will have to be very careful to select an outfitter that can meet your needs.  Talk to your doctor - many conditions can be accommodated for on the mountain and good outfitters offer plenty of safety options to consider and will discuss these with you at length.  You should be of average health and fitness before you attempt to climb the mountain, and regardless of what shape you are in you should absolutely plan to train for Kilimanjaro (more on that in an upcoming post). Keep in mind, KiliBound Adventures aims to get the average joe to the top and provides climbers with as many of the comforts of home on the mountain as possible.

Once you consider whether or not you are in decent enough shape to climb, think back to any of your experiences at high altitude.  The hardest part about Kilimanjaro is not the hiking itself, but the hiking in high altitudes. You can climb the mountain in as little as 5 days, but the success rate tends to be around 50%.  Altitude sickness is the result of climbing too high, too fast, with too high a level of exertion (to sum it up).  Many people do not attempt Kili due to fears about altitude - however, if approached correctly you can climb the mountain in a way that maximizes your ability to acclimatize.  We highly recommend the Lemosho route - it takes 9 days (7 up, 2 down), and was designed by the famous mountaineer, Scott Fischer, to maximize acclimatization   Our success rate on that route is 100%, so far!

You must consider the financial aspects of climbing.  Flights to Tanzania typically run between $1200-$1800.  You will likely need to purchase a few new pieces of gear, take at least a week and a half to two weeks of work, and pay for your climb.  Climbs run anywhere from $1,200 - $10,000!  Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true, and be equally wary of excessively high climb costs. There are many outfitters to chose from, we suggest that you call and speak with an owner or manager of the outfitter about their costs and the services that they offer for that price. More about choosing your outfitter to come.

In our experience the vast majority of climbers find Kilimanjaro to be worth every ounce of their physical and financial investment.  The emotional payoff is indescribable! We cannot all climb Everest, but most of us can climb Kilimanjaro!

Whether or not you climb with us, CLIMB KILIMANJARO! "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." - Helen Keller.  We agree, Helen!

Meet KiliBound Adventures

We here at KiliBound Adventures have been seriously missing Africa lately!  It has been a few months since the last time we (James & Kassie) climbed Kilimanjaro, and for our personal well being and also to help you prepare for your Kili climb, we are starting this blog to address all things Kilimanjaro. Ask questions, and stay tuned for helpful advice from our experts :) 

We are a climbing company based in St. Augustine, Florida, and are completely, totally, head over heels in love with Africa and Kilimanjaro.  Our climbs up Kilimanjaro are geared toward helping the average joe make it to the top - you do not need to be in marathon runner shape to get to the summit with us!  Our company consists of ourselves (James & Kassie), our AWESOME manager of all things on the ground, Gideon, and our mascot, Fabio.

We are looking forward to getting to know the blogging world! In the meantime, thanks for bearing with us :)