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Kilimanjaro Myths
Some routes are much quieter than others - WRONG! But…
All the routes on Kili follow just two ways to the summit - the
Gillman Screes or the Barafu Ridge. So all the different routes
you read about are really just alternative starts.
Rongai is the easiest route - WRONG!
All the routes start at the same height and finish at the same height
so there's no difference there. All the climbs have similar daily
height gains (depending on the number of days you are taking) so
no difference there. All the routes follow good paths with no technical
difficulties so again no difference. The last two day of the Rongai
follows the Marangu route and is a soul sapping 6 hour scree climb
- many find this really difficult and give up here.
Young people find it easier - PERHAPS!
It depends how fit they are. If they are 20 year old sofa slugs
they will have a bad time
You have to keep up with the guide - WRONG!
The great thing about our Kili guides is that they have done the
climb more than a hundred times, so they know how to do it. One
of the greatest keys to success is to walk very slowly, and the
guide will make sure that you do. A good guide will always have
an assistant to stay with those who want to go even slower.
I'm 50 so I'm too old - WRONG!
Kili has been climbed by many 60 and 70 year olds - and even 80
year olds - who are not superfit but just regular hillwalkers. It's
more about stamina and endurance - not speed and fitness.
You need oxygen - WRONG!
The air is very thin when you reach the higher slopes, so you'll
be puffing, but if you climb has been organised by people who know
what they are doing, you should be well acclimatised by then - especially
if you include the extra day we recommend. Oxygen is sometimes used
in emergencies but not routinely.
You need to be very fit - WRONG!
Fit yes but not super fit. If you walk regularly, preferably occasionally
in the hills, you should be ok. One of the questions we ask is "
could you walk up Snowdon or Scafell on two consecutive days?"
You need lots of expensive equipment - WRONG!
If you walk in the British hills you'll probably have everything
you need. We will discuss this with you and suggest anything you
might need. We have an equipment store at the hotel at the foot
of the mountain, so hiring is an option.
Kilimanjaro is overcrowded - WRONG!
It's certainly busy at times just like any popular walk anywhere
in the world, so don't go expecting a quiet wilderness. But it's
a big mountain and people are small, so there's plenty of room for
everyone. We have organised hundreds of people to the summit and
no-one has ever made a comment about too many people.
You need special jabs to get the top - WRONG!
You need some jabs when you travel anywhere in the Tropics, but
nothing extra to climb Kilimanjaro. There is a drug, Diamox, which
might help but most people do not use this as it has unpleasant
side effects.
It's sensible to use a cheap operator - WRONG!
If you find a cheaper price, just think about why it is cheaper.
Are the porters paid adequately? Poor standard of equipment? Fewer
staff on the mountain? Less food? So, if any of these appeal to
you, go for it and get a really cheap deal!
The porters are not well looked after - WRONG! But….
If some of the operators are able to charge less, how do you think
they do it. The Park Fees for Kilimanjaro are well over half the
total cost, and the next biggest cost is porters. So that's where
the savings are often made. Any reputable operator will pay the
porters the wages recommended by the Porter Protection society,
and there will be some sort of cover for times when they are not
able to work.
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