Kilimanjaro Training

How long should I train for Mount Kilimanjaro?

Should I train with an altitude mask?

What is the best training for Kilimanjaro climb?

Those are common questions that people ask about training for Kilimanjaro. We know it can be very confusing since some people train a lot but fail to reach the top of Kilimanjaro, while others with little or no training manage to summit.

The way the body responds to high altitude varies from person to person, so training with altitude can be beneficial. From our experience trekking and climbing mountains in East Africa, the best training you can do is hiking/ walking, hiking/walking, hiking/walking. You can incorporate other types of training, but remember that on Kilimanjaro, you will be hiking for about 6 hours every day except on the summit day, where it can be up to 14+ hours.

Start with short walks and gradually increase to long walks before your Kilimanjaro climb. Mental strength is also crucial for climbing Kilimanjaro.

we at Summit Savannah don’t want to confuse you with the training for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, Mount Lengai, and Mount Meru. You may be confused by information from many websites or blogs. Anyway, it is very simple and not confusing.

Speaking of training for Kilimanjaro, just do two main things. Firstly, train your mind to be very mentally strong to climb Kilimanjaro and other big mountains. For example, 60 percent is actually mental. You should convince your mind that you have the mindset for winning, not quitting. Keep telling yourself that it’s not over until you win and this is what you came for. Having mental stamina will help you stay positive no matter what happens on the mountain.

The second main training is to put on your boots, backpack, and hike for a couple of hours. If possible, hike for 5 to 8 hours 3 to 4 times a week for about three months. This is great since on Kilimanjaro, you will be hiking for about 5 to 8 hours every day, except for the summit day which will be the longest. On the summit day, think about 14 plus hours to finish the summit program and back down to the lower camps.
Try to find hills or mountains near you and hike them. Make sure to add some weight to your backpack, like 10kg since on Kilimanjaro, you will be carrying your day sack yourself. For that reason, your shoulders should be able to carry the days sack, Training them is important since many people complain about shoulder pain, train with your day sack before climbing Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. If you don’t have hills to train on, look for tall buildings to climb multiple times every day before going to Kilimanjaro.

You also need to train your legs because they play a big role in getting you to the top of Kilimanjaro. One of the reasons why we recommend people train their legs is that ,half of the trip is climbing to the top of Kilimanjaro, and the other half is coming back down. If possible, get enough workouts before Kilimanjaro. Things like squatting, jogging, and cycling will help you get ready for Kilimanjaro. Overall, the best training for Kilimanjaro is to wear your hiking shoes, carry 10 to 12kg of luggage in your backpack, ( make sure to have essential items like rain gear, extra fleece, water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, wallet, passport) AFTER HAVING YOUR HIKING BOOTS ON AND YOUR BACKPACK THEN WALK! WALK AND WALK AS MUCH YOU CAN. ‘If you have a high-altitude mountain nearby, training there would be great to help acclimatize. Doing so will help your body produce more red blood cells, improving the chances of reaching the top by ensuring vital organs like the brain get enough oxygen.
Training at high altitude will also help you understand how your body reacts to altitude and give you more time to prepare for the upcoming Kilimanjaro trip. Remember, climbing Kilimanjaro is not an easy walk; it requires a lot of energy. Preparation is key to reaching the summit. We value your time, energy, and money, so we appreciate everyone booking with us to reach the summit of Africa. Note: Walk, walk, walk! This