Completed my summit in October '22, best thing I ever done. Caught the bug now and planning my next one! As the video recommends, positive mindsets, preparation and spend as much time on the mountain as possible to limit altitude sickness! I was on the fence but thought I'd find it harder living with regret of not attempting it than failing the summit itself, our group had a 100% success rate :)
What do you think about a 13-year-old boy doing it? He is very athletic and fit, but I worry about altitude. I have been to Cusco, Peru twice, and have gotten altitude sick, but after a day I was fine. I wonder if he will have the same issue and if I should take him after I do my first climb to Kilimanjaro. ~ Karina
We have brought children as young as 6 and 8 years old on the mountain and generally they do OK. Make sure they have significant hiking experience including altitude expsoure before taking them on a big mountain like Kilimanjaro.
@@Ultimate-Kilimanjaro Greetings.. The whole altitude issue. I have no issues regarding fitness and the other aspects of climbing, however the fact that you don't know if you're going to fail because of altitude is a bit worrisome. I have watched many videos of fit and younger people who failed to summit due to that unknown specter of altitude sickness. Really giving it some serious thought.. Thanks for your reply..Cheers.. WiL
@@WiLNorCaLYes, that is the big unknown. Take an 8 or 9 day route for slow acclimatization and your success rate is over 90%. Climb with a reputable operator like Ultimate Kilimanjaro for safety.
@@Ultimate-Kilimanjaro OK.. Enough fence sitting.. I have watched these damn videos over and over.. It is time.. booked the 8 day Sept 29 Lemosho Route today... So excited for the challenge.. Thanks Kevin! your videos are very motivational to engage in the challenge! WiL
I can hardly believe this video. I was travelling up Africa by car, from Johannesburg to Europe, and when we got to the Kilimanjaro area, it seemed like a thing "to do", to climb the mountain. I had not trained for it at all. I simply parked the car at the bottom, took my rucksack and some extra pullovers, and climbed it. It's just really a long, fairly steep walk with footpaths to follow all the way, and no technical climbing at all. There are three climatic zones on the way up, so on the first day, I climbed through the forest area to the first hut, the second day, it's grassland to the second hut, then the third day, I left the hut not long after midningt and climbed to the rim of the crater, then down into the crater for a couple of hours, then back up onto the rim - and all the way back to first hut. The fourth day was an easy downhill walk to the car. On reaching the car, I got pretty sick and had to have a medical visit - but they had seen it all before, and gave me something that cleared it up pretty quickly. I should say that I had been living in Johannesburg for all my life up to that point, and Jhb is at 6,000 ft altitude, so I was already accustomed to living a long way about sea level.
@@_Forbes_ I'm 77 now, and I climbed Kili when I was in my late 20's - so times were different. However, for what it's worth, I didn't have to book at all as far as I can remember. I paid a porter, because it was the general underswtanding that that's how it was done, but I don't remember paying for the huts at all. Well, nothing is free in life, but if there was a charge made, it wasn't big enough for me to feel overcharged - or I would most likely remember. What I do remember is that the porter organised to go off by himself for a while, saying that he was tired, and would catch us up - with my rucksack, and when I checked it later, money was missing.
"I simply parked the car at the bottom, took my rucksack and some extra pullovers, and climbed it." And you had enough food for the entire way? You had the right gear ("extra pullovers") for the extreme cold? You hauled enough water from mid altitudes to cook at high camp and make it to the summit and back? Your story account seems pretty unbelievable. How heavy was your pack?
For everything you need to know about climbing Kilimanjaro, visit 👉www.ultimatekilimanjaro.com
I can hardly wait!!
Been watching your videos for months and it highly contributed to me sending an email yesterday to book a private climb and safari!
We're glad you find our videos helpful! Thanks for your comment.
Completed my summit in October '22, best thing I ever done. Caught the bug now and planning my next one! As the video recommends, positive mindsets, preparation and spend as much time on the mountain as possible to limit altitude sickness! I was on the fence but thought I'd find it harder living with regret of not attempting it than failing the summit itself, our group had a 100% success rate :)
Congratulations!
interesting info
I am there next week
What do you think about a 13-year-old boy doing it? He is very athletic and fit, but I worry about altitude. I have been to Cusco, Peru twice, and have gotten altitude sick, but after a day I was fine. I wonder if he will have the same issue and if I should take him after I do my first climb to Kilimanjaro. ~ Karina
We have brought children as young as 6 and 8 years old on the mountain and generally they do OK. Make sure they have significant hiking experience including altitude expsoure before taking them on a big mountain like Kilimanjaro.
Did not know that virgil van dijk has a side business...
🤣
Put me in the life changing category
That's great to hear!
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a huge goal of mine! I'm trying to get fitter, but when I do get the chance I will definitely book with you guys!
We're ready when you are! Thank you.
I'm surprised this video has no mention how absolutely scared to death a lot of people are on the Western Breach?
There are many routes on the mountain. Therefore avoiding certain topographies is easy and not a reason to avoid climbing Kilimanjaro.
I'm so on the fence..LOL But what an amazing life experience!!!
What are your concerns?
@@Ultimate-Kilimanjaro Greetings.. The whole altitude issue. I have no issues regarding fitness and the other aspects of climbing, however the fact that you don't know if you're going to fail because of altitude is a bit worrisome. I have watched many videos of fit and younger people who failed to summit due to that unknown specter of altitude sickness. Really giving it some serious thought.. Thanks for your reply..Cheers.. WiL
@@WiLNorCaLYes, that is the big unknown. Take an 8 or 9 day route for slow acclimatization and your success rate is over 90%. Climb with a reputable operator like Ultimate Kilimanjaro for safety.
@@Ultimate-Kilimanjaro OK.. Enough fence sitting.. I have watched these damn videos over and over.. It is time.. booked the 8 day Sept 29 Lemosho Route today... So excited for the challenge.. Thanks Kevin! your videos are very motivational to engage in the challenge! WiL
I can hardly believe this video.
I was travelling up Africa by car, from Johannesburg to Europe, and when we got to the Kilimanjaro area, it seemed like a thing "to do", to climb the mountain. I had not trained for it at all. I simply parked the car at the bottom, took my rucksack and some extra pullovers, and climbed it. It's just really a long, fairly steep walk with footpaths to follow all the way, and no technical climbing at all. There are three climatic zones on the way up, so on the first day, I climbed through the forest area to the first hut, the second day, it's grassland to the second hut, then the third day, I left the hut not long after midningt and climbed to the rim of the crater, then down into the crater for a couple of hours, then back up onto the rim - and all the way back to first hut. The fourth day was an easy downhill walk to the car.
On reaching the car, I got pretty sick and had to have a medical visit - but they had seen it all before, and gave me something that cleared it up pretty quickly.
I should say that I had been living in Johannesburg for all my life up to that point, and Jhb is at 6,000 ft altitude, so I was already accustomed to living a long way about sea level.
Did you have to book the hut or just turned up each day?
@@_Forbes_ I'm 77 now, and I climbed Kili when I was in my late 20's - so times were different. However, for what it's worth, I didn't have to book at all as far as I can remember. I paid a porter, because it was the general underswtanding that that's how it was done, but I don't remember paying for the huts at all. Well, nothing is free in life, but if there was a charge made, it wasn't big enough for me to feel overcharged - or I would most likely remember. What I do remember is that the porter organised to go off by himself for a while, saying that he was tired, and would catch us up - with my rucksack, and when I checked it later, money was missing.
"I simply parked the car at the bottom, took my rucksack and some extra pullovers, and climbed it."
And you had enough food for the entire way? You had the right gear ("extra pullovers") for the extreme cold? You hauled enough water from mid altitudes to cook at high camp and make it to the summit and back?
Your story account seems pretty unbelievable. How heavy was your pack?