RETAIN HIGHLANDS VITALITY AT ALL TIMES

You will need far more energy than you imagine climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. You will be trekking in challenging conditions, up steep inclines and on difficult terrain for upwards of six hours a day in rapidly changing conditions. Hot and humid lower down, the climate cools and dries as you ascend. When you reach higher altitudes and air pressure decreases it is harder to absorb oxygen from the air you breathe, so your chest muscles work harder than normal.

The air is colder at higher altitudes, you will feel incredibly tired, and it will take an effort of will to keep moving. But you need to move to avoid getting chilled. You shiver in your tent at night and sleep less soundly than usual. This is all exhausting.

You must replace the energy you use and much more besides to maintain optimum condition. This is no time to worry about calorie intake. Arctic explorers allow themselves 6,000 calories a day, the equivalent of 6 loaves of bread. Forget the diet drinks and embrace honest to goodness calorie loaded sugar and carbohydrates, the most efficient energy source.

The food provided during your Kili trek with AfricanMecca is rich and comforting and there is plenty of it. Tuck in and feel virtuous. It is the most productive thing you can do. Rest as much as you can, especially nearing the end of your climb. Fatigue syndrome causes extreme mood swings and dizziness and you may get very little sleep on your last night before the summit.



A less obvious foe is dehydration. The increased turnover of cold, dry air at high altitudes causes increased water loss from the lungs, visible as steam when you breathe, and there is a diuretic effect on your body, leading to increased urination. You will sweat profusely in hot, humid conditions lower down the mountain, and you will perspire under your warm clothing as you exert yourself to gain altitude.

You will need to replenish four to five liters of water every 24 hours: over a gallon. Even a small shortfall can cause severe problems similar to heat stroke, with muscle cramps and fatigue. Uhuru Trails by AfricanMecca are aware of these problems. Their guides and porters go to great trouble to keep you well supplied with nourishment and water.

Menus contain plenty of juicy fruit as well as a generous provision of purified water. You may also wish to provide yourself with a supply of your favorite high energy drinks for extra variety. It is normal to feel extremely tired at high altitudes as a result of oxygen deprivation and loss of body weight which is mainly muscle tissue, due to decompression, as well as environmental stress. This reduces your muscle power and affects your moods.

To make your Kilimanjaro heavy-duty hike as enjoyable as possible, Uhuru Trails by AfricanMecca keeps you well-informed about what to expect, well-supplied with everything needful, and well looked after by a skillful and experienced support team whose objective is to get you to Uhuru Peak and down safely with wonderful memories of the achievement of a lifetime.

Review Below Primary Strategies For A Successful Summit Of Kilimanjaro

TANZANIA TRIP IDEAS

Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Trip Ideas

AFRICA SAFARI PRICES

Check Our Africa Travel Guide