Training To Climb Kilimanjaro

Training To Climb Kilimanjaro is all about your physical endurance. Having the proper fitness when Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is important. It is all about developing cardiovascular endurance and flexibility by training and strength training.  

Leg strength and endurance training are important for safety and success when Climbing Kilimanjaro. You need to acclimatize and build up specific physical training. This will help you safely reach the summit and get back down again.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a tough task. Just because you exercise regularly does not mean you will easily reach the summit of Kilimanjaro. You need harder training like –

• Uphill hiking, walking, and stair-climbing
• Strength training — for the lower body and core
• Cardiovascular training —aerobic and anaerobic workouts
• Flexibility training

You need to start Training For Climbing Kilimanjaro at least 6 months prior. During this time, you will need to progressively increase your hiking time, distance, and elevation gain.

Various Training To Climb Kilimanjaro

Aerobic Training

Aerobic Training uses oxygen to adequately meet the energy demands of exercise via aerobic metabolism. The types of exercise that use aerobic metabolism are generally light-to-moderate intensity activities like long-distance jogging, swimming, cycling and walking. This differs from anaerobic exercise like high-intensity weight lifting and sprinting which uses anaerobic metabolism to supplement the aerobic system due to increased energy demands.

Aerobic exercise builds the cardiovascular system which is key when Training To Climb Kilimanjaro, as a strong cardiovascular system will help you process limited oxygen in a more efficient way.

Strength Training

In addition to aerobic exercise, you should also be doing light strength training, particularly for your legs, core and upper body.

In terms of your legs we suggest the following exercises:

• Lunges
• Squats
• Front and Reverse Leg-curls (thigh muscle and hamstrings)
• Step aerobics

Building the strength of your core muscles (stomach and lower back) and upper shoulder muscles is also important as you will be carrying a lightweight pack for up to 6-7 hours a day. We recommend the following exercises:

• Sit-ups
• Kettle-bell rows / swings
• Shoulder presses
• Back and shoulder flies
• Practice Hiking

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is in fact just one long hike. The best way to prepare for a long hike is to do a few yourself.

Mental Stamina

So often the thing that gets climbers to the top of Kilimanjaro is their mental stamina. There will be times during the summit night that you will want to give up and go back down. Being able to dig deep and pull on your mental reserves is so important.

Thankfully there are activities to train your mental stamina. Most require some form of pushing your body to the extreme, or to what you think your limits are, and then pushing through to accomplish your goal.

We recommend long-distance running, particularly marathons, but half marathons can do the same thing if you are not accustomed to running long distances. This type of activity really requires one to draw on their mental reserves to get to the finish line.

Kilimanjaro Routes In Miles & Training Schedule

You hike between 5-10 miles each day for 5-9 days in a row (depending on the length of your climb). Spending more time on the Mountain will give you extra time to acclimatize, increasing your Kilimanjaro Success Rate to reach the top at Uhuru peak (the highest peak at 19,340 feet). All Kilimanjaro Climb start at just under 5,000 feet elevation, which means you are climbing roughly 15,000 feet in elevation during your trek.

There Are Four Main Routes Up The Mountain:

• Marangu Route (5-7 days) - 37 miles round trip / Huts
• Machame Route (6-7 days) - 37 miles round trip / Camping
• Lemosho Route (7-9 days) - 40 miles round trip / Camping
• Rongai Route (7-9 days) - 44 miles round trip / Camping

Kilimanjaro Preparation requires a time commitment months before ever boarding a plane or packing a bag. The challenge is what makes the Kilimanjaro Climb glorious; no one can do it for you, it is hard-earned only by your own sweat and hours of Training For Kilimanjaro.

If you are fit enough for this, rest assured that your body will still give you more when you need it. If you follow the guidelines for both the gym training as well as the walking routine, you are definitely ready for Kilimanjaro physically. You can now concentrate on being mentally ready, but chances are the top most with Kiele Climb.