There is no doubt about it, Kilimanjaro is a tough challenge and requires a good level of fitness, physical and emotional strength, and stamina. We don't prescribe a particular training plan, but it is important that you are prepared.
Your training to climb Kilimanjaro should incorporate aerobic, anaerobic, strength and flexibility excercises. Most importantly, you should get in some good hill walking (both uphill & downhill), in the boots you are going to be wearing on the Kilimanjaro challenge.
Yes! We have a number of pre-Kilimanjaro Training Days in London and the North & South Downs to join like-minded trekkers whilst you test out your kit.
And especially for Kilimanjaro we have a Snowdon Night Summit where we replicate the summit on Kilimanjaro - we trek during the day, then rest before a midnight wake-up call to reach the summit for sun-rise. A great experience to prepare for the real thing.
We also run monthly information evenings - you can find the link to these on our home page & preparation page
Visa - Yes, all UK, Irish and US nationals require a visa for travel to Tanzania and this needs to be obtained prior to your challenge departure. (We have helpsheets available to assist you with these appications. If you are of different national heritage to those mentioned above, please check the Tanzania High Commission's website for visa requirements.
Vaccinations - Make sure you are up to date for all boosters and courses as advised for life in the UK. You should also take a course of anti-malarials, and be aware that depending on the type you may need to start taking these in advance of departure. For advice on any additional vaccinations or treatments, please speak with your GP. Yuo can also visit the following site for further guidance: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/africa/united-republic-of-tanzania
Insurance - Travel Insurance is imperative and should cover the costs of medical repatriation, trip curtailment costs and trekking up to 6,000m. We recommend you obtain insurance as soon as you have booked your challenge to ensure that you're covered early on.
All of our Kilimanjaro Challenge groups are an average size of approximately 20 participants. We welcome individuals, couples and groups of friends on to our challenges, and many who join us literally have a mountain to climb in terms of the scale of the challenge they are taking on. We advocate camaraderie and team bonding, and really believe that this enhances your experience.
Your challenge will be led by an experienced Action Challenge Expedition Leader. Our leaders are selected for their experience, knowledge, enthusiasm, sensitivity and sense of humour, and will ensure that your Kilimanjaro trip runs smoothly.
You will also be accompanied by an Action Challenge Medic, who will be carrying a fully stocked medical kit in case of any emergency. They will carry out daily health checks on Kilimanjaro, and the re-assurance of their presence should allow you to focus on, and enjoy your challenge!
We have a full support team in country with two way radio contact - and between the Action Challenge Head Quarters in London and local Kilimanjaro staff by satellite phone for emergencies. If for any reason you need to leave the group early, local staff will assist you with your descent of Kilimanjaro and will arrange transfers, accommodation and medical care if necessary.
There are 2 seasons on Kilimanjaro as apposed to our typical 4.However we should prepare for all weather as mountain weather can be unpredictable.
In the first few days, we experience hot and humid weather (approx 25-30°C), which becomes colder as we approach the summit, decreasing by approximately 1°C every 200m we climb. Sun protection with high SPF is vital as the intensity of the sun's rays increases with altitude - even when it feels cold through cloud cover or increased winds. Waterproofs are essential to ensure we're prepared in the event of wet weather.
Jan - Mar is the first dry season on Kilimanjaro so the chance of rain is lower, although it's likely to be colder than the rest of the year with higher chance of snow as we reach the summit.
Apr - May are the wettest months and not ideal for trekking. We do not operate treks during this time to ensure our team's enjoyment and safety throught the trek.
Jun - Oct offers the best chance of dry weather throughout the trek, which means it's the most popular trekking season on the mountain.
Nov - Dec is a short season, rains begin mid November and snow-fall increases as we come into December.
Food - We are real foodies at Action Challenge and whilst we cannot promise a gastronomic feast on a Kilimanjaro climb, we do ensure there is plenty of food which is varied and wholesome. Breakfast is usually a hot drink with bread/ toast and spreads, porridge, eggs and sausage. Our Kilimanjaro cook team then hurries ahead of us to set up the mess tent and provide us with a hot lunch. This usually consists of a starter soup, followed by either a rice or pasta dish with meat and veggies.
On arrival into camp hot drinks and snacks are usually served before we tuck into the main event, which again is usually a hot soup starter, followed by a more substantial main than lunch, perhaps a warm winter stew, or meat and fish with lots of veggies, pasta or rice followed by a pudding or cake if it is a special occasion. We also recommend that participants pack some of their favourite snacks to enjoy throughout the day. Action Challenge tip: Pack some ginger biscuits or some ginger tea as this is a fantastic natural remedy for nausea, a symptom of altitude sickness.
Accommodation - When we are not trekking, our life on a Kilimanjaro climb is spent mainly under canvas. We even go to the toilet in our specially designed toilet tents! For the majority of our Kilimanjaro Challenges we supply a 3 man expedition tent between 2 people, which means enough room for both people and their luggage.
The two main trekking seasons - and the optimum times to climb Kilimanjaro are from the end of December to March and June to October. This is mainly due to the weather (see our FAQ on Kilimanjaro weather above).
September to October are the most popular times to trek Kilimanjaro, and therefore are busier times on the mountain, so if you're after a more peaceful trekking season, January - March and June - August are a little quieter.
Yes, if you book our land only Kilimanjaro package - this is a cheaper package cost so that you can purchase your own flights.
You will be required to arrange all flights and transfers in order to meet the group at the starting hotel on day 2 of your challenge - and Action Challenge will require details of your travel arrangements before departure so that we can arrange for our team to meet you.
Please note you are unable to change your package once final balance invoicing has been completed and tickets have been issued by the airline.
If you would like to extend your trip it is absolutely possible. We offer 3 fantastic extension packages, or the opportunity to simply extend your return flight so that you can make your own plans. This is subject to availability and our terms with the airline, so we advise you get in touch as early as possible to book this. To find out more, please email ask@actionchallenge.com and a member of the team will be in touch!
You can choose to fully fund the challenge yourself, fundraise for a charity of your choice (from which approximately 50% of the sponsorship will cover your trip cost), or opt to do a mixture of both! For all three funding options, an online registration deposit is required to secure your place.
We have worked with over 200 UK charities and welcome partnerships with new ones all the time! As long as they are a registered UK or Irish charity and agree to you doing so, we are more than happy for you to fundraise for any charity close to your heart.
To secure your place on a Kilimanjaro Group departure, please click on the BOOK NOW button on the Dates & Prices Page. Please ensure you have a credit or debit card with you to pay your Kilimanjaro registration deposit once you've completed your details.
Before you embark on your Kilimanjaro challenge, it is essential that we receive your passport, travel insurance, next of kin, medical details and dietary requirements (if applicable). If you have any medical conditions to declare or are over the age of 65, you will be required to complete a medical declaration form, signed and stamped by your GP.
If you don’t have all this information to hand, you can still register your place today, and then re-log into the form before you depart by using your email address and the password you create upon registration.
