BEFORE YOU GO

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

What do I need to know to climb Kilimanjaro?
There are four main rules to follow while climbing Kilimanjaro:

(a) go slowly (In Swahili  "polepole" means "slowly, slowly").
Don't push yourself above the normal breathing rate. Guides will show you the correct pace.
(b) drink enough water - from 4-5 litres per day: 3 litres from your own water bottles and 2 litres from other resources such as food will be provided to you every day.
(c) a positive attitude is as crucial as physical strength and good acclimatization.our success rates are nearly 90% to the crater rim and 70% to Uhuru peak (the actual top).
(d) be prepared - a well-planned itinerary, proper preparation, well-trained guides, and correct speed management help prevent altitude sickness.

Q. What is Altitude Sickness?
It is the failure of the body to adapt quickly enough to the reduced level of oxygen in the air. Your body must adapt to a 50 % oxygen saturation level on the crater rim. If not properly adapted, cells may be starved of oxygen and water is drawn from the cells into other parts of the body, leading to dehydration.

Q. What the symptoms of mild altitude sickness?
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Sleeplessness
Loss of appetite
Vomiting

Q. What is the treatment?
For mild sickness take your preferred medicine, but Africa Joy Tours recommend the following medicines: Aspirin, Paracetamol, Ibupren, and Diamox.  Take caution before using Diamox.  There are three ways to use Diamox on Kilimanjaro: 

1) As a preventive throughout the trip starting from the day before the climb. The Dosage is 750mg       (250mg x3 tablets).
2) Take Diamox as above to boost performance only at higher points on the mountain.
3) Use Diamox only as a treatment if high elevation sickness occurs.
Caution: Diamox can give you a sense of false confidence, dehydration, tingling in toes, fingers, and lips.
Diamox Aspirins may be recommended for headaches because they improve blood circulation and oxygen delivery to the body. Consult your doctor for details before your trip.

Q. What is serious altitude sickness?
Serious altitude sickness has two forms
(a) water accumulates in the lungs (Pulmonary Edema)
(b) water accumulates in the brain cavities ( Cerebral Edema).
Both can quickly lead to death if descent to low altitudes is delayed.

Q. What are the symptoms of serious altitude sickness?
Crackling noise in the chest (there may also be some pink bubbling in the mouth)
High pulse rate after resting for 25 - 30 minutes
Loss of coordination/ mental confusion
Being out of breath after resting for 20 - 30 minutes
Vomiting 3 - 5 times.

Q. What is the treatment?
No drugs can prevent HAPE or HACE.  Being fit doesn't necessarily prevent HAPE or HACE either.
Our Guides are trained to deal with all kinds of altitude problems. They will assess the situation and send you down to a lower altitude as necessary.

Q. Does Africa Joy Tours provide rescue equipment?
We bring oxygen, a portable altitude chamber (PAC, or Gamow hyperbaric bag), pulse oximeter and a substantial first aid kit on every climb, plus we stay in touch with our head office daily via radio in case of emergency...Since we often lead trips on multiple routes simultaneously, we own and maintain redundant pieces of safety equipment necessary for a safe climb.

The Gamow bag is a portable hyperbaric chamber used in advancing acute mountain sickness with either HACE (high altitude cerebral edema) or HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema)...The bag is a person-sized chamber in which a climber is enclosed and once inflated, mimics the atmospheric conditions present at a lower altitude reducing the symptoms of AMS...The oxygen bottle and mask are also used for emergencies of AMS.

But more important than having the gear necessary to deal with an emergency is the ability to detect the conditions that can lead to one...Our guides are trained to detect the early symptoms of altitude sickness before an emergency arises.  These symptoms may include: fatigue, severe headache, dizziness and loss of balance.

If someone gets sick or can't go on with the climb we are prepared to take that person down and continue on with the others...On the west side of Kilimanjaro, unlike other routes, a vehicle can actually get to 10,000 on a ranger access road...Higher on the mountain the climber can choose to skip the summit and meet the other climbers on the descent trail at Mweka Hut (10,500 feet)...If they can't continue at all, we will take them back to where we can get them a vehicle...On our climbs we always have at least two guides, one to bring down a climber if necessary and the other to continue on with the rest of the group...We always bring a two-way radio with us and stay in communication with our base for just such incidents.

Q. Are there any documents to fill before the day of climb?
Yes, Africa Joy Tours provides emergency lists for each costumer - see a sample below



Q. How will I join the climb if my luggage lost or is delayed?
Africa Joy Tours can help supply you with the necessary equipment should you need it. There is an extra charge for this service but the rates are reasonable.  It is highly recommended before arriving in Africa to make sure that you have the appropriate insurance in case of any loss of your property.

At Africa Joy Tours our main goal is to make sure that once you have engaged our services, you will thoroughly enjoy the mountain trek of a lifetime.

Important Climbing Equipment List

Sleeping bag - fee per trip
Raingear - fee per trip
Sleeping mat - free of charge
Walking poles (pair) - fee per trip
Pillow - free of charge
Warm weather clothes - fee per trip

Q. Are there any activities that Africa Joy Tours provides for those who wish to stay behind or for those who do not reach the top and come back early?
Africa Joy Tours will provide free transport to the hotel.  Africa Joy Tours will also offer (free of charge) city tours including places like Arusha Museum, curio shops, coffee plantations, farms, and guided village hikes.

Q. Is there any refund from Africa Joy Tours to the client who cancels the trekking?
Africa Joy Tours offers various refund schemes to clients who cancel a trek 4 weeks or more before the actual climb. The refunds range from 99% to 80%. For more details about our refund policies, please click here.