Infos
Kilimanjaro Fitness
Being fit is no guarantee for getting to the summit of Kilimanjaro. However, it will certainly help. Even then, it remains true that people in their 80s have successfully summited while extraordinarily fit athletes have failed to summit. The reason for our vagueness? Everyone, whether triathlete or couch potato, is affected differently by the altitude, the strict gatekeeper of Uhuru peak.
One thing is for sure: the fitter and stronger you are, the more you will enjoy the experience.
Cardio training and strong muscles will help you with the daily hiking on the mountain of between five and seven hours. If you can, get out and hike at home whenever possible in the weeks and months leading up to your Kilimanjaro climb. Fill up and strap on your day bag to get used to carrying extra weight, and be sure to wear in your hiking boots too. Hike steep inclines and downhills, do steps and strengthen leg muscles.
Lots of stretching to improve your flexibility before setting off will also help muscles from becoming too stiff when on the mountain. It’s also a good idea to stretch at the beginning and end of the day whilst on the mountain.
For all the work you might put in beforehand, the best advice for physical success is to take it slow when climbing the mountain, however fit you are or aren’t. “Pole pole”, slowly slowly, as we say in Tanzania, will be your mantra on Kili. Your body needs to adapt to the thin air and lack of oxygen at high altitude.
Visa Information
Most tourists visiting Tanzania from overseas will require a valid tourist visa.
Visas can be obtained from your nearest Tanzanian mission or consulate, usually within one day
Though this is the recommended approach, it is also possible to obtain a tourist’s visa for a single entry at any one of the following four main entry points to Tanzania, subject to the fulfilment of all immigration and health requirements:
Dar es Salaam International Airport
Zanzibar International Airport
Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA)
Namanga Entry Point (Tanzania-Kenya boarder point)
For all other entry points in Tanzania, visitors must hold a valid visa prior to arrival.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the time of your trip. You may also be asked to provide proof of your return flight (such as an itinerary) when applying for your visa. If applying at a mission or consulate, you will also have to provide 2 passport photos.
The visa fee for most nationalities will be US $50 for a single entry. Visa fee for a double entry is 70USD. For US citizens the fee is usually US $100 for a multiple entry.
Tourist visas will be valid for 3 months from the issue date.
If travelling from a yellow fever area, you will also have to provide a yellow fever certificate at the Tanzanian border.
