Ultimate Kilimanjaro conducts Mount Kilimanjaro Climb Survey

June 5, 2009 - PRLog -- Ultimate Kilimanjaro, a specialist tour operator offering private climbs on Mount Kilimanjaro, released the results of a year-long Kilimanjaro Climb Survey conducted among independent travelers, hikers and mountaineers.  Over 100 respondents participated in the survey, offering valuable insight into various aspects of climbing Kilimanjaro to prospective adventurers.

Demographically, male climbers outnumbered female climbers by 2 to 1, and the ages ranged from under 18 to 70 years old.  A third of climbers were between 31 and 40 years old and a third were between 41 and 50 years old.  July proved to be the most popular month for climbing Kilimanjaro among respondents, followed by August and October.  These popular months are excellent times to climb due to low precipitation and good visibility.

In preparation for their climb, 35% of respondents hiked as their primary form of training, which is the best exercise.  The median frequency of training was three times per week over a three month period.  Kilimanjaro can be successfully climbed by any reasonably fit person.

The survey revealed that the route of choice was Machame for 45% of respondents.  Machame, also known as the “Whiskey Route”, is the most popular route on the mountain, with Marangu, the “Coca Cola Route,” coming in at a close second.  Climbers using these trails can expect to encounter high traffic on their journey to the summit.  Only 14% and 11% of climbers used Lemosho and Rongai, respectively.  Ultimate Kilimanjaro uses the less frequented routes for its group climbs as ideal alternatives to avoid the crowds.  

The biggest obstacle in successfully climbing Kilimanjaro is the extreme altitude.  Kilimanjaro is 19,340 feet high.  The low oxygen content commonly causes differing degrees of altitude sickness among climbers.  The respondents’ susceptibility to altitude sickness was consistent with published figures - 82% of climbers experienced at least one symptom of mild altitude sickness.  

On Mount Kilimanjaro, summit day includes a strenuous 4,000 foot climb to the peak, beginning at midnight, in subzero degree weather, followed by a 9,000 foot descent.  55% of respondents identified summit day, which consists of 10 to 14 hours of trekking, as very tough.  Other cited difficulties included altitude acclimatization (34%), lack of sleep (17%) and foul weather (10%).  On a scale of 1 to 10, the most common rating for the climb difficulty was a 7.

Respondents overwhelmingly noted that their trip on Kilimanjaro was a very positive experience.  More than 50% of the climbers rated their experience as 10 out of 10, meaning that regardless of all other measured variables - how old they were, when they climbed, what route they chose, how many days they took, and whether or not they reached the summit, they had a great time.

For more information on climbing Kilimanjaro, visit http://www.UltimateKilimanjaro.com

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Ultimate Kilimanjaro specializes in serving clients who are interested in safe, private, small-party, custom climbs on Mount Kilimanjaro and Tanzanian safaris.