Congratulations on your decision to summit the highest free-standing mountain in the world! Kilimanjaro is sometimes referred to as “everyone’s Everest” because it’s possible for even a novice to reach the summit. That being said, not just anyone can climb it! You must be prepared physically, mentally and psychologically to successfully stand on the roof of Africa. Your preparation for this adventure should begin as soon as possible with an aim to improve your overall levels of fitness, obtaining the proper gear, clothing and equipment you will need, as well as expanding your general hiking knowledge and experience.

It is recommended that you start physically training four or more months before the date of your scheduled climb. To improve your overall aerobic performance, you should work up to doing various cardiovascular exercises three times a week. In addition, you should begin to enhance your general core strength, your balance and flexibility as well as toning your upper and lower body. Sometimes all of this can sound a bit complicated, that’s why we decided to provide a detailed breakdown and cover all the bases, and you can find everything you need to know about training on this website.

In an effort to evaluate your improved fitness levels as well as gaining the experience you will need on the trail, it is also important that you get outside and practice hiking on wilderness trails, experimenting with your gear, understanding your newly improving fitness levels, testing the clothing you will be wearing in Africa, as well as becoming comfortable in the outdoors.

Now that you are ready to start training, you will need to prioritize your efforts in the following ways:

• Climbing Conditioning: pack-loaded uphill hiking, walking and stair climbing.
•  Strength Training for the lower, upper body and core.
• Cardiovascular Training: Including both aerobic and anaerobic workouts with and without pack weight.
• Flexibility Training.

If you are not one for reading and enjoy listening to podcast, you can find our episode ‘How to train for a Kilimanjaro climb’ here: