Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness

E very year a small number         per person. I would recommend      of tourists die climbing        spending this extra money; it      Kilimanjaro. What action        increases your chance of success   should one take to avoid altitude     in reaching the top of the         sickness?                             mountain. If you feel tired, if                                          you are vomiting if you are        To be fit and ready to climb is       passing blood tell your guide.     essential. When climbing take         These are all signs of altitude    your assent slowly, this will be      sickness. If you start to suffer   emphasized again and again as you     then to get to a lower altitude    climb - in Swahili pole-pole          as quickly as possible is the      [slowly slowly]. Anyone is            best advice. Do not hang on        susceptible to altitude sickness      thinking you will be fine, get     and your guide will be on the         off the mountain as quickly as     lookout for any tale tale signs.      possible.                                                                                                   Before you climb the mountain,        Once you have succeeded in         try to avoid an overnight in          climbing to the top and have       Moshi town. It is better to stay      taken your pictures then a quick   as close to the Kilimanjaro Park      decent is also advisable - there   Gate as you can. As you sleep in      will be one night only on the      the mountain village, your body       mountain during your decent.       is starting to acclimatize. If                                           you can spend two nights before       To recap, a pre-night close to     your climb all the better.            the park-gate helps acclimatize.                                         Spend an extra night on the        Acclimatization is the key. An        mountain to help your body         extra day spent on your climb is      adjust; and most of all do not     a worthwhile. It is offered as an     race up the mountain walk slowly   extra at a cost of usually US$120     and enjoy your climb.              About the Author: All profits from http://www.betheladventre.co.uk go into the Patmos Community Initiative, which is a Non-Governmental Organization in Northern Tanzania - no. 11778. We are currently building a nursery school in Sokon One - Arusha. We offer and encourage voluntary positions vacations to our charitable projects. Source: www.isnare.com