Tour Overview
Welcome to Mt. Kilimanjaro! This climb is ideal for those wanting more privacy, a slower climb or a more scenic route. The traversing of the Shira plateau can be especially spectacular, and this route also ensures you get to see the best of the Machame Route. All Hoopoe climbs include a large staff including the chef guide, an assistant cook, cook and porters. Camp is superbly outfitted, including thick, foam mattresses for all the igloo tents, a toilet tent, mess tent complete with tables and chairs, and high-frequency two-way radios for communications with base.Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha, TanzaniaWhenever you arrive, you’ll be personally met and transferred to the lovely Arusha Hotel in the center of town. Those arriving especially early can book optional activities. Then, spend the afternoon with your mountain guide preparing for the climb.
Arusha Hotel Day 2: Forest
After picking up the requisite documentation at the park gate, the safari continues to the Lemosho Glades starting point. Less steep than the Machame route and less used, today’s trek is through the forest that laces the foot of the mountain. This evening’s camp is pitched in the forest at around 2750 meters. Day 3: Shira 1
Today’s trek takes you slowly up the edge of the Shira Volcano. As you gain altitude the vegetation thins and exotic species of high altitude plants appear. Camp is situated near the rim of the ancient volcano and provides a good opportunity to get the first direct views of Kilimanjaro’s peak. Camp is pitched at about 3500 meters. Day 4: Shira 2
Trek to Shira 2 Camp across the Shira Plateau, the flat caldera of a volcano that was actually bigger and is much older than Kilimanjaro. Views can be very weather specific but on good days are breathtaking. Bilious clouds are often observed melting down from its rim onto the heath covered plateau. Kibo also shines with a silver luminance as the glaciers reflect the strong sunlight. At times mist covers the plateau- views come and go quickly. You arrive in time for lunch and then have plenty of time to relax and even go for an acclimatization walk in the afternoon. Day 5: Lava Tower
Today you will walk for 3-5 hours, enjoying sights of the typical Kilimanjaro mountain vegetation and reaching a high point of about 4600 meters at our Lava Tower Camp. The hiking takes us out of the heath zone and into alpine desert where only the very toughest tussock grasses can survive. Freezing at night and blazing conditions in the day make this a hard place to exist. For those who are up to it we ascend the Lava Tower in the afternoon.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lava Tower Day 6: Karanga Valley
Today we hike from the Lava Tower to Karanga Valley. The trail initially sets of down hill into the Barranco Valley before ascending the Barranco Wall. In this region there are significant numbers of very mature Senecios (giant groundsels). Lunch is taken on trail before heading onto the Karanga Valley and up to camp. In the afternoon we have time to relax and for the very active there is a chance to head over to the Karanga Valley to look at some spectacular glacial scenery.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Karanga Camp Day 7: Barafu
About two hours from Karanga you will come out on the Barafu path (part of the Kweka Trail). It is a further 1-2 hours to Barafu Hut. The last stage to Barafu Hut is quite steep, and as always we advise taking it as easy as possible. Once in camp we have lunch and then in the afternoon head out on an afternoon acclimatization walk to around 4700-4800 meters. Back at camp, dinner is served. Views of the Mawenzi Peak are also superb here.
Barafu Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 8: Crater
Today we ascend to the roof of Africa! After an early start we ascend the rim of the Kibo Crater. It’s slow going as there is so little oxygen here. However with patience and determination we arrive at the rim and descend into the crater for lunch in camp. The afternoon is taken relaxing and acclimatizing. It is a short walk over top the Furtwangler Glacier for those who are feeling active! Dinner is served in the mess tent and then off to bed.
Crater Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 9: Summit
We rise early to try and time our ascent with the rising sun. It takes around 45 minutes to an hour to reach Uhuru Peak- our ultimate goal. After sunrise we then head down the mountain scree slopes and the biggest glacial valley on Kilimanjaro. The trail traces back through Barafu Camp where we rest briefly before continuing down to Millennium Camp for lunch. In the afternoon we take an easy pace down to Mweka Camp, our last camp on Kilimanjaro.
Mweka Camp
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 10: Arusha
The final descent takes you through the lower heath section that eventually turns into a rainforest. Your time on Kilimanjaro ends at Mweka Gate where a vehicle will be waiting to transfer you to your evening’s accommodations. You may now relax, take a hot shower or even relax by the pool! Enjoy a wonderful celebration dinner.
Arusha Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Day 11: Depart Arusha
You will be privately transferred to Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airports for your departure.
Breakfast
Departure Dates
2009 Departure Dates:October 30 to November 9
November 13 to 23
November 27 to December 7
December 11 to 21
December 25 to January 4 2010 Departure Dares:
January 8 to 18
January 22 to February 1
February 5 to 15
February 19 to March 1
March 5 to 15
March 19 to 29
April 2 to 12
April 16 to 26
April 30 to May 10
May 14 to 24
May 28 to June 7
June 11 to 21
June 25 to July 5
July 9 to 19
July 23 to August 2
August 6 to 16
August 20 to 30
September 3 to 13
September 17 to 27
October 1 to 11
October 15 to 25
October 29 to November 8
November 12 to 22
November 26 to December 6
December 10 to 20
December 24 to January 3, 2011
Prices
2009-2010 Pricing: $4,655 per person, double occupancy.$325 Single Supplement. Prices for your dates of travel may vary- please contact iExplore for an exact quote. Quoted prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes as of September, 2009. iExplore reserves the right to increase tour prices to cover increased costs, tariffs and taxes received after prices are published, and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. iExplore is under no obligation to give breakdown costs involved in any package Inclusions:
Everything exactly as described in the day-by-day description which includes accommodations, transport, driver/guiding, park fees and taxes, sightseeing as described, all meals except breakfast only in Arusha. Exclusions:
Everything not described in the day-by-day description including but not limited to gratuities, visa fees and services, meals not included, any air transportation, beverages, insurance, communication charges like telephone calls and wires, or any items of a personal nature.
These trips are priced assuming two travelers. Surcharges for solo travelers and discounts for groups, if any, will be applied. Prices assume itinerary is purchased "as is". Minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of the existing itinerary can be made at no extra charge. Any customization requiring us to start with a new base itinerary will require a non-refundable upfront planning fee of $250 that is creditable towards the final trip price.
Group Discounts
The more people you bring on your next iExplore adventure, the more you save. Learn how with iExplore Group Discounts.
All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.
Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.
Trip Information
Hoopoe & Kilimanjaro Hoopoe has been operating Kilimanjaro climbs for well over a decade. Over time our specification has always been among the very highest and continues to lead the pack. In terms of companies operating on Kilimanjaro we excel in a number of areas: Ø SafetyØ Ethics & environmental concern
Ø Comfort
Ø The best routes
Ø Support What we have found over the past decade is a proliferation of companies operating on Kilimanjaro and with that proliferation an increasingly cutthroat price war. Kilimanjaro is the largest freestanding volcano in the world and is those attempting to summit head into a zone classed as extreme altitude. Hiking at these altitudes is extremely dangerous and so being well prepared, having well trained guides, nutritious food and enough of it, a motivated team, reliable and on demand back up are all essential to your climb. Climbs / treks that are designed to minimize price will cut corners in one or more of all the factors that make for a safe, successful attempt – Hoopoe does not take this approach and we are sure that our ongoing commitment to all aspects of a climb (from paying all relevant park fees, taxes to providing lots of good nutritious food and so on) will give our guests the experience they deserve. The weather & your climb
While it is possible to climb almost year round, the weather conditions can make a big difference to your experience –notably the level of comfort and success rates. Another important point is that whilst on the mountain the weather conditions can change incredibly quickly from bright sunshine to drizzle or snow with penetrating high winds. As a guide please take a look at the following: Months Expected conditions in forest belt, heath & moorland, alpine / summit
Months Expected conditions
Forest Heath / Moorland Alpine summit Overall
Mid Jan – mid Mar Medium chance rain Medium chance mist / drizzle Not too cold Great
Mid Mar – Late May High chance rain High chance mist / drizzle High chance snow Really hard work
June - July Medium chance rain Medium chance mist / drizzle Very cold Good but cold
Aug – Mid Oct Low rainfall Often clear – mist / cloud cover in afternoon Temperature going up Great
Mid Oct – Mid Nov Medium chance rain Medium chance mist / drizzle Medium chance snow Can be very variable
Mid Nov – Mid Jan Medium / high chance rain Medium / high chance mist / drizzle Medium chance snow Can be very variable /wet Age limits / regulations
KINAPA (governing body of Kilimanjaro) set a lower age limit for ascending to the summit of 12 years old. Children and young people appear to be more susceptible to acute mountain sickness. Hoopoe prefers to only take children over 14 years old, but slightly younger children can be considered. We do not have an upper age limit on people attempting Kilimanjaro. The key thing is that the guest should be in good health and fit – the same applies to all people attempting Kilimanjaro. We strongly recommend that all people who attempt Kilimanjaro should have a comprehensive health check. Many people suggest that older people do much better than their younger counterparts and we can certainly bear this out! Reasons for this have not been scientifically evaluated (at least not by us – yet) but perhaps the advice they receive to take it easy and enjoy the trip pays dividends later on! Hoopoe specifications Hoopoe’s guides
Hoopoe prides itself on having superb guides. What makes a superb guide?
· Experience: all our guides have been working on the mountain from porters all the way up to guides
· Training: our guides all have up to date mountain specific first aid training covering all aspects of altitude sickness and due to their experience on the mountain have been in almost all scenarios. Their training is on going and they have refresher courses at least 2 a year as well as access to training resources (latest articles on mountain sickness, flora and fauna guides, Red Cross first aid refresher courses).
· Personality: guides not only show you the route on Kilimanjaro but they are companions as well. Our guides have good English and are very amenable willing to share their knowledge on all aspects of Kilimanjaro as well as Tanzania culture and life.
· Team leaders: an essential part of a guides job is organizing the day to day logistics, making sure that everything runs smoothly and the service you receive is unparallel. Our guides monitor all aspects of the climb - which includes your health and pace and comfort and they are also there to ensure that all crewmembers are well looked after.
Hoopoe Crews
Our guides are part of a team. This team includes:
· A cook or cooks: it's amazing what they can prepare sat in a tent on the side of a very big mountain! Fresh fruit / vegetables and meats allow them to prepare excellent meals that are designed to give you good nutrition value and lots of energy. They are the first up and last to go to bed, also cooking for the crews.
· Camp crew (1 or 2 people): they set the tents and act as waiters as well. Working hand in hand with the cooks and guides you will see these guys scurrying around diligently keeping everything in order.
· Porters: the workhorses of the mountain. Our porters are all mountain porters and either work full time as porters or are working their way up the ranks towards becoming guides. They work hard to ensure that the entire camp is packed and set up before you arrive. All Hoopoe porters are selected from a core of individuals that we personally know and trust.
Hoopoe’s on the ground team
Operations base: in contact normally 3 times daily (does depend on the day's route) with our guides, our operations team monitors your climb from the ground, checking your performance as well as all crew members. The base team check every item that goes on the mountain and also ensures that everything is checked in, washed, dry cleaned and repaired on return. Hoopoe Kilimanjaro and Trekking Crew Policy Overview
Hoopoe is dedicated to ensuring the well - being of all clients and crew involved in any trek or climb organized by Hoopoe. Our policy is operational and affects the planning, execution and post event stages of each climb or trek. The policy governs the practice of the operations manger, the head guides and all crew. Responsibilities
Hoopoe monitors all climbs and treks. As such the preparation of all events is the responsibility of the operations team, lead by the operations manger. The operations manager oversees the pre climb preparation, event monitoring, and thereafter the post event feedback and checks, including wages. The operations manager works in tandem with the trip head guide, assistant guide(s) and camp crew to ensure that all aspects of a trip are prepared and meet established guidelines for safety, quality and expectations. Hoopoe has a core list of porters that we use on a regular basis. This list changes over time according to porter performance and whether they are suited to work as a porter. It is also an opportunity for porters to become recognized for selection to become assistants, camp crew or cooks. Sometimes due to group size extra porters are needed. The head guide in this instance sources extra porters and they are strictly checked for age, health, suitability for porter work and that they have suitable foot wear, jacket and sleeping bag or blankets. Ultimately the company is responsible for the well being of all crew. Trip pre – requisites
Preparation for any given trip is done in conjunction with the head guide, assistant guide(s), cook and camp crew. Prior to any trip the following lists are prepared: Ø Food lists clients
Ø Food lists crew
Ø Equipment check - lists
Ø Crew check - lists, including:
Ø Suitable footwear
Ø Suitable clothing
Ø Suitable sleeping gear
Ø Client check lists equipment
Ø Communications checklist
Ø First Aid check list Climb preparation
Baggage carried by porters is strictly limited by KINAPA regulations. All kit and food is weighed at Hoopoe base prior to departure to ensure that the numbers of porters are known. The crew is introduced to the climbers prior to setting off. Climb progress
All trips are monitored by twice daily communication to the operations base. This is performed by the head or assigned assistant guide. The following checks must be performed: Ø Client health
Ø Client well – being
Ø Forecasted progress and ability
Ø Crew health
Ø Crew well – being
Ø Forecasted progress and ability The operations team and guide(s) take appropriate steps to ensure that all of the above checks are performed accurately and all the information is relayed to the operations team. There are some camps where communications are very difficult (such as Shira 1), however all checks are performed and relayed at the next available communication point. All of the above are also recorded at each camp. The completed check - list is returned to the operations team post trip. Crew illness and rescue
If members of the crew fall ill due to the effects of altitude sickness or any other malaise, then the head guide will make an assessment. If the crew member is unfit to continue the climb and has to return down then that person will be assisted by at least one other person. Expenses for getting to medical centers will be covered by Hoopoe. If the crewmember can continue with the climb, but is unable to perform his all of his duties then that person will continue to receive shelter and food. All the same backup procedures and equipment available to guests is also available to be used for crew. Accommodation and shelter & food
All crew will be provided with shelter in the form of tented accommodation. Suitable quantities of food will also be provided at each camp for all crew as well as tea. Payment & Tipping
All crew are paid a fair wage for every trip. A Hoopoe representative will pay porters at our offices after the climb. All clients will be encouraged to pay tips to the head guide in front of the crew, or these can be left with the management for fair distribution. Members of the crew may be docked pay for abusing or damaging company equipment. Pay can only be docked by agreement of both the operations team and the head guide and after proper investigation. Hoopoe Equipment
Each camp is set up with the following:
Ø Guest Tents
o 3 man tents expedition dome tents, used for 2 people
§ Fly sheet with vestibule for rucksacks and wet gear
o Mattresses, typically 3 inches thick
o Sleeping bags: Anjungilak from Norway rated–20 Celsius
o Pillows
Ø Mess tent
o Standup size mess tent
o Lightweight table
o Lightweight stools
o Table cloth
o Full cutlery and lightweight plates and bowls
o Thermoses of water for tea and coffee
Ø Toilet tent (s)
HOOPOE FOOD
On the mountain it is essential to try and eat as much as possible and to keep very well hydrated. Your body uses up to 3 times as much water compared to normal whilst at altitude and so keeping hydrated is very essential. Hence during meals take in as much liquid as you can - hot drinks, cold drinks and soups are all there to keep you well hydrated. During the day also keep drinking - you should be drinking at every opportunity and at no point should you be in need of a drink. Studies have shown that your basal metabolic rate (BMR) increases with altitude – at 4300 meters this can be as much as 28% and so despite the fact that you may not feel like eating that much, your body needs the fuel. Please note that people with special dietary requirements can normally be accommodated, but please let us know if you have ANY allergies or dislikes. A Sample Menu
Breakfast
· A selection of fresh fruits
· Cereal
· Porridge
· Cooked meal - eggs, sausage, tomato
· Tea / coffee / hot chocolate
Lunch
Lunch is often taken on route in the form of a picnic lunch. Your cook sets this up in advance. A typical picnic lunch would include:
· Fresh vegetables
· Fruit juice
· Sandwiches with cheese and ham or some similar
· Chocolate bar
· Hot soup
· Tea / coffee / hot chocolate
Dinner
· Entrée of soup with bread
· Main course of a carbohydrate, such as rice or pasta with a meat dish, bolognaise or some other
· Pudding, banana fritters or some other
· Tea / coffee / hot chocolate Water
On Kilimanjaro the water is actually very clean – for the most part. Hoopoe provides bottled water for the first 2 days; specifically we provide 3 liters per person x 2. From this point we use water from steams, and whilst it is most likely perfectly suitable for consumption, we take two precautions:
1. Filter the water
2. Add puritabs. These are iodine tablets and combined with boiling, make the water entirely safe to drink. Note that we provide the puritabs. You may like to bring water flavoring to mask the taste of the puritabs. Each day you should have 3 liters of water on you when you start. For the entire day you should be drinking between 4 and 6 liters of water. Each person is different, but a simple rule is that your urine should be clear and copious: if it isn’t, keep drinking. We cannot stress enough that keeping hydrated is essential. Your guides will be carrying extra water on route every day in their packs – if you run out just ask them for some water. Crew Numbers
Due to our high specification climbs, which includes extra items such as a mess tent, toilet as well as lots of fresh food, the total crew numbers can be perceived to be very high. Hoopoe is also very strict on controlling the weight that our porters carry and so, compared to budget operators, our crew numbers will seem high. Examples Route Guests Guides Camp crew Cooks Porters Total
Machame 6 day 2 2 1 1 16 20
Machame 6 day 4 3 1 1 25 30
Machame 6 day 14 6 2 2 50 60
Lemosho 8 day 2 2 1 1 24 28
Lemosho 8 day 4 3 1 1 36 41
Lemosho 8 day 14 6 2 2 64 74 Note that these figures can vary a little and we always let guests know the total crew numbers in our climb briefing. On larger group sizes we also re supply fresh food. Environmental policy
Hoopoe safaris very keen to ensure that where possible, we leave as little trace of our time on the mountain as possible. Our crews are instructed to remove all rubbish from each and every camp, including all food scraps. Crews are also instructed to avoid damaging any flora in setting up of camps. We ask our guests to be very sensitive to the environment as to make sure that all waste, from paper wrappers to bottle tops, are given to the crew to pack away so that we can take it all back off the mountain. Please report and abuse of this and if you see other companies being reckless then let us know. We can inform the authorities and apply pressure through our member associations. Before you travel Kit list / what you should bring The following information is seen as an essential list of what you should take with you on the mountain. A supplementary list follows for extra items as well. Extra items can be extremely hard to source in Tanzania, and whilst the guides can often help out with kit this is simply not a reliable source as their equipment may be being used! Please also note that this list should be used to check off items that you have and this list, wherever possible, must be returned to your travel agent who will then forward it onto us. We will also check over your kit in the pre climb briefing to make sure everything arrived safely – there are times when luggage does not arrive with the aircraft and in those circumstances we will do out utmost to make sure you are well prepared for you climb. Please try and keep your total weight of equipment on the mountain to around 15kg. Please advise us if you will be bringing more. Essential Items Checklist
NAMES
Equipment Guest 1 Guest 2 Guest 3 Guest 4 Guest 5
Thermal Hat
Wide brimmed hat
Sunglasses (must cover eyes completely)
Scarf
Water bottle 2 x 2liters (for instance Nalgen bottles as they can resist boiling water to freezing water)
Waterproof Jacket (Gore-Tex or similar with hood)
Fleece x 2 (one heavy weight and 1 lighter)
Shirts x 2
Thermal Gloves
Waterproof outer glove / mitten
Thermal underwear
Lightweight trousers x 2 (NOT JEANS)
Waterproof trousers
Socks x 6 (proper hiking sock are best)
Waterproof hiking boots (worn in)
Headlamp + spare batteries
Sun cream factor 25, preferably 40
Walking Poles (very useful on descents and helps reduce stress on knees) x 2
Small towel
Gaiters (keep out small stones and water)
Medication (list the medication you take or intend to take)
Kit bag – preferably soft (so that we can put it in our custom designed porter bags easily). Porters carry this.
Day rucksack (around 30 liters for waterproofs / water and any other essentials when walking day to day)
Other (list)
Insurance details
Emergency contact number
Insurance reference
Other info
Dietary restrictions / allergies NOTE: it is a very good idea to wear your boots on the plane and hand carry your outer shell / waterproof jacket. These items are really essential! Also, if you are taking medication then this should also be carried on your person. Supplementary list (non essential items)
These listed items are simply things that could make your hike more comfortable or items that are not seen as essential. Ø In rucksack water carrier – platypus, camel bak etc. The tube leading to your mouth should be insulated otherwise it will freeze on way to the summit.
Ø Gel activated hand warmers (for summit bid, but please note this is a pet hate as most people simply drop them once used!)
Ø High energy bars: you should keep eating all day long and our guides will be handing out extra chocolate and sweets on route, but having extra is fine.
Ø Water flavoring: we boil, filter and then add puritabs to the water (you are provided with 9 liters of bottled water from the start, carried by crew and then we source water from mountain streams which are usually very clean indeed, but none the less we take make sure that the water goes through 3 steps to make sure you don’t get stomach upsets due to contaminated water).
Ø Wet wipes, antibacterial: great addition
Ø Poncho: great for the rain forest section. An umbrella is also great!
Ø Personal first aid kit: we provide first aid kits but you may like to bring your own, especially if you are allergic to certain drugs, or want added items. Knee supports, sanitary towels, sun block (listed in essential items), blister treatment, oral re hydration sachets and talcum powder are all potential items you might like to bring with you.
Ø Cordial or other water flavoring (this will mask the iodine taste, resulting from our purification methods).
Ø Plastic bags – to separate dirty laundry and as a failsafe if you do not have a rucksack cover.
Ø Playing cards
Ø Pencil & paper for the trip log!
Ø High-energy bars for the final ascent, especially as appetite can be suppressed by high altitude.
Ø Ear - plugs.
Ø Pocket - knife.
Ø Spare contact lenses* and/or glasses and/or dentures. Medical / Insurance
We advise that all clients have a medical check up before attempting Kilimanjaro. This is especially relevant if you are above 40 years of age, or if you have had any conditions in the past that limited your ability to trek. The key thing to remember is that Kilimanjaro is not just a walk in the park – it is a demanding hike of at least 5 days (a length of climb we cannot recommend) and up to 8 or even 9 days depending you’re your route chosen. Hence, the body will be exposed to more stresses and strains than normal life and so being prepared – having a medical check up being one part of your preparation, is a good idea. Your doctor will also be able to advise you on taking Diamox, which is a prescription only drug in most countries. We also recommend that all guests take out comprehensive travel insurance that specifically covers climbing at altitude. This should cover you in case of hospitalization as well as evacuation from Tanzania if the need arose. Hoopoe can organize AMREF (Flying Doctors) cover, which will cover you for evacuations to Nairobi where the medical facilities are very good. Photography
Most people bring a camera with them for shots of Kilimanjaro. We have found that over the years the specification and performance of small compact cameras has improved phenomenally, and they are lightweight. Digital cameras are also slowly becoming the norm and many of these are also very lightweight and compact. These sorts of camera are ideal for day-to-day shots as they can be kept on your person tucked away in a pocket. Here are a few points to consider: Ø The camera will be used in severe cold and should be protected against freezing whilst not in use. A decent pouch for the camera, to ensure that it does not freeze on the final ascent is a good idea, although keeping your equipment in interior pockets of your clothing should be sufficient. (Do not keep your camera in your backpack at higher elevations).
Ø Wide-angle, telephoto and zoom lenses will add greatly to the quality of photos for SLR cameras, but weight is definitely a consideration. You will generally find that a good 28-80mm zoom lens covers most shots and keep your weight down.
Ø A polarizer or neutral density filter will greatly enhance results – there is a lot of glaze and UV at altitude.
Ø Transparency (slide) film will almost certainly produce better results. (Although the photos will be more expensive to develop).
Ø Video photography is an excellent method of recording the sights and sounds of your climb and is highly recommended, and the more lightweight it is the less you will be carrying!
Note: supplies of slide film and batteries can be highly variable in Tanzania. Getting your body prepared
Essentially Kilimanjaro is a multiple day hike. In light of this hiking and walking are ideal forms of preparation for your body. Hiking at altitude is hard work and so the more preparation you do the better – but not to the point of over exerting yourself or stressing your body especially a few days before the climb. Therefore, the best bet is to work exercise into your daily routine and where possible try to have extended walks where you can wear in your boots, carry your rucksack and get used to some light weight on your shoulders and increase your aerobic ability. If you can combine more exertive exercise, such as swimming and even other forms of aerobic exercise then great – remember that you will be walking for a number of days and so the fitter you are the more adapt your body is to this level of exercise. A potential 3-month training program is as follows: Climb date minus 3 months
· Gym / fitness class / any selection of fitness session x 2 times a week: choose workouts that make you work hard and increase fitness rather than build muscle
· Walking: walk whenever possible – short 10 minute walks are fine, go to the shops, see friends, short trips you might normally take a bus or taxi for.
· Diet: cut out soft drinks with sugar or sweeteners and junk food. Remember this is a once in a lifetime event – use it as a great excuse to get healthy!! Climb date minus 2 months
· Gym session x 3 times a week: again choose workouts that make you work hard and increase fitness rather than build muscle. No need to go crazy, but doing 3 workouts a week breeds discipline and mental stamina as well as improving physical conditioning. You can even substitute 1 gym session for an alternative activity such as Yoga (even better yoga session every morning!) or swimming
· Walking: keep walking! – short 10-minute walks are good, but increase your distance to at least 1 hour once a week. That’s only 4 x 1 hour walks for the whole month!
· Diet: keep healthy but remember to feed the fire! When you exercise you will burn lots of calories and so replace lost fuel and keep very well hydrated – water is life, drink, drink. Lots of water helps flush out toxins and maintains a healthy perfusion of the body’s cells. Climb date minus 1 month
· Gym session x 3 times a week: no need to go crazy on the gym sessions, simply keep up a good routine. Do not over exercise! Going over 3 times a week increases the risk of injury and muscle damage, which will prevent you from even starting, which is not what we want.
· Walking: be realistic and set 4 hikes for this month of around 2 – 3 hours each. Keep walking when ever possible. Again, overexertion and strains should be avoided at all costs, but some hill work and distance will definitely help wear in those boots and prepare you mentally.
· Diet: a good well balanced diet is the way to be. Any loss of body weight or toning should really have been done in the last couple of months and now keeping healthy and maintaining the status quo is our goal. Lots of water and enough calorie intake to complement your exercise routine. Climb date minus 1 week
· RELAX. No need for last minute blasts or burnouts. Take a good walk at the beginning of the week and then simply relax. If you haven’t prepared up to this point then training one week from your arrival is not going to help (people that take that approach should expect to find the hike hard work and possibly be ready to fail). Being MENTALLY RELAXED is as important as physical conditioning. Even if you haven’t managed to put in lots of training time the same applies. Note: wearing in your boots will avoid discomfort on the mountain – serious blisters can seriously affect your ability to walk and for this reason we also recommend carrying / wearing them on the plane. Getting your body prepared tends to go further than this. Many people work really hard right up to the night before they leave, and then arrive tired and start climbing tired. A stressed body will not acclimatize as well as a relaxed body and so give your body a chance and try to prepare early. You can also spend extra days in Tanzania relaxing or even doing light acclimatization walking – there are a number of activity options in the Kilimanjaro area from walking with Maasai in wilderness to seeing Chagga culture on foot. 2 or 3 nights before you climb can make a world of difference. Before you trek Before you land
A quick check of where we are. By now you should:
Ø Have taken a medical check
Ø Prepared all your personal equipment as per the check list
Ø Sent the check list back to your agent
Ø Traveled with your boots and jacket, any key documents With this all completed, on arrival you will be met by a Hoopoe representative and transferred to your hotel for the evening. Depending on time of arrival you may be briefed the same afternoon or the following day if you arrive late. Meet and greets and accommodation
On arrival in either Tanzania or Kenya a Hoopoe representative meets you. They will meet you at the airport with a signboard with your name on it. After collecting your baggage you will be transferred to your accommodation, as per your itinerary. The Hoopoe representative will always have contact number of the climb manager and our central sales office, just in case you want these numbers in advance they are: Climb Manager: Ake Lindstrom: +255 (0) 744 816855
Operations Manager Ursula Schneider: +255 (0) 744 481707
Operations Director Steven Laiser: +255 (0) 744 782894 Pre climb briefing Who / what / why / when?
The pre climb briefing is an opportunity for us to introduce you to our guides, check that you have everything you need for the climb, answer any outstanding questions and help out with anything we can. We normally do the pre climb briefing at least a day before you set off. That’s is not always possible if you arrive on a night flight and climb the next day (we recommend you give yourself at least a day to relax and get over your flight, and most likely the stress of leaving work!) in which case we brief you on the morning in which case we come armed with spare clothing just in case. The climb briefing is normally done the climbs manager – Ake Lindstrom. Ake was born in East Africa and adventure activities have been always been his field. With a number of years trekking experience of Kilimanjaro, Ake is the ideal person to ask any questions about the mountain, your climb or regarding his crews. In the event that he is unavailable one of the senior managers of Hoopoe (normally Peter Lindstrom or Ursula Schneider, both of whom have climbed Kilimanjaro) will be on hand. Introduction to guides and crew
Your guide will be with you for the next few days. They are there to fulfill many functions from ensuring your safety, showing you the way and giving you an insight into the mountain, it surroundings, and this wonderful part of the world. They are great companions and you should feel comfortable asking them all sorts of questions, as this is a learning experience for everybody and a chance to make some great friends. In the briefing you will be told your exact crew numbers and make up. Your head guide is your number one point of contact, but you will also come to recognize and interact mostly with your assistant guides and camp crew. For crew numbers see ‘crew numbers’ in the Hoopoe Specifications section. Your crew is in touch with base on a daily basis sending very specific sets of information, such as your health and performance, anticipated problems, as well as the health and performance of ALL crew members as well. Going over the route Golden rules ~ improving acclimatization
There are a couple of key rules that can make a huge difference to your climb
1. ‘Pole Pole’. You will hear this from your guides. It means slowly, slowly and this applies to you pace on the mountain. This is especially important for the first 2 days where the altitude does not feel like a limiting factor and you are tempted to set a fast pace – for most people that is the normal reaction but it is the wrong one! Your body will be dealing with trying to acclimatize over the next few days and stressing it out and over exerting your body will have a negative impact on acclimatization. Your guides will set the pace and you may find it almost intolerably slow – bear with them it’s for a good reason.
2. Drink. Drink lots of fluids. Hiking up steep hills at normal altitudes generates quite a lot of sweat and at altitude your body can be using up to 3 times the amount of water and so keeping hydrated is essential. Every so often your guides will simply stop you and at these points have a drink. In pack water carriers (camel bak, platypus and so on) are also great as you can easily keeping drinking all day long). A good test to see if you are drinking enough is that you urine should be clear and copious. If it is yellow then there is a good chance that you are dehydrated and you should take immediate steps to counter this (i.e. drink water). You guides also carry extra water – so don’t worry about running out. For a more in depth look at altitude and Diamox please refer to our Kilimanjaro reference section at the end. If you wish to take Diamox (acetazolamide) then you must consult your doctor first. Diamox is a sulfa-based drug and some people are allergic to this compound (Your doctor or physician will be able to advise you on this). Note that for serious forms of mountain sickness – specifically HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) and HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) the only cure is removal from altitude. Our guides’ decision on removal from altitude is final (note that it can be the case that in non serious cases you may meet the group at a lower camp). Starting off from accommodation
We normally like to get to the trailhead relatively early, especially on the busier routes. We will advise the start time in the actual briefing. The key thing is to be prepared to depart the night before hence: 1. Pack you day sack and include
a. Waterproofs
b. Camera / video
c. Water bottles (bottled water can be provided at the trail head, but if you want to you can always fill up at the lodge).
d. Poncho / umbrella (dependant on season)
e. Hat
f. Sunglasses
g. Extra snacks if you have them
h. First aid kit if you have
NOTE: on all days try to keep your day sack as light as possible. Your porters have been hired to carry most of your gear and carry extra gear will only make you more tired and stress your body out more, making it harder for your body to deal with the altitude. 2. Pack your soft bag for the porters. This should have everything else you require on the mountain.
3. If you have extra baggage for an onward trip, or things that you find you do not need post kit check, then these need to be put separately and can be left with the hotel or with the Hoopoe driver that transfers you to the mountain who will return it to the Hoopoe office for safe keeping. Please, if you do want to give all the porters a t-shirt or some other gift that you have brought with you, there is no need to carry it for the whole trip, simply ask us to bring it to the end of the climb!
The gate
After transferring to the gate your guide will head off to fill in the necessary paper work whilst the mountain authorities and your crew arrange all bags into correct weights. All baggage is normally weighed. When all the formalities are complete you set off with your guides. Your porters will catch you up later on, pass you and set up camp by the time you arrive. To the first camp
The first day is a good chance to get to know your guides and they will also be on hand to explain and describe some of the flora and fauna. This first day is an ideal opportunity to start a few good habits:
Ø Drink lots of fluids
Ø Eat snacks as often as you can
Ø Walk slowly Day to day routine
Each evening and morning your head guide will brief you in your mess tent. This briefing will include:
1. How the day went, how your pace was and how to improve your performance
2. What lies ahead for the next day
a. What time tea and hot water will be brought to your tent
b. What time you need to get up
c. Breakfast times
d. What to include in tomorrow’s day sack
e. Departure time from camp
f. Where lunch will be (in next camp or en route)
g. Approximate arrival time / walking times
It is also a good opportunity for the guide to see how everyone is eating and feeling. Be very open and straightforward so that the guide can assess you. Good feedback is essential for the guides to be able to monitor your progress. As a general guideline:
Ø Tea & hot water: 6.30am
Ø Breakfast: 7.00am
Ø Briefing: 7.30am
Ø Depart: 8.00am
Ø Lunch: depends on whether lunch is en route or in camp, but around 12pm to 1pm
Ø Afternoon tea: 3 – 4 pm
Ø Evening tea 6pm
Ø Dinner 7pm
Ø Evening briefing: 7.30pm
Most people tend to go to bed fairly short after dinner, but you can stay up writing trip reports, or even playing cards The summit bid
For most routes the final summit bid is a little different. Here are the key stages and what to expect: Evening briefing: at this point your head guide will go over the day’s events and also how the summit section will be tackled. Your guides will have assessed your performance over the previous days and if necessary, may want to start some members of your group slightly earlier – this is especially relevant in large groups. The starting time for all routes that ascend via Stella point (Machame, Lemosho, Umbwe) or Gilman’s (Marangu or Rongai) will always be at night. Hence, you may start as early as 11pm or possibly as late as 1am but your guide will decide this. The target is to try to reach the summit by sunrise as you have a long downhill afterwards as well. For those ascending via the Western Breach and camping in the crater you will ascend in the morning, as it is a shorter hike. None the less the ascent via the Western Breach is certainly similar in length of ascent and may be done at night or in daylight depending on whether you are camping in the crater or not. Before you go to sleep: you will be wearing most of your cold weather gear in the morning as so the main things you need are:
Ø Water
Ø Camera and film and batteries
Ø Energy bars
A good idea is to set out your clothes in the order you will put them on – inner layers first, up to the outer layers. When you wake up: you will be given a wake up call. From here you dress, put your boots on and make sure everything you take in your daypack is packed and then go to the mess tent with your daypack where you will meet your guides and have a hot drink and check over last minute items. Departing: we always have guides at the front and back of the group keeping pace and checking your performance. Your guides set the pace. Getting to the rim of Kibo: getting to the rim usually takes around 6 hours. It can sometimes be shorter or even significantly longer. This is one place where different abilities can often show, but not to worry. If the group needs to split up then the time to do so will be determined by the head guide and guides will be assigned to each group. This is the hardest part of your entire trek – for some people the hardest thing they will ever do. It is often mental stamina that counts for a huge amount here, and motivating your colleagues is essential. Your guides will also be motivating you and checking you every so often. Follow the methodical steps of your guide to maximize grip and maintain a slow steady momentum. Rim to the summit:
Ø On the ascents via Stella point it is still a further hour or so to the summit (Uhuru peak). Some people are happy to turn back here, after all you are at the top of Kilimanjaro, but most likely you will persevere to the summit.
Ø From Gilman’s it is around 2 hours to Uhuru peak, which is possibly why more people fail to reach Uhuru peak on the Marangu and Rongai routes as the final distance to the summit is a little daunting. Points of note Hygiene
Hygiene is very important on the mountain, and so fresh underwear, fresh socks and washing are all important. Hot water is provided in the morning by your tents and when you get in to camp. Water is also available after you have been to the toilet with soap. All crewmembers are also under strict instructions to maintain a very high level of hygiene. What happens in an emergency? Role of the guide(s)
One of the main roles of your guides is to make sure that you are safe, and in the eventuality that you do have to go down, the whole team is on hand to make sure that this is done quickly and efficiently. Importantly they will be able to discern whether it is necessary for you to go down or if resting at the same altitude is safe. Communications
Our guides have both radios and mobile telephones and have communication lines with both KINAPA (Kilimanjaro National Park authorities) and 3 Hoopoe managers. A Hoopoe manager is specifically kept on standby during each climb. Evacuation routes
Depending on where you are on the mountain, a different exit point may be used. KINAPA vehicles are allowed onto the Shira plateau and can also access some way up the Mweka route and the Marangu route. To get an evacuee there our work together to either make a stretcher, use a KINAPA stretcher (if available) or even carry the person if necessary. At least one person assigned is an assistant guide. A key aspect of our climbs is to try, wherever possible, to make sure that a guest can walk out safely by themselves. Our guides will decide if you need to turn around and their decision is final. Please respect this. After the mountain ~ options
If someone does decide to go down, then depending on the exit point, KINAPA vehicles may drive up as far as the track allows to meet you and then we will have a vehicle at the gate to take over. From here there are the following main scenarios:
1. The guest does not or did not have signs of altitude sickness and is physically ok. They are then transferred back to a hotel to rest. We monitor their performance and keep in regular contact and a manager visits them to make sure everything is ok.
2. They have had mountain sickness but appear fine. The guest is taken to a good hospital nearest to their accommodation in either Arusha or Moshi for a checkup before being transferred to a hotel to rest. We monitor their performance and keep in regular contact and a manager visits them to make sure everything is ok.
3. The guest had a severe case of mountain sickness or other forms of sickness / condition and may still be feeling discomfort. In this case they go straight to KCMC in Moshi and are treated. If it is a very serious case we would arrange for flying doctors to effect an evacuation to Nairobi. Hence, having your emergency contact details and insurance details is of paramount importance. We monitor their performance and keep in regular contact and a manager visits them to make sure everything is ok. This also applies to Nairobi as well – we have an office based in Nairobi and a Hoopoe employee would visit. For the extra transfers and any medical costs and accommodation Hoopoe would charge the client at cost price and if payment is a problem at that immediate time then we can make sure everything is covered and can be paid back at some later point. Other ailments Dehydration
Dehydration is caused by a lack of fluid in your body. As already indicated, your body uses a lot of water at altitude and so drinking as much fluids as possible should be a major goal. Consider these times and potential sources of fluid:
Ø Breakfast: porridge, hot drinks, water (approx 1 liter)
Ø Hiking: water bottle (approx 3 liters)
Ø Lunch: fruit juices, hot drinks, water (approx 1/2 liter)
Ø Afternoon tea: hot drinks, water (approx 1/2 liter)
Ø Dinner: soups, hot drinks, water (approx 1 liter)
Ø In bed night: water (approx 1 liter)
This guide simply shows places where you may be able to get fluids – drinking 7 liters a day is probably a tad excessive! Blisters
Badly worn in hiking boots, or new boots are the main culprits for a blister. Blisters can vary in their seriousness and this will affect your ability to walk. To avoid this please train in your boots and get them worn in. Wearing in a pair of leather boots can take time – sometimes at least a month and so be wary of this in your preparation. Golden rule: if you feel a hot spot developing, stop and sort it out. A hot spot may be where you are experiencing friction and rubbing and is likely to develop into a blister. Having blister patches and good socks and well worn in boots are ideal to avoid this. Cramp
Cramp is normally the result of muscle fatigue, overexertion and or dehydration. Hence, keeping hydrated and not overexerting yourself if essential. Light stretching normally helps the cramps go away in a matter of minutes. Sun burn / wind burn
The amount of harmful UV rises as you ascend. Having high factor sun block is essential (see packing list). This should be applied at the start of each day. A small tub of Vaseline is also very handy for chapped lips and moisturizing hands as well. Sprains
Sprains are not that common as long as people take our advice and do not rush. Areas where you are particularly at risk are in the forest section, some rocky sections such as the Barranco wall or mid way up to the summit as well as on your descent. Hence, a slow pace and care are ideal. For those with weak joints due to previous sprains, breaks or ligament tears, be prepared! Having and wearing if necessary a support for the injured muscle / joint is far better than overstressing the injury and not being able to go all the way to the summit! Tipping
A little note on tipping: there are sometimes different expectations when it comes to tipping from different nationalities and found expectations are quite often in line with cultural norms back in respective home countries. In Tanzania tips are customary in most service industries and the mountain is no different. Nonetheless it is not obligatory and Hoopoe pays well compared to many other operators and in comparison to average Tanzanian wages. Our crews earn the same in one trip that many Tanzanians earn in a month and they will do multiple trips in one month in the high season. On smaller groups (2 or 3 people) our crews also appreciate that the tipping burden can be quite high as our crew numbers are high due to our specification. A common phrase is ‘Zawadi ni zawadi’ – a tip is a tip. How and when to tip
You will often find that the subject of tipping comes up at the final camp, and that is often a good place to arrange the final tips and if in doubt your head guide can always help out. We try to keep tipping as transparent for the crew as possible. Ideally tipping should be done at the gate after the climb and so having change (dollars or Tanzanian shillings are the best) is a good idea. Otherwise we have to organize tipping later on back at base. It can feel a little odd dealing with tips – but you can always use our guides to distribute the tips. Therefore, if possible, please do try and have tip money on you at the start of the climb and complete tips at the gate. Guideline amounts
These figures are designed to be a guideline based on what have become normal tipping amounts over time. Remember that you should not feel obligated to pay exact amounts and if you feel like giving more or less then please do – it’s a tip after all! The table below presents tips as a guideline day rate and hence you can see the examples to the right based on number of people and route and days.
Route Days People Route Days People
Machame 7 2 Machame 7 4
Title Guideline daily rate Days Number Total Title Guideline daily rate Days Number Total
Head guide 10 7 1 $ 70.00 Head guide 10 7 1 $ 70.00
Assistant guide 9 7 1 $ 63.00 Assistant guide 9 7 3 $ 189.00
Head Cook 9 7 1 $ 63.00 Head Cook 9 7 1 $ 63.00
Assistant Cook 7 7 0 $ - Assistant Cook 6 7 1 $ 42.00
Camp crew 7 7 1 $ 49.00 Camp crew 6 7 1 $ 42.00
Porters 2.5 7 16 $ 280.00 Porters 2.5 7 28 $ 490.00
Total $ 525.00 Total $ 896.00
Per person $ 262.50 Per person $ 224.00 Route Days People Route Days People
Lemosho 8 2 Lemosho 8 4
Title Guideline daily rate Days Number Total Title Guideline daily rate Days Number Total
Head guide 10 8 1 $ 80.00 Head guide 10 8 1 $ 80.00
Assistant guide 9 8 1 $ 72.00 Assistant guide 9 8 3 $ 216.00
Head Cook 9 8 1 $ 72.00 Head Cook 9 8 1 $ 72.00
Assistant Cook 7 8 0 $ - Assistant Cook 6 8 1 $ 48.00
Camp crew 7 8 1 $ 56.00 Camp crew 6 8 1 $ 48.00
Porters 2.5 8 16 $ 320.00 Porters 2.5 8 28 $ 560.00
Total $ 600.00 Total $ 1,024.00
Per person $ 300.00 Per person $ 256.00
After your trek Feedback
Once you are back at your hotel, and after a well deserved hot shower, there will be time to relax and have a celebratory dinner. The following morning one of our managers will be there to receive any feedback that you have for us. We will have an assessment form for you and straightforward, critical feedback is ideal – we are always aiming to improve our service and standard on the mountain. Time may not permit meeting a Hoopoe manager in which case we will make sure a feedback form is left for you to fill in – please let us know what you thought of the climb. If you though you had a great experience then let your agent and friends know. If there was anything wrong at all, let us know so that we can have the chance to make it right! Altitude and altitude sickness Please note: this information has been collected from a number sources, which include medical journals and outdoor training guides. It is not meant to be a definitive source of information, but is designed to give our guests a basic understanding of the environment and reactions that the body may face at altitude as well as the inherent risks. Our mountain guides are trained to ensure that you are monitored at all stages and are able to recognize various forms of mountain sickness and their severity and to take appropriate steps. Their ability to make these decisions is also based on years of experience on the mountain and so their decisions must be adhered to at all times. Definitions of altitude
Different altitudes can be classified as: Ø High: 8,000 – 12,000 feet (2438 – 3658 meters)
Ø Very High: 12,000 – 18,000 feet (3658 – 5487 meters)
Ø Extremely High: 18,000 + feet (5487 meters +) Therefore, on a typical Kilimanjaro hike you will pass from High altitude on your first day all the way to extremely high at the summit. Kilimanjaro is an extremely high mountain. Environmental changes at altitude
As you ascend Kilimanjaro (more specifically as you ascend through the atmosphere) the barometric pressure decreases. The temperature also drops – for every 1000 feet around 5 degrees F (10 C per 1000 meters). The effects of these changes are a decrease in the density of air. Essentially there is less air to breath in, hence the term ‘thin air’. The percentage of oxygen remains constant at around 21%, but there is simply less oxygen molecules for a given volume of air that you breath in. Acclimatization
As you ascend your body needs to deal with the reduced amount of oxygen available in every breath. These changes that your body makes are the process of acclimatization. The main changes that occur in the body are:
Ø The depth of breathing increases
Ø Pressure in the pulmonary arteries increases – making blood flow into parts of the lungs not necessarily used at lower latitudes
Ø The body produces more red blood cells (the protein Hemoglobin being the oxygen carrier which resides in the red blood cell).
Ø Production of more of a certain enzyme that facilitates the release of oxygen from Hemoglobin to the body’s tissues.
Ø You urinate more (altitude dieresis where the kidneys release more water from the body). Failure to acclimatize properly therefore leads to certain symptoms – signs that your body is not adapting, or has not yet adapted, to the change in altitude. Rate of acclimatization
How quickly you acclimatize – the rate of acclimatization, is affected by a few main factors:
Ø How quickly you ascend: an ideal target rate is 1000 feet a day (305 meters per day) and even 3000 feet spend an extra day at the same altitude.
Ø The amount of time spent at a particular altitude: extra days spent at the same altitude help. The maxim ‘walk high, sleep low’ also applies.
Ø The condition of your body: being prepared and taking it easy ensure that your body is given the best chance of dealing with the changes in environment.
Ø How well hydrated you are and diet: high carbohydrate diet combined with lots of fluids are essential. Types of Altitude sickness
If you body is not able to deal with the change in altitude then there are 3 main types of illness that may be apparent: Ø Acute Mountain Sickness: a number of symptoms that indicate you are not acclimatized to your current altitude. These include a headache combined with loss of appetite, fatigue (even at rest), dizziness, mild swelling in extremities, and disturbed sleep The important thing to note is that a large proportion of people climbing Kilimanjaro do get mild mountain sickness and with rest and time your tolerance for altitude increases and so most people will be able to continue. Fluid leakage on the brain is the predominant cause of a headache and severe forms of this can lead to HACE.
Ø HACE: High Altitude Cerebral Edema. Excess fluid leakage causes mental impairment and this can be fatal. The hallmarks of HACE are a severe headache and impairment of the ability to think. Ataxia, or the loss of coordination is an easy sign to recognize. Decent is the only cure.
Ø HAPE: High altitude pulmonary edema – fluid on the lungs. Signs can include breathlessness even at rest, cough (possibly frothy or pink sputum), rattling breaths, lack of blood to the extremities and drowsiness. HAPE can be confused with pneumonia, but rapid decent soon differentiates the two. Periodic breathing or ‘Cheyne – Stokes’ respirations are not an illness. Periodic breathing often happens at night whereby the climber may experience wildly fluctuating breathing cycles in their sleep. It can be quite disturbing to listen to or to suddenly wake up to, but it is not considered abnormal at high altitudes. Acetazolamide (Diamox) can be helpful in relieving periodic breathing. Diamox / Acetazolamide
Diamox (the brand name) is a sulfa-based drug that is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Essentially the effect it has is to act as a respiratory stimulant, which impacts your breathing particularly at night and can eliminate periodic breathing. Clinical trials have not been performed conclusively, but it is widely known to increase the rate of acclimatization. It is certainly not a wonder drug that will work for everyone in the same ways – in fact the research and data for how well it works for different people is very limited indeed. Key points:
Ø It is a sulfa-based drug and so some people are allergic to it – your doctor must prescribe it for you to take it.
Ø It is a diuretic
Some side effects include tingling in the fingers and toes, altered taste (especially of soda drinks which taste flat) and possibly ringing in the ears.
It is used in the following ways:
Ø At the start of the climb and during climb to prevent mountain sickness
Ø On the onset of any signs of mountain sickness
Ø As a treatment for mountain sickness The only real cure for altitude sickness is removal from altitude. Please note that our guides are asked not to give out their own supplies of Diamox to people that have not been prescribed Diamox to avoid allergic reactions. Doses
Consult your doctor for advice. From experience we have found that a good dose is 125mg twice a day, at breakfast and then after dinner. This minimizes side effects and helps keep a steady breathing pattern when you are asleep. Some information from medical journals indicates that the effectiveness of Diamox may be very limited unless the maximum daily does of 750mg is taken. We wait for proven clinical results!
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