Climbing Kilimanjaro is not dangerous, if you are prepared well!
Due to its extreme altitude, climbing Kilimanjaro can be quite dangerous if one is not properly monitored and treated. Above all, at Malisenyi Tours, is focused on safety of each and every client. We understand that first and foremost, it is our main responsibility to keep everyone out of harm's way. We have many layers of safety built into our operations to minimize the risks on Kilimanjaro.
What is altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS):
Is a negative health effect of high altitude caused by the failure of the body to adapt quickly enough to the reduced level of oxygen in the air. Altitude sickness generally develops at elevations higher than 8,000 feet and when the rate of ascent exceeds 1,000 feet per day. The elevation gains on some days during your Kilimanjaro trek fall into this category. Therefore, it is likely that you will experience some form of mild altitude sickness on Mount Kilimanjaro.
The most common of altitude sickness are headaches, sleep disturbance, fatigue, shortness of breath and dizziness. These can be considered normal for climbing Kilimanjaro. However, complications can develop on Kilimanjaro, and everyone attempting to climb the mountain must be aware of the risks involved. The symptoms of altitude sickness generally appear within hours of moving to higher altitudes and vary depending on the severity of your condition.
Mild forms of altitude sickness are best treated by rest, maintaining fluid intake, and by a painkiller such as paracetamol. Mild symptoms which have lasted for 24 hours or more can be treated with Diamox which aids acclimatization. Some people start taking Diamox before the climb to prevent AMS as prescribed by their doctor. Alternatively, it can be used as a treatment for AMS once symptoms have arisen. The use of Diamox is a personal decision but we do recommend you bring it in case you need it.
Serious cases of altitude sickness can only be treated by immediate descent. Severe cases of acute mountain sickness can cause more intense symptoms, affecting your heart, lungs, muscles, and nervous system. This occurs rarely develops for climbers. However, these conditions can lead rapidly to death unless immediate descent is made.

Malisenyi Tour’s Safety Precautions:

Established protocol for handling emergencies on the mountain, including rescue and evacuation
- Health checks are conducted twice daily to measure pulse, temperature, blood pressure and oxygen saturation
- First Aid Medical Kits are carried on all climbs
- Provide Kilimanjaro Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter evacuation for injured or ill climbers (Helicopter Rescue is available again)
- Our guides are certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR)
- All our mountain guides and porters are constantly updating and rejuvenating their safety practices to be perfectly prepared as a team for your safety and the safety of all climbers on the mountain and on safari.
- As a company we provide regular team meetings to share experiences about safety instructions that will be passed on to all team members to ensure your safety. Before every hike, you will receive an introduction of our safety guidelines by your main guide so that you are prepared for the different situations that may occur while on safari and while hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Acclimatization Tips
- Pre-acclimatize prior to your trip by hiking at high altitude if possible.
- Pole, pole! Our guides will remind you to walk slowly throughout your climb as it takes time to acclimatize to higher altitude.
- Take slow deliberate deep breaths.
- Climb high, camp low. Climb to a higher altitude during the day, then sleep at a lower altitude at night. Most routes comply with this principle and additional acclimatization hikes can be incorporated into your itinerary.
- Eat enough food and drink enough water while on your climb. It is recommended that you drink from four to five liters of fluid per day. Also, eat a high calorie diet while at altitude, even if you don’t feel hungry.
- You can use altitude medication such as Diamox to prevention symptoms of AMS. However, it is not a 100% guarantee and only effective if taken prior to your hike. Please talk to your doctor first to avoid any complications.
- Avoid tobacco, alcohol and other depressant drugs including, barbiturates, tranquillizers, sleeping pills and opiates. These further decrease the respiratory drive during sleep resulting in a worsening of altitude sickness.
- If you begin to show slight symptoms of altitude sickness, don’t go higher until symptoms decrease. If symptoms increase, descend.
Established protocol for handling emergencies
- We are well prepared to manage emergences on Mt. Kilimanjaro. We have established protocols for every type of situation and for every location on the mountain. If an emergency were to happen, our teams know exactly what to do, step by step. Other operators, unfortunately, do not have firm plans and as a result are not prepared. Our guides quite often assist other companies when things go awry with their clients.
- In cases where emergency evacuation is required, an affected person is escorted on foot or carried upon a stretcher. The descent is made to the highest access point that the national park rescue vehicle can reach - either Shira Plateau, below Mandara Hut or Rongai Gate. The rescue vehicle / helicopter will transport the sick or injured client off the mountain to either another rescue vehicle or directly to a hospital. This depends on the extent of the injury or sickness. During the rescue, the client is accompanied by one of the guides and looked after carefully.
- Depending on where the client went, the morning after the rescue, the guide will meet the client again. Consequently, there is a telephone communication from executive staff to the guide to make sure that the correct medical care is being offered. And that the client's wishes are being taken care of. This guide is then available to help the client in any way, whether they need to go to the doctor or do a short walk around town