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Hiking up Kilimanjaro can be either a nightmare, or an immensely
pleasant experience. It depends on the weather, the other people
you're travelling with, and most importantly, the rate of ascent.
Fortunately for me, I had all three going for me. One cannot hike
alone; you must have Tanzanian porters escort you up, and they are
invaluable: they carry your bags (along with their own), and make
sure you don't do anything stupid to yourself, like forget to eat
or drink. The weather was fantastic the whole trip, and because
of Wilderness Travel's itinerary, we took 7 days to ascend, compared
to 3-5 days that others may take. This is what makes the whole trip
possible for most people. The hiking itself is not difficult. Very
little of the hike is all that steep, and there is no mountain climbing
at all. What makes the rate of ascent a factor is the time necessary
for your body to climatize to the thinner air. By going up more slowly,
your body can adapt to the thinner air by producing more red blood cells
to absorb the smaller amounts of oxygen you breathe. It has little to
do with your physical "fitness."
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