kilimanjaro trekking myths busted

7 Kilimanjaro Trekking Myths, Busted

Myths and misconceptions abound on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Some are harmless, while others can have a serious impact on your ability to reach the Roof of Africa. Let’s look at seven common Kili myths and see why they’re misleading.   Myth: The Climb is Technically Challenging Because Kili is one of the world’s Seven Summits, a…

smiling porter on kilimanjaro

Should You Hire a Personal Porter on Kilimanjaro?

  Thomson trekkers have access to an incredible ally on their trek: the personal porter. Strong, friendly, encouraging and kind, personal porters can lighten your load as you trek to Uhuru Peak. But, how do you know if you really need that assistance? Should you hire a personal porter on Kilimanjaro? Whether you’re a trekking…

feet on hiking trail

Kilimanjaro Hiking Techniques: The Rest Step

“Pole, pole” is something you’ll hear often on Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s Swahili for “slowly, slowly,” and it’s a reminder to slow down, trek carefully and rely on smaller steps as you ascend to Uhuru Peak, all the way up at 19,341’. One way to deliberately trek “pole, pole” is to use the rest step, also…

packing advice from people who trekked kilimanjaro

Must-Have Kilimanjaro Gear Recommendations from Guests

When you’re trying to pack Kilimanjaro gear that keeps your duffle bag under the required 33-pound limit, do you really need gaiters? Nasal decongestant? A nail brush? Everything you see on our expert-curated Kilimanjaro packing list is there for a specific reason. Don’t just take our word for it! We asked our trekking guests on…

proposal at kilimanjaro summit

How Two Trekkers Got Engaged at Uhuru Peak

Love was in the air (19,341’ in the air, that is) for Thomson trekkers Leigh and Tommy, who recently got engaged at Mt. Kilimanjaro’s Uhuru Peak! Calling the moment “surreal,” Leigh said it was the perfect culmination of a week of trekking: she had a ring, a fiancé, and views of the Tanzanian plains stretching…

lisa and joe at the summit of kilimanjaro

What made Lisa Garruzzo’s Kili Trek so Transformative?

Lisa and her husband Joe at the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro Life-changing treks can have a powerful effect on our everyday lives. Thomson trekker Lisa Garruzzo of Go. Own It ®discovered this for herself when she set out to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro in late 2021; she found that the journey to Uhuru Peak became an immutable…

pineapple recipe from mount kiliimanjaro

Kilimanjaro Food: Pineapple Romanoff Recipe

  Sweet, juicy and a little bit boozy, this Pineapple Romanoff is an easy and luscious dessert that comes from the Thomson kitchens on Mt. Kilimanjaro. The dish is defined by presentation: pineapple served out of pineapple provides a fun, tropical feeling wherever you’re eating it–whether that’s your living room or at camp, just after…

barranco wall kilimanjaro

Food Blogger Elda Martinez Reviews Her Meals on Kili

When it came to food on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Elda Martinez had high expectations. She runs the food blog Elda Eats and trekked Mt. Kilimanjaro on Thomson’s Western Approach in July. We caught up with her to talk all things food on Kili–variety, calories, drinks and more. The following interview has been edited for concision and…

organ recipient at the summit of mount kilimanjaro

Organ Recipient Overcomes All to Climb Kili

After a life-saving liver transplant in 2017, Peter Matthews set a lofty recovery goal: trek Mt. Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. It took years of training and fortitude, but he finally set out to achieve this in 2021, when his trek to Kili’s Uhuru Peak began. Here is Peter’s incredible story of recovery, growth…

training with aerobic step for mount kilimanjaro

Why the Aerobic Step Belongs in Your Training Program

Fundamental, humble and powerful: the aerobic step is an essential and oft overlooked tool when you’re training for Kilimanjaro. It helps you build your endurance muscles in preparation for the thousands and thousands of steps you’ll take in your quest for Uhuru Peak. Our partners at Fit For Trips help us explain why this move…

SEARCH BLOG BY TOPIC