| How fit do I need to be? This is not just a walk, this is a demanding trek so you do need to train and be fit. We will send you a training guide when you enter, plus some weekend training dates in Wales to get you fully prepared. Remember the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the adventure. Will the altitude affect me? The altitude problem is the shortage of oxygen: as you climb higher, the air gets thinner. At 4,600m, atmospheric pressure is about 50% of that at sea level. The high altitude will be the biggest challenge to us on this trek and there are a variety of symptoms including headaches, tiredness, irritability, nausea and depression. The effects of altitude can be felt from around 2,500m upwards. Not everyone is affected by altitude sickness and fitness, size, age or sex has nothing to do with how people maybe affected (although females are less likely to be affected than males) if at all. Please read the altitude information on the Kilimanjaro medical form. What's the terrain like? The terrain varies from sub-tropical vegetation through cloud forest, to bare rugged mountain slopes. The route has repeated ascents and descents and whilst most of the paths are wide, there are a couple of short narrow sections. What's a typical day on trek like? While camping we will be up at around 6.00 am! We will have an early breakfast in a communal dinning hut and then start walking around 7.30-8.00am. We walk for 3-4 hours in the morning and then stop for a packed lunch. In the afternoon we walk for 2-4 hours to our overnight camp. In the evenings, firstly we will have a drink and rest, dinner will again be served in the dining hut and we will have a briefing each night about the next days trek. What sort of back-up is provided? Depending on group numbers, you will have a UK Expedition Leader or Local Leader, plus local guides, porters, cooks and kitchen staff. If group numbers are above 10 pax, a UK Expedition Doctor will accompany the trek who will have a comprehensive medical kit. Do I need any vaccinations to visit Kili? Yellow Fever, Typhoid and Hepatitis A vaccinations are advisable. Tetanus and polio vaccinations should be up to date. Anti-Malaria protection may also be advised by your GP. This is a guideline only you are advised to seek professional medical advice from their GP or local travel clinic. Do I need any specialist kit? We will supply you with a full kit list once you have signed up, but apart from a good pair of hiking boots, warm/waterproof clothes and a warm sleeping bag there is no specialist kit. Will I be insured? No, everyone who takes part needs to take out their own comprehensive travel insurance covering health, accidents and loss before departure. We will send you further information nearer the time of exactly what is required. What will the weather be like? The best times of year to climb Kilimanjaro is between December to early March and late May to late October. The two main rainy seasons are between late March to mid May and November. Equatorial and artic conditions are present on Kilimanjaro and so you can expect the weather to change from hot and dry to wet and misty, to very cold. We start on the warm plains (up to 30C), before ascending through a wide belt of wet tropical forest. The higher we climb, the colder it becomes. There is permanent ice at the summit and below freezing temperatures. Night-time temperatures will be very cold. What will we eat and drink? All the water on trek will be boiled or pumped and safe to drink. Bottled water is available to buy in the hotel. Meals on trek will be substantial, but it is still a good idea to bring energy bars, snacks, etc..., to keep you going during the day. Breakfast will consist of cereals and/or bread, with something hot such as porridge or pancakes, plus tea and coffee. A typical lunch will be sandwiches, chicken plus a drinks and chocolate bar. For our evening meal there will be soup followed by a main course with rice, potatoes, pasta and vegetables. Again hot drinks will be served. We will need to know in advance of any special dietary requirements. Where will we sleep? The room configuration in the hotel at the beginning and end of the trek is likely to be twin share. Whilst we are trekking we will be sleeping in two person dome Mountain Hardware or equivalent tents. Single rooms are available at the hotel on request at extra cost. How much money will I need to take? Approx £150 spending money is sufficient for drinks and some souvenirs. Our guides and local staff also work extremely hard on the trek, should you wish to show your appreciation at the end, a suggested tip of £35 per person is collected. Can I stay on in Tanzania after the trek? Yes, although places will be limited, so you should contact us immediately and no later than February 2009. There maybe an extra cost in extending your flight approx £75 per person, depending on airline availability. Participants must have at least 6 months validity on their passports from the date of return to the UK. Do I need a visa to enter Tanzania? Yes, British passport holders must obtain a Tanzanian visa before they leave the UK. The cost of a Tanzanian visa is £38. You will also require a Kenya transit visa, which is payable on arrival in Nairobi and on our return journey at the border. FAQ's courtesy of Ultimate Challenges | The Ultimate Travel Company | 
