One of the most spectacular holidays for anyone who enjoys hiking and magnificent views is to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Situated on the border between Tanzania and Kenya, the mountain rises to a maximum 5895m and is the highest peak in Africa. There are several routes to choose from but training for Kilimanjaro is required for anyone who would like to climb this amazing dormant volcano.
All of the climbs last around a week but can be several days longer if you want. The longer routes make acclimatization to the altitude easier to cope with. Unless you are used to high altitudes, improving your cardio vascular fitness before the climb is extremely helpful.
Using cardio machines at the gym, cycling or hill running are all beneficial to overall cardio fitness. The more cardio training you do, the less likely it is that altitude sickness will be problematic. An hours workout daily with increasing difficulty levels is a good regime to maintain.
Even if you hike regularly at weekends, it is unlikely that you do several hikes back to back. You will be walking for around eight hours each day so you need to know you can do this. Try to take a long walk every day for a week preferably wearing the boots you will take with you so know you will not get blisters.
The paths are intended to be climbed at a steady rate and you will require stamina not speed. As the air thins on the higher slopes breathing and rhythm become important. Your training should reflect the steady progress and focus on duration rather than a fast pace.
Ensure you have plenty of time before you travel to complete training for Kilimanjaro. Your normal fitness level will be a factor in deciding how much time that should be; you may need a month or a year. If you have any concerns about the altitude you may want to consult you physician first. Read more about: Training For Kilimanjaro
All of the climbs last around a week but can be several days longer if you want. The longer routes make acclimatization to the altitude easier to cope with. Unless you are used to high altitudes, improving your cardio vascular fitness before the climb is extremely helpful.
Using cardio machines at the gym, cycling or hill running are all beneficial to overall cardio fitness. The more cardio training you do, the less likely it is that altitude sickness will be problematic. An hours workout daily with increasing difficulty levels is a good regime to maintain.
Even if you hike regularly at weekends, it is unlikely that you do several hikes back to back. You will be walking for around eight hours each day so you need to know you can do this. Try to take a long walk every day for a week preferably wearing the boots you will take with you so know you will not get blisters.
The paths are intended to be climbed at a steady rate and you will require stamina not speed. As the air thins on the higher slopes breathing and rhythm become important. Your training should reflect the steady progress and focus on duration rather than a fast pace.
Ensure you have plenty of time before you travel to complete training for Kilimanjaro. Your normal fitness level will be a factor in deciding how much time that should be; you may need a month or a year. If you have any concerns about the altitude you may want to consult you physician first. Read more about: Training For Kilimanjaro
