Climbing Kilimanjaro doesn't require technical mountaineering experience, but it does require honest preparation — altitude, not fitness, is what actually turns people back.
Choosing a route
Machame ('Whiskey Route') is our most-booked route for its scenery and better acclimatization profile than the shorter Marangu route. If you have the extra two days, Lemosho gives even more time to adjust.
Training beforehand
You don't need to be an athlete, but multi-day hiking fitness matters more than gym fitness. Long, consecutive days on your feet — even flat ones — prepare you better than short intense workouts.
What the camps are actually like
Tents, not huts, on most routes — set up ahead of you by the crew each day. Basic but genuinely warm sleeping bags, hot water for washing, and simple but substantial meals. Bring your own headtorch and a proper down jacket for summit night.