Climbing Kilimanjaro is a magnet for those passionate about exploring unparalleled heights. Yet, amidst the exhilarating ascent, the emphasis on hydration often gets overlooked.
Many thrill-seekers don’t realize that water goes beyond its primary role when it comes to Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing. It’s not just a thirst quencher anymore – it’s an essential companion.
Consuming adequate water on every step of this challenging journey ensures safety and improves the performance of our climbers aiming to summit the majestic heights of the mountain.
Importance Of Water IntakeDuring Climbing Kilimanjaro
Staying hydrated is critical for survival. This is true especially when Climbing Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, which summits at 5895 meters (19,340 feet) above sea level.
Also, up to 60% of an adult human body is water. With a significant portion of our body reliant on water, maintaining hydration is essential during any Mount Kilimanjaro Hike. Moreover,
Water influences almost every function, from digestion to circulation.
Proper consumption of water can significantly improve your stamina. It ensures you remain energized as you climb higher.
Now that we have gone through the benefits of proper water intake let’s learn how to stay hydrated while Climbing Kilimanjaro.
Listen to the Voice of Experienced Guides
Choosing the Best Kilimanjaro Tours means you have experienced guides to help you navigate the journey. These Kilimanjaro Climbing Guides always prioritize the traveller’s health and give you the best possible advice on the trip briefings carried on each evening.
The guides will provide details of the water intake you should have during the next climb day.
Also, they will ask you about the water intake you had in the present day. If the value is not enough, they will make you drink more.
You may find it challenging to consume this much water but trust your Mount Kilimanjaro Guide. They are experts in their field and must have summited Kilimanjaro more than 200 times.
Listening to them will only help you reach the summit without negatively impacting your health. So, get ready to hear “Maji, Maji” all the way during your Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Tours.
You might get bored hearing this Swahili phrase, which means water, but they won’t even get tired of saying it. Such is their dedication!
Electrolytes- Hydration’s Essential Partners
Drinking water is super important, but sometimes, water alone isn’t enough during the strenuous Mount Kilimanjaro Hike. That’s where electrolytes come in.
According to Medical News Today, electrolytes aren’t just fancy drink mix-ins. These are chemicals that tend to conduct electricity when dissolved in water. They do some critical jobs in our bodies, such as:
Help nerves and muscles work well.
Keep the body hydratedon the long and strenuous Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro journey.
Balances the blood’s acidity and pressure.
Rebuilds any damaged tissues.
Muscles and neurons are electrical tissues and depend on electrolytes to function well.
Human electrolytes include calcium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, phosphate, chloride, magnesium, and bicarbonate.
During the tough Kilimanjaro Climb, muscle needs to function effectively. They need sodium, potassium, and calcium electrolytes to contract and relax. If these electrolytes are imbalanced, muscles might either feel weak or tighten excessively.
Scenic’s Vital Tip: So, if you’re joining the Climb Mount Kilimanjaro Tours, adding electrolytes to your drink is easy. Available options like Gatorade powder, GU Drinking Tabs, NUUN tablets, and Saltstick are simple to use. Just mix them in your water bottle, and you’re set. But don’t put them in your big 3-litre bladder. The sweet stuff in the mix can make it dirty, and cleaning it on the mountain is tough.
Link Between Hydration and Acclimatization
Staying well-hydrated during your climb is essential for effective Kilimanjaro Acclimatization.
Proper hydration helps your body adjust smoothly to increasing altitudes, reducing the risk of Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness.
When dehydrated, your body struggles more with elevation changes, making acclimatization challenging. Hence, adequate fluid intake is critical to successful acclimatization on the mountain.
Source of Water on Climbing Kilimanjaro
After going through the read, you now have an idea about the importance of hydration on Kilimanjaro’s slopes. But from where does water come at such great heights? Who carries it and sanitizes it for you? Let’s understand!
You have to credit the Kilimanjaro Porters for conducting this critical task.
They collect the water using big buckets and jugs from the streams flowing along the Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes.
They then purify this water at the campsite. After purification, they provide you with clean drinking water.
Also, we have a dedicated porter whose only responsibility is to refill your water pouch daily. They also empty the contents of your water bladder and clean it while filling.
Conquer Kilimanjaro with Confidence and Care!
At African Scenic Safaris, we’ve crafted Kilimanjaro Climbing Packages especially for you. Here, our foremost concern is our climber’s safety. We carefully guide every climber, ensuring a gradual pace to help adapt to altitude changes. Proper hydration is essential, and with us, it’s a guaranteed part of the journey.
Want to touch the mesmerizing Kilimanjaro Summit? Begin your journey with us. Let’s ascend to greatness together!
