No matter what the circumstance, Kilimanjaro At Night will always be a challenge! It takes days of climbing to reach the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. The final Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing begins at midnight.
As per the days are pretty friendly by comparison, Kilimanjaro Summit Night is very strenuous. It begins in the middle of the night, followed by a 4,000 foot climb in cold, dark and windy conditions. Then after a celebration at the top, climbers must descent about 9,000 feet.
If you’ve acclimatized well, the altitude may not inhibit you that much. But the sheer amount of energy required to tackle the peak may leave you exhausted.
WHAT IS KILIMANJARO SUMMIT AT NIGHT?
Kilimanjaro At Night is the part of the climb where you will set out for Uhuru Peak. It’s called Kilimanjaro Summit Night by some and summit day by others. Both are actually valid as the climb starts during the night and ends in the daytime. During this time, you’ll Kilimanjaro Trek up to the summit and then hike about half way back down the mountain. On summit day, you will be stumbling through the darkest part of the night. However, with the help of your guides, you can get through the infamous summit night to see the fulfilling morning’s first light breaking over the horizon at Uhuru Peak. Summit day is the hardest day of hiking that will test you in every way!
WHY CLIMB KILIMANJARO AT NIGHT?
Kilimanjaro Summit at night actually has many advantages because of which all the summit attempts start at night. The reasons behind the early start are –
IT’S HARD TO SLEEP AT ALTITUDE
The higher the altitude, the harder it is to sleep at night. That’s because the reduced oxygen can make people’s breathing laboured. That’s why after an early sleep, climbers have to start Kilimanjaro Climbing through the night so that it doesn’t affect their breathing because it is better to climb their way to the top than try to sleep and not get an ounce of rest due to the altitude.
By leaving at midnight, you will have the time to go slowly. If you try to go up Climbing Kilimanjaro quickly, you will feel the sudden effects of altitude sickness, and may not be able to reach the Mount Kilimanjaro Summit.
IT’S A LONG WAY UP
One of the key reasons for a night-time start is that it’s a long way up to go. Regardless of the base camp for your Kilimanjaro Hike attempt, you have a long climb ahead of you. It is then followed by a long descent to that night’s rest camp for the climbers. Climbers have to descend to a lower camp so this means plenty of downhill hiking. So, getting an early head start during the night is a good idea to complete the summit attempt on time.
You have to leave high camp for the Kilimanjaro Summit around midnight and then hike through the darkness to reach the summit by sunrise. For the first few hours of your hike, it will be dark and cold and you’ll have to hike ‘slow and steady’, trying to avoid taking too many breaks along the way.
YOU CAN ENJOY THE SUNRISE AT STELLA POINT
On Kilimanjaro Summit Night, all the excitement will be mingled with a sense of nervousness. Kilimanjaro Climb during the night is a very different experience compared to the previous days of Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro. You no longer have stunning views to entertain you along the way but just the white light from your head torch pointing down at the ground ahead of you.
But it’s the promise of seeing the most beautiful sunrise of your life ever that will compel you to move forward. The sunrise at Stella Point is one that has been boasted of by many so imagine getting to see as the sun rises above the horizon around you and paints your surroundings a beautiful orange colour.
WHAT HAPPENS ON SUMMIT NIGHT?
It is very common to attempt Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing during the night. That is because you can reach the top in time for the sunrise. Every night on climb your guide team will explain you what to expect on the next day, and your Kilimanjaro Summit Night is no exception. You will wake up at approximately 11pm to have a light snack. After putting on every piece of clothing you have with you, you will start the ascent. With nothing but your head torch to light the way, you’ll start to walk slowly. Due to the high altitude, oxygen is limited and it’s important to stay at a slow and steady pace.
The Kilimanjaro Summit Hike takes around 6-8 hours to complete. Once you get to the top, you will get to witness the stunning glaciers and the vast crater. You won’t spend too long at the top because of the extreme altitude. Once everyone is done taking pictures and doing a happy dance, you’ll start the descent. The descent is actually over far more quickly than the ascent.
The feeling of successfully summiting Africa’s highest peak is incomparable. With Jerry Tanzania Tours, you will be able to achieve your Kilimanjaro dream despite any challenges or concerns that Kilimanjaro At Night will bring to you. We hope you use this blog as a canvas for any questions you may have about the summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. We’ll be waiting for your valuable feedback so get in touch with us now!
