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Kilimanjaro Weather and Climate
Lying just south of the equator Kilimanjaro is affected by the
passage of the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which brings with it
the main rainy periods. The highest rainfall occurs between mid
March and early May, and slightly less between the beginning of
November and late December. Maximum rainfall occurs in the forest
belt and on the south side of the mountain where it reaches 2000mm.
per year. Precipitation on the summit is about 100mm. per year; this
coupled with the very porous ash soils results in the Saddle being
considered a high altitude desert. Rain and, higher up, snow, can
however be encountered at any time of year - even in the driest
periods (January, February and September).
Normally the drier seasons are associated with clear, dry weather
which can last for weeks on end. The best weather is generally
encountered in the mornings, and convectional rainfall, if any,
tends to come in mid-afternoon. After long periods of dry weather
some of the higher streams dry up.
Temperatures vary considerably with height and time of day. On the
plains surrounding Kilimanjaro the average temperature is about
30°C. At 3000m. frosts can be encountered at night while day time
temperatures range from 5 to 15°C. Night time temperatures on the
summit can be well below freezing.
When to Go.
Anytime! All seasons have their attractions - a good day in the
rainy periods can sometimes provide superb views as the air is then
very clear, however deep snow and heavy rain could stop or marr your
trip. The safest months are: mid-December to mid March the May to
October.
Hazards of High Altitude Mountaineering
Your guide on Kilimanjaro will not only have basic first aid
training but also he has many years of experience guiding walkers on
Kilimanjaro. If you are at any stage concerned about anybodies
health or any aspect of the trip please consult him in the first
instance. All Kilimanjaro guides will do their utmost to get you to
the summit safely. They will not advise you to turn back unless they
have an excellent reason. Please heed their advice.
In the event of any problem or accident guides have contact with
base and can summon a ranger rescue team, these can reach most
points on the mountain in just a few hours. Your park entry fees
include a mountain rescue fee that covers for all expenses other
than air rescue. Apart from this please make your self aware of the
medical problems associated with high altitude mountaineering.
You should carry your own first aid kit and be familiar with its
use. Problems peculiar to the tropics and high altitudes need
special attention.
Altitude Sickness: Problems result from the inability of the human
body to adjust to a rapid gain in altitude and range from mild cases
of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), experienced to some extent by most
climbers, to the often fatal Pulmonary and Cerebral Oedemas, the
latter being far less common. A slow pace and copious fluid intake
(unless oedema is suspected) reduce the severity of Altitude
Sickness. Dehydration, even mild, leads to thickening of the blood
with increased possibility of pulmonary embolism or a thrombosis.
Urine colour should be pale and the output copious. (Oedemas are the
accumulation of liquid in a part of the body).
Symptoms of AMS include loss of appetite, headache, nausea,
vomiting, exhaustion, lassitude, weakness, a rapid pulse even at
rest, insomnia, swelling of hands and/or face and reduced urine
output. Climbers with severe symptoms must stop ascending and
seriously consider descending to a lower altitude, since often a
drop of as little as 500m. and a stay of a couple of days at that
level will allow recovery. The drug DIAMOX can sometimes help or
prevent or reduce the severity of AMS. With Pulmonary Oedema,
additional symptoms may be noticed - shortness of breath, even at
rest, gurgling, bubbly sounds in the chest and sometimes watery
blood-tinged sputum. Skin may be cold and clammy, lips and finger
nails bluish. With Cerebral Oedema, severe headache, hallucination
and lack of co-ordination are additional symptoms. Treatment:
IMMEDIATE DESCENT.
Pneumonia: This can kill, in some cases very rapidly. Symptoms
include rise in temperature, pain in chest, shivering, rapid breath
and dry cough sometimes with red mucus. Cure involves keeping the
patient warm, getting him to lower altitudes, providing warm drinks
and antibiotics, and by beating chest to encourage coughing.
Sun: At an altitude of 4,000m, only about 60% of the harmful UV
sunlight is filtered out by the atmosphere. This can result in very
rapid burning of exposed skin; lips are particularly badly affected.
Good suncreams are recommended. Dark glasses with side panels should
be worn when crossing snow to prevent snow blindness, even in misty
conditions. Snow blindness is painful and feels like sand in the
eyes; rest and eye drops help; great care is required to avoid
rubbing eyes (bandaging?).
Hygiene: Do not pollute streams by washing yourself or
catering-utensils in them. These are water supplies for you and
other people. If there is no latrine dig a private hole for your
excrement as far as possible from camps or paths, using an ice axe
or stick, then refill it neatly. Do not leave rubbish lying around.
Some, such as food and paper can be buried in well-vegetated zones,
but tins, bottles, metal foil and plastics must be carried out.
Basic First Aid Kit: Aspirin or Paracetamol for headaches and
fevers. Throat lozenges for dry throats. Lip salve. Crepe bandages,
tape and gauze. Eye drops, e.g. Optrex. Soap for washing wounds.
Mild disinfectant wash. Anti-Diarrhoea medicine, e.g. Imodium. A
laxative. Diamox for mountain sickness; a side effect of this drug
is a tingling sensation in the extremities. Stronger pain killer,
e.g. Fortral or Sosogen. Antibiotics for pneumonia or other major
infections. Water purifiers.
Information and recommendations contained in this section should be
regarded as a guide only. More detailed information can be obtained
from specialised publications such as 'Medicine for Mountaineering'
(The Mountaineers, Seattle, USA).
Note: The hotel has available for hire a Hyperbaric Bag bag (usd100
per group per trip) and two Oxygen Cylinders (usd35). Usually these
are only used for bigger groups camping in the Crater where some of
the group members may have no previous high altitude experience.
CONTACT ADDRESS:
HEAD OFFICE DAR ES SALAAM.
ZANZIBAR HOTEL P.O. BOX 12594.
TEL/FAX: +255 22 2133793, Mobile:
+255 788 221 650
ARUSHA BRANCH OFFICE. KALOLENI
AREA OPPOSITE , PRIMIEM HOUSE.
BOX 14477 ARUSHA, Mobile: +255
713 350 601, TEL. +255 754 398 815
admin@bushroutes.com
or
reservations@bushroutes.com
Copyrights 2009.
09 May, 2010 |
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