• For the safety purposes the majority of trekkers setting out to tour the roof of Kilimanjaro experience only the mildest altitude problems, some feel sick and breathless or have headaches, depression or unusual irritability. A few can be more severely affected, especially on shorter routes where they climb fast and have not been carefully acclimatised. They can become dizzy and disorientated, and even suffer pulmonary and cerebral edema, or swelling of the tissues.
• We ensure that their experienced and trained altitude responder guides can recognize the potential danger of these symptoms and decide on appropriate action. It may be sufficient to rest for a while and drink extra fluids, or take a mild painkiller to enable you to continue the trek downhill to a lower overnight campsite, as our routes are planned on the “climb high, sleep low” principal, endeavoring always to reach a greater altitude traversing mountain ridges during the day and selecting the gullies for overnight stops wherever possible. If symptoms persist 24 hrs or more, Diamox can be taken to assist acclimatisation. Some climbers take Diamox in advance and during the climb. It acts as a diuretic, preventing fluid buildup in the tissues, but its side effects can mimic mild altitude sickness and its diuretic function causes increased urination which is inconvenient in freezing conditions and necessitates, even more, fluid intake to avoid dangerous dehydration. It is normally used only after where normal acclimatisation routines are insufficient, and of course, with your doctor’s prior recommendation.
  Our guides are trained and highly experienced as first-aiders with specialized summit oxygen techniques. Your guide will treat severe symptoms in situ whilst informing Kilimanjaro Park Rangers and our base office in Arusha via the park’s or personal mobile phone network, or Ranger Post radio communication. If evacuation is deemed necessary, escorting wounded sufferers on foot to a lower camp, where they are never left alone, but accompanied back to their base camp to await the rest of the team when they return. If the casualty is not mobile or if the terrain is difficult, porters accompanied by a responsible guide will use a wheeled stretcher as far as the nearest road access. Fast reaction mountain rescue vehicles driven by fully acclimatised staffs who work daily on the mountain can reach considerable altitudes.
• These rescue access routes are constantly maintained and improved. Our vehicle will meet the rescue vehicle to arrange a transfer either to your base hotel, if the patient is now more comfortable and out of danger, or to the hospital in Moshi for further treatment. Keep your guide fully informed of your condition throughout your Kilimanjaro climb. He or she has the skills and training to make sure you summit safely on this challenging Tanzanian roof-top voyage.

Arusha, Tanzania