Altitude sickness stops more people reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro than anything else, and yet most climbers misunderstand it completely.

In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we explain it calmly and honestly: what altitude sickness actually is, why it has almost nothing to do with how fit you are, and how to give yourself the best possible chance of reaching the top.

In this episode:

• Why the fittest climbers often struggle the most
• The normal symptoms to expect, and the rare warning signs that matter
• Why the number of days on the mountain is your single biggest protection
• How a good operator keeps you safe, from pulse oximetry to oxygen
• Why turning back, when it is needed, is wisdom and not failure

The honest truth running through it all: altitude sickness is largely preventable. Climb slowly, give your body time, and go with a team who watch over you properly, and the mountain becomes a great deal safer.

This is general information and not medical advice. Always speak to your own doctor before climbing at altitude.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro? It is the question everyone asks once they have decided to go, and the honest answer is not quite what the brochures tell you.

In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we walk you through the best time to climb Africa's highest mountain, month by month, with no spin.

In this episode:

• The two dry seasons, January to early March and June to October, and what each is really like
• The months to avoid, and the clever route choice that saves a wet-season climb
• How the crowds change through the year, and where to find solitude
• Climbing by the light of the full moon
• Timing your climb around a safari and the Great Migration

And the truth most operators skip past: the month you choose matters far less than the number of days you spend on the mountain. A longer, well-paced climb in a quieter month will beat a rushed one in peak season, every single time. Pick your days first. Then pick your month.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

How much does it really cost to climb Kilimanjaro, and why might the cheapest climb on offer be the most expensive mistake you could make?

In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we give you an honest breakdown of what a Kilimanjaro climb actually costs, and what you are really paying for.

In this episode:

• What a safe, well-run climb genuinely costs
• Where your money goes, and why the national park fees are fixed and make up about a third of the price
• What pushes the cost up or down, from route and days to group size and season
• Why a suspiciously cheap climb is a red flag, not a bargain
• The extras to budget for beyond the headline price

Because on Kilimanjaro, the park fees cannot be cut, so when a price drops far below the rest, something else is being cut instead. Usually the porters, who pay the price first, and sometimes your own safety. This is the episode that helps you tell a fair price from a false economy.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.

Climb Kilimanjaro and you pass through five completely different worlds, from warm farmland at the base to a frozen arctic summit nearly six kilometres up. In a single week, you travel the rough equivalent of walking from the equator to the poles.

In this episode of The Vertical Sky Journal, we climb the mountain stage by stage through its five climate zones, and meet the remarkable plants and wildlife of each:

• The cultivated lower slopes, farmed for generations by the Chagga people
• The lush montane rainforest, alive with colobus monkeys and birdsong
• The otherworldly heath and moorland, home to the giant groundsels and lobelias found almost nowhere else on earth
• The harsh, beautiful alpine desert
• The frozen arctic summit, the roof of Africa

It is one of the quiet wonders of Kilimanjaro, and a big part of why the mountain stays with people long after they come home.

The Vertical Sky Journal is brought to you by Vertical Sky, an ethical Kilimanjaro climbing company that climbs the mountain the right way, looking after the guides and porters who make every summit possible.

Prefer to read? There is a full written companion to this episode over in our Journal at vertical-sky.com.