Immunizations and Health Tips before Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Immunizations and Health Tips before Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro : Imagine standing on the roof of Africa! That is amazing, right? That is the dream for many adventure seekers. Reaching the summit is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

But do you know what it takes to reach this splendid peak? As a hiker, you must physically fit your body and follow all necessary health tips. This article will cover immunizations and health tips before hiking Kilimanjaro.

Before you depart for a Kilimanjaro hike, seek medical advice from your medical expert. Before attempting Africa’s highest peak, here are our recommended vaccines and health tips.

Hepatitis A

If you plan to visit Tanzania, we highly recommend to vaccinate for this communicable disease. You may contract it through direct contact with Infected people.  Contaminated foods and drinks may also spread this disease.

Sometimes, food supplies may be contaminated during harvesting or handling. If the food is undercooked, you may contract this liver disease. So, we recommend you take this vaccine before climbing Kilimanjaro.

Hepatitis B

During your safari, you might be exposed to the body fluids of the local population or other visitors. Hepatitis B spreads through contact with the body fluids of an infected person.

Its symptoms include stomach pain, dark urine, and eye yellowing. Sometimes, you may not notice it during the asymptomatic stage. Serious infections may cause liver failure or cancer.

The good news is that hepatitis B is easily prevented through vaccination. Talk to your health specialist about this vaccine before you travel to Tanzania. This vaccine, however, is mandatory for children with the age between 11 and 12 years who missed the series as infants.

Malaria

While in Tanzania, you may be at high risk of contracting malaria. It is endemic in the African tropical region, where the female mosquito (anopheles) prevails.

When this mosquito takes a bite on your blood, it injects a protozoa called Plasmodium. It attacks red blood cells and liver cells. Serious malarial infection can be fatal.

So, it is highly recommended to carry with you antimalarial pills while in Tanzania. Insect repellents are also very important. Use them at the campsites to avoid getting infected. Another tip is to sleep under a treated mosquito net.

Cholera

Cholera is common in Tanzania, especially during the rainy season. Even if you plan to visit Tanzania in the dry season, you are a risk of contracting cholera. It spreads through contaminated foods and drinks. It is important to vaccinate for this disease.

Typhoid

Typhoid is another disease you should immunize for your trip to Tanzania. It enters the body through contaminated food and water. This disease can also be contracted by drinking beverages touched by an infected person. Get an injection two weeks before your trip.

A single injection can last for two years. Another tip to avoid this disease is to avoid eating street foods. Street vendors are subjected to fecal contamination, which may result in large outbreaks of typhoid fever.

Tetanus

We recommend you take an injection to prevent this disease. During the climb, minor or serious cuts might happen. Such cuts make you susceptible to the entrance of Clostridium tetani, a bacterium that causes tetanus.

This bacterium is everywhere in the wild. It is in the soil you step on and in animal feces. Remember when was the last time you were immunized for this disease? Vaccinate at least two weeks before your trip.

Yellow Fever

Do I need a Yellow Fever vaccine to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? Of course, you do. However, this vaccine is only mandatory if you come from or have been in risk zone countries. You will produce this certificate upon arrival. A yellow vaccination certificate is mandatory if you come from high-risk countries. If you can’t figure out whether your country is in the transmission zone or not, here is the list.

Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda.

Other health tips

• Avoid street foods from poor hygienic environments. Eating street foods is an unforgettable experience, but your safety is paramount.
• Talk to your chef about the degree handling of the groceries.
• Avoid drinking tap water. Do not use ice if you are not certain it was made from purified water. If you run out of bottled water, you may ask your chef to boil and filter water.
• Always be careful with fruits, especially the ones you can’t peel. Wash them thoroughly before eating.
• Uncooked vegetables and salads may be contaminated. Be sure that they have been washed with clean water.

At Focus East Africa Safaris, we value the safety and well-being of our clients. We will provide you with clean and safe bottled water during the climb. We also ensure food supplies are safe and collected from reliable sources.

Common health problems when hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)

Mountain climbers usually suffer from Acute Mountains Sickness (AMS). It is a condition where hikers get sick when they reach higher elevations like Stella Point and Gilman’s Point. Its symptoms include nausea, headache, rapid pulse, swelling of hands and feet, insomnia, exhaustion, and low urine output.

The victim becomes normal when taken to lower elevations. AMS affects many climbers to summit Kilimanjaro. There is no medical cure for this problem. However, acclimatization and hiking slowly can solve it.

Beginners can start with little peaks like Mount Meru before Kilimanjaro. We also advise you to include extra days for acclimatization. This will increase your summit success rate.

Hypothermia

As you approach the summit, the temperature drops significantly. Your body temperature may drop too. This is called hypothermia. Its symptoms include shivering, fatigue, confusion, slurring of speech, and clumsy actions.

The best way to avoid it is by layering. Usually take a look at our Kilimanjaro Gear list before you travel. On the summit day, make sure you put on several layers to keep your body warm. Avoid taking in cold foods.

Now, you know about the necessary inoculations before your Kilimanjaro hike. If you are ready to take on Kilimanjaro, reach out to our expert safari experts. They will get your plan ready in a second. Good luck!