Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, is the highest mountain in Africa,  soaring up 19,336 feet above the valley below.  The challenge of making it to the summit attracts many tourists and adventurers. A big part of the draw is the fact that Kilimanjaro is the world’s highest walkable mountain.

However, it’s important to bear in mind that “walkable” does not mean “cakewalk,” even with porters to carry your baggage.  Every year people try to conquer Kilimanjaro and fail. According to Wikipedia, each year 10 climbers and 10-20 local porters die on the mountain.

To maximize your chances of success, here’s a list of things you’ll need to do to prepare:

• Start training. You’ll need to be in top shape to tackle Kilimanjaro.
• Book your trip through a reputable guide service. You can’t climb Kilimanjaro without a guide, but the quality of different guide services can vary considerably.
• Allow yourself enough time to acclimatize to the change in altitude as you climb. You are more likely to get altitude sickness and have to turn back if you try to ascend too quickly.
• Apply for a passport early, and consider applying for a Tanzanian visa before you leave as well. You can obtain a visa on arrival, but after spending so much time on a plane, you’ll probably want to clear customs and get to your hotel as soon as possible.

Here’s what you need to get a Tanzanian tourist visa:

• 1 completed visa application form
• 2 passport photos
• A copy of a  recent bank statement
• A yellow fever vaccination certificate
• A travel itinerary. If you don’t have one yet, you can substitute a bank statement showing a minimum balance of $2,000.
• If you’re going on an organized tour, you will need a letter from the tour operator showing you are paid in full.

RushMyTravelVisa can research your visa needs, help you with your paperwork and submit your application to the right embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.  With RushMyTravelVisa.com, you can ensure your trip gets off to a good start.

Apply for your Tanzanian visa today!

Tags: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Tanzanian visa, tourist visa

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 6:29 pm and is filed under Destinations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.