Can I take my child on a Kilimanjaro climb with me?

In many ways your age doesn't determine your mindset or ability – whether you're a senior specimen or a sprog.

That said, we respect and agree with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) that children under 10 years of age aren't ready for the challenge that is a six- to nine-day Kilimanjaro climb.

As to tweens and teens? We believe that some would cope perfectly well and really enjoy tackling this great adventure with a parent or two.

In fact, we had an amazing 14-year-old called Taksshil do a Follow Alice Kilimanjaro climb with his family in June 2023 and he made it to the summit!

But is such a child to be held up as the exception to the rule, or the norm?

One of the most frequent challenges we experience as a Kilimanjaro tour operator is ensuring our clients understand how tough Kilimanjaro is to climb.

Summit day is often the hardest challenge of many climbers' lives

We think there are two reasons why people perennially underestimate the challenge inherent in a Kilimanjaro climb:

Kilimanjaro from a distance looks deceptively easy

To speak to both of these points ...

Firstly, yes, Kilimanjaro is a non-technical climb. So you can climb it with just hiking boots, trekking poles and warm clothes. But it's gruelling nonetheless.

In fact, roughly half of all the thousands of people who attempt to climb Kilimanjaro every year don't make it to the summit. Really think on it. These aren't couch potatoes – they're all people who thought they'd be able to manage to multiday mountain trek!

On the one hand we don't want to make climbing Kilimanjaro sound impossible, since it's highly possible for those with good fitness, endurance and mental strength.

Yet even with sending our clients plenty of preparation materials, we regularly get the feedback that folks didn't expect it to be as hard as it was. (And on that note, they also regularly say that the descent is in some ways as taxing as the ascent, because it happens over just two days.)

Our client Romy took this snap on her Kilimanjaro descent

Secondly, the mental picture many around the world have of African plains often fools them into thinking Kilimanjaro isn't that big or high, and so won't be that tough. (Nervous laughter and sideways glances.)

Kilimanjaro sits very near the Equator

At 5,895 m above sea level (asl), Kilimanjaro is far higher than Mt Blanc in Europe, for instance, which is only 4,809 m asl. And it's only about 300 m lower than Mt Denali in Alaska.

So please ask yourself: is my child fit, strong and determined enough to tackle such a high and arduous mountain?

We also urge you to consider what inner resources your child has in terms of tackling the physical and mental challenges they'll face?

We're talking here not just of the physical feat of trekking for hours a day for several days in a row. We're also talking about the challenges that come with high altitude.

Most climbers don't sleep well at all on the final two nights of the ascent

As we discuss in Kilimanjaro altitude sickness, most climbers experience at least mild symptoms of altitude sickness during the ascent. While usually not serious, these symptoms are unpleasant, and can be downright so.

Does your child fall apart when they have a headache? Do they not function well when they've had a bad night's sleep? Both of these things are common when your body has to adjust to a big jump in elevation. Other common symptoms of elevation gain are nausea, dizziness and insomnia.

If you don't think your child will have the usual resolve and physical fortitude if they are dealing with any of these symptoms, then Kilimanjaro probably isn't the right challenge for them right now.

Children aren't as capable of making wise decisions for themselves as adults (hence why we still parent them closely when they're young!).

Please consider if your child is so competitive that they might push themselves to unreasonable limits to avoid being seen as 'weak'. You don't want them to 'suck it up' right till the point they collapse!

The narrowest point of a Kilimanjaro climb is aptly called Kissing Rock

An important part of keeping safe on Kilimanjaro is communicating openly and honestly with your guide about exactly what and how you are feeling. Your guides are trained in detecting the early warning signs of serious altitude sickness as well as other common illnesses.

Is your child able and comfortable with articulating clearly what they're feeling?

Your guide is your most important safety resource on Kilimanjaro

Please ask yourself: how much is my child able to regulate their own emotions? And motivate themselves when the going gets tough (or really tough)?

If your child relies heavily on your for motivation and to help them cope when things are really challenging, consider that you could well at times be under quite a bit of strain yourself.

Will you have the mental and physical energy to parent them through the exhaustion and provide enough motivation for the both of you to press on if you're experiencing altitude symptoms or immense fatigue yourself?

Smiley summit photos don't show the toughness (and sometimes tears) of the ascent

Moreover, please consider the fact that if your child can't manage the climb, or develops severe altitude sickness, they'll have to abort the challenge and descend the mountain. This means a parent will have to go with them.

Mt Meru offers a shorter (three- or four-day) climb that's more manageable both in times of altitude and fortitude. It's still a tough climb, however, you only ascend to 4,562 m asl, which is well over a kilometre lower than Kilimanjaro.

A night-time view of the craggy Socialist Peak of Mt Meru

In fact, Mt Meru is regularly done as an acclimatisation climb by those who will go on to tackle Kilimanjaro. Why not let it serve as a testing ground for how you and your child would manage on a Kilimanjaro climb?

Moreover, note that Mt Meru offers truly incredible scenery, which includes unparalleled views of Kilimanjaro and the same gorgeous forest and unique moorland biomes that you encounter on Kilimanjaro. You're also actually far more likely to see some exciting wildlife on Meru than on Kilimanjaro.

On Mt Meru everyone stays in huts rather than in tents like on Kilimanjaro

Finally, note that you stay in huts on Meru, rather than in tents like on Kilimanjaro, which makes the expedition that much more affordable as you don't need so many porters.

Check out our four-day Mt Meru itinerary to see if this might be a better trekking adventure for you and your family at this stage!

Doing a Kilimanjaro climb with your child has the potential to be a truly bonding and utterly memorable experience that you'll relive together for the rest of your lives!

That said, please think carefully before booking the trip with one or more non-adult children. After all, remember that Kilimanjaro will still be there offering the chance for an excellent family adventure when your children have grown up a bit!

An older multi-gen family in the rainforest section of Kilimanjaro

While many teenagers and even some tweens have successfully climbed Kilimanjaro, we're going to say that these children are the exception to the rule, and not the norm.

Your child might be a fantastic athlete and a highly motivated individual, but that doesn't mean Kilimanjaro is the right challenge for them – right now.

Here are our final pieces of advice to help you decide if you should bring your tween or teen on a Kilimanjaro climb:

Some of our past clients taking a much-deserved rest on the climb

Finally, please reach out to chat if you'd like! We have a wealth of knowledge about the different Kilimanjaro routes and more, and are more than happy to help you figure out if you and your child are ready to embark together on the lifetime adventure that is a Kilimanjaro climb!