Kilimanjero

Thanks all. I don't think there is any risk of a scam, Granjura: we plan going with a British company - Exodus Travel, which has an excellent reputation. But I do think altitude sickness is a real problem: I certainly won't be walking up too quickly!

I flew round it in a light aircraft - that tired me out!!!

My SIL spent her 60th birthday on the summit of Kilimanjaro...she wanted something to commemorate her birthday. Her entire family did the climb but they are all exceptionally fit and have done lots of climbing/walking all their lives. They were on K2 as part of a medical expedition when my 4 nephews were 5, 8, 11 and 14!

walking Kili, what the Ladies Trekking Club says

This might help.

You all need to be really fit, it's nothing like walking up Snowdon.
A colleague and her husband did it two years ago and spent months building up their stamina (and both were sports fanatics anyway). Even so, only one of them made it to the summit because of altitude sickness, and only 6 got to the top out of a party of 23.
You also need proper walking/cold weather gear, and be prepared to be walking non-stop for upto 6 hours at a time.
Although I do a lot of walking and have done some pretty tough day treks, I wouldn't contemplate doing it.

Be very careful- there is a well-known scam going on there. Due to the quick rise in altitude, it is recommended to take it very slowly and in shortish stages. Some guides intentionally go up too quickly, which results in some of the clients becoming ill with altitude sickness. They can then say all the group as to go back down and give up the climb- and then take another group of clients- hence making 2 or 3 times the money.

So make sure you get this well organised- and study the situation well and insist on the number od days to take and the height of each day's climb- so that does not happen to you. It was our guide in the Masai Mara who warned us against this.