Guides on the mountain use the Swahili cue “pole pole” — slowly. Cardiovascular fitness helps you enjoy the days. It does not remove the need to acclimatize.
This is general training guidance, not a personal exercise prescription. If you have a medical condition, speak with a clinician before you train or book.
What helps
Our training notes emphasize aerobic work you can sustain: walking, hiking with a light pack, cycling, or swimming over weeks, not a last-minute sprint plan.
- Regular walks that get longer, including some hills
- A day pack so your shoulders are used to carrying water and layers
- Broken-in boots before you fly
- Practice using the poles you plan to take
What training does not replace
Summit night is a slow, cold ascent. Choosing a longer route — often 7 days or more on Machame or Lemosho, or the longer Northern Circuit — gives your body more time above the treeline. We will match the route to the days you actually have.
