Kilimanjaro

This question could be on the top of the FAQ section of Kilimanjaro. It is arguably one of the most frequent questions answered by our trekking experts. Answering the question of the best climbing route on Kilimanjaro is hard but if you stick to a few rules of thumb, you end up with our favorite routes: The Lemosho Route and the Northern Circuit. Unlike for example the Marangu Route and the Machame Route, these two routes are designed with acclimatization in mind. Acclimatization and Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS) should be the only two things to have in mind when choosing a route for climbing Kilimanjaro. If you are thinking seasons, you can choose any route in the dry season and you can consider the Rongai Route for climbing Kilimanjaro in the rainy season. Okay, perhaps one more factor. If you want something rough, then the Umbwe Route is the best climbing route.

Climbing Kilimanjaro is by no means a cheap affair. Cheap also has a very negative connotation and if you buy cheap, you will get cheap. You can, however, buy affordable. Affordable is positive. It means that you can afford it and that the other party, in this case, the trekking company, also has some profit from your adventure. This way, everyone wins. Climbing Kilimanjaro, including flights, tips, and personal expenses can cost as much as 5000 Dollars, depending on what flights you’ve booked, how much you are tipping your porters and the route you have chosen. In this blog post, you can read more about the real cost of climbing Kilimanjaro.

Yes, you do need permits for climbing Kilimanjaro. These permits are part of the deal when you book your ascent through a trekking and climbing company. The permits are better understood as park fees. If you have your park and climbing fees, your permit is arranged. When you want to climb Kilimanjaro, you pay rescue fees, conservation fees, camping fees, hut fees (when you are doing the Marangu Route), crater fees (when you are doing the 9-day version of the Lemosho Route) and fees for your guides and porters. All these fees are part of your total cost, but if you want to know what exactly they are and, more importantly, how much they are, you can read more about the park fees for climbing Kilimanjaro here.

If you are a citizen of Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Hong Kong, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia or Zimbabwe, you do not need a visa for entering Tanzania. All other nationals can either organize a visa at their local Tanzanian embassy or consulate or at arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Dar es Salaam International Airport, Zanzibar International Airport or the Namanga border crossing between Kenya and Tanzania. Consult with your local embassy or consulate for the costs of your visa.

If you are intending to visit Tanzania and climb Kilimanjaro a few vaccinations are recommended. We are by no means medical health professionals and don’t intend to open a travel clinic at some point, so please check with your local GP or travel clinic what is exactly needed. The following vaccinations may be necessary: Yellow fever, hepatitis A&B, rabies, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and typhoid. Above all, we can recommend a full medical check-up before undertaking a Kilimanjaro ascent. Malaria tablets can also be handy, but just note that these mosquitos are not found at higher altitudes.

You don’t only get a certificate when you have made it to Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro, you can also get a certificate if you have “only” made it to Stella Point or Gilman’s Point. You can imagine that these certificates will do well impressing your neighbor or when in the need to show something unusual at your next job interview.

Your trekking company makes sure of the most essential of essentials like a tent, sleeping double-layered sleeping mats, cooking utensils, food and more. You, however, need to make sure that you bring a good pair of hiking boots or trail running shoes, basic expedition gear like base-layers, waterproof jackets and so on and snacks for during your climb. You can afford to bring a little bit more because you have porters that will carry most of your belongings. This shouldn’t invite you to go overboard. Maintain a healthy balance of enough and not being too heavy. Check our ultimate packing list for climbing Kilimanjaro for more inspiration.

Our trekking and climbing offers come by default without accommodation. It is however possible to add accommodation to your Kilimanjaro ascent. Together with our partners, we have curated a list of suitable accommodation for before and after your Kilimanjaro climb. This way you can make sure that you are staying in a cool place and spend your time in Moshi right.  Get in touch with our trekking experts to get the best rates on single and double rooms at either the Parkview Inn Hotel, the Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel or the Altezza Lodge.