On the pages about our trekking offer we have hopefully already answered most of your questions. In the following we have nevertheless collected a few answers to the questions we are frequently asked. If you would like to discuss further things with us, please feel free to contact us any time.
- Challenges of an ascent
- Daily routine / Typical day on the montain
- Your Team
- Equipment
- Luggage transport
- Costs and tips
- Meals
- Accommodation
- In addition
Challenges of an ascent
Kilimanjaro is one of the few mountains of this altitude that can be mastered without previous knowledge and outstanding technical skills. The technical requirements are moderate, especially compared to the other Seven Summits. However, this should not obscure the fact that a good physical fitness and willpower are highly recommended for a successful ascent. Your condition should be sufficient for daily hikes of three to twelve hours. No matter what your background is, we would recommend a basic health-check to every traveler before the trip. Here you find several articles regarding the preparation phase. The increased exertion due to thinning air as you walk higher should not be underestimated. For all routes we therefore recommend the longer ascent option, if there is the possibility to choose. Here you can find more articles on the topic of dealing with the altitude and altitude sickness. Sure-footedness, even in wet, frozen and slippery terrain, is an important prerequisite. The handling of the altitude and the numerous new impressions require a good degree of flexibility, open-mindedness and tolerance. If you keep that in mind, and behave accordingly, your journey is guaranteed to be uniquely impressive!
Daily routine / Typical day on the mountain
The ascent of Kilimanjaro is varied and offers travelers all sorts of new impressions. Nevertheless, there are also certain routines during the several-day hike. Therefore, here you will see what a typical daily routine on Kilimanjaro looks like.
Your Team
Most travelers have no idea of the size of the team accompanying them during the ascent of Kilimanjaro before the start of the trip. It was the same for us. We give you the details here, so you can well prepare and have an idea what to expect (the size of the team depends on the chosen route and the duration of the ascent):
During a 7-day ascent of Kilimanjaro via Machame Route, a guide and an assistant guide, a cook and seven to eight porters will usually accompany a group of two people. In total your team thus consists of 10 to 11 people. It is quite easy to explain why a group of two people requires around 11 companions:
- Guide and co-guide: each group should, if possible, count the same number of guides and co-guides as travelers. Regardless of the group size it is always possible that travelers need to end the trip early and descend the mountain for health reasons (especially altitude sickness). Travelers must never hike the national park unaccompanied. Consequently, every early descent requires one guide or co-guide to descend together with the traveler. If a group of ten people is accompanied by only two guides, the whole group needs to descend the mountain as soon as a second traveler ends the tour early.
- Cook: to make sure that you get a balanced nutrition also during the climb, the accompanying cook prepares warm and cold dishes several times a day. Important components of the meals are potatoes, rice, noodles, meat and fish (dried or from cans), bread and different types of vegetables.
- Porters: you have the chance to enjoy nature at its best for about one week. Everything you need such as sleeping materials, fresh water, foodstuffs and cooking utensils incl. a camping stove etc. thus need to be carried along the entire trip. No porter must carry more than 20 kg in total. Therefore, the number of porters is easily explained.
In general, if you travel with a group of more than two travelers, you will usually be accompanied by three porters for each traveler, as well as at least two (assistant) guides and a cook. For example, a group of four travelers will be accompanied by at least 15 team members.
For tours that are shorter than a week or include overnight stays in huts such as the ascents of Kilimanjaro via Marangu Route or Mount Meru, however, the teams are smaller.
Equipment
Good equipment and clothing are indispensable for a successful climb of Kilimanjaro. Some of the items listed can also be rented on-site, such as a sleeping bag with a comfort range of at least minus 10 ° C or telescopic / trekking poles. Camping mats are provided in any case and therefore do not need to be brought along. Dust- and water-repellent bags or protective covers are also recommended. Here you find an extensive packing list with important information about the topic, to make sure you don’t forget about anything.
Luggage transport
During the hike on the mountain, a carrier takes up to 15 kg of your luggage. This includes your sleeping bag, clothes and everything you do not need during the day hike. For this purpose your dufflebag will be put into large water-repellent bags, which will then be carried by the porters. It is best to pack your utensils separately into smaller bags first. This guarantees that your luggage is well protected from moisture and dust and you can simply open each smaller bag at the end of a day without having to dig through the entire dufflebag.
The remaining luggage will be transported in your daypack. The porters walk apart from you, so you will not have access to the main baggage during the day. Anything else that is or could be relevant during the day, such as an umbrella, clothing, water bottles, cameras, and snacks for the breaks, you thus carry in your daypack. Try to take only what is really necessary, as light luggage is a factor for a successful ascent. We therefore recommend that you carry a maximum of 7 kg as day baggage.
Costs and tips
The cost of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro varies noticeably. For example, each day in Kilimanjaro National Park costs about 100 USD. The amounts are paid directly to the National Park Operator (Tanzania National Park Authority, TANAPA). In particular, the duration of the ascent, but also the chosen route, the number of participants and the equipment required therefore influence the final price of an ascent. Thanks to our structures and cooperation on site, we can offer you ascents starting from 1,580 USD. For an individual offer just send us your request.
In addition to the costs of flights, possible equipment and the trip itself there are further costs for tips, which are not included in the travel package. The tips are not compulsory, however, a traditional part of every hike and will be handed over to the team at the end of the trip. Due to the low income of the local staffs, we strongly recommend to hand over tips. For more information on tipping, visit the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) website. Tips are graded as follows:
- Chief Guide: around 13 USD
- Assistant Guide: around 10 USD
- Cook: around 8 USD
- Porter: around 6 USD
All numbers indicate the amount per day per person. For example, the chief guide gets a tip of about USD 75 on a 6-day tour (in total from the tourist party, not from each person individually). Since, for example, for a group of two people climbing Kilimanjaro via Machame Route for 7 days, the entire team consists of around 10 members (find out more here), we recommend that you leave a tip of about 200 to 250 USD per traveler. If you climb Kilimanjaro alone or in a larger group, the amounts change accordingly and are usually between 100 and 300 USD per traveler.
In this post you will find more information about tips and costs of an ascent. The tips are usually handed out to each member of the team on the last morning after the farewell ceremony. It therefore makes sense to take banknotes in small denominations on the journey.
Here you will find an overview of our tip recommendations, graded according to the length of the climb – so you can work out the exact amount!
Meals
Eating and drinking sufficiently is extremely important during the ascent of Kilimanjaro. All meals are therefore included in the package price during the tour. Half-board is included during the days before and after the tour.
Meals at the Lodge
Breakfast is “intercontinental”, i.e. you get fruits, various egg dishes, bread, jam, honey, pancakes, and fruit juices among others. For dinner you can choose from a variety of African and international dishes.
Meals during the tour
During the hike, there is a tent for taking meals, equipped with chairs and a table. If the weather permits, you can eat at a table outside in front of your tent and enjoy the sunshine. Breakfast changes daily, and you can expect to get some toast, porridge, pancakes, egg-dishes, sausages, bacon, butter, jam and different types of fruit such as mangoes and oranges. Drinks provided comprise tea, coffee, water and fruit juices. In addition, you will get snacks for the time during the hike (cereal- and chocolate-bars) and lunch boxes with your lunch. Lunch changes daily, and you can expect to get sandwiches, fruit, dried meat and bread or potatoes. After completing the day’s stage and arriving at the next camp, you will receive an afternoon snack (popcorn or peanuts) and hot drinks. For dinner, there is a soup in advance, in addition to local and international dishes consisting of meat, eggs, potatoes, rice, pasta and various vegetables. Also, Spaghetti Bolognese are included! If you have food intolerances or if you lead a vegetarian / vegan lifestyle, this is of course considered. Just let us know the time you book.
Accommodation
All accommodations during the tour are included in the package price.
Accommodation at the lodge
Before and after the ascent of Kilimanjaro you will be welcomed in Chanya Lodge if you choose to climb Kilimanjaro via Marangu, Machame or Lemosho Route. The lodge is surrounded by banana plantations, and offers beautiful views. The rooms are spacious and lovingly decorated in the Tanzanian style. Chanya Lodge is a very nice place to stay and linger. If you decide to climb Mount Meru, you will be welcomed in African View Lodge. In both accommodations you will be served delicious local and international dishes, and staffs are friendly and helpful. In addition, the pool offers a good opportunity for refreshment.
Accommodation during the ascent
During the ascent of Kilimanjaro, you spend the night in tents which are equipped with sleeping mats. If you choose the Marangu route, the nights are spent in permanent huts equipped with single beds that can accommodate up to 10 people.
In addition
If you still have questions, you will find more helpful information on our page under “Practical Tips“, for example, on issues such as money and means of payment, on-site communication, seasons to climb Kilimanjaro, health care, altitude sickness and much more. In addition, you can always contact us by email, telephone or via our live-chat.