Frequently Asked Questions on Kilimanjaro

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 Kilimanjaro is climbable all year round. The best months to climb are  December-March, and September-October, which are the warmest and driest  months. The next best are June to August, but they are colder. July and  August are the busiest months. 

Our tours are available in English, Spanish, and French.

 Temperatures range from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius at the foot of the  mountain and -15 to -20 degrees Celsius on top plus wind chill. Lower  down, it can be wet and humid, but higher up, there can be snow.  Rain  and snow may be encountered any time of the year!  See our When To Visit Tanzania page for more details. 

It requires no technical climbing experience, and any moderately fit  person can summit the mountain. Most of the hike is casual if you have  done some training with long hikes. However, summit day is very  strenuous for just about everyone. Altitude is the biggest factor in summitting. 

Your decision will depend on where you want to sleep and the hiking distance each day and number of days of each route. On the Marangu Route, you sleep in huts with simple beds, while on all the other routes, you sleep in tents. The two most popular routes on the mountain are the Marangu and Machame. You may also want to consider the Rongai Route as it is far less traveled. The Lemosho Route is a good choice if you want a longer route (8+ days).  None of these routes are technical.

It will depend on the route you pick and your pace. It can take from 4-8 hours to reach the summit from the highest camp. 

Always remember to maintain a slow, steady pace from beginning to end.  Going slowly allows the body to acclimatize while hiking. Those who  start out too quickly will have troubles higher up the mountain as the  body will be overexerted. This still holds true if you are spending and  extra day on the mountain. Your guide with remind you to hike “pole  pole”, which means very slowly. 

Groups are limited to 10 people. We will combine groups up to this limit  if they are starting the same route on the same day. However, we can  also arrange for private groups at no extra cost. We will try to add  single travelers to a group if at all possible, but we cannot guarantee  it. We can also accommodate large groups of any size. 

Generally speaking, expect 1 guide per 2 hikers, 1 assistant guide per 3 hikers, and 1 cook per 8 hikers. Porters as follows:

• 2 porters per hiker on the 5-day Marangu Route and Mt. Meru (minimum of 4 porters)
• 3 porters per hiker on a 6 or 7-day trek (minimum of 5 porters)
• 4 porters per hiker on the 8-day Lemosho Route (minimum of porters)
• Sometimes extra porters are required based on the weight of the luggage.

Kilimanjaro guides are trained in acute mountain sickness (AMS) and  basic mountain first aid.  However, they are not doctors or paramedics.   Climbers are responsible for bringing their own first aid kit and  medical supplies. 

Kilimanjaro guides are trained and certified by the Kilimanjaro National  Park. They start out as porters and work their way up to assistant  guide.  When they are ready (after about 2-4 years), they go through the  national park certification process. 

 Our tents are 3-person 4-season dome-style mountain tents for two people each. 

 All climbers pay a rescue fee to the Kilimanjaro National Park (included  in the AWR price).  If a client cannot walk because they are injured or  sick, the guides, assistant guides, and porters will assist this  climber down. There is no extra charge for coming down and taken back to  the hotel, but you will get no money back for the time on the mountain  that you missed, and you will be responsible for medical assistance and  extra hotel nights. 

An Oximeter & Emergency Oxygen Cylinder are included on every climb at no charge .

 We can provide hyperbaric bag for $250/group. 

A trip will not be canceled, but you may have to pay more if your group falls below a certain group size. 

 No, but we can schedule transfer from Nairobi either by land or air for an additional charge. 

The one pack that the porters carry for you is limited to 15 kg (35 pounds). Overweight or extra luggage will require an extra porter at  $20/day plus tips. 

Extra luggage can be stored in a locked storage room at your Moshi hotel  at no charge. Valuables should be left in a safe deposit box at your  hotel in Moshi ($1/day)  

The staple foods in Tanzania are meats, starches, vegetables, and  fruits. Most meals will also have a selection of hot drinks like instant  coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. We can accommodate special dietary  requests. 

Vegetarian and other special diets can be accommodated. Please let us  know ahead of time and remind your guide during your trek briefing.  Protein options may be minimal on a vegetarian diet, so you may want to  bring protein supplements.  

Your trekking party will be supplied with a cook to prepare your meals in a safe and hygienic manner. 

 The porters will purify water for you at each camp.  

Most people start with the trek and end with the safari, so they get  done with the hardest part of their trip and are able to relax on their  safari.  However, we can accommodate either order. 

We can book your flights to Zanzibar from Kilimanjaro and your Zanzibar hotels.