TOPIC 1: What is the best season to climb Kilimanjaro
Not every season is good for climbing. Wet conditions don’t always favor climbing and if you want to have a successful Mount Kilimanjaro climbing, you must do it in a dry season. We have got the best experience in knowing and anticipating the weather to make sure that you have the best journey-they shall indicate the best time of the year when every condition is favorable.
Best time of the year to go for Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing:
• June to October-Peak of high season,
This is the dry season and most of the Kilimanjaro routes are crowded. If you are planning to climb this season, you should choose for Rongai route as its less congested compared to the rest of the routes (Marangu, Lemosho, and Machame)
• October to November- Low season
Most of the Kilimanjaro routes are less crowded; this season may be associated with seasonal rainfall.
• December to end of February-High season
• March to end of May-Low season;
It’s the peak of the wet season; this time is associated with heavy rainfalls so not ideal for Kilimanjaro climbing.
TOPIC 2: How much does it cost to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
There is a wrong myth that circulates among travelers that climbing is only for the rich. That is entirely wrong; climbing can be done by any traveler whether a budget, mid-range, or a luxurious climb; you just need to know how to choose the best routes, accommodations, and other factors. Climbing Kilimanjaro cost ranges from $1400 to $3000 depending on the number of factors such as route, group size, and climbing style. However, no fixed cost is yet known as to how much is needed to pay for Kilimanjaro climb; the cost is highly influenced by multiple factors. In our advice, do not run to those companies offering the lowest climbing costs, as the result you may receive the worst service ever, just relax and consider the following factors, so that you can plan your budget accordingly.
Climber’s preference: Budget versus luxury climbing.In our experience, some tourist inquires for budget climbing while others choose to hike in the standard model. The price difference between the two preferences is caused by accommodation type (budget vs. standard), Kilimanjaro camping equipment (standard vs. luxury), crew size (number of porters and guides), and the quality of other services offered.
2.Group size: the cost for solo climber versus group climbers.
If you plan to climb Kilimanjaro alone, it’s obvious the climbing cost will be relatively higher than a shared group cost. If climbing solo, variable costs like airport transfers, and other transport costs, accommodations, food, equipment, and gears, and tipping will be liable to a single person while it can be divided among the group members if climbing is a group. Keeping other factors constant, the larger the group, the lower the price and vice versa.
3.The chosen route: Short route versus long route, and its facilities.
There are more than five different routes to climb Kilimanjaro; each route has its unique features. Routes differ in terms of difficulty level, distance to the top, costs, routes success rate, facilities, and traffic ratio. In this case, the cost for climbing Kilimanjaro let’s say 5-days in the Marangu route will be relatively cheaper than that of 8-days in the Lemosho route.
Another factor about the route is facilities available, its only Marangu route that offers shared accommodation in cabin huts with beds and mattresses, the rest of the routes offers tents camping, hence extra cost for camping equipment and more people will be needed to carry camping equipment each day, in this case, the cost for Marangu route will be relatively cheaper compared to other routes.
4.Number of days spent on climbing Kilimanjaro: A case study of 5-days versus 8-days climbing.
Kilimanjaro climbing cost is highly affected by the choice you will make about the total number of days to spend on Kilimanjaro. A question like how many days should I go for Kilimanjaro climbing is highly associated with the prices you are going to pay. Normally, Kilimanjaro climbing is done for 5 to 8 days; the cost for 5 or 6 days is lower than the cost for 7 or 8 days climb.
5.Tour operators' price:
Different tour operators charge different climbing prices basing on their factors like the size of the company running cost, the nature of the climb they specialized to offer (budget vs. luxury), profit margins they want to make, and many more.
NOTE: Any price you pay will cover the following issues;
-Private airport transfers on the day of arrival and departs
-2 nights' accommodation in a standard lodge in Moshi town (on arrival and departure day, bed and breakfast)
-Non-personal camping equipment
-Private transport to and from the mountain gate
-Food (3 meals a day, snacks, purified water, and fruits)
-Park fees, accommodation fee, and rescue fee +18% VAT
-Salary to guides, cook, and the members of the crew (porters)
The price did not include the following
-Personal expenses
-Additional day stay or any additional tour activities not covered on the package.
-Tipping
TOPIC 3: How many days to climb Kilimanjaro?(How long does it take to climb Kilimanjaro?)
Climbing Kilimanjaro can take a minimum of 5-days to 9-days maximum. Before deciding how many days you should go climbing, here are the important tips from us.
-The chance for your successful Kilimanjaro summit depends on the number of days you choose, the more the days, the higher the chance of reaching the top and vice-versa.
-Kilimanjaro statistics show the success rate for 5-day climbers is below 60%, while that of 6-days is below 75%, and that of 7 to 8-days is above 90%.
-In this context, for a safe and successful Kilimanjaro summit, Nyayo Tours recommends climbing in 6 to 8-days respectively.
For the number of days, you would like to take on climbing Kilimanjaro, consider the highlights below.
Remember the number of climbing days shown below did not include the arrival and departure day, so on your plan, you should include 2-more days.
Marangu route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 5 or 6 days
Route scenery: Good
Route traffic: High during peak season
Accommodation: Mountain huts (shared bed and mattresses)
Climbing difficulty level: Medium
Summit rate: Below 60%
Major challenges: High altitude mountain sickness
Tab link for 5 and 6 days Kilimanjaro climb
Rongai route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 5 or 6 days
Route scenery: Very good
Route traffic: Very low
Accommodation: Mixed, tents camping and mountain hut
Difficulty level: Moderate
Summit successful rate: Not much high, below 70
Major challenges: Long driving distance from town to starting point and higher altitude mountain sickness
Umbwe route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 5 or 6 days
Route scenery: Good
Route traffic: Very low
Accommodation: Tents camping
Difficulty level: Very high/risk
Summit successful rate: very low
Route shortfalls: High risk
Machame route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 6 or 7 days
Route scenery: Very good
Route traffic: Very high especially during peak seasons
Accommodation: Public tents camping
Climbing difficulty level: Challenging
Summit successful rate: Above 80%
Major challenges: Difficult climbing trail (very challenging)
Tab link for 6 and 7 days.
Lemosho route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 7 or 8 days
Route scenery: Excellent
Route traffic: High during peak seasons
Accommodation: Public tents camping
Climbing difficulty level: Moderate
Summit successful rate: Very high, above 90%
Major challenges: Long distances driving from town to starting point and long-distance walk especially for 7-days
Shira/Northen circuit route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 7 /9days
Route scenery:Excellent
Route traffic: High during peak season
Accommodation: Tents camping
Difficulty level: Moderate
Summit successful rate: Very high, above 90%
Route shortfalls: Long-distance driving from the hotel (Moshi town) to starting point.
Tab link for Shira routes
Kilimanjaro route | Minimum days | Recommended days | Route scenery | Route traffic | Difficulty | Summit rate | Rating |
Marangu route | 5-days | 6-days | Good | High | Medium | Below 60% | *** |
Rongai route | 5-days | 6-days | Very good | Low | Medium | Below 70% | *** |
Machame route | 6-days | 7-days | Excellent | Very high | High | Above 75% | **** |
Lemosho route | 6-days | 8-days | Excellent | Medium | Moderate | Above 90% | ***** |
Northern circuit | 7-days | 9-days | Excellent | Low | Moderate | Above 90% | ***** |
Umbwe route | 5-days | 7-days | good | Very low | Very difficulty | Below 30% | ** |
TOPIC 4: Best route to climb Kilimanjaro (What is the easiest route to climb Kilimanjaro?)
The choice of the route will have two major impacts on your Kilimanjaro climb, first is the total cost you are going to pay, and the second is the summit success rate. There are several routes you can decide to take when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro but each of them offers different challenges and expectations. Choosing the best climbing route for your Mount Kilimanjaro climbing shall surely improve your prospects of reaching the peak of the mountain. To make such a decision, there are many factors you have to consider: how many days are available for your climbing? What is your budget? What kind of accommodation are you expecting and other factors.
However, some tourists ask the question like; what is the easiest route to climb Kilimanjaro? The general answer to this question will fall into three different routes that are Marangu route, the Rongai route, and the Lemosho route.
Route classification ranking from the most recommended to the least.
Lemosho route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 7 or 8 days
Route scenery view: Excellent
Route traffic: High during peak seasons
Accommodation: Public tents camping
Climbing difficulty level: Moderate
Summit successful rate: Very high, above 90%
Major challenges: Long distances driving from town to starting point and long-distance walk especially for 7-days
Price: From $2500 per person per entire trip
*Tab link for 7/8 lemosho route*
Shira/Northen circuit route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 7 /9days
Route scenery:Excellent
Route traffic: High during peak season
Accommodation: Tents camping
Difficulty level: Moderate
Summit successful rate: Very high, above 90%
Route shortfalls: Long-distance driving from the hotel (Moshi town) to starting point.
Price: From $2500 per person per entire trip
*Tab link for Shira routes.*
Machame route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 6 or 7 days
Route scenery: Very good
Route traffic: Very high especially during peak seasons
Accommodation: Public tents camping
Climbing difficulty level: Challenging
Summit successful rate: Above 80%
Major challenges: Difficult climbing trail (very challenging)
Price: From $1800 per person per entire trip
*Tab link for 6 and 7 days.*
Rongai route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 5 or 6 days
Route scenery: Very good
Route traffic: Very low
Accommodation: Mixed, tents camping and mountain hut
Difficulty level: Moderate
Summit successful rate: Not much high, below 70
Major challenges: Long driving distance from town to starting point and higher altitude mountain sickness.
Price: From $1700 per person per entire trip
*Tab for Rongai route*
Marangu route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 5 or 6 days
Route scenery: Good
Route traffic: High during peak season
Accommodation: Mountain huts (shared bed and mattresses)
Climbing difficulty level: Medium
Summit rate: Below 60%
Major challenges: High altitude mountain sickness
Price: From $1500 per person per entire trip
*Tab link for 5 and 6 days Kilimanjaro climb*
Umbwe route: Climb Kilimanjaro for 5 or 6 days
Route scenery: Good
Route traffic: Very low
Accommodation: Tents camping
Difficulty level: Very high/risk
Summit successful rate: very low
Route shortfalls: High risk
Price: From $2000 per person per entire trip
TOPIC 5: Climbing Gears and Accessories
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro requires several specialty accessories, and to get the best advice on what to carry, you need to consult with your tour operator. In our experience, the following gears are strongly needed in the first place.
ESSENTIAL MOUNTAIN CLIMBING GEARS
50L waterproof duffle, small-size backpack, warm clothes including trousers, sweater, thermal underwear, and enough pair of warm socks, Balaclava, snow goggles, or ski sunglasses and scarf, waterproof layers, sun roof hat, warm sleeping bag, mattress, warm jacket, and a pair of gloves. Comfort mountain boots, and walking poles, Sun cream, first aid kit, a knapsack, a pair of getters and water-bottle, minimum 2litres each.
These gears and equipment are available for rent here, each unit cost an average of $3 and above.
We shall advise you what the necessities to carry and what you can rent here at a reasonable price.
On your day pack, you should put waterproof gears, sun glasses, sunscreen, gloves, sun hat, bug repellant, extra clothing, water, snacks, and small items.
All other accessories should be on the duffel bag that will be carried by porters, the average weight of the duffel should be 15-kg and the maximum recommended weight is 20-kg. Make sure you select all-important gears and accessories to avoid unnecessary excess luggage.
TOPIC 6: Daily routine on Kilimanjaro
Weather.
Weather in the mountain cannot be precisely predicted, but depending on the current climatic change, weather changes from hot, strong wind, cold, and rainfall. November and December experience low rainfall while heavy rainfall is experienced from March, April, and May
The Kilimanjaro hiking trail.
The trails on Mount Kilimanjaro are well marked and maintained. Technical skills are not required on our routes. There are only a few spots where scrambling (climbing on hands and feet) s requires such as the Barranco wall. The path to and from Uhuru Point is screed, which can be especially tiring and slippery. Bad weather conditions can complicate matters, climbers should be prepared to trek through all types of weather such as fog, rain, snow, and all types of earth, whether loose, dusty, muddy, wet, snowy, or icy.
Toilets and washrooms.
There are public toilets at every campsite. Essentially, they are wooden structures built around a deep hole dug into the ground. There are no commodes in the public toilets. You relieve yourself in a hole cut into the bottom of the shack in a squatting position. Given the crowds on Kilimanjaro, these public toilets see a lot of use and therefore can get rather dirty. No shower facilities in the mountain. To maintain the privacy and hygiene of our clients, private toilets are included on all of our climbs. Private toilets consist of a mobile plastic toilet and a private tent, with special people to take care of it every time after use.
Daily schedule on the mountain
On a typical day on the Mountain, you will be awakened from your tent around 6:30 AM by our guide or crew member. Hot drinks (typically coffee or tea) will be available in the mess tent at this time, while a full breakfast will be served around 7:00 AM. Before taking breakfast, you should pack your day pack and duffel bag and bring them outside of the tent so the porters can take down the tent.
Meals are served in a mess tent or occasionally outdoors if the weather is nice- complete with chairs, tables, dinnerware, and silverware.
While the walking hours vary from day to day, your average walking time will be around 4 to 8 hours per day. During the walk, your guide will decide the pace and when to take a break depending on his assessment of the party’s performance. The porters will consistently move ahead of the group to prepare food, collect water, and set up tents so that everything is ready when you arrive. Once you arrive at the campsite, snacks are served, then dinner follows around 6:30 PM, and another health check-up is performed in the evening before you go to sleep.
Meals
You will be provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day spent on the mountain. The food, specifically selected to help your climb, are high-energy carbohydrate foods that are easily digestible. The primary carbohydrates of the meals are rice, potatoes, and pasta. Fresh fruit and vegetables accompany every meal. Meat is served on the mountain but not in large quantities because it is not easily digestible at a higher altitude and nor does it keep well on the mountain. We re-supply the team with fresh food throughout the climb.
Water is collected from the mountain and treated with Aqua tabs, a water purification tablet. Water is provided only at the campsites so you need to carry enough water, usually about 3 liters to stay hydrated while hiking. You may want to bring some supplementary comfort foods such as candy, gum, chocolate, health bars, or powdered energy drinks, feel free. We can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-lactose free and any special diet. For those with special diets, please address your special meal during the booking process.
Accommodation
Unlike the Marangu route where accommodation is offered on Mountain hut/cabins with shared beds and mattresses, the rest of the route offers camping accommodation. Climbers will sleep in state of art, mountain tents during the trek. Our Mountain hardware tents are warm, waterproof, and roomy-perfectly suited for your Kilimanjaro adventure. We understand that some climbers are anxious about camping for so many days, so we aim to have them be as dry, warm, and comfortable as possible.
A 1.8-inch foam sleeping pad is provided to all climbers. These locally sourced sleeping pads are better than any commercially available sleeping pad. They are thick, warm, and comfortable even for those not used to camping. The pad is placed inside a washable cover for cleanliness.
Each client is supposed to have their sleeping bag, warm enough to accommodate up to -15 degrees Celsius.
On the summit day/night.
Every climber wishes to explore the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, but who said that every tourist that climbs Mount Kilimanjaro reaches the peak? Of course, that is the dream of any tourist however due to several factors; many find themselves not reaching the peak. Reaching the peak is sometimes not all about being fit and being prepared for the journey; it is a mixture of conditions and analytics.
Summit day is tough, this monumental effort is what makes climbing Kilimanjaro an achievement. It begins very early as guides try to time their trekking party to reach Uhuru Peak as sunrise (5895amsl). Climbers go to sleep after early dinner and awaken around midnight (00:30 AM) to prepare for the summit attempt; the lead guide will brief you about gears, clothes, and accessories to carry. After light snacks, climbers ascend in the darkness, cold, and wind. Guides and few member crews lead the way to the top; it goes without saying that under these conditions, climbing is difficult, especially on loose rock and up a very steep slope. This is where your physical prowess and mental toughness will be tested.
Our team of Nyayo Tours guides will be with you every step of the way to assist you during your ascent. Short breaks, usually lasting less than ten minutes, will be taken along the way for a quick snack and drink. This is to make sure the climbers stay energized and hydrated but do not get cold by sitting still. The guides will regularly check to see everyone is feeling and offer a hand to hand to those who may need extra help. Someone may have to turn around on the mountain due to altitude sickness, exhaustion, or a variety of other matters. Each group will have a lead guide, several assistants depending on the party size all of whom can escort climbers down. Therefore if a person cannot continue the ascent, one of the staff members will accompany this climber while the lead guide takes the group onward, the remaining party is unaffected and continues their climb as scheduled.
Around 5:30 AM you will summit the top of Mount Kilimanjaro ‘Uhuru Peak’ welcomed by the board sign you can read ‘Congratulation! You are now at the highest point of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro Uhuru Peak 5895amsl’ Once you are there, some time is spent celebrating and taking photos while sunrise before returning to high camp either Barafu or Kibo Hut. The amount of time to be spent at the top depends on the coldness of that particular day; degrees of coldness at the top can vary up to -20 Celsius. At the base camp you will have time for a full breakfast and a short rest, followed by descending to Mweka/Horombo camp for hot lunch, dinner, rest, and overnight.
TOPIC 7: Safety, risk, and rescue-Is climbing Kilimanjaro safe?
Climbing Kilimanjaro is safe, with no major threats that will affect your climb, unlike altitude problems. If a client shows altitude sickness (extreme tiredness, run out of energy, dizziness, headache, breathing problems, vomiting, and so forth), a guide will provide a quick first aid and select some member crew who will descend the client to low altitude area, while contacting with the emergency rescue team to come with the jeep to drive the client back in town.
In the case of severe complications, there is a private flying rescue team‘ Kilimanjaro Search and Rescue’the guide will contact them and within 10-minutes they will arrive with a helicopter and the flying doctor to fly you to the hospital in town. The cost of this service is relatively $500 or more depending on the extent of the problem.
Climbing difficulty-Is climbing Kilimanjaro difficult? How fit do you need to be?
Technical skills are not required on our routes. There are only a few spots where scrambling (climbing on hands and feet) s requires such as the Barranco wall. The path to and from Uhuru Point is screed, which can be especially tiring and slippery. Bad weather conditions can complicate matters, climbers should be prepared to trek through all types of weather such as fog, rain, snow, and all types of earth, whether loose, dusty, muddy, wet, snowy, or icy.
Do you need oxygen- can in Kilimanjaro? Let us know during booking process.
TOPIC 8: Tips for a successful summit
Choose the best route that offers good acclimatization, oxygen decreases as you climb to a higher elevation, choose the routes that offer the acclimatization throughout to avoid the possibility of experiencing higher altitude mountain sickness. In this case, Lemosho and Machame routes are highly recommended.
Be well prepared and fully equipped for Kilimanjaro trekking; do not forget to carry all necessary trekking equipment and gears. Remember, weather in the mountain is not precisely predictable; having with you the all-weather gears is the best decision.
Do not carry too heavy day-pack. Most of your item luggage will be carried by Kilimanjaro porters; you will just carry your light day pack bag, which contains the most necessary personal use for a day only.
Listen carefully to your guide, do not ignore the little advice from your guide, our Kilimanjaro guides are having more than 10-years of experience, they have a broad working knowledge of Mount Kilimanjaro, please listen to what they direct you to do.
Eat enough food and drink more water so that your body won’t run out of energy, long day working requires body energy; make sure you eat as much as you can. Do not forget to go to bed early so that you will wake up with new energy to continue climbing.
Choose the best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Your chance to summit Kilimanjaro peak is highly influenced by external factors like bad weather, knowing the best time to go for Kilimanjaro trekking will help you to plan your adventure accordingly.