Frequently Asked Questions About Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro

Frequently Asked Questions About Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro, Many people who visit Africa only get the chance to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro once in their lives. The climb goes through muddy rainforests, rare high-altitude plants, and alpine meadows before it gets to the glacier-covered peak.

At 5,895 meters (19,341 feet), Mount Kilimanjaro is the world’s largest freestanding mountain and Africa’s highest peak. It is one of the Seven Summits. The snow-covered top of Africa is actually a volcano in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro National Park that is not active.

What is the height of Mount Kilimanjaro, and will being at such a high level make you sick?

Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest natural mountain, at 5,895 meters (19,340 feet). It is also the tallest mountain in Africa. If it’s not part of a mountain group, it stands alone. A sign of Africa is also Mt. Kilimanjaro. A lot of people think of Africa when they see elephants in front of Kilimanjaro. Even though it looks scary, the mountain is surprisingly easy to climb compared to Everest and other big mountains. It is also easy to add a week-long mountain climbing tour to a regular East African Safari Tour.

If you get altitude sickness, that might be a problem. But that shouldn’t stop you from taking on the task. Talk to your doctor about your altitude sickness and make sure you get the medicine they gave you.

Which People Can Climb Kilimanjaro?

That includes people over 10 years old and people in their 60s and 70s! There is only one thing you need: a strong will to achieve. How hard it is to climb Kilimanjaro depends on how fast you go up and how high you are. Don’t worry, we’ll be with you the whole way! Our advisors are professionals with a lot of experience who are very important to your progress.

How long does it take to climb Kilimanjaro?

Kilimanjaro can be climbed in a number of different ways. Some of these are only for people who know how to climb before. The Marangu Route is the most common way to go, and it is often advertised as a 4-night, 5-day return climb. But in reality, you’ll be climbing about 19,685 feet (6,000 meters).

This 5-day plan doesn’t give enough time for getting used to the altitude. These dates should be pushed back at least one day to make the climb safer. Even better, try one of the longer, calmer ways. This will give you more time to get used to the altitude.

It is safer to climb up Shira Plateau, Machame, and the Northern Circle Way, which is the longest of the three. Not only are these better, but they also don’t have nearly as many people as Marangu.

How hard is it to climb up Mount Kilimanjaro?

It is hard to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro is a very high mountain walk, and more than half of the people who do it get sick from the altitude. Before you try to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, which is 19,341 feet (5,895 meters) high, you will need to do a lot of training and planning.

I want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Do I need to be in good shape?

Mount Kilimanjaro is a very big mountain that you should not attempt to climb without careful planning. Still, at that height, this is one of the easiest mountains to climb. For any of the basic climbs, you don’t need any special climbing skills or gear. There is only a long, steady climb. It should be possible for anyone who is pretty healthy and determined to do it. You need warm clothes like a tough mountain jacket, thermals, gloves, and a hat. You will also need a very warm four-season sleeping bag.

Altitude is the most common reason people don’t make it to the top. Mountain climbing trips that last 5 days don’t give you enough time to fully get used to the higher elevation.

How much stuff can I bring with me on my hike?

You will need two bags for your challenge hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro: a backpack to carry your daily essentials and a duffel to hold your 15 kilograms (33 pounds), which your personal guide will carry for you. It is best to bring a duffel bag because it is easier for the porter to take other things while holding it on his head.

What about getting sick from the high air on Kilimanjaro?

Kilimanjaro hikers often get headaches, feel sick, get dizzy, have trouble breathing, lose their appetite, and even have heart palpitations as early signs of altitude sickness. If your symptoms don’t get better, don’t go up. If the signs get worse at the same height, you should go down.

Should I bring drugs with me on my hike up Mount Kilimanjaro?

If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or any other illness that makes you feel sick at high altitude, you should bring your medicine with you. Before you go on your hiking trip to Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, make sure you talk to your doctor about it.

At 5,000 meters above sea level, you can’t put your life at risk without the right medical gear, like stethoscopes, pulse oximeters, rescue stretchers, oxygen controllers, cannulas, and more. We do everything we can to make sure that all of our hikers have the medical gear they need for a safe and enjoyable hiking trip.

What safety steps are in place for the Mount Kilimanjaro hike?

Safety is the most important thing to Kilimanjaro. It has to happen. This means having the right gear, climbing with experienced and responsible guides, eating healthy foods, and picking a trail that gives you enough time to get used to the altitude. To make sure you stay safe on the Kilimanjaro hike, make sure you have these things:

Bring your medicine for high altitude sickness, malaria, and any other drugs your doctor has told you to take.
Get help from expert Kilimanjaro guides.
Get the right gear for climbing
Make sure you have enough water, food, and snacks for the whole mountain walk.
How many people do you need to hike up Mount Kilimanjaro?
There are anywhere from 5 to 10 walkers in a single group. You will eat all of your meals together in the same mess tent. You will be led and carried along the way, and at the end of the adventure, you will give the crew tips.

Do I need a guide to climb Kilimanjaro?

Yes! Anyone who wants to climb Kilimanjaro must be with a licensed guide from Kilimanjaro National Park. Climbers usually have a lead guide, an assistant guide, a chef, and porters as part of their group.

What kinds of places can I stay on Mount Kilimanjaro?

There are the same places to stay on all of Mount Kilimanjaro’s hiking trails. Most of the paths have campsites and public bathrooms and toilets. On the Marangu path, there are also shared huts with bunk beds that look like they belong in a dorm. Any of these choices will give you a safe place to sleep, but you will have to share a room with other campers.

How should I climb Kilimanjaro?

There are seven known ways to get to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. They are Machame, Marangu, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai, the Northern Circuit, and Umbwe. The Marangu, Machame, and Umbwe routes all go up from the south, while the Mweka path only goes down. The Northern Circuit, Shira, and Lemosho all come in from the west. From the north, the Rongai road comes up. Check out the pictures below for a three-dimensional view of Kilimanjaro’s climbing routes and a close-up of the approaches to the peak.

Most people have a hard time picking a direction. To find the best Kilimanjaro route for you, look at the route’s scenery, difficulty, foot traffic, and ability to help you get used to the altitude.

Kilimanjaro routes and how much they are expected to cost

There are seven official ways to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. They are the Northern Circuit route, the Machame route, the Marangu route, the Shira route, the Rongai route, and the Umbwe route. If you want to save the most money, the Marangu way is the best choice because it can be finished in five days or less.

The Rongai Route
It takes more physical fitness to walk the Rongai trail because it goes up faster than the others. This makes it perfect for hikers who want to test their physical limits. This path goes up Mount Kilimanjaro from the northeast, close to the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Hikers who want to experience the wild without any people getting in the way should take this path. They might even see elephants or buffalo.

The Lemosho Route
The Lemosho path is by far the best for trekking up Mount Kilimanjaro because it lets climbers go high and sleep low, which helps them get used to the altitude. People who want to take their time and enjoy the scenery should use this road, which runs next to the Shira trail. With mountain views on both sides, this is the most beautiful trail. A mountain climber or two will be the only ones on this road until it meets up with the Machame route.

The Machame Route
Most people take this path, which is also known as the “whiskey” route. Mountain climbers who have done a lot of trekking and backpacking should be the only ones to take on the Machame road. For this route, you need at least six days, but we suggest hikers give themselves seven days.

Shire Way
Like the Lemosho Way, this path starts at the Shira ridge and goes west toward Mount Kilimanjaro. At the Shira Trail, hikers on this path meet up with walkers on the Lemosho Way. Because it starts above 3600 meters, the Shira way is not good for hikers who have been to high altitudes before.

Route of Umbwe
They begin their path in the south. The climbers will be taken to the Umbwe gate, which is 1600 meters high. The Umbwe path goes through forests and takes 7 days to finish.

How much does it cost to climb Kilimanjaro?

It might cost a lot to climb Kilimanjaro. There must be a guide and at least one porter in every group of hikers. Kilimanjaro is usually between $2,000 and $6,000 to climb. Prices range from very cheap budget operators to huge Western travel firms that hire outsiders to lead trips at ridiculously high prices. Every trip operator has some set costs that they can’t avoid, so if a climb seems way too cheap, you should ask why.

Following my hike up Kilimanjaro, what else can I do?

After climbing Kilimanjaro, we offer tours to see wildlife in other Tanzanian national parks, such as Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater Conservancy, Lake Manyara National Park, and Tarangire National Park. This will help you complete the northern circle.

How much does a hiking tour of Mount Kilimanjaro cost?

The price of a Mount Kilimanjaro hiking tour depends on many factors, such as the Kilimanjaro National Park fees, the Kilimanjaro Potter’s pay, the cost of lodging, and the cost of gear. Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) is where you need to fly to get to Kilimanjaro. To the southwest of the airport is Mount Kilimanjaro National Park. If there are no direct flights to Kilimanjaro Airport, you can fly through Dar Es Salaam or Nairobi (Kenya) to get there. There is a big difference between Mount Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam. Nairobi has a lot more flights than Kilimanjaro Airport, which is why it can offer low prices.

What is the best way to get to Mount Kilimanjaro from the US, Europe, South Africa, Zanzibar, and Canada?
No matter where you begin your Mt. Kilimanjaro hiking trip. Kilimanjaro flying costs will go up a lot, which will add to the cost of your Mount Kilimanjaro hike.

From the US, Europe, and the UK, you can fly to Kilimanjaro.

People from the US, Europe, and the UK who want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania should fly to Amsterdam from a major airport near them. Most major airports in the US, Europe, and the UK offer flights to Amsterdam, and then climbers can take a KLM Airlines flight to JRO.

How Much Do International Flight Tickets Cost?

Kenya Airways, Condor, Qatar Airways, RwandAir, Air Tanzania, KLM, and Ethiopian Airways are some of the airlines that fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport. From the West Coast of the United States, a flight to Kilimanjaro costs about $2,000, while a flight from the East Coast costs only $1,100. Prices for flights from Europe to Kilimanjaro run from $558 to $851 RMB.

Kilimanjaro Airport is served by flights within Tanzania and Zanzibar.
For climbers who are staying in Tanzania, Precision Air, Air Excel, Regional Air, Coastal Aviation, Zan Air, and Fast Jet are just a few of the companies that offer domestic flights to Kilimanjaro Airport.

How much a Tanzanian visa costs to climb Mount Kilimanjaro

You can now apply for a visa to visit the United Republic of Tanzania online. This goes for both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. Everyone except Americans and North Koreans pays the same amount for a Tanzania visa. This is because Tanzania and some other countries have a special way of traveling together. Here are some different Visa fees:

A ticket to enter Tanzania

US$50 per person with a visa from South Africa, the UK, Canada, Belgium, and other countries.
US$100 per visa for people with US passports and people from North Korea.
How much should I tip my Mount Kilimanjaro guide or porter?

It costs between $250 and $500 USD to tip everyone on the Kilimanjaro team, based on how many people worked on the trip and how many days were spent trekking Mount Kilimanjaro.

The chart below shows how much each crew member costs and how much Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) recommends as a minimum tip. These numbers will affect your total travel budget.