KILIMANJARO SAFETY
KILIMANJARO SAFETY
Safety on Kilimanjaro – Our Number one priority
One of the Seven summits, Kilimanjaro is the highest Mountain, and at 19,341 ft., the summit falls into the “extreme altitude” mountaineering category. It’s one of the few mountains of this size that requires no technical skill to reach the summit.
It should not be underestimated. Trekking at altitude in a remote location can be dangerous, and every year it’s estimated over 1,000 people are evacuated from the mountain and sadly, some never return to their families.
Key factors affecting your safety on Kilimanjaro:
- Altitude sickness and altitude-related complications
- Remote location
- Experience and training of your guides
- The right equipment for dealing with an emergency
- Robust monitoring and evacuation processes and protocols
How We Work to Keep You Safe on Kilimanjaro
Staying safe on Kilimanjaro starts with understanding the risks and knowing how to mitigate them. We ask all our climbers to fill in a comprehensive medical questionnaire, and in the case of some pre-existing conditions, we may ask for confirmation from your doctor that you are fit to climb. Your guide will need to know any existing medications you are taking (including over the counter) and whether you are taking Diamox to help acclimatization.
Guide Training
You need to know that your guide has the proper training to know how to detect the early signs of altitude sickness, and what to do about it. Our guides undergo wildness First Aid Responsetraining, which teaches essential skills for managing medical conditions in remote locations.
Carrying emergency equipment is useless if your guide doesn’t know how to use it.
A note on guide-to-climber ratio
It’s our mission to ensure a safe and successful summit for everyone. We have a guide to climber ratio of 1 to 2, so for every two climbers, we have one trained mountain guide. This allows for more careful observation and evaluation of the group’s condition.
Daily Health Checks & Monitoring
Communication with your guide is important. If you’re feeling under the weather, have a headache, nausea or any other symptom, you must tell your guide. While hiking, your guide will be keeping a lookout for any early signs of trouble:
- Are you having difficulty on the trail, stumbling or very tired
- Are you eating well, or is your appetite diminishing
- Do you keep stopping to catch your breath, and having difficulty breathing
- Are you drinking enough water
- Any signs of erratic behavior or confusion
Daily Health Check
Every day, you’ll have a one-to-one meeting with your guide for a comprehensive health check-up:
- Using a pulse oximeter to measure your blood oxygen saturation and resting pulse rate, using this data in combination with:
- Symptom picture, using the Lake Louise Scoring System to determine whether you are showing signs of altitude sickness
- Self-assessment questions to determine how you are feeling
Constant monitoring prevents a mild case of altitude sickness from escalating into an emergency.
Emergency Oxygen & Medical Supplies
Our team carries a comprehensive medical kit, including bottled oxygen, and portable stretcher.
- We carry s upplemental oxygen for emergency use only.
- The only cure for acute mountain sickness is immediate descent to a lower elevation.
- In the case of an injury that prevents a climber from descending on foot, we use a portable stretcher that is provided by the National Park at each campsite.
- Oxygen can be administered to alleviate AMS in combination with immediate descent.
- We carry a first aid medical kit to treat minor injuries
Helicopter Evacuation on Kilimanjaro
In the event of an emergency, we use a search and rescue service that operates out of Moshi. After a distress call, a helicopter will be dispatched to the nearest landing point and the patient can be airlifted off the mountain and taken to the local hospital. Of note, in the event of adverse mountain weather, a helicopter may not be able to land, and if this is the case, a manual evacuation will need to take place via a stretcher provided by the National Park.
Other Important Safety Aspects on Kilimanjaro
It’s important that you take responsibility for your safety, including:
- Don’t ignore symptoms. If you have a headache, loss of appetite, nausea or any unusual symptom, tell your guide immediately
- Don’t try to “push through”. Mild signs of altitude sickness can often be successfully treated without evacuation, but ignoring them can be dangerous
- Keep an eye on your team-mates. If you see someone struggling or behaving erratically, tell your guide
- Follow your guide’s instructions at all times.
Equipment & Gear
When you venture on a trek up Kilimanjaro, you traverse five significant climate zones. This journey begins in the balminess of the lower slopes and culminates at the peak, where you face an extreme cold with temperatures plunging below zero.
In addition to the medical and emergency equipment, the quality of kit used in camp is also an important consideration. Weather on any mountain can be unpredictable, and keeping safe, warm, and dry at night is imperative to the health of any climber.
- Rugged tents suitable for changing mountain conditions, that stay dry even in torrential rain
- Comfortable waterproof dining tent with table and chairs
- Sanitary toilet facilities
If you show up to climb Kilimanjaro without the right cold-weather gear, good hiking boots, or a quality sleeping bag designed for expeditions, you're practically asking for difficulties. Don't worry, though! We've put together a detailed Kilimanjaro packing list to help you out. It clearly explains what you need to pack, and why.
- If you haven’t got the right boots, you can easily turn an ankle or injure yourself on the rocky trails
- Without effective rain gear, you’ll get soaking wet and quickly turn hypothermic
- If you don’t protect yourself from the sun, you can end up with a nasty case of sunburn or sunstroke
- Never stay in wet clothes
- Our Kilimanjaro packing list details everything you need to bring to be properly prepared
Hygiene, food & water safety
There are no showers on Kilimanjaro, and we recommend you bring hand sanitizer and wash your hands frequently, especially before you eat. A combination of being tired from hiking, altitude, and dietary changes can make you more susceptible to traveler’s diarrhea or other ‘stomach bugs’.
During the day:
- Eat regularly, even if you think you’re not hungry, this keeps your energy levels up
- Drink plenty of water, dehydration will quickly lead to fatigue and can compromise the acclimatization process
We go to great lengths to ensure your food is prepared safely, to avoid gastrointestinal problems. We boil, filter and purify all drinking water, including the water used to wash food products.
By providing private Toilets for our climbers, we avoid the unsanitary conditions found in some of the public facilities at the campsites.
Physical Preparation
Safety begins at home, before you arrive in Tanzania.
- Medical Check-up from your doctor, discussing any existing medical conditions or medications you’re taking
- Recommended vaccinations for Kilimanjaro and the areas you are traveling to.
- Consider taking Diamox to help acclimatization, discuss this with your doctor for any interactions with existing medications
Arrange your travel insurance for Kilimanjaro Climb – it’s mandatory to have comprehensive travel insurance to cover emergencies.
You should have a good standard of fitness in order to hike over rugged terrain for multiple days. While it’s not technical, the hiking is tough and exhausting
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
We take your safety very seriously and don’t believe in leaving anything to chance. Emergencies can and do occur, due to the nature of the remote, high-altitude environment. Climbing Kilimanjaro with an operator who has well-trained guides, robust safety procedures, and good quality equipment reduces the incidence and severity of any issues that arise.
You can prepare yourself by being fit, bringing the right gear, and taking adequate precautions on the trail.
Altitude Sickness: What is it?
Mountain sickness has three main forms: Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). Additionally, AMS can be mild (very common and manageable with the right treatment), moderate, and severe (immediate descent necessary).
Acute Mountain Sickness
According t o Dr. Peter Hackett of the Institute for Altitude Medicine, AMS can affect anyone above 6,000ft. The initial sign is usually a headache, which confusingly can also be a sign of dehydration or over-exertion. If other symptoms develop, then a diagnosis of AMS is probable.
Mild AMS
In its mildest form, the symptoms can resemble that of a hangover, with nausea, headache, fatigue, and a loss of appetite. If you experience any of these symptoms it’s important to tell your guide and not simply try to push through. Mild symptoms can often be resolved with rest and adequate hydration.
Moderate AMS
If the symptoms of mild AMS start to get worse, a headache that you can’t shift, dizziness, coughing, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting this is an indication that you are not adapting to the altitude (acclimatizing) and at this point you should descend to the last elevation that you felt “well”.
Treatments such as ibuprofen for the headache or anti-emetics for the nausea can mask worsening symptoms and should not be relied upon for continued ascent.
Severe AMS
If a person suffering with moderate AMS ignores the symptoms pushing through to a higher elevation, there’s a risk that the condition can become severe. Severe AMS can lead to life-threatening complications (HAPE and HACE) and immediate descent is mandatory.
Symptoms can include severe headache, ataxia (lack of co-ordination, inability to walk properly, staggering), increased coughing and shortness of breath. Someone with severe AMS will likely need evacuation from the mountain either by stretcher or helicopter.
Complications resulting from severe mountain sickness are HAPE and HACE.
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
Basecamp MD explains that HAPE can develop as a result of the lung arteries developing excessive pressure as a result of the low oxygen environment. This pressure cause’s build up of fluid around the lungs.
Confusingly, it’s possible for a climber to develop HAPE even if they don’t seem to have symptoms of severe AMS.
Look out for:
- Coughing up blood or mucus
- Abnormal lung sounds
- Extreme listlessness
- Difficulty breathing
- Lips going blue
- Confusion, lack of coordination
Anyone at altitude who feels as though they have a respiratory infection should assume it’s HAPE until a medical professional proves it to be otherwise. If HAPE is suspected, oxygen is often administered in conjunction with immediate evacuation to a medical facility.
As oxygen levels in the blood drop, the brain can suffer from lack of oxygen, leading to HACE.
High Altitude Cerebral Edema
HACE is a very dangerous condition that requires immediate medical treatment. As fluid builds up around the brain, the climber comes increasingly confused, lethargic and drowsy, incapable of walking and behaving strangely.
Look out for:
- Disorientation, confusion, hallucinations, talking nonsense
- Lack of coordination, staggering, inability to walk
- Irrational behavior
- Severe headache, sometimes accompanied by nausea and vomiting
HACE cannot be treated without immediate evacuation to a medical facility.
How is Altitude Sickness Diagnosed?
In our daily health checks, Climbing Kilimanjaro guides will use a pulse oximeter to measure your oxygen saturation and pulse rate and use this data along with any symptoms you are presenting to build up a picture of your situation.
Lake Louise Scoring System
Developed in 1991 and reviewed as recently as 2018, the Lake Louise Scoring System remains the basis for most diagnosis in the field of a climber’s condition. Climbing Kilimanjaro guides use this as a framework when they assess your condition. The ‘score’ attaches a number depending on the severity of your condition.
Headache
0—None at all
1—A mild headache
2—Moderate headache
3—Severe headache, incapacitating
Gastrointestinal symptoms
0—Good appetite
1—Poor appetite or nausea
2—Moderate nausea or vomiting
3—Severe nausea and vomiting, incapacitating
Fatigue and/or weakness
0—Not tired or weak
1—Mild fatigue/weakness
2—Moderate fatigue/weakness
3—Severe fatigue/weakness, incapacitating
Dizziness/light-headedness
0—No dizziness/light-headedness
1—Mild dizziness/light-headedness
2—Moderate dizziness/light-headedness
3—Severe dizziness/light-headedness, incapacitating
AMS Clinical Functional Score
Overall, if you had AMS symptoms, how did they affect your activities?
0—Not at all
1—Symptoms present, but did not force any change in activity or itinerary
2—My symptoms forced me to stop the ascent or to go down on my own power
3—Had to be evacuated to a lower altitude
Acclimatization: Preventing Altitude Sickness
The term acclimatization or “acclimation” refers to the body’s compensatory processes to adapt to the low-oxygen, low-atmospheric pressure environment. From day one, your body will start to make adaptive changes to compensate.
Things you’ll notice:
- Breathing deeper, sometimes faster
- Elevated resting heart rate
- Potentially higher blood pressure.
As you ascend slowly, your body has certain mechanisms it uses to adapt:
- Producing more of the oxygen carrying hemoglobin
- Higher erythropoietin production, this is a hormone from the kidneys that increases the manufacture of red blood cells
- Lower volume of plasma, which can increase risk of dehydration.
- Higher kidney function as excess bicarbonate ions are excreted as a result of changing acid/alkali balance of blood.
All of these changes are a gradual process, which is why the best and safest summit success rates are had on routes with a good acclimatization protocol. The longer it takes to reach high altitude, the longer your body has to adapt.
By building in acclimatization days “hike high, sleep low” and rest days increases your chances of adequate adaptation, resulting in lower incidence of mountain sickness.
Acclimatization is a complicated process, some people seem to have no problem at all. There are no tricks or hacks, it’s a matter of time, although the medication Diamox has been shown to up regulate the body’s natural acclimatization processes and can help speed it up.
How to Avoid Altitude Sickness on Kilimanjaro
- Take a longer route. Instead of choosing the quickest way up Kilimanjaro, opt for a route that builds-in some acclimatization time. Also Kilimanjaro climb training and preparation is very important.
- Hike slowly. You’ll hear your guides reminding you of this “pole pole” (slowly, slowly in Swahili). You don’t want to tire yourself out, always try to be the last person into camp.
- Even if you’re very fit, you need to conserve your energy, avoid over-exertion. Fatigue is believed to be a major contributor to AMS.
- Stay hydrated. Keeping your fluids up prevents dehydration in the dry air which can compromise your ability to acclimatize
- Ask your doctor if Diamox is right for you.
- Don’t climb higher if you are suffering any symptoms of altitude sickness.
- Avoid narcotic pain killers, sleeping pills, alcohol or stimulants
- Always tell your guide if you have a headache, nausea or any other symptom
- Keep eating, particularly carbohydrates.
- Stay warm. Hypothermia is dangerous, never stay in wet clothes.
Does Altitude Training help Acclimatization?
Altitude Training is becoming increasingly popular among st would-be mountaineers. Some athletes use these training protocols to enhance performance, and studies have shown a “per-acclimatization” process as a result.
The protocols vary from training in a simulated altitude chamber, sleeping in a hypnotic tent, and even intermittent exposure to hypoxic air at rest. You can read our in depth guide to altitude training for more information.
The best pre-acclimatization method would be to climb Mt Meru, or some peaks in your home country prior to traveling to Kilimanjaro. This isn’t possible for everyone, nor is it necessary but if you do have access to some high altitude you’ll get a good idea of how well you acclimatize.
Effects of Altitude on existing Conditions
Your doctor will advise you of whether your medical history prevents you from traveling to altitude. Many people with well-controlled pre-existing conditions are able to climb Kilimanjaro successfully.
Anyone with heart, lung or neurological conditions will need to have a medical sign-off from their doctor before joining one of our climbs. It’s particularly important for your doctor to assess how the altitude may affect your current medications and condition. Be aware that certain medical conditions may make getting adequate travel insurance more difficult.
Effects of Altitude on Sleep: Cheyne-Stokes Breathing
One of the main reasons for sleep disturbance at altitude is periodic breathing. This is not necessarily associated with altitude sickness, but can be uncomfortable and disruptive. The Institute for Altitude Medicine explains that it’s a “battle in the body over control of breathing during sleep”. The oxygen sensors tell the parasympathetic nervous system to breathe more deeply, whilst the carbon dioxide sensors tell it to stop.
The result is usually deep breathing followed by the breathing stopping, and then a deep-breath as it restarts. Diamox often helps with this condition.
Other Health Considerations on Kilimanjaro
While altitude sickness is the main concern, you need to take a pro-active view of your health whilst climbing.
Hypothermia
Never stay in wet clothes. Whether from rainfall or perspiration, once you stop moving, a slight chill can turn to hypothermia in a short time, especially higher up the mountain. Make sure you carry adequate layers in your day pack, as rapid changes in temperature are quite common as you ascend.
The Sun’s Rays
Always wear sunscreen, preferably factor 40+, cover exposed parts of your body, including your head and neck. As you ascend, there are fewer atmospheres to filter out the harmful UV rays, and the sun’s rays are harsh.
Most importantly, wear sunglasses that block 100% of the UV rays. Wraparound glasses are best, to prevent reflected UV off glaciers and snow from damaging your eyes. Snow blindness is not common, but it’s a definite risk if you don’t protect your eyes.
Gastro-intestinal issues
Any travel to remote places comes with a risk of gastro-intestinal trouble. Different foods, sub-standard hygiene, and exposure to bacteria and viruses can cause stomach problems. Always use anti-bacterial gel or wipes on your hands, especially before eating.
Your main risk for stomach trouble is before your climb. Avoid eating at street stalls, stay away from tap water, salads, and fruit you can’t peel. On the mountain we adhere to strict food hygiene protocols and provide safe purified water at all times.
Climbing Kilimanjaro Safety Procedures
At climbing Kilimanjaro we take your safety very seriously. Climbing Kilimanjaro trained guides will monitor you closely, but to do that, they also need your help. If you feel in any way unwell, you should inform your guide immediately. Keep an eye on other members of your group, if you see someone behaving strangely or they appear to be suffering, tell your guide.
Every day your guide will check your oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter, question you about how you are feeling, and listen to your chest for unusual lung sounds. Catching it early is the best way to prevent mild altitude sickness escalating.
Climbing Kilimanjaro Team carries emergency oxygen and there are portable stretcher provided by the National Park on every climb. If a climber is suffering and cannot proceed, we have partnered with Kilimanjaro helicopter rescue for emergency evacuation.
Kilimanjaro Recommended Packing List
To ensure a safe and cosy experience during your Kilimanjaro ascend, it's vital that you have the necessary gear and resources. We've put together a detailed packing guide for your Kilimanjaro expedition to assist you in getting ready.
Your Kilimanjaro hike will expose you to five key weather locales. It runs the gambit, starting from the heated, moisture-heavy woods and lower terrain, all the way up to the chill-to-the-bone peak region dotted with glaciers, ice, and snow. It's essential that you gear up for all possible Kilimanjaro weather: sunshine, breeze and downpour.
We have your covered for tents, camping gear, meals, cooking facilities and other communal facilities. Your kit, which includes everything you'll need, will be safely tucked away in a duffel bag handled by our porters. But remember, you'll be responsible for your own daypack throughout the day's trek.
Clothing Lower Body
- 4-5 Pairs of Underwear
- 3-4 Short Sleeve
- 1 Insulated Trekking Pants - basically hiking pants with a fleece inner.
- Winter hiking pants
- Waterproof shell pant
Clothing Upper Body
- Comfortable sport bra(ladies only)
Headgear
- Warm Beanie or Fleece Headband
- Bandana or Neck Gaiter - Tough Outfitters make some good fleeced options.
- Headlamp - Petzl Tikka is a great option.
- Sunglasses - I recommend Julbo
Hands and Walking
- Adjustable Trekking Poles - here are some good options (I recommend Leki, Black Diamond Alpine or in the UK - TYTN)
Footwear
- 1 Pair of warm/thick trekking socks - Smartwool is best!
- Gaiters
- Spare laces for hiking boots
- Running shoes/light hikers(for wearing around camp )
Bags and Daypack
- 80-100L Waterproof duffle bag – Helly Hansen or TYTN
- 20-30L Daypack – Osprey Talon 22
- Daypack rain-cover
- Travel bag organisers (optional)
- Compression sacks or 6-8 waterproof bags
- Bag lock for duffel bag
Sleeping Gears:
- Insulated sleeping mat- see good options (I recommend the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir)
- Inflatable pillow (optional)
- Compression sack for sleeping bag
- Sleeping bag line(for extra warmth or for rented sleeping bag)
General Accessories
- Large Volume Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder - (I recommend the Camelbak Eddy Bottle or the Platypus Hydration Bladder
- Water Purification Tablets - options here
- Baby Wipes
- Sweat Resistant Suncream
- Blister Platers
- Insect Repellant
- General Medications (Paracetamol, Imodium)
- Pee Bottle (optional)
Technology
- Camera
- GoPro (optional)
- Solar Backpack Charger (optional)
- Spare Batteries and Camera Memory Card
- Kindle with Back Light (optional)
Other Bits and Bobs
- Energy Bars
- Energy Drink Supplement
- Zip Lock Bags for Important Possessions (Passport, Money etc.)
- Trekking Towel
- Toiletries, including one roll of toilet paper
- Passport, Visa, Insurance, Yellow Fever Card (if applicable)
- Small Lock for your Duffle Bag
Kilimanjaro Faq’s
Frequently asked questions
When Should I Go?
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, August, And September Are The Busiest Months. Summiting On Or Soon After A Full Moon Is Very Beautiful And Helps Illuminate The Landscape Without Using Headlamps. However, It Is Also Very Bright For Sleeping And Stars Are Not As Visible.
Do I Need To Take Malaria Medicine?
Malaria Is A Serious Problem In East Africa So You Must Consult Your Doctor About Getting Effective Malaria Prophylaxis For Your Visit. Many People Are Avoiding Lariam Nowadays And Using Malarone. You Cannot Catch Malaria Above 3000 Metres On Kilimanjaro, But You Must Be Careful Below That Altitude, Particularly If You Visit The Coast Where The Strains Of Malaria Tend To Be Especially Virulent.
What Is The Weather Like On Mt. Kilimanjaro?
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!
How Difficult Is It To Climb Kilimanjaro?
It Requires No Technical Climbing Experience, And Any Moderately Fit Person Can Summit The Mountain.
How Difficult Is It To Climb Kilimanjaro?
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. There Are Two Main Routes On The Mountain: 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). Kindly Visit Our Kili Routes Page
Why Is The Marangu Route Called The “Coca Cola” Route? Is It Really Dirty And Overcrowded?
There Has Been A Lot Of Negative Press About Marangu. In Our View, And We Arrange Treks On All The Routes, It Is Very Unfair. This Is The Only Route That Uses Huts Rather Than Tents And Some Years Ago There Was A Serious Problem With Overcrowding In The Huts. In Those Years The Machame Route Was Much Less Frequented. But We Think The Main Reason That Some Operators Speak Against The Marangu And Boost The Machame Is That The Booking System For Marangu Is Demanding Of Operators’ Time. There Is No Booking System For Machame (Nor The Other Camping Routes). You Just Show Up At The Machame Gate The First Morning Of The Trek. No One Ever Knows How Many People Will Be On The Trail Until The Gate Closes For That Day. There Is A Daily Quota Of Only About 70 Climbers Allowed To Start On The Marangu Route On Any Day (This Is Why Booking Is Not Always Easy).
There Are Many Days In The Season When There Are Many More Climbers On The Machame Route Than On The Marangu. This Is Not In Any Way To Denigrate The Very Beautiful Machame Route.
But These Are Things To Bear In Mind When Hearing The Marangu Route Described As The Tourist, Easy Or Coca Cola Route And The Machame As The Scenic Or The Whisky Route! It Is True That You Will Hear Many People Who Have Climbed Machame Say That It Is Better Than Marangu, And This Is Conveyed To Many Of The Guide Book Writers. But Remember That The Overwhelming Majority Of Climbers Only Ever Climb One Route. The Chances Are That The Climbers Who Say This Have Never Been On The Marangu Route And Are Simply Repeating What They Have Been Told Or Have Read.
How Is The Marangu Route Different From The Machame Route?
Physically, The Marangu And Machame Routes Are Rather Different. The Main Force Of Kibo’s Volcanic Activity Occurred Out Towards The West (The Machame Side) And So Machame Is Steeper – Especially In The First Day And A Half – And More Rugged Than Marangu. It Is Often Considered More Scenic Because The Views Of Kibo Are More Impressive Than From The South-East (The Marangu Approach), But Many Consider The Vegetation On Day 2 Of The Marangu Route To Be More Attractive Than Anything Seen On The Western Side. As Always With Mountains, Every Route Has Its Advantages And Drawbacks. The Difficulty Grading Has Marangu As A 1, And Machame A 1+, So There’s Not A Great Deal In It.
How Do I Cope With Change Of Altitude?
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 An Extra Day On The Mountain.
How Long Does It Take To Reach The Summit?
It Will Depend On The Route You Pick And Your Pace. It Can Take From 4-8 Hours To Reach The Summit From The High Camp.
What Is An Anorak?
A Weatherproof Jacket, Such As Gore-Tex.
What Is A Balaclava?
A Woollen Sock That Fits Over The Head With Slits For Only The Eyes And Mouth.
Why Do We Make The Final Ascent In The Pre-Dawn Darkness?
Most Groups Will Start For The Summit On Ascent Day At 11 PM To 12:30AM, Depending On The Perceived Fitness Of The Group, The Weather And The Route. The Pre-Dawn Hours, While Cold, Are Also The Calmest And Clearest. The Best Views From The Summit Are At Dawn. Often Clouds And High Winds Develop Not Long After Sunrise Making The Summit Much Less Attractive And The Descent More Difficult. Guides Who Have Been To The Summit Scores Of Times Report That It Is Very Rare To Find It Cloudy At The Summit At Dawn In Any Season. The Ascent Day Is A Very Long Day Of Hiking. Some People May Require 15 Hours To Reach The Summit And Descend To The Campsite For That Day.
Do Your Tanzania Trips Include Any Transfer For Those Arriving In Nairobi, Kenya?
No, But We Can Schedule Transfer From Nairobi By Riverside Shuttles For An Additional Charge
What Additional Costs Can I Expect When I Travel With You?
- Extra Expenses Include:
- Tips For Guides, Cook And Porters
- Rental Equipment (Sleeping Bags, Hiking Poles, Etc.)
- Lunches, Dinners And Drinks At Your Hotel In Moshi.
- Any Personal Expenses (Visas, Airport Taxes, Etc.).
How Much Is A Good Tip?
The Typical Tip Is:
Porters $10 Per Day Per Porter
Cooks $12 To $15 Per Cook
Assistant Guides $15 To $20 Per Guide
Kilimanjaro Guides $20 Per Day And Up Per Guide
*Tip Amounts Listed For Kilimanjaro Are Per Group, Not Per Individual Traveler. For Instance, If Four People Are On Kili, They Should Each Contribute $5/Day If They Want To Tip The Lead Guide $20.
What Is The Deposit Amount To Hold My Space?
A 30% Deposit Is Required At Time Of Booking To Hold Your Climb/Safar
Can Children Climb Kilimanjaro?
The minimum age set by the National park Authorities for summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro is 12 years old. However, younger children can attempt the summit with special permission. Younger children can also trek on the mountain without reaching the summit.
How Many Guides, And Porters And Cooks Do We Get?
The number of staff that you will have depends on how much gear and weight is brought up the mountain, the route chosen and number of days on the mountain; however a typical trek will have (per 4 persons); 1 guide, 1 assistant guide, 1 cook, 1 waiter and 9 to 12 porters.
Are The Guides Trained In First Aid And Altitude Sickness?
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.
Are The Guides Licensed / Certified?
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
When Do I Need to Pay the Balance of My Climb/Safari?
The final payment (70%) should be made in cash upon your arrival, or via bank transfer a few weeks prior.
What Kind Of Accommodation Is Available During Climbing?
On the Marangu Route, the first two huts sleep four people each, and the last hut is dorm-style with bunk beds. While on the other routes, you sleep in 3-person 4-season dome-style mountain tents, two people each.
What if I get injured or sick on the climb?
All climbers pay a rescue fee to the Kilimanjaro National Park (included in our package price). If you cannot continue the climb because you get injured or sick, the guides and porters will gladly assist you on the way down.
There is no extra charge for coming down and being taken back to the lodge early, but we will not be able to refund you for the days you missed on the mountain. Moreover, we ask all of our travellers to purchase a special adventure travel insurance that covers any possible medical expenses and evacuation costs – just to be safe!
Is climbing Kilimanjaro safe?
There are always deaths on these big mountains. And Kilimanjaro is no different.
The most common cause of death on Kilimanjaro is altitude sickness. This comes about when you to ascend the mountain too quickly, not giving your body enough time to acclimatize. (But more on that just in a just moment.)
That said, Kilimanjaro is a safe climb if you travel with a good tour operator and you follow one of the routes we recommend.
How much luggage can I bring?
You should limit your duffel bag to 14 kg (31 lb) when full, as this will ease the burden on the porters.
Baggage should be of the round, squashy type rather than a hard suitcase.
Note that luggage restrictions on domestic flights are often 15 to 20 kg (33 to 44 lb) per person, so be mindful when packing your bags.
For your own backpack that you carry each day, try to keep it under 9 kg (20 lb) for your own benefit
What luggage should I bring?
When climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, you will need to bring at least two bags:
- One is the backpack that you carry yourself each.
- The second bag is your duffel bag which a porter carries for you.
What equipment and clothing do I need?
The two most critical pieces of equipment that you might need to buy are:
- hiking boots
- a winter jacket
- Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes in 2023
- Training To Climb Kilimanjaro
- Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro
- How Long Does It Take To Climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
- Kilimanjaro Routes & Which Is The Best Route To Climb Kilimanjaro
- Kilimanjaro Safety
- Kilimanjaro Travel Insurance
- What Are The Visa And Passport Requirements For Tanzania?
- Vaccinations To Climb Kilimanjaro
- Kilimanjaro Weather
- The Complete Kilimanjaro Packing List
