In Depth: What you need to know when Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Ultimate guide to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro
So you want to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro but you don’t know where to start? Great, sit tight, and let’s plan the trip together!
First a few fun facts...
The highest mountain in Africa, the highest single standing mountain in the world, and one of the world’s seven summits, you are literally above the cloud atop Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s found in the East African country of Tanzania. It stands at the height of 5,895meters above sea level and is often referred to as the roof of Africa. The main languages spoken in Tanzania are English and Swahili.
Safety
Is it safe to go there with Covid-19 and all?
Tanzania is a relatively peaceful country. There is a popular saying ‘Wa-Tanzania ni wapole’ to mean that Tanzanians are gentle people. Tanzania is one of the 10 safest countries to visit in Africa.
That said, always exercise caution and be on high alert when you visit a foreign country. It’s noteworthy that consensual same-sex sexual activity on the mainland and on Zanzibar are not legal in Tanzania.
What about Covid?
According to Reuters covid tracker, Covid-19 infections in Tanzania are in a decrease. Tanzania reports an average of 118 new infections a day (subject to change) with a vaccination rate of 2.1%.
There have been 31,395 infections and 745 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country.
Click here for a more up-to-date report.
Safety tips when traveling to Tanzania
Understand that no travel is risk-free especially in these pandemic times
Follow all Covid- 19 recommended guidelines to protect yourself and others
Be fully vaccinated before traveling internationally
If you plan on renting a car, keep the doors and windows locked. Remember to drive on the left
It's recommended to arrange travel with your hotel or tour operator. Research your tour operator and only settle for someone trustworthy and knowledgeable e.g Ultimate Kilimanjaro®
Same-Sex relationships are illegal in Tanzania as such it is recommended to avoid public displays of affection with your partner especially those of the LGBTQ community
Familiarize yourself with the signs of altitude sickness and inform your tour guide immediately
For more information and travel advisory from the US government, read here
Transportation
Traveling to Tanzania (Mt. Kilimanjaro) from the U.S.
There are no direct flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) from U.S. or Canada. You have several options to choose from in connecting flights.
Option #1 - Amsterdam
For most people, the most convenient way to travel is by flying from the U.S. to Amsterdam (7-10 hours) then from Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro International Airport (appx. 8 hours) using KLM or Delta.
Passengers who are transferring in Amsterdam are not required to show negative Covid-19 test results on arrival to Amsterdam which applies only if you change planes within 1 day without leaving the airport
Read more here
Option #2- Other cities
If stopping over in Amsterdam doesn't work for you consider other cities with an international airport that have a direct connection to Kilimanjaro International Airport such as
Nairobi, Kenya
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Doha, Qatar
Istanbul, Turkey
Frankfurt, Germany
Kigali, Rwanda
However, if you stopover in a Yellow fever epidemic country you must have a vaccination for Yellow fever before entering Tanzania.
The closest major cities to both the Kilimanjaro International Airport and the Kilimanjaro National Park are the city of Arusha and the town of Moshi. Consider getting accommodation in either of these towns, preferably Moshi. Your tour operator should organize pick up from the airport and to the National park
Pro tip: Arrive a couple of days before your climb to rest and acclimatize to new surroundings.
Must-haves before entering Tanzania
A passport that has been valid for 6 months with at least one blank page
Yellow fever vaccination if you are traveling from or through a yellow fever endemic country
You must declare if you are carrying international currency valuing more than $10,000 on both entrance and exit from Tanzania.
Non-residents (except Kenyans and Ugandans) may not import or export Tanzanian Shillings (TZS)
Travel VIsa you can apply for it online at http://www.immigration.go.tz/ or obtain a tourist visa upon arrival at the airport in Tanzania. It will cost you $100 USD
Covid-19
Present a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate taken within 72 hours upon arrival
Submit an online traveler’s surveillance form no more than 24 hours before arrival. You can find the form here https://afyamsafiri.moh.go.tz/#/home
You’ll be subjected to Covid-19 screening e.g. a mandatory rapid test. It will cost 10 USD per traveler for arrivals in mainland Tanzania and 25 USD for arrivals in Zanzibar.
Children 5 years and under are exempt from both pre-departure PCR tests and rapid tests on arrival.
Expect temperature scanning for all international passengers arriving in Tanzania.
If you test positive for COVID-19 on arrival, you may be asked to quarantine in a government-designated hotel, at your own expense
You will also be required to provide proof of the negative result before boarding the flight back to the US
Booking for Covid-19 test while in Tanzania
Rapid Tests are available at Kilimanjaro Airport for all passengers at 10 USD. Arrive at the airport at least 4-5 hours earlier so there is enough time to receive your results.
THE KILIMANJARO EXPERIENCE- What to expect when climbing
There are seven favorable routes you could take when climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro; Lemosho, Machame, Rongai, Umbwe and Marangu, Shira, and the Northern Circuit. Out of the seven, we recommend Lemosho (8 days)and Machame (6-7 days) based on beauty & scenery, foot traffic, number of days, physical difficulty, acclimatization rate, and summit success rate.
There are other routes such as Western Breach which have not been included because they carry an unreasonable degree of risk.
7-day Climb using Machame route
It is the most popular route approaching Mt. Kilimanjaro from the south, it’s also known as the Whisky route because it’s known to be a tough climb. Unlike other routes that offer gentle inclines, this route has steeper trails. It’s shorter and hikers sleep in tents as opposed to huts found on other routes like Marangu.
Day #1
Hotel to Machame Gate
Machame Gate to Machame camp
From Moshi town, you'll take an hour's drive through Machame village to Machame gate. The gate is the point of entry where you will register, make payments, and check-in for the climb. You will also meet the rest of your crew such as porters and tour guides. If you forgot to pack something you'll get a chance to hire at the gate.
From Machame gate, you will trek through the rainforest for about 5-7 hours to Machame camp. It's a scenic trail wind through muddy paths of the forest vegetation, which needs the use of your gaiters and hiking pole. There is a gentle elevation of 5,400ft - 9,400 ft.
Day #2
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
After breakfast, you will leave the rainforest and continue your ascent along a beautiful steep rocky ridge. You will pass through heather and moorlands in the Shira Plateau. The trek then turns west across a river gorge and continues to Shira Camp. The climb will take about 4-5 hours with an elevation level of 9,400ft to 12,500ft.
Day #3
Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
From Shira Camp, you’ll hike east up a ridge where you will pass the junction heading to Kibo peak. You’ll head southeast toward Lava Tower. Lava Tower is a 300ft tall volcanic rock formation. Perfect rest point with great photo opp. From Lava Tower, you will begin to descend you’ll find another junction which leads to the Arrow Glacier. You’ll descend to Barranco Camp which has an altitude of 13,000ft. The routes are designed to enable the climber to hike high during the day and sleep low during the night to help in better acclimatization. You will hike 6-8 hours with an elevation of 12,500ft to 13,000ft. The landscape will have changed from moorland to Alpine Desert
Day #4
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
From Barranco Camp, you will descend into a ravine then climb a steep ridge nearly 900ft to get to the top of the Barranco Wall. you’ll continue through a series of hills and valleys this a vast range of eye-catching bare rocks. Then you will descend into Karanga valley after one more steep climb you’ll get to the Karanga campsite. You'll hike 4-5 hours with an elevation of 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Day #5
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
A short walk from Karanga leads to the junction that connects to the Mweka route. You will continue trekking and possibly depending on the weather have different views of the majestic peak as you head to Barafu Hut where you will spend the night and have a rest. Before the night falls you may be able to peep at the two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. The landscape is now a rocky desert and very cold. You’ll have hiked 4-5 hours with an elevation of 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft.
Day #6
•Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Hut
It’s summit day the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the journey atop Mt. Kilimanjaro. You will wake up early around 1 am so that you leave camp around 2 am. You will get to an elevation of 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft. You will experience intense wind, thin air, and extreme cold. It will take you about 7-8 hours to get to Uhuru peak. You will begin the slow-paced ascent in the darkness towards Stella Point which stands at 18,600 ft and is located on the crater rim.
With good timing, Stellar point will reward you with the most gorgeous Sunrise. The Sun in all its glory piercing through the clouds over the Mawenzi Peak. . You will then take a snow-covered trail for the final stretch to Uhuru peak. The views from Stellar point all the way up are the most rewarding for any hiker until you tap the board on the peak, welcoming you to the tallest free-standing mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro, The Roof of Africa.
Descending from the summit you will walk straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite. You will make a brief stop for lunch at Barafu camp. The trail is very rocky, you will need to use your gaiters to prevent the small pebbles and gravel from getting into your hiking boots and hiking pole. You are also very likely to encounter some showers on the way to Mweka camp which is in the rain forest. Your day ends here after a well-earned dinner and well-deserved sleep.
Day #7
Mweka Camp to Moshi
This is the final leg of your hike. You will descend from Mweka Camp to MWeka Park Gate. It will take about 3-4 hours with a decrease in elevation from 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft. The trail will become muddier and wetter. At the gate, you will check out and receive your hard-earned summit certificates. From the gate, you will trek to Mweka Village where you will be picked up to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi.
Gear
You will be hiking for 6-7 days you need to ensure you are very comfortable while hiking, sleeping, and summiting. You will need three layers of clothing to guard against wetness and cold
Base layer – Keeps your skin warm and comfortable
Mid layer – Retains heat
Shell layer – shields the rest of the clothing from wind and water.
What you need to pack
1 – A waterproof Jacket with a hood
1 – An insulated synthetic jacket,
1 – A fleece jacket (softshell for warmth)
2 – Long Sleeve thermal shirt
1 – Waterproof Trousers,
2 – Hiking Pants
1 – Fleece Pants
1 – A long underwear made of moisture-wicking fabric
3 – Underwear
Headgear
1 – Marvin
1 – Balaclava to cover the face
1 – Shades/Sun/Ice glasses
Footwear
1 – Pair of Waterproof Hiking Boots
3 – Pairs of Socks, synthetic or wool
1 – Pair of waterproof gaiters
Hand-wear
1 – waterproof Gloves, warm1 – A brimmed cap or hat for sun protection
Budget
A reasonable price for the climbing will range between n $2500 - $4000 per person depending on the tour operator. The cost per individual is lower when the climb is done by a group.
The cost should be inclusive of
Hotel stay
Transfers
Camping equipment (a suitable tent) or accommodation on the mountain (if using dorms)
A guide
A minimum of two porters per climber depending on the luggage available
Meals (at least two cooked meals; breakfast and dinner), lunch, and water
First aid kit,
Mess tent for dining, all necessary utensils, and furniture.
A chef
It is also very important to discuss with the tour operator in case of any medical conditions or diet considerations and preferences. The charges per person are not inclusive of tips and any personal effects and toiletries unless agreed prior.
While indeed there are cheaper tour operators charging $1000 per person, the best bargain for a comfortable Kilimanjaro summit experience is not feasible with less than $1700. The attempt to get a cheaper bargain will definitely mean a compromise on the quality of service. equipment you will get and will mean a higher risk to your life.
It's an adventure of a lifetime and we highly recommend it.