HomeMt. Kilimanjaro FAQ's - Kilimanjaro Local Tour Company

The best times to climb Kilimanjaro are during the dry seasons, which are typically from January to March and from June to October. These months offer the best weather conditions.

Yes, climbers need appropriate clothing and gear for high-altitude trekking. This includes warm clothing, trekking boots, and equipment to combat the cold and altitude.

The weather on Kilimanjaro Mountain can vary from tropical conditions at the base to freezing temperatures at higher altitudes. It’s important to be prepared for cold, rain, and snow.

Yes, it is required to hire a registered guide and porters for your safety and the well-being of the environment. They will assist with navigation, carry equipment, and provide support throughout the climb.

The duration of a Kilimanjaro climb varies depending on the route chosen, but most routes take between 5 to 10 days. Longer itineraries allow for better acclimatization to high altitudes,.

There are mainly six kilimanjaro routes to climb Kilimanjaro, with the most popular ones being the Marangu route, Machame route, Lemosho route, Rongai route, Umbwe route and Northern Circuit Route. Each route offers a different experience and level of difficulty.

Kilimanjaro is a challenging climb, but it’s accessible to most people with good physical fitness. Climbers should be prepared for high-altitude conditions and the physical demands of the ascent.

Mount Kilimanjaro’s highest point, Uhuru Peak, stands at an elevation of 19,341 feet (5,895 meters) above sea level.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, located in Tanzania. It is an iconic free-standing volcanic mountain and a popular destination for climbers.

While Kilimanjaro itself does not have significant wildlife, the surrounding Kilimanjaro National Park is home to a variety of species, including monkeys, birds, and other wildlife.

Climbing Kilimanjaro can be safe with proper planning, training, and adherence to safety guidelines. It’s crucial to choose a reputable tour operator and be aware of altitude-related risks.

While prior climbing experience is not necessary, good physical fitness and mental preparation are essential. Many people with no climbing experience successfully reach the summit.

Climbing Kilimanjaro requires several permits, including the Kilimanjaro National Park permit and the Tanzanian Visa. These permits are essential for entry into the park and the country. Make sure to secure them well in advance to avoid any last-minute hassles.

Kilimanjaro offers various routes, each with its own level of difficulty. For instance, the Marangu Route is known for its relative simplicity, while the Machame Route is more challenging due to its steeper terrain.

And the most difficult route in Kilimanjaro is Umbwe Route. Research the routes thoroughly and choose the one that suits your fitness and adventure level.

It is imperative you take out appropriate insurance for your climb. Please see our ‘Why Get Travel Insurance for your Kilimanjaro Climb?’ page for more guidance.

Many texts state that Kilimanjaro is easily accessible. However, you should not underestimate this mountain. There are no technical mountaineering skills required, but general fitness is necessary. However, the biggest problem for climbers is the effects of high altitude, which seem to be unrelated to fitness, age or gender. It is a good idea to start some physical training prior to the trek, which might include aerobic cross training and hiking to familiarize your body with the rigors or the trek. The fitter you are, the easier the climb will be for you. Determination and will power are other important factors.

It is more reasonable to measure each day in hours walked rather than miles. Most days, other than the summit day, will begin with breakfast around 6:30 AM and departure at 7 A.M. You will walk 4-5 hours with a break for lunch followed by another hour or two of hiking in the afternoon. These days are not long or difficult and you will be advised to walk slowly (“pole pole” in Swahili) by your guide.

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.

Some climbers may fall short of reaching the summit, but not at the expense of their overall experience. Even for those who never reached the top, the experience of the wonders of Kilimanjaro is rewarding. If one or more members of a group decide they cannot continue or if a guide deems it is unsafe for an individual (or group) to continue, they will be escorted to the most convenient campsite or hut. Our guides intimately know the network of shortcuts to escort climbers to safety, and they are trained to act quickly and calmly under any circumstance.

You will simply carry a day pack of about 5-6 pounds, though some people carry more or less. Your gear, not to exceed 33 pounds, will be placed inside a waterproof duffle at the trail head, and a porter will carry this for you. If you have things you do not need on the climb, you may leave a bag behind at Moshi in our office.

The usual ratio is three local staff for each climber, although small groups may have four staff per climber. These usually consist of an English-speaking local guide or guides, a professional cook and gear-carrying porters. We encourage you to interact with your staff, though some will have limited English. They are all trustworthy local people who have grown up in the shadow of the mountain. This is because we are Kilimanjaro local Tour company.  Many of them have climbed the peak 50 or more times.

We provide tents, sleeping Mattress, food, utensils and leadership. You should bring your own sleeping bag rated to 10 degrees F., water system, personal clothing, light duffle bag and day pack. Hiking poles can be rented for $10. A packing list is provided to all climbers, along with our pre-departure packet.

You are expected to carry your own day pack, which should be able to sustain you until you reach a camp at the end of the day. You do not need to carry your person back-pack/ duffel-pack it will be carried by a porter. The weight per porter is limited to 20kgs. Your duffel bag will be brought from campsite to campsite-before you arrive it will already be there. What do you need during the day in your pack will depend on your priorities, but will generally include drinking water, basic medical kit, camera, water proof layers, a pair of gloves and hat, a warm layer, and snacks.

You are expected to carry your own day pack, which should be able to sustain you until you reach a camp at the end of the day. You do not need to carry your person back-pack/ duffel-pack it will be carried by a porter. The weight per porter is limited to 20kgs. Your duffel bag will be brought from campsite to campsite-before you arrive it will already be there. What do you need during the day in your pack will depend on your priorities, but will generally include drinking water, basic medical kit, camera, water proof layers, a pair of gloves and hat, a warm layer, and snacks.

On the Marangu Route there are simple basic huts. The first two huts sleep four people each and the last hut is dorm-style with bunk beds. On all other routes, you will sleep in 3-person dome style mountain tents, two people each. The tents are modern and have an outer flysheet and large vestibules keep equipment from the elements. They are set up, broken down and carried along with everything else by our porters. A toilet tent is set up at every campsite and hot water is provided for each person every morning if possible (no showers). There will be dining tents with chairs and tables where all meals will be served. Before the meals we will provide soap and hot water for washing your hands.

Around 80% of climbers choose the Marangu route (5 or 6 days), which is commonly referred to as the “Tourist” or “Coca cola” route because it is cheap and some of the tourists we have so far handled multiple times say call it an easy route to climb compared to other routes. Technically as professionals we don’t take any climb easy as it may mislead the seriousness to individual performance. With good preparation, any route can be easy, it’s all in your mind to push on to the limits and keep the pace very low on step at a time. Most of our expedition climbs have marked Machame Route (6 or 7 days) being frequently chosen.  The four routes (Umbwe, Rongai, Shira and Lemosho) are far less frequented. Please note that many of the routes meet on a mid-way point and there are only three routes to the summit.

Around 80% of climbers choose the Marangu route (5 or 6 days), which is commonly referred to as the “Tourist” or “Coca cola” route because it is cheap and some of the tourists we have so far handled multiple times say call it an easy route to climb compared to other routes. Technically as professionals we don’t take any climb easy as it may mislead the seriousness to individual performance. With good preparation, any route can be easy, it’s all in your mind to push on to the limits and keep the pace very low on step at a time. Most of our expedition climbs have marked Machame Route (6 or 7 days) being frequently chosen.  The four routes (Umbwe, Rongai, Shira and Lemosho) are far less frequented. Please note that many of the routes meet on a mid-way point and there are only three routes to the summit.