Kilimanjaro Climbing Faqs

Based on the research published by the Climb Kilimanjaro Guide, the average summit success rate across all the routes is 65%. The Machame route is considered to be the easiest one amongst all different routes to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. While all different routes on Kilimanjaro climb have their own difficulties and own experiences, Mt. Kilimanjaro is seriously a high-altitude mountain. Even though the normal routes of Kilimanjaro climb are not technically difficult, the altitude has hit hard and taken its toll on climbers annually thereby bringing the success rate down to 65%. Different operators have different success rates based on numerous factors and Himalayan Glacier has an impressive success rate of over 85% on its Kilimanjaro trips.

Climbing a mountain 5,895 m (19,341 ft.) high is definitely a dangerous thing to do. An estimated 50,000 people climb Kilimanjaro every year from which around 1,000 people are evacuated from the mountain and approximately 10 fatalities are reported. It means that the chance of death on the mountain is only 0.0002% which is practically zero. In other words, there is just one death per 5,000 climbers and the main cause of death is altitude sickness.

There are forested areas on the Kilimanjaro trail and obviously snakes are found in the cloud forests. Some of the species found on the lower slopes of the mountain are the Gabon, Green Mamba, Boomslang, and the Twig Snake. All snakes pose a potential threat so it is wise to always respect them and their habitat in case you encounter one on the way. Snakes are known to be highly sensitive to movement, so when they sense something arriving, they will clearly stay away from the main trails to save their own lives.

Yes and no! You may want to climb Kilimanjaro alone without other hikers or crowd – it is possible. But even then, you will be assisted by guides and porters. Although you will be the only trekker, you will not be alone in the truest sense as the Tanzanian Tourism Board does not permit trekking without a guide, porter and other crew members. The ratio of trekkers to support crew is 1:4 meaning that if you are the only climber, you will be assisted by 4 other members of your trekking company.

When you look at the difference between Kilimanjaro Climb and Everest Base Camp Trek, you are going to higher altitude much quicker on Kilimanjaro than Everest base camp. From Moshi (2,932 ft.) to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft.) it takes 4 to 6 days depending on the route, which is more than 16,000 ft. gain in altitude. From Kathmandu (4,600 ft.) to the base camp of Everest (17,599 ft.) it takes 8 to 9 days, which is almost 13,000 ft. gain in altitude but trekkers need to walk longer daily distance on the Everest Base Camp trek. In the Everest region, trekkers will sleep at teahouses or luxury lodges throughout the entire trip whereas on Kilimanjaro, except for the Marangu route, trekkers will have to sleep inside tents. While there are lots of ups and downs on the Everest trekking route, the summit night on Kilimanjaro is harder than anything on the entire Everest trail. The overall summit success rate on Kilimanjaro, as per the statistics is 65% while the success rate of Everest Base Camp is over 90%. So, Kilimanjaro climb is harder than Everest Base Camp trek especially because of the quick ascent and rapid altitude gain on Kilimanjaro.

The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, also known as Uhuru Point, lies in the glacial zone with an average temperature hovering around -6°C (21°F) during day time. However, all summiting attempts begin around midnight in order to reach the Uhuru peak at dawn. So, you will be trekking during the night time when the temperatures range between -7 to -29°C (19 to -20°F).

Mobile network coverage on Kilimanjaro has improved greatly over the years. Signal will be available for almost the entire climb to the summit but it will be very inconsistent. It means that at certain segments on the trails there will be disrupted connection or no signal at all. Since there is no mobile charging option in the camping tents, except for your personal power banks that may suffice for a few days, we suggest you to leave your phone on airplane mode. This will avoid your mobile to constantly search for cell signal and drain out the battery unnecessarily. Ask your guide which spot is likely to receive network coverage or watch your porters use their phones to confirm that the area has cell signal so that you are able to send or receive messages or calls. Whenever you receive network coverage, don’t expect the signal to be as strong as it is back home. Forget streaming data and also stay aware about the data roaming costs the local cell phone companies will charge.

A variety of wildlife is found in the forests on the foot of the mountain but pretty hard to spot because of the increasing number of human visitors in recent times. Climbers will be traversing through a wide variety of ecological zones on their journey to the summit of Uhuru peak. While crossing the forest belt that is teemed with wildlife, climbers may have a chance of witnessing large mammals like elephants, giraffes, buffalo and smaller ones like porcupines, honey badgers, and aardvarks. Although the animals stay away from humans and hide in the thick rainforest, you may be lucky enough to see elusive creatures such as blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, galago, four-striped grass mouse, white-necked raven, bush baby in addition to the more commonly found lions, rhinos, and leopards on Kilimanjaro.

Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is certainly not a very cheap holiday. Several hundred operators are in a tough competition for Kilimanjaro business. Each company has their own price tag and a list of services that they provide during the journey to the top of Africa. The prices may vary wildly ranging from US$ 1500 to US$ 4500 or above depending on the quality of the services they provide or the quality of the equipment they use during the climb. The prices will also largely vary with the inclusions offered by the climbing operators. You may find some operators advertising their cheap Kilimanjaro climbing trips on the internet or elsewhere quoting prices below US$ 1500. We recommend you staying away from these types of operators who try to lure innocent people with their low price offers and later add all the extra costs and hidden charges.

Tanzania lies near the equatorial region of the earth due to which it does not actually get to experience extreme winter or extreme summer weather conditions. The climate of Tanzania is rather dry with more wet seasons. We always recommend our clients to do the Kilimanjaro climb during the warmest and driest times of the year, which is normally during the months from December to mid-March and mid-June till October end. These months are considered to be the best trekking seasons with generally colder December to March months and higher probabilities of snow on the summit. Being the best time to climb Kilimanjaro, these months are obviously also the busiest months.

The short answer is yes. No technical mountaineering knowledge or previous hiking experience is required to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. However, not all beginners can successfully do the Kilimanjaro climb. A person needs to be physically fit and preferably indulged in some kind of daily exercise. While a beginner may succeed to reach to the top of Uhuru peak via the easier routes like the Rongai route, it may not be possible to succeed through more difficult routes such as the Umbwe route. No matter what, climbing Kilimanjaro is a demanding task and the chances of altitude mountain sickness (AMS) is always very high due to the rapid ascent and altitude gain.

There are notably seven different routes to reach to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The best route usually depends on what you are looking for on the trek. The best route for one hiker may not necessarily be the best for another one. In terms of popularity, the Machame route can be considered the best route while in terms of the most beautiful and scenic, the Lemosho route can be labeled the best route. Likewise, the Rongai route is the easiest route on Kilimanjaro but it may not be the best route for seasoned hikers who are looking for more adventurous encounters and it may be the best route for beginners. The Marangu route is the only Kilimanjaro climbing route that offers trekker’s hut accommodation throughout the trip while all other routes offer camping tents for accommodation.

The main reason why trekkers fail to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro is due to altitude sickness. This sickness is a person’s body’s response to the low oxygen content within the surrounding. Although oxygen is not required for Kilimanjaro climb, supplemental oxygen may be needed on the summit attempt is a person is hit by altitude sickness caused by the lack of oxygen. However, unnecessary use of supplemental oxygen may pose a grave health risk. Supplementary oxygen is normally used if a person suffers from altitude sickness at extreme elevations above 23,000 feet.

The main factors contributing to the high price of a Kilimanjaro hike are labor costs and the park entry fees plus taxes. To climb Kilimanjaro, it is mandatory that you have at least 3 porters per person plus a shared cook and guides depending on the size of the group. This brings the total labor cost of climbing Kilimanjaro to $100-$150 per day per person. Since Kilimanjaro lies within the national park, you will need to pay the park entry fees for yourself and the crew which amounts to somewhere between $700 and $1000. Besides, there are other things that contribute to the cost including food, transportation, conveniences, and hotel accommodation before and after your trip. While on the trip there are no lodges and you need to sleep on tents for which all logistics and camp equipment need to be carried by humans including the food that you eat. Due to all these, the price for climbing Kilimanjaro seems to be a little bit more expensive. Remember that the companies that are offering you lower prices are either not legal operators or they do not treat their guides and porters fairly.

There are seven established routes to reach the top of Uhuru Peak, the highest summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro namely Northern Circuit, Lemosho, Machame, Shira, Marangu, Rongai and Umbwe. Northern Circuit is the newest and longest route on Kilimanjaro with very low traffic while Umbwe is the shortest and steepest route that is very physically taxing and considered to be a dangerous route. Marangu is also known as the ‘Coca-Cola’ route because it is very cheap and easy while Machame is known as the ‘Whiskey’ route because it is somewhat difficult and expensive than the Marangu route.

Climbing Kilimanjaro is definitely not an easy task. It is a challenge, especially if you are new to trekking, camping, living outdoors and walking on high-altitude terrains. For those who are physically fit and have previous hiking experience at high altitudes, Kilimanjaro climb may not be as hard as one expects but on general terms, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is incredibly difficult, especially on the summit night. One significant reason why it is considered difficult is because of the rapid ascent and altitude gain within a short span of time making trekkers more prone to getting altitude mountain sickness because of inadequate acclimatization time. To sum up, if you are physically fit and have a previous hiking experience and you can walk on inconsistent up-and-down trails for 6 to 7 hours for several days in a row, then it should easy for you to tackle Kilimanjaro without much troubles.

The first and foremost thing to prevent altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro is communication with your trekking leader or mountain crew about how you are feeling. The main factors that affect the incidence and severity of altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro are rate of ascent, altitude gained, exposure length, exertion level, hydration and diet, and use of medications. The best processes to prevent altitude sickness are:

• Acclimatization well before the climb
• Beginning in the best possible health and excellent level of physical fitness
• Walking slowly and steadily
• High water intake
• Walking high and sleeping low
• Eating and sleeping well
• Keeping warm
• Resting and relaxing
• Keeping a light day-pack
• Staying away from alcohol and smoking
• Taking dietary supplements like multi-vitamins or antioxidants
• Taking anti-altitude medications like Diamox
• Simulated altitude training before climbing
• Choosing a reputable Kilimanjaro operator

The Kilimanjaro climb is actually a hike that does not require any climbing skills or technical obligations. While an excellent level of fitness will certainly make the climb a lot easier, trekkers don’t need to be super fit for the climb. By far, the best training to climb Kilimanjaro is to practice hiking. Kilimanjaro climb does offer mountain experience including camping and constantly being outdoors at high elevations. Although no special training is required for the climb, it is commendable if you include regular hill-walking with a small back pack or make regular visits to the gym for about two months prior departure to Tanzania. It is beneficial if you work on strengthening your calf and thigh muscles and exercise your cardio-vascular stamina. In short, if you wish to train for the climb, increase your aerobic fitness, increase your endurance, break in your equipment, hike at altitude, and most importantly know your body. Remember that the secret to successful Kilimanjaro climb is to go slow enjoying the scenery, eat well, drink plenty water and sleep well.

If you have trekked before at high altitude like the Everest Base Camp trek without taking Diamox, then probably you will not need it in Kilimanjaro climb. However, not to take chances, we advise trekkers to begin taking Diamox 24 to 48 hours before starting the climb and continue taking it even during the climb and up to 48 hours after reaching the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Since Diamox has a different effect on every different individual, it is best taken after consulting with your doctor. The normal recommended dose is usually 125 mg twice a day. Diamox reacts best to your body when you are walking or exercising and not while you are asleep, so we recommend taking it once in the morning and once at lunch time.

The nights on Kilimanjaro can get very cold and hence sleeping bags need to be able to combat the extreme cold temperatures throughout. The best sleeping bag for your Kilimanjaro climb would be rated to -20°F to -30°F that’s down and not synthetic. However, we recommend sleeping bags with a rating of minimum 0°F to -20°F. Obviously, the warmer the better and it is always better to feel too warm than too cold.

Taking your phone on the climb is a good idea to use it as a clock, alarm clock or a camera. However, there are no power outlets to charge your device if the battery dies out. You will need to invest in a powerful power bank or a solar charger to keep your phone active at all times. Batteries drain more quickly at low temperatures, so putting your phone on airplane mode until needed will help to conserve phone battery life. It you own a solar charger, you can tie it somewhere outside your daypack while you walk and the device keeps conserving power. If you’re planning to take a lot of pictures on your phone and listen to music while you walk, then we definitely recommend you to bring a strong power bank or a solar charger for your climb.

The Marangu route has huts with dormitory-style bunk beds to accommodate trekkers at the end of the day while all the other routes offer camping tents with public toilet facilities at designated campsites to spend the night. In fact, camping on the mountain is a part of the adventure and a wonderful experience. A warm sleeping bag is an essential item to pack for your Kilimanjaro climb as most of the Kilimanjaro operators will only organize your sleeping tents and mattresses. Standard tents are usually shared with 1 or 2 other people while sleeping alone or getting a walk-in tent may fetch you an additional cost depending on the operator that you choose.

It is very important that you plan your clothing properly when packing for your Kilimanjaro climb. You will normally have to carry your gears that you need while hiking from one camp to the next on a daily basis until summiting the peak on your own medium-sized daypack. In this daypack, you will be carrying items such as gloves, hand warmers, sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, sun hat, toiletries, water bottle, camera, spare batteries, charger, passport, money, water purification tablets, headlamp, socks, wet wipes, sanitizers, ear plugs, personal medicines, snacks, and extra clothing. The following are other items that you should consider while packing for Kilimanjaro climb:

• Thermal base layer
• Short sleeved shirts
• Long sleeved shirts
• Fleece or soft-shelled jacket
• Insulated jacket
• Hard shell outer jacket
• Poncho
• Leggings
• Trekking trousers
• Hard shell trousers
• Gaiters
• Trekking boots
• Trekking poles
• Sleeping bag
• Underwear
• Rain jacket
• Neck warmer
• Thermal socks
• Duffel bag

Yes, of course we do. Himalayan Glacier is specialized in tailor-made trips which means that you can design your own Kilimanjaro climb program – the way you want it to be. You will be accompanied by the people you choose, decide on the number of days to finish the trip, select your own pace, take detours to villages or plan additional rest days for acclimatization. We are one of the finest tailor-made companies specialized in Kilimanjaro climb and Everest Base Camp trek.

Yes, absolutely you can! We offer travelers Kilimanjaro climb through various routes and fascinating wildlife safari tours as extensions. Please kindly contact us for an extension tour when you book for your Kilimanjaro climb.