Kilimanjaro Climbing Tour Frequent Asked Questions

The Description of the Mountain Climbing/Hiking Questions

How hard is it to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? / is it hard to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro is famous for being the home of Africa’s highest point, and being the tallest free-standing peak in the world. It’s estimated that 30,000 people come every year to climb it. Recent statistics suggest that more and more people are reaching the summit every year. To climb Mount Kilimanjaro can be a bit of a challenge especially if you’re new to hiking, camping or high altitude – however the specific challenges are mainly due to the altitude, your frame of mind and fitness but with the correct preparation and a good guide team, the vast majority of people can successfully reach the summit. Well maintained routes can be done in as little as 5 days (although we do not recommend trekking in such a short time), routes like machame and lemosho can take 6 days up to 8 days and they do not require any special skills, just your fit body and your determination to reach the uhuru peak; these routes also give you room for acclimatization which is important if you want to reach the summit. All in all chances are, if you climb on a longer route with a professional guide and a supportive team, you’ll likely make it to the top – in just one try.

Can anyone climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

The fast answer to this question: is clearly no. If you are too young, or extremely old you will unlikely be able to cope with what Kilimanjaro throws at you. The minimum age to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is 10 years, although there are few cases that involved children younger than ten, to do that you will have to get special permission from TANAPA. The nature of the climb is strenuous and presents health risks especially to people in high risk categories; it is advised that serious consideration and preparation should be given to people under the age of 18 and above the age of 60. For the average person though, being able to successfully climb and summit Kilimanjaro is definitely attainable. You don’t need to be particularly fit (indeed being too fit can be detrimental) and you do not need any technical climbing skills.

How much does it cost to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

The prices for Kilimanjaro climbs differ wildly. To climb Kilimanjaro can cost you anything from $1000 to $7000 and above. That is the cost of your Kilimanjaro climb itself. It does not necessarily include you accommodation before and after, it definitely does not include the equipment you need to buy, the vaccinations, and the flight...Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is not a cheap holiday. There are some operators advertising cheap Kilimanjaro climbs that cost below $1200. Do not go there! You'll see why. Do not start your search for a Kilimanjaro climb by looking at the cost first. If you do, you may end up paying the ultimate price, or someone else may have to pay it for you. To explain, there are minimum expenses every Kilimanjaro operator faces, such as park fees and taxes, staff wages, food, equipment, transportation and other logistical costs. Kilimanjaro National Park entrance fees, camping/hut fees and Tanzanian taxes by far make up the biggest expense, costing about $200 per climber per day. The operators that offer prices that are too cheap are not to be trusted by reducing prices too far, there is simply no way for these operators to provide satisfactory services without skimping on necessary expenditures. It's a certainty that they cannot meet the requirements for a decent climb. On the other hand there are those who are more comfortable paying inflated prices to climb Kilimanjaro. For the most part, luxury operators who charge over $5000 do provide excellent services but same services can be provided with the same standards, including the same safety measures or better, by standard or mid-range tour operators and you don't have to pay thousands more to have them!

When is the best time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

You are a LOT more likely to reach the summit if the weather on Kilimanjaro is favourable. There are two distinct hiking seasons which comprise the best time to climb Kilimanjaro. They are January-March and June-October. January-March is normally colder than June-October and there is a higher probability of encountering snow on the summit. For some this might be a dismissive factor, but the benefits of a January-March trek are that the slopes are often quieter at this time of the year. The June-October is more popular and hence certain routes are often quite busy. March, April and November are the wettest months on Kilimanjaro, and not ideal of trekking. Snow fall and cold temperatures are common during December-May.

What is the weather like on Mount Kilimanjaro?

The honest answer is that the temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro range from hot to bitter cold. Trekking Kilimanjaro is special for so many reasons, and one of these is that from origin to summit, climbers find themselves weaving through several distinct climate zones. It is said that the journey from the gate to the peak is like traveling from the equator to Antarctica in a matter of days! Mount Kilimanjaro has five major ecological zones, each approximately 3,280 feet (1,000 m) in altitude. Each zone is subject to a corresponding decrease in rainfall, temperature and flora/fauna as the altitude increases. At the base of the mountain, the average temperature is around 21 to 27 °C and at the summit, Uhuru Peak, the night time temperatures can range between 20 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 to -29 degrees Celsius). Like all great mountains, Kilimanjaro creates its own weather which can be extremely variable and difficult to predict. Hikers need to be prepared for warm, sunny conditions, and rain, wind, cold, and even snow.