Kilimanjaro

Quality

Explore Tanzania offers high-quality climbs with professional and experienced guides and porters.
Safety and quality are our priority.
The success rate of our customers has been 94% in recent years.

Privately or in groups

Of course, we’re happy to organize the Kilimanjaro climb for your private company. And this customization certainly does not have to be more expensive!

But you can also join a group as an individual if you’d like to. Almost every week, we organize a climb of Kilimanjaro in small groups through the Lemosho Route, Machame Route, Northern Circuit Route, Shira Plateau Route and Rongai Route.

See here dates and availability in 2024 and 2025 for planned climbs in groups.

Costs

The costs for climbing the Kilimanjaro depend on the route, the number of days and whether this is a group trip or individual climb. Look at the relevant routes for an indication of costs.

• Lemosho Route
• Machame Route
• Northern Circuit Route
• Rongai Route
• Shira Plateau Route

Choice of organisation

The Kilimanjaro can only be climbed as part of an organized climb with a registered local organisation. You’d think this means all organisations and climbs are well-organised, yet, the opposite is true. In Tanzania, there are very many providers of Kilimanjaro climbs in all kinds of price categories. In general, the level of Kilimanjaro climbs is very low. Selecting a trustworthy organisation is crucial to increase the chances of success and minimize the risks.

Our partner there
We have lived in Tanzania for years and are specialists in the field of safaris and beach holidays. But organizing climbs on Africa’s highest mountain is a different sport. That is why we have entered into a partnership for this part with a local expert in that area, who is also KPAP certified (see also below, under responsible climbing). We guarantee a well-organized and safe Kilimanjaro climb with a well-trained group of guides and porters, who have good working conditions.

Best time to climb

Although it’s possible to climb the Kilimanjaro all year round, it’s important to choose a good season for climbing. This in turn increases the chance of success.
In bad weather, walking in the rain forest often becomes muddy and slippery. Also, there is more snow and ice higher up the mountain, making the climb harder.
The weather on a mountain is always unpredictable and in all seasons you have to consider all kinds of extremes. However, the information below gives a good idea of the best periods to climb the Kilimanjaro.

• Mid January – mid March: GOOD (slight chance of rain, fog and drizzle and not too cold at the top)
• Mid March – end of May: HEAVY (high chance of rain, fog, drizzle and snow)
• June and July: GOOD, BUT COLD  (half chance of rain, fog and drizzle, very cold at the top)
• August – half October: GOOD (little rain, often clear)
• Half October – half November: PRECARIOUS (half chance of rain, fog, drizzle and snow)
• Half november – half januari: PRECARIOUS (half chance of rain, fog, drizzle and snow)

Our guides and porters

Our guides on Kilimanjaro are very important to us. We pay a lot of attention to working with the right organisation, which is committed to offering good working conditions.
The guides only work for our local organisation (most organisations in Tanzania hire freelancers). All guides receive annual training to develop and grow within the organisation. Some of the main guides started as porters and have managed to work their way up to the highest position through training.
All guides know Kilimanjaro very well and climb the mountain about twenty times a year. They speak fluent English, are hospitable and helpful. Their level of education varies, but each guide has advanced logistical experience to successfully manage these complex climbs with many porters, chefs and logistics.

The porters ensure everything behind the scenes is well organized. To our organisation in Tanzania the well-being of their porters is very important. Our local partner in Tanzania has always been progressive in ensuring that the porters have good working conditions. For example, by offering good clothing and shoes. In addition, the porters regularly work with our local partners, so that they do not have to look for other work.
Trainings are organised regularly for the porters, guides and chefs. These trainings include First Aid, English language classes, guiding skills, and First Aid Instructor training.
African Walking Company e.g. is a member of ‘Leave No Trace’ which also offers training within the organisation. Their mission is to maintain a clean and healthy natural environment.

Amount of guides and porters

Below you’ll find the numbers of people who are deployed during a six-day walk. The longer the climb, the more staff is used to also supply the camps with fresh food.
The number of employees who join the climb paints a good picture of the level of service. For example, fresh fruit is fairly cheap on the market, however, quite costly to have it carried up the mountain. Therefore, this is often cut back at the cheaper organisations that organise the Kilimanjaro climbs. With Explore Tanzania, fresh products are considered an essential part of the meals during an expedition. Another important element is the meals the porters receive; their food must be carried up the mountain as well. During a Kilimanjaro climb, up to 40 employees could come along. Unfortunately, there are organisations that cut down the meals of these employees, something we would certainly never do.
Also important is the number of porters that come along and the weight they have to carry. We know a number of organizations in Tanzania that load their porters with 40 kilos of weight to save costs, while the maximum is set at 15 kilos. Sometimes you see porters on the mountain being loaded like pack mules. Unacceptable!
Below, we present an indication of the number of employees who come along during a climb. This gives an idea of the huge logistical efforts for a high-quality and staff-friendly Kilimanjaro climb:

• 2 climbers: 1 guide, 1 chef, 3 subporters, 7 porters= 13 crew
• 3 climbers: 2 guides, 1 chef, 4 subporters, 8 porters= 15 crew
• 4 climbers: 2 guides, 1 chef, 3 subporters, 11 porters= 18 crew
• 5 climbers: 3 guides, 1 chef, 5 subporters, 11 porters= 20 crew
• 6 climbers: 3 guides, 1 chef, 5 subporters, 14 porters= 23 crew
• 7 climbers: 4 guides, 1 chef, 6 subporters, 15 porters= 26 crew
• 8 climbers: 4 guides, 1 chef, 6 subporters, 18 porters= 29 crew
• 9 climbers: 5 guides, 1 chef, 7 subporters, 18 porters= 31 crew
• 10 climbers: 5 guides, 1 chef, 8 subporters, 21 porters= 35 crew
• 11 climbers: 6 guides, 1 chef, 8 subporters, 23 porters= 38 crew
• 12 climbers: 6 guides, 1 chef, 9 subporters, 24 porters= 40 crew
• 13 climbers: 6 guides, 1 chef, 9 subporters, 25 porters= 41 crew
• 14 climbers: 7 guides, 1 chef, 10 subporters, 26 porters= 44 crew
• 15 climbers: 7 guides, 1 chef, 10 subporters, 27 porters= 45 crew

During all our Kilimanjaro climbs, we have a ratio of 1 guide per 2 customers. This is especially important on the day to the top when the climb is tough and some need more personal attention and encouragement.

Meals during the climb

The ingredients for the meals on the mountain are carefully selected by our team. The meals are tasty, easy to digest, nutritious and moist.
Fresh ingredients are supplied during climbs of 8 days or more, as well as during 6 or 7-day climbs with more than 7 customers. This replenishment takes place halfway the route and consists of fresh bread, fruits, vegetables, cheese and meat.
The menu contains a lot of moisture and carbohydrates; the two most important elements for a successful ascent. At higher altitudes, drinks such as coffee and less digestible food (such as meat) are not recommended. Dinner on the last evening before climbing to the top consists of a stew without meat. From experience, we know this is the ideal preparation for the ascent to the top.
Boiled water is offered each night to fill the water bottles and is available throughout the day. During dinner, a selection of hot drinks is available. Soup is served twice a day.
During the Kilimanjaro climb, it’s important for you to eat and drink well. Your body needs 3 times as much fluids than normal, this also promotes acclimatization.

An example meal during a Kilimanjaro climb with Explore Tanzania:

• Tea or coffee is served in the tent during the wake-up call;
• Breakfast includes fresh fruit, porridge, scrambled eggs with sausage or bacon, bread with a selection of fillings (for example jam, honey, peanut butter), tea, coffee, hot chocolate;
• Snacks are available throughout the day: for example, biscuits, bananas and chocolate bars;
• Lunch consists of a picnic lunch en route during the longer hiking days or a hot meal in the camp. A typical lunch consists of soup, bread or pancakes, cheese, tuna, jam, peanut butter, pasta salads and cake;
• A cup of tea or hot chocolate with a large bowl of peanuts or popcorn in the afternoon;
• Dinner is the main meal of the day and always consists of three courses; soup & bread, a main dish of rice, potatoes or pasta with fish, meat or vegetables and a dessert.

Tents

During the Kilimanjaro climb, you’ll stay in special expedition tents, suitable for the temperatures on Kilimanjaro. The tents offer enough space for two people including the luggage. A number of these tents are available as single-person tents for a small surcharge and must be reserved in advance. You can bring your own sleeping bag and mat or rent them from us for a small fee.
Breakfast and dinner are served in the communal “dining-tent” with chairs, tables and a good LED lamp. This tent can also be used as a communal area in the afternoons and evenings.
During the climb, a private toilet is brought along, so that you don’t have to use the dirty toilets at the camping pitches.

Safety

The Kilimanjaro is high indeed, but it’s a mountain anyone with a good condition can climb. It’s not a technical climb, but a walk. Safety during the climb, however, is of great importance. This also applies to the ascent of Mount Meru.
The day before the Kilimanjaro climb, you receive an extensive briefing from your guide during the climb. This guide is a professional with years of experience at Kilimanjaro. You then receive more information about the area to be walked and practical tips for the draw. Besides, he checks whether you brought all the right equipment.

First Aid

The guides we workm with have the world-famous “Wilderness First Responder” certificates. This is a very comprehensive first aid training, especially for remote locations. This training is recommended by the US Coast Guard. Each year, a lot is invested in training the guides and porters. In addition to the highly experienced and well-trained guides, the following safety measures are met: altitude sickness checklist, first aid kit, evacuation stretcher, oxygen and complete briefing with the climbing guide.

Responsible climbing

The porters, guides and cooks are the backbone of the climb. Without their strength, dedication and hard work you couldn’t enjoy the splendor of Kilimanjaro.
Because we don’t want our porters to be ill-equipped, poorly paid and working under poor conditions, we only offer responsible mountain tours, and we are a partner of KPAP (Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project). This means we work with porters who wear good clothing and shoes, are treated and paid fairly and responsibly, and have good training opportunities (eg first aid and English lessons).
If you climb the Kilimanjaro with us, you are sure that you – in addition to a perfectly arranged trip – also opt for good working conditions and fair treatment methods for the mountain plows. And thus climb the Kilimanjaro safely and responsibly.

The IMEC (International Mountain Explorers Connection) is the driving force behind these responsible climbs. In order to continue their work (inspections, reports, training, etc.), the KTRO (Kilimanjaro Responsible Trekking Organization) contribution program was started on March 1, 2024. Explore Tanzania supports the KPAP /KTRO program, but your voluntary donation is also greatly appreciated.