Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing

In short, you may climb the Mount all year round. Climbs during the dry season are, however, more comfortable. The dry season spans the periods from the second half of from December till March and from June till November.

At the same time, a the rainy season has some advantages as well.

Kilimanjaro Trekking Month to Month Guide

April-May 
The “big” rainy season starts at the end of March and continues until the middle of May. April marks the beginning of the coldest time of the year in Tanzania. These months have significantly less climbers than the rest of the year, but there is a high chance of hiking in the rain at this time of the year. 

June-July
The frequency of rain gradually decreases. The weather on Kilimanjaro is fairly dry and clear in these months, but nights are still cold. June is usually quiet, sunny, and, in our opinion, much underrated in terms of climbing. It is an excellent idea to choose June for your adventure because of great weather and routes that are almost private to your climbing party. The number of climbers increases as the year progresses. Starting from July the majority of the routes will be quite busy.

The peak climbing season on Kilimanjaro is from August to September. The weather is particularly good for climbing: the days are clear and somewhat warmer than in June/July. At the same time, it may be cloudy in the forest/moorland zone, as well as it may be rainy on the southern routes (Machame and Umbwe). However, once you leave the rain forest behind, it will be sunny.

October is another unfairly ignored season: nice weather conditions last into mid-October and the number of climbers drops dramatically, giving you a good chance to enjoy Kilimanjaro treks almost alone. At the end of October, the weather becomes more changeable. As long as you are equipped to withstand the occasional rain shower, this should not present any major challenges.

November is the “small” rainy season. The rainy weather may last into mid-December. The temperatures will have dropped and mist covers the Mountain, making your climb slightly tricky and risky, yet more challenging and exciting. November might not be the best pick in terms of weather, but gives a great opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking views of misty-covered Mount Kilimanjaro with its snow-capped peak and to take some terrific pictures.

December – January –  Christmas and New Years are the second busiest climbing season on Kilimanjaro. The traffic is extremely high, although there is a good chance of rain and thick clouds at the lower altitudes of Kilimanjaro.

Mid-January to mid-March are very popular among climbers. The weather is perfectly balanced: it is neither too cold, nor too wet. The days are generally dry, though occasional rains may happen. The possibility of rain increases in the second half of March because the season of the “big rains” is approaching.

Many different factors affect the climbing prices. A Kilimanjaro climb can cost from $1,400 (standard) to over $5,000 (luxury package) and above. Blend this knowledge with the fact that there are 250 licensed and hundreds of unlicensed operators in the region and making the right choice becomes a major task. In fact, to understand how the climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro cost is formed many different factors should be taken into consideration.

Trekking Kilimanjaro Price Components

The price of a Kilimanjaro climb is made up of two kinds of costs: fixed, (i.e. park fees per person), and variable, i.e. (transfers and equipment), which are shared between all members of the group and, up to a certain point, lower as the number of climbers grows.

Unless you take the risk of opting for the lowest of offers, slighting most if not all of safety and comfort features that are normally available, the final price of your trek shall include the costs of the following:

Kilimanjaro National Park Fees

Every Mount Kilimanjaro climber is required to pay park fees, which inholds conservation, camping, rescue and crew fees. On Lemosho and Rongai routes special forest fees are also applicable. It is another key element of Mt Kilimanjaro climb cost.

Total Park Fees, depending on route and number of days, will amount to between US$800 and 1,100 (all calculations and prices henceforth are given in USD).

Kilimanjaro Climbing Crew Wages

Crew wages are the next important component of Kilimanjaro climbing cost. While the rates paid (and charged to the client) may vary, all reputable Tanzanian trekking outfitters have wage systems for their climbing crews. A guide usually receives USD 20-40 per day, a cook – USD 10-15, a porter – USD 7-10, adding to the total cost to climb Mt Kilimanjaro. The final total will therefore hinge upon the size of the crew necessary to serve the total number of climbers and attain a satisfactory level of comfort expected on the climb. Tips, determined by the client’s experience while trekking, are also appreciated.

Camping Equipment Costs

A typical climbing package will also include such equipment as sleeping bags and mess tents; cookers and kitchenware; tables and other essential items. As reliable gear means not only comfort but also safety, equipment should be renewed on a regular basis and must be thoroughly cleaned after each climb. Operators must consider how to replace or repair equipment for future treks and pay staff to properly clean items such as sleeping bags and tents.

Average amortization costs are: $50/climber.

Taxes and Licenses

All Tanzanian businesses are subject to a variety of taxes. Licensed tour operators also pay for a number of licenses on a yearly basis. This ensures they are legally permitted to operate in Tanzania, and under the authority of the Tanzanian government. Choosing licensed tour operators for your travels means they are responsible to the government, and if you have any issues, safety problems (or your deposit goes missing) they will have to answer to higher authorities. Visitors choosing licensed operators receive consistently excellent service, in part because the operator has made investments and is abiding by the government rules. Unlicensed operators, on the other hand, are invisible to the Tanzanian government and are not legally allowed to offer tourism (including mountain climbing) services. If an unlicensed operator is already willing to break the law to provide climbing expeditions, they are likely to make many more dangerous risks with clients, all in order to make a higher profit.

Estimated taxes: $60/climber.

Climbing Comfort

Long days of trekking and climbing a mountain present physical challenges, even to the most active adventurers. Having sufficient and comfortable rests are imperative to a successful summit. If you are physically fit, but haven’t had a good sleep in three nights, you are risking your entire experience on Kilimanjaro.

Sleeping bags, a specifically-designed meal plan that includes re-supplies of fresh ingredients, satellite phones, oxygen for emergencies, etc. are all part of a successful climb, and raise your Kilimanjaro trek cost. However, consider that this extra comfort could mean all the difference in the success of your climb.

The cost of these additional features averages at: $50/climber.

Safety

Though climbing Kilimanjaro does not call for any specialized training or skills, mountaineering is an inherently dangerous activity. HAPE and HACE (High Altitude Pulmonary and Cerebral Edema respectively) should never be discounted.

Responsible Kilimanjaro climbing operators always keep safety in mind, and have safety measures in place that sometimes cause a slight increase in the overall Kilimanjaro climbing cost.

For example, we at Dahlia Africa Travel conduct safety workshops for our guides every four months. Each of our guides is expected to pass the Wilderness First Responder/First Aid test. The costs of training for all of our staff are covered by Dahlia Africa and it means that every Dahlia Africa guide on Kilimanjaro is not only Wilderness First Responder Certified, but is up-to-date in their training, for the assurance and safety of all of our clients

Every expedition organized by Dahlia Africa is supplied with emergency oxygen, oximeter and tonometer. Guides conduct medical checks twice a day on each climber to ensure their health and afety, especially as the team climbs to higher altitudes. In an emergency, a client shall be transported from Kilimanjaro to a hospital at no extra charge.

Estimated costs of climbing safety add-ons: $40/climber.

Accommodation Before and After a Kilimanjaro Climb

Most Kilimanjaro hiking packages include accommodation before and after the climb.  Top-quality hotels in Tanzania are quite expensive: a night in a reasonable 3-star hotel in Moshi will cost $100-120 if booked directly or $80-90 if included in your climbing package. Therefore, accommodation will heighten the cost of your Kilimanjaro trip from the onset, but ultimately save you money than if you were to book independently..

Estimated costs of accommodation before and after the climb: $160

Operator’s Service Charge

Commissions added by Tanzanian tour operators to the Kilimanjaro climb cost generally fall within the 15-20% range.

Estimated average commission of a tour operator – 15-20%.

There are several routes to get the summit.

Those seeking seclusion, scenic value and good acclimatization transition should consider Lemosho or Northern Traverse. A pocket-friendly and picturesque Machame provides good acclimatization transition, though it is a bit crowded during the high season.

Due to a popular misconception of being the easiest, Marangu route is the most popular and cheapest option. It is the only route providing hut accommodation (all other routes are camping only), which are handy during the rainy season. Marangu, however, features poor acclimatization and scenic value, as the trail is used for ascent and descent.

Rongai is one of the least crowded and the only route approaching the Mount from the North. It is a physically challenging option and is ideal for those who value remoteness. This route is recommended during the rainy seasons (Northern side of the Mountain protects the climbers from precipitation).

Umbwe route is the for the real adventurers. The steepest and shortest option, Umbwe is a challenging test of your endurance, stamina and determination. The route offers unique panoramic sceneries. The cost of that is, however, the weakest acclimatization transition.

As you make plans for Kilimanjaro, you will likely see or hear the phrase “high-altitude acclimatization” frequently. To be brief, high-altitude acclimatization refers to physical changes that occur in your body so that you feel better and your body can function well at increased altitudes. 

A logical question is why do some climbers experience feeling poorly, physically, as they ascend into higher altitudes?

The thing is that the higher we go, the lower the atmospheric pressure becomes. As a result, the distance between oxygen molecules in the air we breathe spreads – there is not enough pressure to “hold” them together. As a result, with each breath, our body receives less oxygen than at the altitudes with which we are accustomed.

Oxygen is necessary for the proper functioning of the circulatory system, the brain and other life-sustaining functions.

If you reside at sea level, your body is accustomed to a certain concentration of oxygen. As you ascend Mt Kilimanjaro, the concentration of oxygen available gradually reduces until it is about 40% less than sea level at the final summit.

Note: The proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere as a whole (approximately 20%) is unchanged, whether at sea level or Kilimanjaro. This proportion is the combination of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide that make up our atmosphere.

Feeling a lack of oxygen, the body begins to actively adapt to new conditions. There are many physiological changes, of which the most significant are:

•  the respiration rate increases. Our body tries to compensate for less oxygen in each breath by taking more frequent breaths, so that the total number of molecules received is approximately the same as your body is used to.
• the parts of the lungs that are usually “conserved” begin to turn on – our body has reserved them for such situations.
•  the body begins to produce special enzymes that “squeeze” oxygen from the received hemoglobin and send it to the circulatory system, partially replenishing the supply. 
• the number of red blood cells in our blood increases significantly. This allows available oxygen molecules to be delivered to vital organs at a faster rate. 

This is how our body tries to bring the oxygen level back to the level we need. During daily medical examinations, our guides will measure your oxygen  with a special device – an oximeter. Blood oxygen levels help our team understand how well your acclimatization is.

For all those climbing with us and with other tour operators, we have prepared the following insider tips:

1. It is not about your level of fitness only. Determination, motivation and well-planned acclimatization transition are more important.
2. Do not save up on your personal equipment. Branded high-quality clothes and sleeping bags often have decisive impact on successfulness of your climb. All personal equipment is available for rent in our office.
3. Be ready to have no shower for a week or so. Portable showers are, however, available for extra fee.
4. Public toilets may be uncomfortable, especially for the ladies. Thus, renting a portable toilet makes sense.
5. Taking an mp3 player or an Ipod is a good idea. Enjoy the sceneries on the way and better preserve battery for the summit rush.