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Frequently asked questions
About your trek
1) Do I require any special skills or equipment to trek on any of the routes?
No. All of the treks, including the Unique Rongai treks, are walks, not climbs. Nor do you need any special equipment, so you can leave all your ropes, crampons, ice axes etc at home. ALL OF THE ROUTES ARE WALKING ROUTES ONLY.
2) How long are the treks?
The treks vary from six to eight days. The exact length of each trek is written on
the Trekking dates and prices page. You can, of course, ask for treks that are longer
than eight days and we can arrange this for you -
3) Who are your operators in Tanzania?
We act as a disclosed agent for Team Kilimanjaro (TK) who are based in Arusha and who will be providing the trekking package for you. Having written the guidebook for almost ten years now, we have got to know all of the major operators on the mountain quite well and find TK to be amongst the very best, with great equipment, fantastic staff, good safety procedures and protocols and all at a fair price.
3 part 2!) In which case, why don’t I just book straight with Team Kilimanjaro?
Though our treks are run by Team Kilimanjaro, booking with us does have a few distinct advantages.
1)Thanks to our special arrangement with TK we are able to arrange a special discounted rate that undercuts their normal rate charged for direct bookings with them. In other words, we’re cheaper!
2) Once you’ve booked your trek through us, you get a free copy of our bestselling guidebook to help you prepare for the trek.
3) Thanks to a special agreement with TK, on all treks booked through us your mountain
crew -
4) Who is leading the trek?
The treks will be led by a local guide who is employed because of their knowledge, expertise and experience on the mountain. The head guides used by TK are widely regarded as amongst the best currently working on the mountain. Please note that there is one guide for every two climbers.
5) How many people will be on the trek?
We keep the group sizes to a maximum of eight to ten people; any bigger, and we feel that the group starts to feel a little too large and unwieldy.
6) How fit do I need to be?
A reasonable level of fitness is required to climb Kilimanjaro. You can read more about this subject by following this link to our Fitness for Kilimanjaro page.
Note that those hoping to sleep in the Crater Camp must understand the dangers of sleeping at 5730m above altitude, and the extra stress this puts on the body. As such, you should be of considerably above average condition to book a night at Crater Camp.
7) Can I get an itinerary for the trek?
You will receive an exact itinerary when you book with us. In the meantime, you can
read a summary of each of the treks by visiting our Routes up Kilimanjaro section.
You can also find detailed day-
8) I’ve heard that the Western Breach Route to the summit is opening again soon. Can I take this path to the summit?
The Western Breach Route is open again. We can indeed book a climb for you on this
route -
9) I would like to book my trek with Climb Mount Kilimanjaro but my group is larger
than eight -
We aim to keep the size of the groups to a minimum, as I feel that a group that is much larger than eight trekkers is cumbersome and trekkers lose the sense that they are in a wilderness if there are too many people. That said, if you are a single, private group of more than eight, then we will be happy to accommodate you as, of course, you will be aware before arriving in Tanzania of the number of people you will be trekking with.
10) Is there a minimum number of people on the trek?
We insist that there is a minimum of two trekkers on any trek. We can arrange a trek for just one person but, as stated above, this will be quite expensive.
11) Can I see a map of the Unique Rongai Route?
When you book a trek we will send you a detailed map of the route.
12) Is it guaranteed that I will reach the top?
You can rest assured that with all of the treks booked through us the aim is to maximise
your chances of making it to the top. By monitoring the pace of the trek, the amount
of food and rest that each trekker gets and their overall health and well-
That said, our ambition for all these treks is to make sure that all trekkers fulfil
their potential -
We want you to enjoy your trek, to have a fantastic experience and to love the mountain almost as much as we do. And we want you to feel that you have done the best you can. But above all else, we want you to be safe. Everything else is of secondary importance. So if it is felt that you are not well enough to reach the top, you will not be allowed to try.
13) If I fail to reach the summit, can I get a refund?
No. As the price includes your park fees, food, equipment, etc, we cannot pay a refund to those who do not make it to the summit.
Booking your trek
14) When are the treks?
You will find a schedule by following the links to the Trekking dates and prices
page. Note, however, that if there are two or more of you, we can arrange a private
trek for you. This means that you can go on the dates you want and on the route you
want. And what’s more, the price will not be any more expensive than if you were
joining one of our prearranged treks -
15) How much is the trek going to cost?
A rough idea of our prices can be found by following this link to our trekking dates and prices page. Note, however, that the prices quoted are for one or two people only joining the trek. If there are three or more of you, then the per person price will be cheaper. If you are a group of three or more people wanting to arrange a trek, or join a prearranged one, or if you would like to take a route that you cannot see listed on the trekking dates and prices page, then just get in touch with us and we will be able to supply you with a quote for the trek you had in mind.
16) What is included in the price -
Follow this link to find out what's included in the cost -
17) I'd like to climb my TK climb through you but not on the dates you are offering
in the schedule -
Yes. If you wish to book a climb with us on a date that is not listed on the trekking dates and prices page, just contact us and, as long as there are two of you, we will be able to help you. Nor will it cost any more than if you booked to join a prearranged trek. Much will depend on the demand but we will try, where possible, to accommodate you where we can.
18) Why is there such variation between the cost of trekking with different agencies?
I’ve seen other treks costing US$4000-
Our aim is not to be the cheapest on the mountain -
Once you
have done that, then just compare our prices with those of other trekking agencies
who offer a comparable service and fair wages to their mountain crews -
So maybe you shouldn't be asking why our treks are so cheap -
19) How do I book?
i) If you are a solo trekker: Booking a private trek for just one person only is
an expensive business. We can arrange it, but if you are a solo trekker and money
is an issue then we strongly advise that you join one of our prearranged treks instead.
To do this, simply visit our trekking schedule and find a trek that is suitable.
Note that we update this page every time there is a new trek, so if there is not
one on the dates you want don’t give up -
Once you have found a trek that suits you, simply send us an email with details
of which trek you wish to book. You can also tell us of any other activities and
excursions (Mount Meru trek, safari, Zanzibar etc) that you want to go on -
Once we have received this, we will then send you a second and final form, on which you can inform us about your preferred accommodation for before/after the trek, and your arrival/departure details (so we can book your airport transfers, which are included in the package).
After we have received this form back from you, and have booked your treks/accommodation/ safari/ Zanzibar trip, we will send you an invoice for the deposit (US$250 or equivalent in your currency), and our terms and conditions which we will ask you to read carefully.
Once this is paid, we will send out a copy of the guidebook to help you prepare for your trek.
If you have any questions regarding the trek or the booking, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us by email. You can also visit our How to book page for more details.
ii) If there are two or more of you: If there are two or more of you then your choices
are much greater. If there are two or more of you, you can either choose to join
one of the prearranged treks -
The actual booking process is exactly the same as above: Once you have got in touch with us and told us you are interested in booking your trek through us, we will send you a Trek Booking Form which you fill out online, and which shouldn’t take you more than a minute or two to complete.
Once we have received this, we will then send you a second and final form -
Once we have received this form back from you, and have booked your trek/accommodation/ safari/Zanzibar trip, we will send you an invoice for the deposit (US$250 or equivalent in your currency), and our terms and conditions which we will ask you to read carefully.
Once this is paid, we will send out a copy of the guidebook to help you prepare for your trek.
If you have any questions regarding the trek or the booking, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us by email. You can also visit our How to book page for more details.
20) What currencies do you accept as payment?
As we are charged in US dollars, so all our prices are quoted in US dollars too.
However, we can accept payment in sterling or euros -
20a) Are there any additional fees I need to be aware of?
If you are paying by credit card you can expect a charge of around 2.99% (a charge
levied by moneybookers) -
21) My friends climbed Kilimanjaro a few years ago and paid their park fees when they arrived. Why can't I do the same?
Unfortunately the rules have changed and from January 1st 2008 you can no longer pay your park fees by travellers' cheques or cash. Instead, all fees must be paid by special credit cards that are held by the trekking agencies. As such, I'm afraid you now have to pay your park fees in advance. Do contact us if this is going to be a problem.
22) Where will I be staying before/after the trek?
You will have a choice of several hotels covering a range of budgets, from standard to super. You will receive details of these hotels with your Hotel Booking form. You can also find details of them as well as links to their websites by visiting our accommodation page.
23) Will I have to pay a deposit to book my place on the climb?
Only once we have sorted out and booked every aspect of your trip -
24) When do I have to pay the balance?
We like to have everything sorted out one month before you are due to begin your climb.
25) Can I get a refund if I need to cancel my trip?
We try to be as fair as possible when it comes to people cancelling their trip. Basically, if you need to cancel your trek for whatever reason, you will receive a refund for the full amount paid less US$250 per person (ie, the amount equivalent to the deposit we charge to reserve your trek). We need to charge this fee to cover our costs. The only exception to this US$250 per person charge is if we have booked accommodation for you in a hotel that also charges cancellation fees. Most of our hotels don’t, and of those that do most only do so if you are cancelling less than one month before you’re due to arrive. In this case, we have to pass on to you any cancellation fees they charge to us.
If, instead of cancelling your trek, you merely wish to postpone it and climb on
a later date, then any payments you have made to us (whether you have merely made
a deposit payment or have already paid the full balance) will be passed on to this
new trek -
Preparing for your trek
26) What do I need to bring?
You can find a comprehensive list of things to bring in the book and on the What
to take section on this site. You can also hire top-
27) How fit do I need to be?
We discuss this in the guide (a copy will be sent to you free of charge when you book) and also on the website.
28 Do I need insurance to climb Kilimanjaro?
Yes, definitely. We insist that you are fully insured for your trek. Do read our advice on insurance in the book, and also our insurance for Kilimanjaro page on this website.
29) How do I get to Kilimanjaro?
By far the best and most convenient way to get to Kilimanjaro is to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), served by airlines such as KLM, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways. From the airport, we will transfer you to your hotel (which, as with the transfer back to the airport at the end of your trek, is included in the price). You can also fly to Nairobi or Dar es Salaam, and catch a bus or local flight to Kilimanjaro or Arusha from there. Though transfers from these airports are not included in our package (only from JRO), we can help you to arrange tickets for these buses (though note that we are not insured for any bus travel taken by our clients, so any bus journey taken by you is done so entirely at your own risk and we are not responsible for any loss or injury that occurs during the journey).
30) How many days before the start of the climb should I arrive in Tanzania?
We advise you to spend at least one full day in Tanzania before beginning your trek. Arriving by plane one day and then climbing the next is not the best way to begin a trek. If you wish, we can help you to find the most suitable flights for your trek.
31) Can I hire trekking equipment?
Whilst cooking and camping equipment (including sleeping mattress and tent) are included
in the price, clothes, boots, gloves, rainwear, head torches and trekking poles are
not. However, several of the most important items can be hired for no more than US$2-
On the mountain
32) I have special dietary requirements -
When you receive the Trek Booking Form from us you will notice a box where you can tell us about any dietary requirements you may have. As long as you give us enough notice, TK will be able to satisfy any dietary demands you may have.
33) Who is going to be guiding us on the mountain?
The trek will be led by a local guide. These have been handpicked for their experience,
expertise, knowledge of the English language etc. It’s not too much of an exaggeration
to say that I’m really proud of the crew members that are employed by TK -
34) What are the safety/rescue procedures of Team Kilimanjaro?
The guides have been trained in high-
35) Will I need to tip my Kilimanjaro crew (ie the porters and guides)?
Yes, this is vital. A guide to tipping can be found in the book, as well as on the Tipping your Kilimanjaro crew page on this website.
Other trips and excursions in Tanzania
36) Can you help me to arrange an acclimatisation trip on Mount Meru before I climb Kilimanjaro?
Certainly -
37) Can I arrange a safari, a trip to Zanzibar or another Tanzanian excursion through you?
Certainly. We can help you organize tours around the 'Northern Circuit' of Tanzania (ie the national parks of the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara etc), as well as flights to Zanzibar and accommodation whilst there.
Indeed, when it comes to safaris we think we have found an equally unique package, where you have the option of staying with the local bushmen and even going hunting with them! But there is too much to describe here; when you book your trek through us, let us know if you are interested in taking further excursions before or after the trek (there’s a little space on the form for this) and we’ll be able to send you information about what exactly what’s on offer.
38) I've been reading your book and would like to visit the Amani orphanage in Moshi. Is this possible? How about other excursions in the local area?
That's really not a problem. Indeed, if you've got the time, we encourage you to
visit the orphanage -
We can also try to book trips around Marangu, a safari in Arusha National Park, Swahili
lessons, drum workshops -