Tips for Organizing a Group Trek on Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is located in northern Tanzania in East Africa, not far from the border to Kenya.
(Map of Tanzania | Map of Kilimanjaro area) With a height of 5895 meters (19340 ft) Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free standing mountain in the world (i.e. it’s standing there all by itself in a plain, it’s not one peak of many in a mountain range.) To climb Mt. Kilimanjaro you have to do some planning and some preparation. Planning and preparation are crucial to the success of a Kilimanjaro climb! And when I say success, I mean not only your chances to reach the summit. Planning and preparation will determine how much you enjoy, or not, the whole trek, from start to finish.

Planning a Kilimanjaro Climb

You need to make three major decisions before you can climb Kilimanjaro:

• You have to decide on a date.
• You have to decide on the climb route and length (how many days/nights).
• You have to decide on a trekking agency/climb operator.

1. Deciding on a date

The best times to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro are the driest months of the year, especially Jan/Feb and Aug/Sep. But any time between January and mid March or between June and October offers reasonable chances of good weather on Kilimanjaro.

2. Deciding on a climb route and the duration of your Kilimanjaro climb

There are several climb routes up Kilimanjaro. They vary in length and difficulty. All except one require you to camp. If you use the Marangu route your accommodation is in huts and camping is not allowed. Five days is the absolute minimum duration for a Kilimanjaro trek, six is better. For the popular Machame route six days is the minimum, seven days is recommended. Taking an extra day for acclimatisation will greatly improve your chances to reach the summit. There are longer treks available for those who can afford them.

3. Selecting your trekking agency/climb operator

Mount Kilimanjaro is protected by the Kilimanjaro National Park. Access is restricted and the steep Kilimanjaro park fees make a Kilimanjaro climb rather expensive. But before you go hunting for a cheap Kilimanjaro climb, visit this website for kilimanjaro climbing itineraries You can only climb Kilimanjaro with a registered guide/trekking agency. A good climb operator will supply guides, a cook, porters, food, water, and camping equipment if you are camping. There is no need, indeed no opportunity, for you to worry about the details. You don’t need to carry anything but your day pack, you don’t need to cook or put up your tent or anything. You just choose your Kilimanjaro tour operator. Most people book their Mount Kilimanjaro climb from overseas. For the majority of climbers this is certainly recommended over selecting a climb operator in the last minute when you get there. The selection of Mt. Kilimanjaro tours to choose from is overwhelming. The quality varies wildly, from irresponsible “cowboy” outfits to luxury climb operators who just about carry you to the top. What you should be looking for is a quality and responsible operator who also treats their staff well. Do NOT pinch pennies on Kilimanjaro. Do NOT climb Kilimanjaro with a lower end budget operator. (I regularly receive emails asking me if there is an operator I personally can recommend. There is. You can contact my preferred operator through this page.)

How to Prepare for you Kilimanjaro Adventure

You need to do some preparation before you can climb Kilimanjaro:

• You need to book your flights.
• You need to organise your visa.
• You need to get the required vaccinations.
• You need to buy or rent the necessary equipment.
• You need to get yourself into shape.

4. Booking your flights

If you book your Kilimanjaro trek from overseas then your trekking agency may also organise your Kilimanjaro flight for you. If not, then you have to do that. The closest airport to Mt. Kilimanjaro is, yep, Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO). Kilimanjaro Airport is situated half way between Arusha and Moshi, and most people land there. Mt. Kilimanjaro itself is closer to Moshi. Many trekking agencies are located there, though you also find a good number in Arusha. (Arusha is also the “safari capital” of Tanzania and the gateway to Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire etc.) If you are planning an extended Tanzania trip you may also want to fly to/from one of the other main airports in the area: Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar or even Nairobi.

5. Organising your visa

You need a visa to enter Tanzania and a passport that’s valid for at least another 6 months. If your country of residence does have a Tanzanian embassy, phone them or check their website to find out how to obtain your visa. If your country does not have a Tanzanian embassy, you can buy a visa upon arrival in Tanzania.

6. Getting your vaccinations

 You may need a yellow fever certificate and there are a number of other vaccinations recommended. Some of them need to be started months in advance, so talk to your doctor soon. Depending on your travel plans you may also want to take anti-malaria medication. Talk to your doctor about it. What exactly you need ultimately depends on the length of your stay and other places you may want to visit besides Kilimanjaro, e.g. Zanzibar or going on a safari.

7. Organising the necessary equipment

If you booked with a quality operator then quality camping equipment is included in the price. Many Kilimanjaro tour operators also offer other gear for rent, gear that you may not want to purchase for one time use only or may not want to lug around Tanzania on an extended trip. Equipment you can often rent includes down sleeping bags, insulation pads and down jackets. Beyond that you will also need very good quality, thermal under and upper layers of clothing, gloves, warm hat, good sunglasses, sunscreen (for the lips, too!), a day pack, rain protection for everything, water bottles/camel back and more. Most importantly you need high quality hiking boots and they need to be well broken in! Here is a list of essential Kilimanjaro equipment and here are more tips on packing for Kilimanjaro.

8. Getting yourself into shape

Mt. Kilimanjaro is a popular climb because Kili requires no special expertise or mountaineering equipment. In fact, it is not a climb, it’s a hike. You can walk all the way to the top. That sounds easy but isn’t! Read about training for Kilimanjaro and beating altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro. The more you can do in the time leading up to your Kilimanjaro climb, the better. Kilimanjaro may not require special mountaineering experience, but long distance trekking and hiking experience sure helps! It also helps if you are used to camping out and roughing it, because you will certainly have to rough it when you climb Kilimanjaro.

Only about 50% of the people who climb Kilimanjaro make it to the top. Don’t let that put you off! There are operators who boast with client success rates of 80% to 90%, and they aren’t lying. (Ok, some may exaggerate a bit, but with the right preparation it is possible to tackle Kili with a higher than 90% success chance.) In nearly all cases of failed summit attempts the reason for failure is altitude sickness. Read up on beating altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro. Whether you reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is not a matter of luck, not of age, not of previous fitness or experience. It’s entirely up to you. You need to be willing to do the research and to invest the time and money it takes.

Choose Your Route

There are seven main routes up Kilimanjaro. Each one varies in terms of difficulty, traffic, and scenic beauty, and choosing the right one for you is a key part of the planning process. Timings depend on which route you choose, with hikes taking anywhere from five to 10 days. The routes with the highest success rate are those that take longer and ascend at a gradual rate, allowing climbers to acclimatize to the change in altitude. Marangu is traditionally considered the easiest route but Rongai, Lemosho, and Northern Circuit have the highest success rates.

Top Tip: Allow time for a longer trek in order to maximize your chances of reaching the summit. Pack Carefully
It’s important to find the balance between packing light and making sure that you have everything you need. Layers are crucial given the diversity of Kilimanjaro’s climate. You’ll need sun protection for the lower reaches, and warm clothes for the summit. A good quality sleeping bag is essential, as is a basic first aid kit (your operator should provide more extensive safety items, including oxygen and a defibrillator). It is possible to rent equipment on-site, although quality and fit vary greatly.

Remember to pack spare batteries for your camera, and photocopies of your passport/ insurance documents.

Top Tip: Make sure to carry cash for tipping your guide and your porter, who will carry up to 30 lbs/15 kg of your personal gear for you. Get Acclimatized
Altitude sickness is the single biggest reason for failed summit attempts on Kilimanjaro. The best way to acclimatize to the mountain’s extreme altitude is to choose a route that ascends gradually, taking six days or longer. Certain medications (like Diamox and Ibuprofen) may help to lessen the effects of altitude sickness, while hydration (preferably with purified water) is also important. Altitude sickness can affect anyone, regardless of your training or fitness, and as such it’s vital that you are able to recognize the symptoms.
Read up on the effects in advance, and be prepared to descend if necessary.

Top Tip: Learn your limits and don’t attempt to push them. When it comes to Kilimanjaro, slow and steady really does win the race.

Budgeting for Your Trip
A Kilimanjaro trek can cost anywhere from $2,400-$5,000 or more per person. This fee should include camping, food, guides, park fees and transport to and from the mountain. You need to make sure that your food is decent, that your guides and porters are fairly treated and well trained and that you get a good night’s sleep. While the shorter routes are cheaper, your chances of reaching the summit are significantly reduced as a result of poor acclimatization. If you opt for a “good deal” make absolutely sure that your guides and porters are well-equipped to handle emergencies.

Find a Tour Operator
Experts estimate that only 65% of climbers reach the summit of Kilimanjaro, but your chances increase significantly if you choose the right operator. It is compulsory to climb Kilimanjaro with a guide, and although it is possible to find independent guides for slightly cheaper rates, organized tours offer a better experience and better back-up in case of emergency. Operators vary from first-class to downright negligent, so it’s important to be selective and to prioritize safety over cost. Toto Africa Adventures is a respected operator with a 98%+ success rate.