MT KILIMANJARO FAQ

1. What is the best time to climb Mountain Kilimanjaro?
- You may climb Mt. Kilimanjaro anytime. Though it is important to know that there is best time for perfect weatherly trek. There are two best seasons for amazing treks and they are Early June to October and December to late February. The uniqueness of this seasons is that, the climate is perfect with temperate cold as compared to March to May which is always very cold and rainy.
2. What is the cost of climbing Mountain Kilimanjaro?
- The cost for climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro has always been ranging from average rate of $1800 to $5000, as all depends on numbers of days taken for a trek, crew size and type of extra packages included.
3. Do I need physical exercises before trek?
- No. A lot of people have been misleading climbers that, they should exercise more before climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro which is quite not true. As the trek is quite walking and not sprinting, your body is in require of relative acclimatization to have a successfully summit. So, just be physically fit, don’t be afraid of not having workouts, as there are climbers who called themselves as athletes surprisingly, they didn’t summit.
4. How does my health status is affected in a trek?
- Always climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is a healthy challenging activity. Mountain Sickness or so-called Altitude Sickness is a common acclimatization challenge in a trek. It is accompanied with common symptoms like dizziness, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue and loss of energy and shortness of breath. It is important to check your health status before attempting to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.
5. Do I need worry about my health insurance in climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro?
- There is no need to worry about your health while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. The guides are always keen on your health every time and very active to attend any health emergence. It is safer to talk to guides in case you are not feeling well as it may prevent health risks.
6. How many days does it take to summit?
- The least days to summit are Three days / Four days. These are common days to almost all routes in Mt. Kilimanjaro. Although sometimes it may go beyond that depending on numbers of days the route itinerary has. Some climbers might choose Nine days and more for a particular itinerary.
7. What are examples of trekking gears one should have upon commencing trek?
- Thick gloves, balaclava, sun hat, rain jacket &trouser, head lamp, fleece jacket, sleeping bag, thermal underwear and top, hiking boots, t-shirts, day pack, mattresses, sun glasses, walking sticks, binocular and others.
8. Are the trekking gears provided by outfitters or rented?
- Mostly the trekking gears are rented for climbers. Upon booking for a trek, the next thing is for the climber to confirm the gears with the right sizes in case of the clothes. The rates for renting gears ranges from to $10 to around $50 per item rented.
9. Do I need to carry food stuffs prior to trek?
- You don’t need to stress much on carrying a lot of food stuffs in a trek as it is already included in your booking. Although, if you have your own food stuffs you wish to carry you are free to do so. Important thing is to remember that most of food stuffs must be energy rich one.
10. What are tips for successful summit?
- Walk slowly – “pole pole” in Swahili, get energy rich foods, drink enough water, be of good health – free from chest problems and follow “climb higher sleep lower” acclimatization activity.
11. What is the best route or trail to summit the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro?
- If you are looking for the nice route up Mt. Kilimanjaro, then Lemosho is the one. The reason behind its uniqueness is that, this route gives you the best diversity in each of your hiking. It is not busier route like Machame or Marangu, so it allows your body to adjust easier in your daily trek. It allows your body to recover easier after tough day of trekking. As the goal of any trek is to make sure you summit the Mountain, so your body needs to conserve more energy as much as it can so as to summit easily. With Lemosho route you will find yourself getting enough time to rest and allowing your body to recover from day-to-day trekking.
12. Is it possible to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro for less than four days?
- Most of the time climbers my choose three or less than that to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro but they will not reach the peak rather they will reach some altitudes. For example, one might have two days hike from Marangu gate to Horombo Hut. In some situation possible to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro in fours days but this is for only expert in summiting the peaks of typical volcanic mountains.
13. Is tipping for guides/porter/chef recommended in a trek?
- Tipping for guides and the crew in any particular trek is something that every tour operator recommends their visitors to do along or after the trek. It ranges from $10 to $30 per day. So, any climber is supposed to tip the guides/porter/chef in a particular trek.
14. Do rescue emergence provided in a trek?
- Yes. Mt. Kilimanjaro climbing activities are well guided under the principle of Health and safety. This is by making sure that in any kind of emergence, rescue measures are taken as soon as possible. So, the climber needs no worries about emergencies.