MOUNT KILIMANJARO
Costs and hiking information.
COSTS
*Climb: R38000 (USD $2600)
Flights: ~R8000 (Cape Town)
Covid Tests: R4000 (R850 + $25 + $180)
Minimum Recommended Tips: $350 (R5400)
Common Extras: Toilet USD $175 (R2600)
Hiking Gear: ~R10000
*Climbing costs differ based on routes, duration, company etc
The costs I shared are for the route I used.
Lemosho Route - 9 day package.
Day 1: Hotel.
Day 2-8: On the Mountain.
Day 9: Hotel.
(Detailed in picture)
There are different routes and different durations.
On average, climb cost is about USD $2000
ALL TREKS ARE GUIDED
You can’t hike up Mount Kilimanjaro on your own. You need to go with a registered company - guides.
Choosing a trekking company: Read reviews!
Research!
Consider your budget.
Consider how they treat and pay their porters (I personally take this seriously).
THE CLIMB
Porters carry your duffel bag and everything else.
Your sleeping bag goes into the duffel bag, which leaves little space for your stuff. So you have to pack wisely. [The company will send you a packing list]
You carry a Back pack🎒
With water, snacks and rain clothes
FOOD AND WATER
A chef makes 3 meals a day, provides drinking water (they boil stream water), gives you hot water for washing at the start and end of each day
Porters pitch tents and prep everything before you arrive at next camp
On summit day, our guides carried our Backpacks
TIPS
The recommended minimum tip for Lemosho Route is USD $350 per person.
The tip is shared amongst the staff.
EXTRAS
Having a private toilet at camp is optional. A toilet costs USD $175 (R2600) for the duration of the climb.
There are public Blair toilets at each camp.
Bushes are your friend during the day (trekking)
A sleeping bag is included in the package (Carry yours if you have)
GUIDES speak English. Many Porters don’t speak English. You don’t interact much with porters.
You share the camp site with other groups from other companies.
*I picked this time because there are not many on the mountain this time of the year.
I love people but I hate crowds 😬
REQUIREMENTS
To enter Tanzania:
Passport, yellow fever certificate, -ve PCR certificate, USD 25 for rapid test at airport (You can swipe 💳)
To leave: -ve PCR certificate.
Closest airport: JRO - Kilimanjaro International Airport.
TRAINING
You don’t need to be extremely fit but you can’t be totally unfit either. You can start training 2 months ahead of your climb. Running, walking, weights and a lot of hiking with a ~10 kg backpack will whip you into enough fitness.
Hiking is the best training🏔
ALTITUDE SICKNESS
I took half a pill of Diamox twice a day to acclimatise faster.
I made it to the summit without any sickness or shortness of breath.
You can make it to the top with mild altitude sickness.
If you suffer severe symptoms, you have to descend immediately.
HYPOTHERMIA
I will never hear the end of my “Nakedness with a Porter 😂”
If you suffer hypothermia, they have to strip you naked and a donor also strips naked and holds you. It’s even better if 2 donors can strip and put you between them 😂
MENTAL PREPARATION
Just remembering that you spent ~R70000 on the trip should be motivation enough 😂
On a serious note, like many things in life, you need to really want it. You need to be positive, driven and focused on the goal. You have to be willing to push yourself…
…you have to train, read, practice, consult your doctor before leaving, pray… do whatever you can to be ready so that you have peace of mind.
You have to take it day by day in the mountain and make a conscious decision to enjoy every step.
Positive vibes only.
TIPS
If camping is not your thing, you might want to do a few camping trips before the big trip, to get used to it.
Lemosho is a tented route - you sleep in a tent everyday.
*Other routes have huts.
Drink a lot of water ~3-4 L a day and eat a lot. You need the energy 💪
Hiking Gear
This might cost up to R10000+
You can’t compromise on the necessary stuff. A good backpack, good boots, jacket, waterproof top and bottom, ski gloves, hiking socks
It gets up to -15 degrees at the top.
The guides check if you have the right clothes before the climb
Inner and middle layers - you can use what you already use for hiking.
A camel back water bladder (3 L) + 1 L water bottle is better than carrying 4 L water bottles. It’s easier to drink from a bladder.
Consider 3 jackets instead of 1 big one so you can remove/add layers
PACKING
You can’t pack a lot. The duffel bag is small. From around Day 3 you will probably be wearing the same outer waterproof-wind proof clothes
Pack enough underwear, socks, Tshirts, tights/long johns for each day. You won’t be washing.
RESCUE 🚑
A rescue fee is included in the Climbing Fees. In case of emergency, you will be carried down to the nearest road and transported to hospital.
Not many people die. Descending quickly alleviates altitude sickness.
Is it hard? YES!
Will you die? Hopefully not 🥶
Will you make it to the top? You have a 55% chance 😂
Is it worth it? YES!
If you can and want to do it - DO IT. Don’t second guess. It’s worth it 👏
Thank you very much for walking this journey with me 🙏
I hope I answered all the questions.
Feel free to ask more 🤓
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