Kilimanjaro FAQs
As we plan your trip to Tanzania we are here to help you to prepare before arriving to answer any questions and concerns about safety, health, language, and other logistics. We want to make your experience easy and simple so you can enjoy your time in Africa.
Questions
General FAQs
A visa is mandatory for foreign officials entering Tanzania. Your passport will need to have a minimum of 6 months before the expiry date. A tourist visa can usually be obtained at the airport.
For US citizens the cost is USD 100 and USD 50 for all other nationals. We recommend you review your country based on regulations before arrival to ensure no issues occur.
Tanzania has 2 types of plugs, type G (British) and type D (old British )The most common plug you will find in the country is type G, but to be cautious, we recommend bringing an adapter for both types.
We recommend bringing USD currency. All USD bills must be issued after 2006, or they will not be accepted in the country due to issues with counterfeit bills. You can use USD cash for tipping, buying souvenirs, and final payments for tours. The airport arrival visa payment will accept USD cash or a visa card for payment.
Tourists can use local ATMs as well and can withdraw the local currency of Tanzanian Shillings to use in the country. ATM machines will not dispense USD
Mahiri African Tours does not include travel insurance in the safari price and package.
We highly recommend you purchase comprehensive travel insurance before travelling. Coverage should include trip cancellation, delay or interruption, emergency accident, illness, and lost luggage.
For climbing Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru, we recommend contacting your insurance company to ensure the climb is covered under the policy, as may need additional high-altitude insurance for the climbs.
Please seek advice from your medical doctor or travel clinic regarding vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis. A yellow fever certificate is only needed to enter Tanzania if you are arriving from a high-risk country, Please follow up on any recent travels and the possible need for this certificate. If you are entering Tanzania from Europe, USA or Canada, you do not need to show a yellow fever card.
Kilimanjaro FAQs
Although it can be climbed all year round, the best time to climb due to weather conditions is going to be December- March and June – October. The busiest months are July and August, and August to October is going to be the driest time of year.
Climbing from the end of March to the end of May is not recommended by us due to the rainy season and heavy rains will make your trek less enjoyable. If you want to climb during the rainy season, the Rongai route is recommended, as the northern side of the mountain gets less precipitation.
During the trek, you climb through 5 different climate zones. From the rainforest to the arctic climate zone. So the weather will range from 25-30°C at the start of the trek and on the summit, the night can be -15 to -20°C, and snow on the summit can occur any time of the year. So you will want to be prepared for the extreme temperatures you will climb through.
There is no technical climbing experience needed to climb the mountain. Although you should be in relatively moderate shape and can hike on average 6-8 hours a day for 7-8 days and summit day which would be a 14 hour day.
The most difficult part of climbing the mountain is going to be adjusting and dealing with the altitude, this can be an extreme struggle for people while attempting to summit.
Each route is different and has its own unique experiences. The most common routes are Marangu and Machame routes. If you want a longer route, the Lemosho 8 day route is a good option or if looking for fewer crowds, the Northern Circuit or Rongai or good alternative options.
Picking a route that is best for you can depend on many different factors including the timeline on how many days you have to climb, sleeping accommodations, and distances you want to hike in a day. See each route for more details describing them.
The shorter routes have a lesser success rate due to the inability to acclimatize in a short amount of time on the mountain, so we always recommend you take the longer version adding an acclimatization day will increase your chance of being successful in summiting Mount Kilimanjaro.
The water is collected from the streams of the mountain by the porters. The water is then boiled. You can bring treatment tablets if you wish to treat further.
There is no plastic bottled water allowed to be brought on the mountain.
The food is carried by the porters and is prepared by the cook for you to enjoy. We can accommodate dietary requirements if notified ahead of time. You will be provided with 3 meals a day while climbing, that is fresh food from the local markets.
You will carry your day pack with only your essentials for the day which should include drinking water, rain gear, layers, a camera, and snacks.
The porters will carry everything else you bring in your luggage. The bag can not exceed 15kgs (34pounds) for a porter to climb. Along with your luggage, the porters will carry all the camping equipment, tents, cooking gear, and tables that will be used on the trek.
Each tour will include 1 night before and after the climb at moderate accommodations in Moshi. If you would like to change accommodations to be high-end or budget, we can arrange this as well for a price change.
On the Marangu route, all accommodations are in dormitory-style huts, which have foam mattresses and pillows with meals in shared dining huts.
On all other treks, it is camping in a tent with 2 people to a tent. Meals are served in a bigger tent.
Tipping is much appreciated by your mountain staff and the hard work they do for you on the mountain. The tipping guidelines are for the entire group, not individual climbers; the cost is divided amongst the group.
You can speak to your guide before the trek begins or during to determine how many crew will be on the mountain with you.
- Main Guide: $20-$25 per day
- Assistant Guide: $15- $20 per day
- Cook: $12 -$15 per day
- Porter: $5 -$10 per day
The most effective way to handle attitude changes has to do with the route you choose. By choosing a longer route, your body will adjust better to the changes in altitude, and you will acclimatize easier and safer. Adding an acclimatization day to your route will allow you to have a safer and more enjoyable climb, as it will decrease your chance of altitude sickness.
Some other recommendations that can help assist with your acclimatization on the mountain are:
- Talk to your doctor about the use of Diamox, which can speed up your ability to acclimatize
- Drink at least 4 L of water per day, continuously drinking while walking.
- Have adequate food intake to keep up your strength, even when your appetite decreases the higher you go
- Take breaks while walking to stop and enjoy the views
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine during the trek
- Walk and maintain a slow pace, if you walk too fast during the first few days you will have a higher probability of having difficulty later in the trek. As you will hear often on the mountain “pole pole” which means slowly in Swahili
- Climb to a high altitude during the day and sleep at a lower altitude for the night
This is caused when your body cannot adapt to the change in altitude and the decreased available oxygen at high altitudes. Your body can adapt to altitude changes and decreased oxygen if given enough time, which is why longer routes are more successful.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can be life-threatening. If it becomes severe, you will need to descend, as this is the only treatment. If you do not descend and continue with severe altitude sickness, it can be life-threatening. Your guide will decide if you need to descend early. Respect the decision, as your safety is taken very seriously. We carry oxygen tanks, but to be used only in emergencies during the descent.
Once you descend, the symptoms often go away within a few hours or days. If you need to descend from the mountain early, you will be accompanied by your guide.
During your trek, the guides do twice-day health screenings, which are meant to assess for signs of altitude sickness. The guides can monitor you and decide if needing to descend early.
If you are showing signs of altitude sickness or not feeling well, let your guide know, as it is important for your safety. Often, if symptoms are only mild, you can continue to climb at a slow rate with continuous monitoring of symptoms. Some symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Increased heart rate
- Headache
- Nausea & Dizziness
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue and loss of energy
- Problems with sleep
- Dizziness
- Severe cases of altitude sickness can lead to High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) these are build-ups of fluid in the lungs and the brain. Which is life-threatening. Worsening symptoms include:
- Confusion
- Loss of coordination and trouble walking
- A severe headache
- Tightening of chest
- Nausea/ vomiting
- Shortness of breath at rest
All of our guides are certified and licensed. The guides are trained in basic first aid and acute mountain sickness (AMS) symptoms and treatments but are not medical professionals.
Every guide will speak fluent English and another language if requested in advance. If you have a preference in language, please inform us, and we can see if we can accommodate you.
Don’t Hesitate To Contact Us If You Have Any Question
Contact us for all your Tanzania adventures, and our team about any questions regarding planning your Tanzanian trip. We are happy to discuss and tailor any adventure to your needs.