Are you thinking about trekking up mount Kilimanjaro to Uhuru peak? Then you may find these Kilimanjaro FAQs useful. In this post, I will answer all the questions you may have about the trek.
When is the Best Time to Trek?
Kilimanjaro has two main seasons. One from June to October and another from January to mid-march. Outside of these two main seasons you will see less crowds but also not the best weather.
I went in Late August/early September and has absolutely perfect weather! Clear skies for the most part, no fog which is quite prevalent in the afternoons and not a drop of precipitation!
| Season | Months | Weather | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| January–mid-March | Warm, mostly dry | Low–moderate | 2nd most crowds |
| June–October | Cool, dry, stable | High | Most crowded |
| Mid-March–May (rains) | Wet, cloudy | Very low | No crowds |
| November (short rains) | Mixed, unpredictable | Low | Less crowds |
How Many Days Does it Take?
The number of days will depend on the route that you take. There are 7 official routes that you can take up the mountain as shown below and they all have their own average success rates. As you can see, the longest the route the better the success rate as this lets your body acclimatize to the altitude better.
| Route | Typical Duration (Days) | Average Success Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Marangu Route | 5–6 days | ~65% |
| Machame Route | 6–7 days | ~85% |
| Lemosho Route | 7–8 days | ~90% |
| Northern Circuit Route | 8–9 days | ~95% |
| Rongai Route | 6–7 days | ~85% |
| Shira Route | 6–8 days | ~75% |
| Umbwe Route | 5–7 days | ~60% |
How Much Does it Cost?
No Kilimanjaro FAQ post is complete without talking about the cost. Unfortunately I don’t have a straight answer here as it will depend on what route you take (number of days) and your tour operator. As a rule of thumb, the longer the route, the higher the cost but also recall that your chance of success will also be higher. I have seen anywhere from $1800 to almost $5000. If the cost is low then you definitely need to be very clear on what is included and what is not. See below for more on this.
How Should I Pick a Tour Operator?
Picking a tour operator is probably the most difficult decision you will have to make after you decide to do the trek. First there are over 4000 tour operators to choose from and second, they all offer different levels of service.
As I mentioned if the cost is low, then there maybe a catch or two. This maybe the case because the operator does not pay the crew well and you certainly want to avoid these companies. You should make sure you ask them very specific and targeted questions in addition to reading in-depth reviews from past trekkers.
Here are some questions to ask:
- What is included in the cost – meals/snacks/equipment
- What day and time do you summit – a midnight summit or a day time summit?
- What is the last camp prior to summit? – Barafu or Kosovo? (Kosovo is better!)
- What is the plan post summit? – which camp do you need to descend down to
- What gear is included? – tent only or sleeping bags etc.
- What gear is available for rent?
- Is a portable toilet included or an extra?
- What is the guide to trekker ratio?
- What is the crew to trekker ratio?
- How experiened are the guides?
- Are hotel stays/airport transfers pre/post trek included?
- Sample food menu?
- What do they do to take care of the crew? – education?
I went with Ian Taylor Trekking and can definitely recommend them!
How Difficult is the Trek?
This is another subjective FAQ for Kilimanjaro but one that is always asked. The level of difficulty will definitely differ from person to person. It will also depend on how well you do with altitude. Of course prior experience or the lack of experience is not an indicator of how well you will do or not do. The hardest day for me was summit night. In fact, I would say it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done physically but the other days were not bad at all. I was lucky that I didn’t have any altitude sickness. My advice would be to train well prior, eat well on the trek and be prepared with medication. Remember, one foot in front of the other – that’s really all you have to do even when things get tough!
How Do You Train?
This is probably another famous Kilimanjaro FAQ. Training for the trek I think is a little personal as different people may have different levels of fitness and needs. As a general rule you should be training for the incline wearing a backpack or a weighted vest. You should also train for endurance at zone 2 and also for the downhill. If you can train for the altitude that would be most ideal but not everyone can (I certainly couldn’t!).
Below is what I did but please consult a certified fitness instructor for your individual plan as well as a physician prior:
- Monday/Friday – Lower body strength training, hiking specific exercises (especially for the downhill like step downs and step ups), 5 miles walk with a weighted vest (2 outside and 3 on walking pad), vinyasa flow yoga
- Tuesday/Thursday – Actual stairs at work ( at least 50 flights), incline walk at max incline on treadmill, 2.5 mile walk outside on hilly trails all with a weighted vest
- Wednesday – Upper body strength training, 5 miles walk with weighted vest (2 outside and 3 on walking pad), vinyasa flow yoga
- Saturday – (alternating) 10k run or 8k hike on local mountain (inclines, declines and rocky terrain), 30 minute sauna
I did this plan for 14 weeks.
What to Pack?
I published an in-depth post on what to pack for the trek. In addition to what to pack, I also included what I packed and did not use, what I wore at different elevations and packing tips. Check out this POST.
What is the Food Like?
This question is probably another one of the most popular FAQ for Kilimanjaro. I have done a couple of other multi-day treks like the Inca Trail and EBC and will say that the food on the Kilimanjaro trek was phenomenal! I always looked forward to each meal as the chef went out of his way each time to ensure we had some well balanced and tasty meals. You definitely won’t go hungry on this trek!
A sample menu included the following:
- Breakfast – porridge, pancakes, toast, eggs, sausages, sweet potatoes, fruit
- Lunch – soup, a fried appetizer, cheese toast, a carb, protein and vegetable, fruit
- Tea – popcorn, cookies and/or peanuts
- Dinner – soup, 1-2 carbs, protein, vegetables, fruit
What are Camps Like?
It really depends on the route that you take. On the Lemosho route the first camp and base camp were very crowded but the other camps, especially Shira I and II and Baranco were nice and spread out. The crew in charge of our tents would go early to get a good spot for us and he was able to find nice and isolated spots at most camps. Camps have basic facilities like a public bathroom and water is obtained from a nearby source like a river.
The public bathrooms are not that great so I highly recommend paying a little more for a private portable toilet. Trust me, you will thank me later!
Is There Internet?
We did not have any stable connectivity. One of our guides had to send pictures to the operator daily and had 2 phones with 2 different systems and providers and would often have to keep trying a few times before he could get some sort of connection. Having summited 290 times, he of course knew the exact spot on the trail that had connectivity. My suggestion is to not bother! I had no connectivity for 8 days and honestly it was one of the best things I’ve ever done! I still crave that cleanse even today!
How Do I Charge My Electronics?
There is no power on the trail or at camps. Bring one or two powerful power banks. 20,000mAh would be ideal. Airlines have a limit to these in terms of their power but 20,000mAh is fine. Just remember to pack them in your carry-on.
Is the Baranco Wall Scary?
This is probably a question that is on everyone’s mind and so of course I had to include it in this Kilimanjaro FAQs post. The wall was honestly not scary at all. It was actually a lot of fun. A little hard on my short legs but fun nevertheless. There was only one small instance where I was not at all confident as I had to swing like a monkey but our guides were there to help. The guides have done this so many times and they will tell you exactly where to keep your hands and feet. The best advice I can give you is to follow their advice.
Do You Need Insurance?
Yes! Insurance is a must! When you buy insurance, make sure it covers helicopter evacuations at up to 6000 meters. If you need to use it, some insurance providers make you call them and clear it with them or they do not approve the claim later. Read the fine print before you purchase insurance.
Is the Water Safe to Drink?
Your crew will boil the water you need for drinking. I was very paranoid about catching a stomach bug so I dropped a water purification tablet to all my drinking water but the other person on the team with me didn’t and he was more than fine! Think this is up to your comfort level but as long as the water is fully boiled, it is safe to drink.
How Much Should You Tip?
Let’s cover this very important Kilimanjaro FAQ! Tipping is expected and your tour operator will give you guidance on how much to tip. You will usually tip on the last day and hand over the tip collectively to the head guide who will then distribute it amongst the team.
For a 7-day climb, total tips for the whole crew usually range between US $250–$350 per climber, depending on group size and service quality. If the trek was longer than you can expect to pay about $100 more.
While the tip certainly adds to the overall cost, you will find the team well deserving of this amount. They truly are heroes and go out of their way to make sure you are not only comfortable but also that your spirits remain high during the trek.
Other Kilimanjaro Posts
I have so many useful posts about Kilimanjaro! See below for a complete list!
- Wondering what it’s like day to day on the Lemosho route? My detailed post covers it all
- Here are all my best tips for a successful trek and summit
- This complete packing guide will ensure you are well covered for your trip!
- My experience with Ian Taylor and why I recommend them
- Have you done EBC and wondering how Kilimanjaro compares? Read my comparison!
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