Contrary to what most people believe, this route is not as simple as it may seem. The rapid ascent speed adds significant difficulty to the trek, especially on this 5 day itinerary where acclimatization becomes a concern for many individuals. Choosing the 6-day option makes the journey slightly easier, although it still requires a reasonable level of fitness.
If you have any questions about your suitability for this trip or would like advice on how to prepare, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
FOOD & DRINK
Maintaining a proper diet during your climb is crucial, especially when faced with conditions that may reduce your appetite. To address this issue, our head chef has designed special menu plans that are not only appetizing but also provide the necessary nutrients and energy to reach the summit. Each meal includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure a healthy diet. For the initial part of the trek, you will have access to fresh meat, and on southern routes, we even resupply the group at Karanga Camp. As a special treat after conquering the summit, we will prepare an “All Day English Breakfast” for you upon returning to Base Camp – just let our cook know your preferred egg preparation. Before departing from the mountain, you will also have the opportunity to savor local Tanzanian dishes, such as Njegere and Machalari.
BREAKFAST
Start your day with a hearty breakfast consisting of porridge, sausages, eggs, and toast with marmalade or jam. Additionally, you can enjoy a choice of hot beverages, such as tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. If you find yourself still hungry or craving more, simply inform your guide, and our cooks will ensure you have enough food to satisfy your appetite.
LUNCH
Lunch is either prepared and packed for you to carry in your rucksack or we will stop for a hot cooked lunch, depending on your itinerary. A typical packed lunch includes a boiled egg, sandwiches, a portion of chicken, crisps, a snack bar, fresh fruit, and a drink.
AFTERNOON TEA
Once you arrive at camp at the end of the day’s walk, you can indulge in afternoon tea. Alongside tea and other hot drink options, we provide a selection of peanuts, popcorn, biscuits, and snacks to replenish the energy you expended during your hike.
DINNER
Dinners are satisfying and substantial. They commence with a flavorful soup, followed by a main course such as chicken curry, spaghetti bolognese, fresh vegetables, and an ample serving of rice, pasta, or potatoes. Finally, you can treat yourself to a delicious dessert, such as pancakes or banana fritters drizzled with maple syrup or nutella.
ACCOMMODATION
Please note that your itinerary includes details about hotel accommodation and meal arrangements for each day. All accommodations before and after your climb will be in Moshi. If you are going on a safari before your climb, we will have arranged for you to stay at a hotel in Arusha upon your arrival to minimize travel time. If your hotel includes breakfast only, you can usually purchase snacks or meals at the hotel and pay in Tanzanian Shillings or US Dollars. When you check in at the hotel, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the layout and fire safety procedures, including escape routes and fire exits.
Please be aware that Tanzania is still a developing country, and water and electricity shortages can occur regularly. We cannot guarantee that the hotel will have hot showers throughout your stay. The hotel staff will do their best to assist you, but these outages are beyond their control.
The Marangu route is the only route on Kilimanjaro that utilizes mountain huts instead of tents for sleeping arrangements. Most rooms are small and can accommodate four people on bunk beds. The huts at Kibo have a dormitory-style setup and can accommodate up to 20 people. The park service provides mattresses, sheets, and pillows, but you will still need to bring your own sleeping bag. The rooms have solar-powered lighting but no electrical sockets. Meals will be served in an indoor dining area. Bathrooms with cold running water are available at Mandara and Horombo Huts. The facilities at Kibo Hut are more basic in nature.
TRANSPORT
All transportation costs including airport transfers are included. We will use comfortable private minibuses with seat belts for travel around the mountain. Your support vehicle in the safari is a 4×4 Toyota land cruiser with a pop up roof special for game drive viewing.
LUGGAGE
CLIMBING BAG WEIGHT
Kilimanjaro National Park has a strict weight limit of 15kg for your main equipment bag, including your sleeping bag (even if rented from us). This limit is more than sufficient for your needs during the climb. Before you start the climb, your bag will be weighed at the hotel. If it exceeds the weight limit, you will need to remove items and leave them at the hotel. Should you require additional porters, they can be hired at a cost of $25 per day.
PLASTIC BAG BAN
Starting on 1st June 2019, Tanzania implemented a ban on all single-use plastic bags. We kindly request your support in fighting against plastic by opting for more sustainable alternatives, such as packing cubes and dry bags, when packing your luggage. Passengers carrying plastic bags in their luggage may be asked to surrender them upon arrival at the airport.
The use of zip-lock bags for carrying liquids and toiletries in cabin baggage on airplanes is still permitted.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
For climbers based in the UK or the US, it is recommended to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). KLM offers flights to JRO from major UK airports and several larger US international airports. UK flights typically depart in the morning, transfer at Amsterdam’s main airport, Luchthaven Schiphol, and arrive at JRO late in the evening.
All of our tours begin in Moshi, a town known as the gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro. Located on the mountain’s south slope, Moshi sits at an altitude of nearly 1000 meters above sea level. It is only 25 miles from Kilimanjaro International Airport by car, and we will arrange transportation from the airport to your hotel as part of your trek. Transport is available at any time, including late evening or early morning, and typically takes about 45 minutes.
Moshi offers excellent hotel accommodations during your stay, but availability can fill up quickly during the peak season. We recommend reserving your booking with us as early as possible. It is advisable to plan a rest day after a long flight to recover and prepare yourself and your equipment for the climb, rather than starting the ascent the next morning.
Some UK climbers choose to fly into Nairobi via Kenyan Airways or British Airways. These flights are only available from Heathrow in London. Climbers arriving in Nairobi often book a transfer flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport with airlines such as Precision Air, Air Kenya, Air Tanzania, or Ethiopian Airways.
However, we do not recommend flying through Nairobi due to discomfort at Nairobi Airport and potentially long transfer times. The airport is also known for poor baggage handling and delays in transferring baggage between flights.
Turkish Airlines, Air Emirates, and Qatar also offer flights to JRO, but these routes may involve long delays and late-night departures for UK travelers. However, climbers from the US often have positive experiences flying with these airlines, so we do recommend them for North American travelers.
Vayama operates excellent flights to various destinations in East Africa, including Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, or Zanzibar from JRO. It is a good option if you wish to explore more of this beautiful region before heading home. Many travelers choose to schedule a beach holiday in Zanzibar to relax after their climb. For this, we suggest booking your return flight out of Dar Es Salaam, then taking an internal flight to Zanzibar, and eventually returning to Dar Es Salaam for your flight home.
BUDGET & CHANGE
Please note that the Tanzanian Shilling is not available for purchase before your arrival as it is a closed currency. It is recommended that you travel with US Dollars, as these are commonly accepted. It is important to ensure that any US bills you carry are no more than 10 years old, and are clean and undamaged. If you require local currency for purchasing snacks or drinks at your hotel or during your journey to the climb, we can assist you in locating an ATM or bank. Additionally, there is a currency exchange available in the Baggage Collection area of the airport. If you plan on relying on a credit or debit card for emergency funds, it is crucial to inform your card issuer in advance about your international usage, in order to avoid any issues when you actually need it. Please be aware that not all hotels are able to accept card payments, so it may be necessary to use an ATM to access funds.
