Kilimanjaro Travel Guide

Do you need malaria tablets for Kilimanjaro?

You will not run into malaria while on the mountain. However, you will be in territory that houses malaria before and after your hike so you should be taking malaria tablets while you’re hiking as a precaution.

How difficult is it to climb Kilimanjaro?

We have a fantastic record of getting climbers to the summit successfully and safely. Anyone with a good level of fitness and a positive mental attitude should be able to summit Kilimanjaro. That does not mean that it is not an incredibly tough challenge. The difficulties arise from a number of different factors. First you will be walking every day for at least 6 days straight for an average of 7-8 hours a day. There is then one very long day of up to 18 hours as you ascend to summit Kilimanjaro before descending. You need to be really determined to handle this epic trekking day. For more information on how hard is it to climb Kilimanjaro, check out our blog.

How many days does it take to climb Kilimanjaro?

There are seven different established routes to climb Kilimanjaro and we operate treks on five of these routes. The shortest Kilimanjaro route Kandoo runs is a 6 day trek along the Marangu Route. It is possible to climb Kilimanjaro over 5 days, but the shorter climbs have a much lower success rate as there is much less time allowed for acclimatisation to altitude.

Remember it is a long way to travel and a lot of money to spend to not reach the summit. We recommend that you take at least 7 days to climb Kilimanjaro to give yourself the best possible chance of reaching the summit safely. You can read more about how long it takes to climb Kilimanjaro here.

How fit do you need to be to climb Kilimanjaro?

We have helped lots of novice trekkers summit Kilimanjaro safely. You need to be fit enough for "weekend walking" and able to do 5-7 hours on your feet for more than two days back to back. Besides being fit though you will need bucket loads of determination. The best training to climb Kilimanjaro you can do is to get your boots on and cover as many miles as you can before your climb. If you follow this advice, most days should be achievable.

However fit you are, summit night is a very tough experience. You will be climbing for 8-10 hours and descending for 6 - 8 hours.

What is the success rate climbing Kilimanjaro?

Our Kilimanjaro climb average success rate is 98% across all routes. We have such a high success rate because of thorough preparation, fantastic guides and carefully managed itineraries. And of course, clients with grit!

The success rate across all treks up Kilimanjaro outside of Kandoo varies hugely by route and by operator. Success rates reported by the park authority vary from below 50% on the shorter routes like Marangu up to 85-90% on 7 day and longer climbs, showing that the longer you take to climb Kili the more acclimatised you will become to the altitude which is what will lead to a successful summit.

Choosing your trip operator carefully is integral to the success of your trip so read our article on how to choose the right travel company for tips on what to look for in a trekking company.

What training do you recommend to prepare for my climb?

We always answer this question by saying you should try and get out and do as much hill-walking as you can. Nothing prepares your body better for climbing Kilimanjaro than getting in some long walks of 7-8 hours or more. Check out our blog on how to train for Kilimanjaro for inspiration.

What are the toilets like on Kilimanjaro?

The public toilets on Kilimanjaro are not great. Fortunately, we provide private toilets on all our Kilimanjaro trips as standard. This is a chemical toilet housed in a small tent that is emptied regularly. This is kept clean and hygienic by our wonderful support crew and is much more comfortable than the long drop public loos.

How well do you treat your crew? Are you a member of KPAP?

We treat all our porters, support staff and guides with the respect and care they are due. Our trips and your climb would not be possible without support finding and fetching water, transporting equipment, tents, toilets, food and supplies. As such, we pay fair wages and provide food, kit and training for our teams so that they can thrive working for Kandoo. Our tipping recommendations are also in recognition of the essential support these teams provide our guests.

We are partners with KPAP (Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Program) who campaign for the fair treatment of porters on Kilimanjaro and their work is important to us. Their guidelines suggest minimum standards for wages, food, clothing, tents and tipping policy. Sadly, far too few Kilimanjaro operators are members of KPAP and exploitation is rife. We have been a leading member of KPAP since we started our Kilimanjaro treks, and our core values are closely aligned with their guidelines. There is a KPAP porter on all our climbs to ensure that our treatment of porters always is up to high standards.

What is altitude sickness?

Acute mountain sickness or AMS (often referred to as altitude sickness, is caused by climbing to altitudes where the air pressure is much reduced. By the time you have reached the summit of Kilimanjaro air pressure is down to 49% of what it is at sea level. The first effect of this is that every lungful of air contains only half the amount of oxygen it would normally have. This makes any physical exertion very hard work. Slowly, slowly is the key.

The second and most dangerous effects of low pressures are on the parts of the body where fluid and air meet. The two most important are in the skull and lungs. With low air pressure fluid gets into the lungs and the gap between the brain and the skull. In the lungs this causes symptoms like pneumonia, where your lungs fill with water. In the brain it causes severe headaches. Both of these can become so bad they can kill you if not treated.

The good news is that we plan our ascents very carefully to minimise the risk of you getting AMS and we have well tested emergency plans on how to prevent altitude sickness. You can also read our blog about high altitude acclimatisation for more information about the effects of high altitude trekking on the body.

What kit will I need?

Anyone who has enjoyed trekking should have most of the basic kit required for your Kilimanjaro trek. You can find a full list of required clothing and equipment on your trip dossier or head to our blogs on what you need on your Kilimanjaro packing list, best walking boots for Kilimanjaro and what you’ll need in your daypack for climbing Kilimanjaro. You can also hire walking poles and sleeping bags from Kandoo, just ask our team when you book.

What is the difference between an open group climb and a private climb?

Private trips to climb Kilimanjaro are your own personal tailor-made adventures. They give you total flexibility and the highest chance of success. Just choose your date, route and any of our tailor-made options. Perfect for a group of friends or a charity group. Or perhaps for a couple looking to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary. Upgrades to private climbs start from £100/$125 per person depending on the size of the group.

For those who don’t mind who they travel with, particularly solo travellers, then a standard open group trip will be perfect for you. Our group climbs run every week during the main climbing season from June - October and December - March. They are limited to a maximum of 12 climbers to make sure you get the best chance of summit success. Particularly popular are our open group full moon climbs which run every month. Our group trips are excellent for meeting like-minded adventurers but if you’d rather have your own space, you can pay extra for single occupancy accommodation whilst still enjoying the benefits of being in a small trekking group.

What is the difference between the Kilimanjaro routes?

There are seven different routes up to Kilimanjaro’s summit, Uhuru Peak. Kandoo Adventures operate treks on five of these routes. For a comprehensive guide to Kilimanjaro trekking routes, read our article or get in touch with our friendly team at Kandoo HQ.

What will the food be like?

The food our cooks prepare on Kilimanjaro is amazing. What they can create on a mountain is beyond belief and everybody raves about it. Eating is really important as keeping yourself hydrated and ensuring you eat well is one of the most important factors to success. You’ll need extra calories when trekking to fuel your body, so we make sure we offer varied balanced meals and good sized portions.

If you have special dietary requirements or are a vegetarian, then just let us know when you book so that we can be sure to have a suitable menu planned. Our meals typically include meat, carbs and vegetables and they will be lots of choice at breakfast, a hearty lunch on the go and a 3 course meal for dinner. Our cooks have even been known to bake cakes at altitude and stuff you with fried chicken and chips before summit night!

What are your tents like?

We use two types of tents on Mount Kilimanjaro. For sleeping, we use top of the range Mountain Hardwear Trango 3 man tents. These are the same tents used by expedition teams in Nepal on Mount Everest. They are very strong, have lots of space and are warm. Our mess tents are made for us by a supplier in Nepal who makes them for Himalayan expeditions. They have good head-height, are warm and extremely tough. Along with comfy camp chairs and sleeping mats, our tents ensure a decent night’s sleep and relaxing mealtimes. Our team will even provide you with a hot water bottle to snuggle up with. For more information about sleeping on Kilimanjaro, check out our blog.

What tips do you recommend?

We are partner members of KPAP, Kilimanjaro Porters Assistant Project, and comply fully with their recommendations about tips. Depending on the group size recommended tips are between $200-300 per person. These are simply recommendations: if for any reason you are not happy with the service provided you are not required to pay tips. Read our article on Kilimanjaro tipping etiquette for more information.

How will I wash during my climb?

Every morning and evening you will be provided with a bowl of hot water for washing. We recommend bringing a microfibre towel with you for drying yourself after washing. As well as this we strongly recommend a good supply of baby wipes and hand sanitiser for cleaning hands during the day. As it gets colder higher up the mountain, you will be less inclined to take your clothes off, so a baby wipe wash under your clothing may well be the preferred option for a day or two. Remember that whatever you take up the mountain has to come down so you will need a waste bag to carry used wet wipes.

There will be hot showers at your accommodation before and after your trek, it is only during your climb that you will not have access to daily hot water showers.

Read our guidance here about how to take care of yourself on Kilimanjaro.

Is there an advantage to climbing Kilimanjaro on the full moon?

This is really a matter of personal preference. On a full moon night there is lots more light and the route and path to the summit are much clearer. Some people prefer this illumination, some prefer to get their head down and just keep plodding. Of course, when there is a full moon there are almost no stars visible so if you want a great night sky give the full moon dates a miss. Whether there is a full moon or not a head torch will be required for moving around your camp at night.

Do you organise trips to climb Kilimanjaro for charity?

We arrange lots of Kilimanjaro climbs for charity. Get in touch with our team of travel experts at Kandoo HQ to talk to us about how we can support your trip.

What do you do to support the local community?

Although we are based in the UK, our Kilimanjaro climbs are organised in Tanzania by a team of trusted local experts. We have been working with Emmanuel and his team for over 15 years and we believe our guides, porters and support staff are the best in the business. We provide employment for over 20 local people enabling them to support their families and wider communities. We provide fair salaries, kit and training to allow our team to thrive and progress, as well as setting an example to other companies operating on Kilimanjaro.

We are closely involved in many aspects of supporting local communities in the countries we operate in. From promoting porter welfare and supporting local children's charities to being active members of the Leave No Trace and Travellers Against Plastic organisations, our core values include working with our teams to provide opportunities they might not otherwise have had. You can read more about our values here.

Can I climb without porters and guides?

No. The Kilimanjaro National Park Authority do not allow anyone on the mountain without qualified guides and they mandate strict minimum ratios of guides to clients which work out as approximately 1 guide for every 3 people. Porters are optional for Kilimanjaro climbs but without them you’d have to carry much bigger packs, as well as all tents, equipment, food and you’d have to find or carry your own water. We also believe that employing porters, cooks, water porters and toilet porters provides employment and regular income for local people so try to enlist as many local staff as we can sustain. We provide 3 porters per client to carry everything you need to have a comfortable enjoyable climb.

What vaccinations will I need?

You will need to have a number of up to date vaccinations to visit Tanzania. You should always check with your GP or health practitioner and check exactly what you require. Also consider that you will need to take a malaria prophylactic. Although there are no mosquitoes on the mountain itself, there is malaria present in Moshi and many other areas of Tanzania.

What happens if I need to descend?

Kandoo Adventures have stringent Safety Management Systems. These are risk assessments and contingency plans for almost every eventuality on our trips. As well as being a condition of our public liability insurance, these Safety Management Systems provide guidance on what to do in all scenarios including how to accommodate guests that need to descend the mountain quickly and detailed procedures for emergency evacuations. Depending on where you are on the mountain this may involve being carried by porters, being transported on a mobile stretcher, using a 4x4 or helicopter. Your safety is our utmost concern so rest assured that if you need to descend the mountain, we are prepared to do this quickly and safely.

What travel insurance do you recommend?

There are number of specialists who provide Kilimanjaro travel insurance. We particularly recommend DOGTAG Insurance and World Nomads Travel Insurance. Whoever you arrange insurance with, you must be sure it covers you to an altitude of 6,000m.

Are there any age restrictions on climbers?

The Kilimanjaro National Park Authority do not allow any climbers on the mountain younger than 12 years of age. There is no maximum - our oldest client who summited was 75. You should be aware that we do not allow children younger than 16 to join an open group. This is primarily because we feel that for children under 16, we need to provide the more personalised care that is only available on a private trip.

What is the best way to get to Kilimanjaro?

www.kandooadventures.com/blog/how-to-get-to-kilimanjaro-373.htmlKilimanjaro has its own airport, Kilimanjaro International Airport (airport code JRO), which is about an hour's drive from the mountain itself. For flights to Kilimanjaro there are an increasing number of options, although none of these are direct unless travelling to Kilimanjaro from East Africa. You can find direct flights available from countries such as the Netherlands, the Middle East and Turkey. From Europe and the US, the best options include KLM/United Airline via Amsterdam or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul.

Where is Mount Kilimanjaro?

Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania and sits right on the northern border with Kenya. The nearest airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and the nearest town is Moshi. For more information on Kilimanjaro check out our Beginners Guide to Kilimanjaro blog.

Will I be able to get a mobile signal on Kilimanjaro?

There is mobile signal on large parts of most Kilimanjaro treks, but connection will typically be slow so don’t have high expectations. There are patches where there will be no connection and parts where you may even get 4G but our guides carry satellite phones for emergencies and they also update our Adventure Hub Facebook page with group news during your trek so your nearest and dearest will be able to track your progress. Find out more by reading our article on using your phone on Kilimanjaro.

Which famous celebrities have climbed Kilimanjaro?

One of the most publicised celebrity climbs of Kilimanjaro came in 2009 when a team of 9 celebrities attempted to conquer the roof of Africa for Comic Relief. The celebrities climbing were Alesha Dixon, Gary Barlow, Ben Shepard, Denise Van Outen, Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles, Fearne Cotton, Kimberley Walsh and Ronan Keating. They took the 8 day Lemosho route and, amazingly, every single one of them summited! However, it was reported that nearly every climber suffered some form of altitude sickness along the way. The aim of the climb was to raise awareness and money towards malaria research and recovery which is a huge threat to life in Tanzania. The team raised just shy of a million British pounds. For more interesting facts about Kilimanjaro, read our article.