KILIMANJARO FAQs

When should I go?
Climbing Mt.Kilimanjaro is an all round the year affair without specific period for trekking missions, but some give preference to December – March and September – October as best session for mountaineering.

How is the weather on Mt. Kilimanjaro?
The mountain temperature varies between 25 to 30 degrees Celsius within the mountain base area and below 0 (zero) degrees Celsius at the peak areas.

 Is it difficult to climb Mt.Kilimanjaro?
There is no technical experience required in order to climb Mt.Kilimanjaro, and any average fit person can trek to the mountain summit. However, no one should take it for granted the trekking mission, as the weather usually fluctuates gradually with altitude, making it easy for most of the first timers to experience altitude sickness. For this reason one should mark this trekking as the most challenging task of a lifetime and hence celebrate the success after accomplishing the mission as many have done it before.

Which route should I take?
Trekking on Mt. Kilimanjaro official consists of six routes which are Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Rongai, Umbwe and Shira. The Mweka route is meant for descending from other route with exceptional of Rongai which uses Marangu to descend, which you can be used when ascending. All routes with the exception of Marangu, utilizes the Park’s huts for accommodation, hence camping is done on all the other routes. Kiwild Expedition will be privileged to provide all the camping equipment while clients are expected to avail their own personal climbing gears. While other clients prefer to rent climbing gears, Kiliwild Expedition will be able to offer this service and make arrangement for all clients in need of hiring mountaineering gears at an affordable rate, provided that one makes prior request before embarking on trekking mission.

The Marangu and Machame routes are preferably used by trekkers, but it doesn’t indicate that they fair above others on sighting the beautiful panoramic views enroute to the top of Kilimanjaro. Basically the decision reached will choosing a route, includes trekker’s time availability, budget, preferred type of accommodation enroute, with desired challenges one is anticipating and ideal viewpoints.

How long does it take to reach the summit?
This depends much on the nature of the person you are? For instance, Mt. Kilimanjaro has documented records for former trekkers who managed 5 hours to the summit, other 1 day, 2 days, but basically their achievement is based on experience gained while trekking on Mt.Everest.
The optimal duration to trek on Mt.Kilimanjaro is five (5) days for Marangu route, Six days (6) for Machame rout which is pegged to payment made with the park authority. Others can spend from 5 days to 8 days including the acclimatization days, but when choosing a preferred route for the mission, it solely depends on trekker’s wishes and decision.

Is it easy to cope with the altitude changes?
It is always advisable to maintain a slow and steady pace from beginning to end. Going slowly allows the body to acclimatize while hiking. Those who start out too quickly will probably face difficulties while at the mountain peak zones as their bodies will be overexerted. It recommended and out of experience that for those intending to spend an extra day it will be of a great help to drink plenty of water and sound sleep.

Do children climb Mt.Kilimanjaro?
The official minimum age set by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authorities for summiting is 12 years old. However children can trek up to 3700 m and thereafter wait for their parents/companions, or trek down to the entrance gate and await others or be driven back to their respective designated hotels or lodge in Arusha or Moshi town and wait for their companions/parents to complete their mission. However we have history of children aged 12 who had accomplished the mission to the summit successfully.

How many guides, porters, and cooks do one need?
This is usually depends on which route one chooses, if they will be camping enroute then one client is required to take 2 – 3 porters,  while for the Marangu route is generally 2 porters per person.

Are the guides trained in first aid and altitude sickness?
All Mt.Kilimanjaro guides have been trained in Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and basic mountain first aid techniques, but please note that they are neither doctors nor paramedics. It is normally recommended for climbers to carry their own first aid kits and other medical supplies. Under any emergency event guides or assistants guides are responsible to assist trekkers to descend to least 3000 m to observe if the infirmity improves. If the situation persists our guides will have to notify the office for a quick evacuation arrangement by an Air Ambulance which is a helicopter shuttle.

Are the guides licensed / certified?
Our guides are trained and certified by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. They start out as porters and work their way up to assistant guide, and after about 2-4 years of working experience they graduate to guides, but upon going through the due certification process with Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. This certification is no easily acquired as one has to be really competent to be awarded.

Is there any provision of oxygen for the trekking group?

Kiliwild Expedition offers all emergency equipment such as oxygen bottles to all its trekking clients free of charge.

Is there any additional cost to be incurred?

Extra expenses include:

•  Tips for guides and porters
• Hiring cost for equipment and gears, but one can opt avail them and not rent if s/he owns them
• Meals and drinks at a preferable hotel in Moshi/Arusha ,if not included in the initial trekking budget
• Any other personal expenses (visas, airport taxes, etc.)

Is there any limitation pertaining to luggage when mountaineering?
It is our standard rule that all porters should an average language not exceeding 20 kgs each.

Is there any provision of Food and Water by the company?
There is a timely provision for breakfast, lunch and dinner on each day spent mountaineering. The food is a specifically menu to which are highly carbohydrate foods that are digestible and energy giving food. These primary carbohydrate meals mainly consist of rice, potatoes and pasta, with additional fresh fruits and vegetables at every meal. Meat is partial served whilst mountaineering as it is not easily digested on high altitude and it is not a healthy option for trekkers. For longer climbs we normally resupply the team with fresh food ration near the peak or as need arises.

Water is generally collected within the mountain streams then treated by filtration with Platypus Gravity Works system or boiled for purification, before being used by trekkers. Water is always provided at the campsites only hence one carry enough water of about 3 liters to supplement the provision so as to stay hydrated while hiking. It is also advisable for clients to bring with them some supplementary snacks such as candy, gum, healthy chocolate bars or powdered energy drinks.

We do give special preferences to vegetarian and offer them sumptuous vegan diets to accommodate all our clients. It is commonly recommended for those on special diets to give details of their preferred menu in advance, so that the company can make special arrangement for provision prior to embarking on trekking mission. Please it should be noted that Tanzanians are not very selective we it comes to food matters hence we usually to go an extra mile and satisfy all clients, but whereas one is in need of a special kind diet s/he is free to provide the food ingredient to our cooks, who will be honored with preparing to their satisfaction.

Breakfast: it is usually a healthy menu of porridge followed by sausage and eggs, toast and marmalade or jams, and hot drinks of one’s choice from tea, coffee or chocolate. Please clients are encouraged to communicate to our guides about their feeding preference and when hungry; this is to caution the cooks of any untimely and unnecessary provisions.  

Lunch: it is habitually a scrumptious packed lunch that our clients will easily carry in their daypack, which normally consists of boiled eggs, some sandwiches, a tasty chicken portion, fresh fruit and a cold drink. At the end of each day’s trek a refreshing afternoon tea is served with biscuits, peanuts and our best salted popcorn served with plenty of aromatic hot drinks. 

Dinner: our mouthwatering menu start by serving hot delicious soup, followed by a main course which includes  luscious chicken meat or animal beef , a succulent vegetable sauce of some cabbage and appetizing rice, pasta or potatoes ends with fresh yummy fruit for dessert to wash down the food .

KiliWild Expedition normally tries to create a “home away from home” environment to our entire team of clients, by surprisingly making them some home comfort resemblance, by providing them with favorite menu to match their home kitchen, thus bringing one’s dining table felling to the summit of Mt.Kilimanjaro. Just imagine how fantastic it will feel in celebrating one’s birthday with yummy cake at the roof top of Africa! Or what a tremendous feeling to have Christmas or New Year party on the top of Africa’s highest mountain!

Can one bring something for the porters?
Most of clients donate some of their gears to the porters after accomplishing the trekking mission as souvenir, but it is not restricted for one to bring something from home.

Is it better to do a safari first….then the trek?  Or do the trek first?
Most of our client start with the trekking and end with safari, since they will have dealt with the most challenging part of their schedule hence will be able to leisurely relax during and enjoy their safari. Starting with mountaineering then going on safari is highly recommended as starting with the safari schedule one can easily gain some weight as there is no physical activity but just sitting on the vehicle and viewing wildlife. However, it also depends on the itinerary tailored; hence we are very flexible and accommodative to serve our clients in either way in accordance to their desires to match client anticipated lifetime holiday.