Mt Kilimanjaro Trip Notes
These notes contain important information. We advise you to read them and to have a copy available to you throughout your trip. You should also read our full terms and conditions available on our website which override the information below in the event of inconsistency.
- Useful Links
- Arrival
- Complications On Arrival
- Flight Delays
- Visa Requirements
- Money Matters
- Spending Money
- Tipping
- Travel Insurance
- Equipment’s
- Gears
- Storing Your Luggage
- Laundry
- Hiring equipment
- Day Pack
- Clothing
- Hiking boots
- Gaiters
- Socks
- Trekking poles
- Rainproof Clothing
- Layers
- Excess luggage
- Crew
- Total Crew
- Health and Safety
- Flying Doctor
- Safety And Security
- How hard is it?
- Personal Fitness
- Health and Inoculations
- Stomach Problems
- Sunburn and Eye-care
- Breathing
- First Aid Kit
- Hydration
- Purified Water
- Altitude Sickness
- Walking Up
- Walking Down
- Food
- Food
- Special Dietary
- Menus
- Guide
- Our Mountain Guides
- Weather
- Weather and Temperature
- Toilets
- Public Toilets
- Gears
- Carrying
- Feedback
- Feedback
Arrival
Complications On Arrival
Flight Delays
Visa Requirements
- Complete the visa request form (either on the flight or on arrival).
- Join the queue for one of the visa counters – please don’t let yourself be assisted by anybody at the airport or be persuaded to give your visa money to anyone apart from the staff at the counter.
- Pay for the visa – USD 100 per person for US nationals and USD 50 per person for nationals of other countries (visa fees are payable in cash ONLY and US bills should not be older than 2006).
- Make sure that you get a receipt for this transaction – the receipt is yellowish- orange colour with a silver seal sticker.
- Verify that the number on the receipt is the same as the one written on top of the visa stamp on your passport.
- Queue up for your fingerprints and passport.
- Collect your luggage and leave by the exit
- Outside the exit door you will see our driver guide holding the ‘Easy Travel’ signboard.
Money Matters
Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted in Tanzania, albeit usually with a 5% surcharge, but note that American Express and Diners’ Club cards are not accepted. In certain places, such as Masai villages, cash will be the only acceptable method of payment for souvenirs etc. Travelers should not rely on travelers’ cheques, as these are not accepted in Tanzania.
US Dollars are always the best currency to carry and it is important that the bank notes you bring have been printed after the year 2009, as older notes are often not accepted.
Spending Money During Your Trip
Tipping
Tipping is of course discretionary, but is an expected part of the way in which business is done in Tanzania. It counts as an expression of gratitude to those who – hopefully – have made your experience an unforgettable one, and enables you to directly reward those people. Our passengers come from all around the world, with different cultural attitudes to tipping, but a tip is of great significance here in Tanzania and will be hugely appreciated by the recipient. In the course of your welcome meeting, you will be advised of the number of guides and the cook who will accompany you on your climb. (The number of porters will only be confirmed once the national park rangers at the gate have checked the luggage and equipment.) You will be introduced to your porters during the course of your trek – normally there will be 2 or 3 porters per trekker.
We realize that both the process of giving tips and knowing how much to give can be difficult, so we provide the following guidance:
At the end of the climb, it is a good idea to hold a ‘tipping celebration’ after the last meal on the mountain (this is normally after breakfast on the last day) Tips can be placed in an envelope and given to the lead guide, who can then distribute them to the team. (It is advisable to announce the total amount in front of the group, so that all team members are aware of how much is to be distributed.) As for the amount, most trekkers feel that a tip equivalent to about 10 % of the cost of their trek is appropriate. (So, if your trek cost was US$2500, a tip of US$250 should be about the right amount.) If your group consists of only one or two trekkers, you might want to give a bit more. An alternative method, which some trekkers prefer, is to give individual tips to the team members, in which case the following amounts can be used for guidance:
Mountain Chef: $15 US per day / per group.
Mountain Porter: $8 US per day / per porter.
The above figures are only for guidance and can of course be varied at the trekker’s discretion. Gifts of clothes etc are also appreciated.
Travel Insurance
What Gears You Need to Bring
You are responsible for bringing personal gear and equipment. Below is a gear list you need to bring on your climb.
Items | Quantity(ies) | Items | Quantity(ies) |
---|---|---|---|
Head light/ torch | 1 pc | Balaclava | 1 pc |
Sunglass | 1 pc | Warm Hat | 1 pc |
Sun Hat | 1 pc | Base Layer | 2 pcs |
Top Fleece | 2 pc | Warm Jackect | 1 pc |
Poncho | 1 pc | Long Underwear | 2 pcs |
Ski Pant | 1 pc | Rain Pant | 1 pc |
Thin Socks | 2 pcs | Thick Socks | 3 pcs |
Mountain Boots | 2 pcs | Tennis Shoe | 1 pc |
Gators | 1 pair | Warm Gloves | 2 pairs |
Ski Gloves | 2 pairs | Duffel Bag / Rucksack | 1 pc |
Day Pack | 1 pc | Scarf | 1 pc |
Walking Poles | 1 pairs |
Storing Your Luggage
Laundry
Hiring equipment
At Easy Travel we have a variety of equipment available for hire, for those who do not want to go to the expense of buying new equipment for what might be a ‘once in a lifetime’ trip, or for those who simply do not want to bring their own.
All prices are given in US$ and the price stated is per person and is for the duration of your climb (not ‘per day’).
Items | Price | Items | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Rucksack /day-pack | $12 per person | Balaclava | $ 6 per person |
Sleeping Bag (-25 To -35°c) | $ 40 per person | Poncho | $18 per person |
Plastic Bag | $ 4 per person | Duffel Bag | $ 6 per person |
Walking Poles (Ski Sticks, Pair) | $ 12 per person | Gaiters | $ 8 per person |
Gloves | $ 6 per person | Finger Gloves (Pair) | $ 8 per person |
Sweater | $ 5 per person | Long Underwear | $ 5 per person |
Waterproof Raincoat | $12 per person | Raincoat Pants | $12 per person |
Fleece Pants | $ 6 per person | Warm Jacket G.T | $12 per person |
Warm Jacket/down Jacket | $12 per person | Hat | $ 6 per person |
Scarf | $ 6 per person | Oxygen | $118 per person |
Mobile Toilet | $236 per group from 1 – 4 Pax |
What do I need in my daypack?
Clothing
Hiking boots
A good pair of walking boots is essential for a climb such as Kilimanjaro. What is ‘good’? First of all, they should be a reputable brand. If you are buying new boots, and are not familiar with the many different types on offer, you should seek specialist advice from an outdoors shop.
If you are investing in new boots, you should buy them well before your Kilimanjaro trip and make sure that you wear them in before you arrive in Tanzania. Arriving with boots which are not properly worn in will result in discomfort, blisters and could even prevent you from summiting. If you are going to wear boots which you have used before, check that they are still in good condition, that they still have good grip and that the laces are not worn. They may also need to be re-waterproofed using a spray, as waterproofing coatings wears off over a period of time. You should bring a spare pair of laces.
Gaiters
Socks
Trekking poles
Rainproof clothing
Layers
Excess luggage
Total number of Crew in Camping and Hut route
No of Trekker | No of Guide | No of Cook | No of Porters |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
2 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
3 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
4 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
5 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
6 | 3 | 1 | 19 |
7 | 3 | 1 | 21 |
8 | 4 | 1 | 24 |
9 | 4 | 1 | 27 |
10 | 4 | 1 | 30 |
Total number of crew on Hut Route ( Marangu )
No of Trekker | No of Guide | No of Cook | No of Porters |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
3 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
4 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
5 | 3 | 1 | 11 |
6 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
7 | 3 | 1 | 14 |
8 | 4 | 1 | 16 |
9 | 4 | 1 | 18 |
10 | 4 | 1 | 20 |
Flying Doctor Insurance
Safety And Security
Safety advice is issued by most national governments and updated regularly and we would suggest that all travelers check the appropriate website for updates both prior to booking, and again prior to traveling. (Traveling to countries against your own government’s advice can adversely affect the validity of certain travel insurance policies.) Easy Travel strongly advises all travelers to use a money belt or neck wallet for the safe keeping of cash, passport, airline tickets and any other valuables. Please leave other valuables, such as jewelry, at home. Most accommodations provide safety deposit boxes, an excellent way of storing your valuables. We also advise you to keep a photocopy of your passport, separate from your actual passport, when you travel.
Easy Travel reserves the right to make changes to, or even cancel, any part of the planned trip if in their opinion safety and security concerns deem this necessary. Your driver–guide will accompany you throughout your safari and it is important that you always follow his instructions, in the interests of safety.
If you spend time in Arusha, you will find that most Tanzanians are friendly and helpful, but as in most cities in any part of the world, you should exercise caution. Carrying expensive cameras or jewelry or waving large amounts of cash around, is always a bad idea and will invariably attract unwanted attention. Be aware of people approaching you and trying to ‘befriend’ you: often these people are con-men and you should .be polite but firm in saying ‘no’ to them. We would strongly advise using taxis after dark for trips to restaurants or other nighttime trips and would urge you to keep to the main streets during the daytime. We also advise that you travel in small groups, wherever possible. In the unlikely event that you find yourself in an area where a political protest or demonstration is taking place, We would advise you to leave the area immediately, as these can turn violent or provoke counter-demonstrations or reaction from the police.
Please note that you should use your own judgment when choosing activities or excursions, which do not form part of the trip you have booked with Easy Travel. We can offer you assistance in choosing how to spend your free time, but neither Easy Travel nor any of its representatives can provide any guarantee about the safety or suitability of any activities or excursions, nor about the operators who organize these.
As in all countries, taking photos of police stations, border crossings, immigration controls, army barracks, military personnel or checkpoints, airports or political demonstrations is never a good idea, often illegal, and very likely to land you in trouble with the authorities. Swimming, snorkeling and other water-based activities are always undertaken at your own risk.
How hard is it?
An ascent to the summit of Kilimanjaro is an incredible experience, but although the climb is not technical and requires no special mountaineering knowledge, it is certainly not to be taken lightly. At over 19,340 feet (5895 metres) it is Africa’s highest mountain and it is no ‘walk in the park. Altitude sickness can prevent even the fit and well-prepared climber from getting to the summit. Having said that, the lack of any requirement for technical mountaineering experience means that anyone has at least the possibility of reaching the summit. Climbers aged over 80 have conquered Kilimanjaro in the past!
Personal Fitness
The fitter you are, the better chance you have of reaching the summit and the more comfortable the climb will be for you. Our success-rate is very high (98%), but you should spend the weeks and months before your climb in improving your strength and stamina, as both of these are important on the mountain. If you are considering climbing Africa’s highest mountain, it probably means that you are already active, perhaps playing sport or incorporating physical activity into your everyday life. If you are not an active person, you need to prepare your-self in advance – and very seriously – for your Kilimanjaro climb.
A fit body, flexible joints, toned muscles and healthy lungs are what you should aim for. If you’re not used to long-distance walking, then a few long walks can really help your preparation: if you can walk for two or more consecutive days, then that will help you realise that this is very different to a couple of hours’ gentle weekend stroll. It also helps to get you used to your equipment (boots, socks, daypack etc) that you are bringing with you.
Health and inoculations
Although no inoculations are compulsory for a visit to Tanzania, the following jabs are recommended: hepatitis ‘A’, typhoid, tetanus, polio, rabies and meningitis. It is the responsibility of each traveler to ensure that any inoculations they wish to have are up-to-date and we advise people to look at their inoculation records and take the necessary action a few months in advance. Your doctor or travel clinic should be consulted. Note that, for anyone arriving from a yellow-fever area, possession of the appropriate vaccination certificate is compulsory.
Stomach problems
Sunburn and eye-care
Carrying a hat (and wearing it!) and using a high-factor sun tan lotion to protect against harmful rays is both essential on your Kilimanjaro climb. Don’t be fooled by photos of the snow-clad mountain peak, as you will cross a number of diverse terrains and experience a range of climatic conditions on your ascent and descent. You need to be prepared for varying temperatures, remembering that you can get sunburn even when the tempera-ture is relatively modest. Sometimes forgotten by visitors is the requirement to protect the back of the neck: bear this in mind when choosing your type of hat. Backs of hands, ears, noses and lips are other neglected areas, so use that sun tan lotion wisely. A good pair of decent-quality, protective sunglasses is another essential. The glare on the mountain can be powerful and though snow blindness is unlikely on Kilimanjaro, the sun can temporarily affect vision if sunglasses are not worn.
Breathing
First aid kit
- Blister plasters. Absolutely essential.
- Ordinary plasters and an antiseptic cream, for any little cuts and nicks
- A couple of bandages, in case of ankle strains etc.
- Supports for knees and/or ankles, if you have weaknesses in these joints
- Paracetamol/Ibuprofen. You should have these (or other painkillers).
- Imodium for any stomach problems.
- Rehydrating powders, which are valuable in the event of diarrhoea.
- A good-quality lip salve/chap-stick.
- A small tub of Vaseline to alleviate chafing.
- Throat lozenges to combat the dry air conditions.
- Anti-fungal cream for the feet
- Carrying any liquids or ointments in separate plastic bags is advisable, to prevent against leaks.