How much does it cost to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

 Mt Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak with the summit peak, Uhuru Point 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level!

 Plus it is the world's highest free-standing mountain!

It is the only one of the Seven Summits that you can climb without any mountaineering experience or equipment!

We’ve put together this blog post to help you work out your personalised budget for Kilimanjaro. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is an epic adventure trip, and as you do not need any mountaineering experience, it is on the bucket list of many hikers and outdoor adventurers. Deciding to climb Kilimanjaro is only the first step in your journey! The second step will be to create a budget, essential as you want to make sure your wallet isn’t holding you back from this adventure.

Among things you have to budget for:

• The cost of flights to Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania
• How many days do you want to spend hiking
• The gear and clothing you need for your hike
• Tipping
• Other factors

#1 Getting To Kilimanjaro:

After your Kilimanjaro climb cost, airfare is usually the next main expense.  The cost will depend on the airline you choose and if you prefer the most direct route to Tanzania and of course, from where you are travelling.  From the USA, expect an average round ticket cost of between US$1,100 and US$2,000.  From Europe, averages range between €700 to €450.  Sites and apps like Momondo, Google Flights, and Skyscanner will all let you watch flights and alert you when fares are the lowest.  This ensures that you never book when prices are their highest.  When booking flights, keep in mind that the best time to climb Kilimanjaro is from mid-December to March and from June to October.

#2 Cost To Climb Kilimanjaro

We offer all-inclusive packages which include airport transfers, a night in a hotel before and after the trek and all expenses on the mountain (mountain crew with a senior registered guide, 3 meals a day, tents, cutlery, emergency oxygen, etc.).

The price of your Kilimanjaro hiking tour will depend on the duration of the tour, the number of people that join you on the climb and to a lesser extent, the hiking route you choose.  Most routes are 6-days, but we recommend the 7-day options with an extra acclimatisation day. 

The cost based on 2 people climbing are:

On a 6-day route – US$1,900 per hiker.

On a 7-day route – US$2,180 per hiker.

It is approximately 40% higher for climbers preferring a solo climb with their register guide and mountain crew.

Discounted rates are available for 6 and more climbers.

#3 Gear & Clothing For Your Climb

There are few things more rewarding than reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro!  The views and sense of accomplishment create memories that will stay with you for the rest of your life.  But this achievement occurs because you've done the hard work, chosen the right CLIMBING GEAR & EQUIPMENT, trained, and executed the climb successfully.

Whether you buy gear or borrow off a friend, make sure it is warm, waterproof and fits you properly.  Layering is key to choosing the right climbing clothing. Rather than wearing bulky clothing to keep you warm, it is best to layer with multiple thinner layers so that you can add or remove them, depending on the temperature.

We recommend you keep the following five basic attributes in mind when buying gear:

•   Simplicity

•   Functionality

•   Durability

•   Lightweight

•   Value for money

We climbed several high-altitude mountains in Africa and would love to share our tips on what you need to pack for your climb!  To start, we created a comprehensive “list of what to pack” that will give you a good overview of what you need for the climb. You can also hire gear from us, and once you booked your trip with eXplore Plus Travel & Tours, we will send you our gear list that includes our personal tips.

#4 Tipping Your Mountain Crew

Those who have climbed Kilimanjaro know that your guide & porters are the heart and soul of your climb.  They might mean the difference between making it and having to turn back disappointed.  Our guides & porters are paid according to local standards.  However, they rely on their tips, as their wages are small.  It is important to us that our clients budget for tipping based on our recommended guideline.  Believe every other person who climbed Kilimanjaro and us, this will be something you will want to give to your guide and porters after seeing what they are capable of and experienced what they have done for you while you hiked.

A guideline on tipping:

• Chief guide - US$15-20 per day from the group (ratio – 1 chief guide per group).
• Assistant guide - US$10-12 from the group (ratio – 2 assistant guides if two climbers, otherwise an assistant guide for every 3 climbers).
• Cook - US$10-12 per day from the group (ratio – 1 cook for every group of between 1 and 6 climbers).
• Camp waiter – US$8-10 per day from the group (ratio – 1 waiter for every group of between 1 and 6 climbers)
• Porters - US$6-10 per day per porter (ratio – 3 porters PER climber).

For example:

-      If you’re two climbers, doing a 6-day hike, you need to budget between US$474-684.

-      If you’re two climbers, doing a 7-day hike, you need to budget between US$553-798.

#5 What Other Costs Should Be Factored Into My Kilimanjaro Budget?

Vaccines – Like any other country, Tanzania has a recommended list of vaccinations (not compulsory, but highly recommended) and this should be factored into your budget.  It is essential to go for a medical check-up a few weeks before travelling and do the necessary training to be fit enough to climb Kilimanjaro.  Also, talk to your doctor about anti-malarial medication.

Recommended vaccines for Tanzania are

Rabies.

Typhoid.

Diphtheria.

Tetanus.

Hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B.

Polio.

Yellow Fever (only if you travel through an endemic country or been in transit for 12 hours or more in such a country).

Travel visa - Tanzania requires a travel visa for most countries, at the cost of US$50.  For US citizens, the cost of the visa is US$100. South African passport holder does not require a visa.  Visas can be obtained from the Tanzania High Commission or online (https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/).

Travel Insurance - It is STRONGLY ADVISED that all clients take out adequate insurance cover to cover instances such as cancellation due to illness, accident or injury, personal accident and personal liability, loss of or damage to baggage and travel delays (note that this is not an exhaustive list).  We want to say – NO travel insurance, NO climbing!

Spending money - Inevitably you will end up spending money during your hotel stay before and after your climb on drinks and meals not included in your packages.  You might even want to invite your guide to join you for dinner on the last evening – celebrating your Kilimanjaro summit.  Set aside some cash for those miscellaneous expenses and any unforeseen expenses.

Once you summited Kilimanjaro, a total mind shift will happen from it is expensive to it is a priceless journey, one you’ll never forget.

Remember, planning in advance is key to a successful summit of Kilimanjaro.