F.A.Q.
No. All of the climbs are walks, you may need walking poles to support your climb. Nor do you need any special equipment, so you can leave all your ropes, crampons, ice axes etc at home. All of the routes are walking routes only.
We carry emergency oxygen on all our climbs, for use when someone is suffering from a serious altitude-related illness. In this event the guide would ask you to descend since this is the only way to recover; however, oxygen can help people feel better during the descent, therefore making evacuation easier and safer.
We offer excellent client-to-guide ratios, therefore if someone cannot continue, one of our guides will descend with them while the rest of the party continues.
Upon inquiry, you’ll receive a detailed equipment checklist and guidance to help you prepare. Many of our guests find they already have some of the items we recommend, for example, hiking boots, base layers, warm hat, fleece sweaters, and gloves.
We will send you a comprehensive equipment checklist, including items available for hire, upon inquiry. Prices are for the duration of the climb, not per day, and costs can be paid in USD$ cash at your briefing. All equipment is of good quality, however, we advise bringing your own walking boots, socks, and base layer clothing, as these will inevitably be a better fit than items you hire.
Mattresses are closed-cell foam, approximately 7cm thick with a heavy-duty cover, insulating you well from the ground. If you plan to bring your own inflatable mattress, it’s worth investing in a good quality one as cheaper versions are prone to leaks and punctures. Premium climbs include mattresses as part of the package price.
Additional luggage you do not need to take up the mountain can be left safely in storage at your accommodation or our offices. We recommend you ensure any valuables are signed in to the hotel safe, and where possible left at home.
The maximum weight is 15kg. Porter loads are strictly adhered to, to protect the porters as well as following Kilimanjaro National Park regulations.
- Toiletries, wipes & quick wick towel for washing at camp
- Extra medication (replenish day-sack at night and leave spares with your porter)
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping Mattress
- Down/Ski jacket
- All warm summit clothing e.g. thick gloves, thick summit trousers, balaclava, etc.
- Other spare clothing you’re not wearing that day
- Running shoes for the evenings at camp (optional)
- Snacks (replenish day-sack at night and leave spares with your porter)
- Other small items not needed during the day (e.g. book, earplugs, spare batteries, power pack, etc.)
You will carry a daysack which contains items needed during the hiking day. You will not see your main porter bag until you arrive at camp. Your guide will tell you exactly what you need to carry in this bag. Be careful to keep the weight down where possible, whilst carrying everything necessary. Every small item adds up and water adds considerable weight. Your bag will likely weigh around 7-10kg once full.
- Water (guide will indicate volume needed each day and refill locations)
- Snacks (replenish at night from porter bag)
- Waterproof Trousers & Jacket
- Spare warm clothes, gloves, hat (guide will advise you what you need at evening briefings as this varies according to weather and elevation)
- Sun cream & SPF lip protection
- Sunhat & Sunglasses
- Buff/bandana
- Valuables e.g. tip money, passport, credit card
- Small first aid kit including personal medication, blister treatment; oral dehydration; painkillers & anti-inflammations; diarrhea tablets; throat lozenges, etc. (replenish at night as required)
- Hygiene kit – tissue, wet-wipes, antibacterial gel, biodegradable diaper bags to put tissue in whilst on the trail (to be disposed of later at camp) (replenish at night)
- Mosquito repellent (first and last day only)
- Walking poles (optional)
- Camera (optional)
- Mobile phone (optional)
- Solar charger (optional)
Ensure day-pack contents are waterproof, using a rain cover, dry bags/rubble sacks.
Our equipment list includes everything you need for summit night and will give you the flexibility to adjust layers according to the temperature. When you start climbing on summit night you may not be that cold, but the temperature drops considerably through the night, even more so if you are exposed to the wind. Once the sun rises you need to take layers off again.
Our guides recommend the following:
- Lower Body: warm socks; thermal leggings; thick walking trousers/fleece trousers; waterproof trousers (for wind rather than rain).
- Upper Body: a short-sleeved base layer; long-sleeved thin base layer; long-sleeved mid layer; microfleece; warmer fleece; down jacket; hat & gloves.
You don’t need to wear your waterproof jacket if it’s not raining, but it needs to fit over your layers if it is!
Kilimanjaro FAQs
Safety
We offer excellent client-to-guide ratios, therefore if someone cannot continue, one of our guides will descend with them while the rest of the party continues.
Equipment
Gaiters stop water entering your walking boots if it rains; protect your trousers from damage, especially in scree; stop dust and scree entering your boots, especially on the descent from the summit; and protect your legs from nettles in the rainforest.
You are unlikely to come into contact with many animals on the mountain. As the number of climbers has increased over the years, the animals have retreated. You may see Colobus and Blue monkeys in the rainforest along with a variety of birds. Large white-necked ravens and four striped mice scavenge in camps. Malachite Sun-birds are often seen and heard in the heath and moorland zone and the national park is working hard to encourage native rodents around the Shira Plateau.
At the base of the mountain, average temperatures are 70 to 90°F (21 to 32°C) throughout the year. On the summit, temperatures range from -10 to 23°F (-23 to -5°C) with windchill. Weather is changeable, and you should be prepared for these extremes. Your guide will help you decide on appropriate clothing in a detailed daily briefing.
There are many videos online that make the Barranco Wall look incredibly exposed. However, while the wall is a scramble and will require you to use your hands, it is not a technical climb and no ropes are needed. Our guides are very skilled at helping people when they are nervous and most people who think they’ll be scared find they are absolutely fine. There is a footpath all the way up.
Only the Marangu Route goes up and down the same way, which we don’t recommend. Lemosho, Machame, and the Northern Circuit Route descend via the Mweka Route, which is used only for descent and food re-supply to the camps. Rongai descends via the Marangu Route. Descent routes are more direct, whereas ascent routes pass over ridges and valleys to allow your body to better acclimatize.
Our climbs have an arrival and departure day built-in. We recommend arriving at least one day early to give your body time to adjust to any time difference and recuperate from the journey. It also gives you a buffer in case a flight is canceled or delayed, or bags are lost or delayed.
If you arrive late the night before the climb you will miss our pre-climb briefing. We can arrange another briefing the morning of your climb; however, we suggest you plan to arrive earlier in the day or travel the day before. This way you have time to relax and recuperate for your climb.
Our emergency numbers +255 748 384 340 is available 24/7.
Once you are settled in Arusha your head guide will come to meet you for a full mountain briefing. They will check your equipment and help hire anything additional you might need. Whilst we realize some people have a lot of hiking experience, for many of our climbers this is not the case. It’s also a chance to meet other climbers in your group. During the briefing, your guide will discuss plans and logistics for the first day of your climb, amongst other important information to help you prepare.
On the majority of Kilimanjaro Routes, you’ll climb 4-7 hours most days, aside from summit day which will likely be 10-15 hours. There are a few days where climb are longer, extending to as much as 10-11 hours for those climbers who need to take their time! This is generally only one or two days in addition to the summit and not on the day immediately before your summit attempt.
Distances vary according to the route. Total distances covered range from around 30 to 60 miles (48-97 kilometers) in total, but often feel different at altitude.
It depends on how strong you’re feeling after the summit, but most climbers are back in Arusha around late afternoon.
Our crew all receive fair salaries; however, they also rely on the income they receive from tips. Our tipping guidelines are in line with KPAP and are recommended guidelines only. Below are standard tipping recommendations to be split between everyone in your group. We prefer you to distribute tips to crew members individually and directly at a ceremony held at the end of your climb. It is a good idea to bring some notes in lower denominations to assist with splitting funds. We will provide a tipping guide with specific crew numbers at your briefing, with envelopes to help you separate money into individual amounts.
Head Guide: | USD$20 per day |
Assistant Guide(s): | USD$12 per day |
Cook(s): | USD$12 per day |
Porters: | USD$5-7 per day |
In order to help you calculate a rough total tipping amount, we work with ratios of at least one guide per two clients and approximately four porters per client. Please remember porters carry food, gas, tents, etc. in addition to your personal luggage.
Beyond your climb, you will find people helping you with various other tasks. For example, there may be a porter at the airport to help carry your bag to the vehicle. At the lodge, someone may help bring your bags to your room. Whilst tipping is not culturally expected in these situations, it is appreciated and is worth having some USD$1 notes available for this.
On the first day of your climb, you are likely to lose signal before reaching the gate and will not regain it until day two. From then onwards, for most Kilimanjaro Routes, you will find the signal at some point, and sometimes even in camp. On the Rongai route and Northern Circuit reception can be more limited and tends to be via Kenyan networks, as the routes pass close to the border.
You don’t need to be an athlete or have experience with technical mountaineering, but you do need to be active, committed to training, and ready for a challenge! The trails can be very steep at points. You will find training recommendations here.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is an incredible adventure, but we realize all the information can feel overwhelming! If you have any questions at all, no matter how small, please feel free to email our team on nduwatours@outlook.com & nduwatours@gmail.com . We’re excited to be a part of your adventure!