The Real Cost of Climbing Kilimanjaro
For any trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, there are various fixed costs to any operator:
Kilimanjaro National Park Fees
Kilimanjaro National Park imposes fees on both visitors and crew. These can be broken down into the following:
Conservation Fees – The Kilimanjaro authority collects fees per day you spend inside the park. Example On a 7 day Machame climb, the conservation fees total $490 ($70 x 7 days).
Campsite Fees on Machame route, Lemosho route, Rongai route, Northern circuit (or huts on Marangu route) fees – $50 to $60 per night per person. Example On a 7 day Machame climb, the camping fees are $300 ($50 x 6 nights).
Rescue fees – $20 per person per trip (this doesn’t include helicopter rescue, and we don’t rely on the National Park rescue service)
Guide & Porter Entrance Fees – $2 per staff person per trip
Taxes & VAT – 18% of services. The Tanzanian government charges 18% VAT to all Kilimanjaro operators.
The cost to an operator can easily be around $160-200 per climber, per night, in Park Fees alone. So if it’s too cheap, where are they making savings?
Staff Wages
Staff wages amount to around $100-$180 per climber per day depending on the group size.
Staff wages are a considerable cost and making savings here directly takes money out of the pockets of the lowest-paid people on the mountain. Making sure the porters and guides have proper gear and training is a significant cost to any Kilimanjaro reputable operator.
Every year we hear stories of unscrupulous operators relying on the high unemployment rate in Tanzania to staff their climbs with desperate porters who agree to work for no salary, in the hope of a tip at the end.
Food, Water and Transportation cost
Food shopping costs about $10-$20 per climber per day includes food for staff and Transportation costs are about $100 per Kilimanjaro trip depending on the route choice
While the cost of food in Tanzania is not high, it still has to be carried up the mountain, stored in safe and sanitary conditions, and prepared by well-trained mountain chefs. On the longer routes, we may need to resupply with fresh produce a few days into the trek.
We don’t compromise on food quality to save money. We understand different dietary requirements and how to fulfill them.
Equipment
Gear and equipment on the mountain take a battering. You want to be sure that your operator maintains all gear to a high standard, replacing it frequently. When you choose a climb, you want to be sure you’re getting:
Solid, well-maintained 4-season tents, suitable for mountain conditions.
Proper dining tent with table and chairs
Toilet and toilet tent (if applicable)
Spare gear in case of damage
You’ll also want to know that your crew has proper trekking gear and sleeping conditions.
Guide to Climber & Porter to Climber Ratio
Urth Expedition is a specialist outfitter dedicated to leading clients on Mount Kilimanjaro. We provide one professional, a trained mountain guide for every two climbers. This ratio allows for safe monitoring of all our climbers and good management in and around camp. We’ve seen groups of 8 climbers with one guide, which might save money but possibly at the higher cost of safety.
When you see the amount of equipment that needs to be carried up the mountain, from the tents to the kitchen equipment, toilet facilities and food you’ll realize why we need a very large team of porters.
There are strict weight limits imposed by the National Parks Authority on how much an individual porter is allowed to carry. This is quite often ignored, in an attempt to cut costs, and results in porters being overloaded. As part of our commitment to porter welfare, we strictly limit the loads they carry.
Usually, there are around 3-4 porters per climber. This ratio varies depending on the route and the length of the climb.
Your Safety
Guide Training
Experience is important, but so is training. Your guide needs to know how to conduct daily health checks, recognize the early signs of altitude sickness, and know how to use everything in their medical kits.
Top-quality guides know their worth and don’t come cheap. An attempt to save money by employing untrained guides can be catastrophic in the event of an emergency.
Medical Kit & Evacuation Procedure
Essential, well-maintained safety equipment, and proper processes in place in the case of an emergency:
Pulse Oximeter for daily monitoring
Training in the use of the Lake Louise Scoring System for Altitude symptoms
Emergency oxygen & how/when to use it
Stretcher for evacuation if a climber can’t walk
Medical kit, replenished regularly
Knowledge of when to call for helicopter rescue and how to stabilize a patient before they arrive
A note on Teamwork
Teamwork is very important, particularly in the case of an emergency. Building a team of porters and guides who all work well together ensures the efficient running of the camp, and in the event of an emergency, a well-rehearsed evacuation procedure.
Your Comfort
The quality of equipment and food has a big impact on your comfort, and enjoyment of your climb. If you can’t sleep because you’ve got an old tent that leaks and the food you’ve eaten is sub-standard and unappetizing, this will compromise your chances of summit success.
Days on the trail can be tough, and part of your recovery is being able to relax and be comfortable in camp. Camping needn’t be a hardship, but it starts by investing in the right equipment and gear.
Environmental & Personal Impact
With the rise in tourism in Kilimanjaro, there’s also the environmental impact. All rubbish has to be carried off the mountain, and this comes at a cost. Part of a well-run operation is educating the crew about conservation and having rigorous policies about reducing waste and “leave no trace” principles.
The increase in popularity of climbing Kilimanjaro has brought opportunities for employment to the area, but this has led to some unscrupulous employment practices. A happy crew equals a happy climber.
Kilimanjaro Route Choice
There are seven hiking Kilimanjaro routes that lead you to the summit of Kilimanjaro Uhuru Peak. The route you choose will also affect how much your climb costs. Longer routes, with more days on the mountain, increase your chances of summit success by having a better acclimatization protocol. Some people try to save on the cost by opting for the shortest route possible.
If your goal is to reach the summit, then you need to give your body a chance to adapt to the altitude and acclimatize properly. It’s not much good if you’ve booked a five-day climb and have to turn back on day 3 with altitude sickness.
For this reason, Urth Expedition does not offer the five-day Marangu route, as for most hikers it gives insufficient time for acclimatization and as a result, has a much lower summit success rate.
Urth Expedition recommends 6 days as a minimum, but 7-8 days on the mountain gives you the best acclimatization protocol and offers the highest chance of a safe and successful summit.
Route Duration Description Success rate Lemosho route 7-8 days. Arguably the most beautiful route to ascend Kilimanjaro. It’s popular, but not as crowded as the Machame route. High Machame Route 6-8 days. The most popular Mount Kilimanjaro route. Very Scenic Route and has acclimatization advantage, hike high sleep low High Marangu Route 5-6 days the only route on Mount Kilimanjaro that has hut accommodation. Not very scenic. Low Rongai Route 6-7 day Rongai route ascends Kilimanjaro from the north-eastern side of the mountain, along the border between Kenya and Tanzania. It’s the easiest route and best during rain season Medium Northern Circuit 9-10 days the newest and longest Mount Kilimanjaro route. It’s very scenic and is one of the least crowded routes. High Umbwe Route 5-6 days shortest, steepest and hardest of all Mount Kilimanjaro routes. For experienced hikes low
Before the Kilimanjaro Climb
In addition to the cost of your climb, there are other costs involved in climbing Kilimanjaro, that you’ll need to budget for:
Gear cost
See Climbing Kilimanjaro gear list for everything you’ll need to bring with you. Chances are, you’ve got some items in your closet already, but if you’ve never been hiking before you’ll be starting from the beginning.
Keeping an eye on REI, Moosejaw, Backcountry, and Amazon for sales, buying last year’s kit from Steep & Cheap are some ways to save money. Renting a kit that you’re unlikely to use again is a good idea for expensive items such as sleeping bags, or down jackets.
Depending on what you’ve got already and how good you are at hunting down bargains, you’ll probably need to budget $500-800 for good quality trekking gear.
Airfares & Visa Fees
How you get to Kilimanjaro is another expense. We recommend you book well in advance to secure your airline tickets, and check your visa requirements so there are no last-minute surprises. Visas for most overseas visitors are not free, so you’ll either need to arrange one in advance or pay at the airport (if possible).
Medical Checkup & Vaccinations
Tanzania requires all travelers to have a yellow fever certificate if arriving from a country at risk of the disease. You’ll need to make an appointment at your local travel clinic, or with your physician to determine what vaccinations you’ll need.
You might also need malaria prophylaxis, and the recommended brand, Malarone, is often surprisingly expensive.
Travel Insurance cost
You’ll need adequate travel insurance to cover you for all eventualities including cancellation, lost luggage, and most importantly medical evacuation and treatment in the event of an emergency on the mountain.
Kilimanjaro helicopter rescue service operates out of Moshi to provide emergency evacuation in the case of injury on the mountain, altitude sickness, or other illness. Your travel insurance needs to cover you for trekking to 6,000 meters and emergency evacuation. ( update Feb. 2021- SARS is currently not operating on the mountain)
Tips for your Crew
Some people question why you need to leave tips for your crew if you’ve already paid for your climb. Once you see how hard your team works, how they’re up before dawn to cook and serve breakfast. How they break camp after you leave, then do it all over again in the afternoon, and go to bed much later than you, you’ll be happy to show your appreciation.
We recommend you tip at the end of your climb, not during, and any gifts of old clothes or boots are always welcome.
Incidentals before & after your Kilimanjaro climb
Our climbs include two night’s accommodation before you set off and one night in the end. If you want to arrive earlier to get used to the time difference, then this will be an additional cost. You’ll need to budget for any alcohol purchases, souvenirs, meals out, and incidentals while you’re traveling.
Kilimanjaro Tours Prices
Route DurationPrice *Lemosho 7 days $2,850, Lemosho 8 days $3,190, Machame 7 days $3,090, Northern Circuit 9 days $3,880, Marangu 6 days $2,670, Rongai 7 days $3,150, Mount Meru Climb 4 days $1,050
How Much Does it Cost to Climb Kilimanjaro Conclusion?
Ultimately, who you climb with is your decision, we hope we’ve given you enough information to make an informed choice and an understanding of the costs involved. Why “cheap” often comes at a very high price in terms of your safety (and the safety of your crew). We at Urth Expedition have worked hard to cost our Kilimanjaro climbs competitively without compromising on safety and comfort for all involve
“You never know what’s around the corner. It could be everything. Or it could be nothing. You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you’ve climbed a mountain.”