

How to climb Kilimanjaro
There are 7 established routes to trek Mt. Kili. Each route features varying trekking grades that will suit every visitor’s abilities. Whether you’re a novice traveler with zero climbing experience or a trained mountain climber who’ve conquered multiple peaks across the globe, Kilimanjaro has something in store for you!
Check out the routes to trek Kili, and all the basic 411 you need to know (Click to enlarge):
Is there an age restriction to climbing Kilimanjaro?
YES. 10 years old is the minimum age allowed to climb Kilimanjaro. BUT if you’re bringing a child under 10 and the child is:
- ◉ able to acclimatize well,
- ◉ equipped with notable climbing or hiking experience,
- ◉ to be accompanied by a seasoned trekker,
you are welcome to attain approval for exceptions from Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. There have been instances where they granted the approval. In fact, the youngest person to ever climb Kilimanjaro is 7 years old. The oldest is 87.
Is it possible to climb Kili without a guide?
NO. The government of Tanzania as well as the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority regulated the policy on unsupported treks to Mount Kilimanjaro, mandating all climbers to register with the Authorities and and be accompanied by a registered licensed guide.
Appropriate camping gears and cooking equipment are also required. Climbers will also have porters and a support crew, depending on the number of climbers in a group. Budget treks offered by tour operators usually involve lesser people on the team which means porters may not be available and climbers may need to actually help carry the gears and cooking equipment. To maintain safety during the trek and increase the chance of reaching the summit successfully, each trekker is only allowed to carry up to 12 kg.
Looking for the most ideal tour operator to take you to a greater height of adventure? Contact me for honest recommendations.
When is the best time to climb Mount Kili?
Being a year-round destination, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is excellent at anytime of the year. But of course, considering the weather among other factors, the best time to trek the mountain is when chance of precipitation is low. Trekkers and guides recommend between January and February or July to October. To summarize, here’s a month-by-month run-through:
How much will a trek to Kilimanjaro cost?
The cost to climb Mount Kilimanjaro varies, and factors like the route, number of people on your support crew and number of people in your group affect the pricing. Typically, a climb costs about $1500 to $4000 (£1077 to £2870) or more per person sans the tips and other special orders. Park entrance fee, camping fee and taxes alone cost an average of $185 per day. But then again, the adventure that awaits is one that couldn’t be paid, right?
For Visas and Entry Requirements, refer to their official website here or here. Also, don’t forget to check travel advisories as well as CDC.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I receive requests for articles, queries for travel, feedback from experiences and even some updates from the locals about Kilimanjaro on almost a weekly basis. One thing I learned? The mountain is what mountain climbing dreams are made of! So yes, I haven’t climbed the iconic Kili yet, but rest assured that the info on this guide is based on factual details from local guides and tour operators as well as real experiences from actual travelers as my work circles around these things. When I do get the chance to go, you can definitely count on me to blog about every single detail 😉 For now, I hope this info helps! 🙂
Last update: September 2018
“…as wide as all the world, great, high and unbelievably white in the sun”
~ Ernest Hemingway, The Snows of Kilimanjaro ~