Mount Kilimanjaro is, at 19,340 feet above sea level and the highest peak on the continent of Africa is located in Northeast Tanzania, near the Tanzania and Amboseli Kenya border. Mount Kilimanjaro towers 19, 340 feet above the surrounding arid plains, and 2.5 square miles of its surface. Mt Kilimanjaro Tanzania is the highest freestanding mountain (not part of a range) in the world. Mount Kilimanjaro summit crater known as Kibo measures 1.5 miles across. The highest point on Kibo's steep rim is Uhuru, the highest peak in Africa. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest Mountain in Africa and fourth highest of the Seven Summits. Mt Kilimanjaro highest point the Mt Kilimanjaro Uhuru Peak is raised to an altitude of 5,895 m (19,341 ft) AMSL (Above Mean Sea Level). Mount Kilimanjaro is composed of three distinct volcanic cones: Kibo 5,895 m (19,341 ft); Mawenzi 5,149 m (16,893 ft); and Shira 3,962 m (13,000 ft). Uhuru Peak is the highest summit on Kibo's crater rim. Mount Kilimanjaro is a giant stratovolcano that began forming a million years ago, when lava spilled from the Rift Valley zone. Two of its three peaks, Mawenzi and Shira, are extinct while Kibo (the highest peak) is dormant and could erupt again. Though it is dormant Mount Kilimanjaro has fumaroles that emit gas in the crater on the main summit of Kibo. The Early maps of Mount Kilimanjaro were published in 1963, based on air photography; these were on a scale of 1:50,000, Tourist mapping of Mount Kilimanjaro was first in 1989 based on the original mapping, this Mount Kilimanjaro Maps are available online in many Mt Kilimanjaro Websites. There are six official Mt Kilimanjaro routes by which to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, namely: Mt Kilimanjaro Marangu Route, Mt Kilimanjaro Rongai Route, Mt Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route, Mt Kilimanjaro Shira Route, Mt Kilimanjaro Umbwe and Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route. Of all the climbing routes in Mount Kilimanjaro, Machame  Route is the most scenic route up the Mount Kilimanjaro Peak and you can climb in six or seven days. Mountain climbers who wish to climb Kilimanjaro are advised to undertake Mountain climbing research and ensure that they are properly equipped and physically capable. Though the Mt Kilimanjaro climb is not as challenging as climbing Himalayas, the altitude, low temperature, and occasional high winds make Mount Kilimanjaro trekking a difficult and dangerous trek. Mount Kilimanjaro acclimatisation is essential and most experienced Mt Kilimanjaro climbers suffer considerable discomfort of altitude sickness, typically shortage of breath, hypothermia and headaches. Tanzania High-altitude climbing clubs have criticized Tanzania for charging Mt Kilimanjaro climbing fees for each day spent on Mountain Kilimanjaro, this encourages Mt climbers to climb Mount Kilimanjaro rapidly to save money. The rate of Kilimanjaro ascent on all Kilimanjaro climbs is much faster than the recommended 500m per day and many Mt climbers summit without problems is due to the fact that having reached the summit the Mount Kilimanjaro descends very quick preventing effects of altitude. For a climber in Mount Kilimanjaro, the golden Mount climbing rules are to climb Mt Kili as slowly and make sure everyday you climb Kilimanjaro to a point higher than where you sleep, this means reaching Mt Kilimanjaro camp and climbing higher for an hour before descending Mount Kilimanjaro for supper. The Machame route does have the major advantage of having several days when you go up and down as part of the route and this is the main reason why this route has such a high success rate. Expert Mount Kilimanjaro Safaris Companies have expressed concern over the Tanzania Mount Climbers that perceives Mountain Kilimanjaro as an easy climb, this is not the case, Most Mount Kilimanjaro climbers Tanzania requires attention during the climbs and many are forced to abandon the Tanzania Mt Kili climb, many are encouraged to join mountain climbing groups without being made aware of the physical demands of the climb, although many Mt Kilimanjaro climbing safaris companies and tour operators flaunt high success rates for reaching the summit, Kilimanjaro National Park shows only 30% of Mt Kili climbers actually reach the Uhuru summit with many of climbers turning around at Gilman’s Point, 300 metres short of Uhuru, or Stella Point, 200 meters short of Uhuru. Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari is underestimated because it is not a technical climb. However, many mountaineers consider Kilimanjaro a very physically demanding climb, many Mount Kilimanjaro climbers have died to date climbing Kilimanjaro than Mount Everest but Everest is attempted by significantly fewer climbers. In August 2007 four climbers died within a week underscoring that climbing Tanzania Mount Kilimanjaro it should not be taken casually. Multiple people (climbers, porters, and guides) die on the mountain each year. The majority of these deaths are porters, from hypothermia.
Mt Kilimanjaro Climbers fall on steep portions of the mountain, and rock slides have killed climbers. For this reason, the Mt Kilimanjaro route via the Arrow Glacier was closed for several years. It re-opened in December 2007, but the Mt Kilimanjaro Park officials advise against taking that route and tell climbers that they can climb, but at their own risk. When attempting the Mt Kilimanjaro Arrow Glacier route, climbers must leave early in the morning and make it past the rock face before mid-afternoon as when the sun comes out, unfrozen rock slides become quite common. Being a sky island Kilimanjaro has many Vegetation species including the giant groundsels in the tussock grassland and other plants adapted to living in alpine conditions. Kilimanjaro has a large variety of forest types over an altitudinal range of 3,000 m (9,843 ft) containing over 1,200 vascular plant species. Montane Ocotea forests occur on the wet southern slope of both animals and humans on the African landscape. Mountain Kilimanjaro in Tanzania rises from its base, and approximately 5,100 m (16,732 ft) from the plains near Moshi. Kibo is capped by an almost symmetrical cone with scarps rising 180 to 200 m on the south side. In the late 1880s the summit of Kibo was completely covered by an ice cap with outlet glaciers cascading down the western and southern slopes, and, except for the inner cone, the entire caldera was buried. Glacier ice flowed also through the Western Breech. Have you ever fantasized about standing on top of the world? Every year thousand of mountain climbers undertake Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Safaris and turn it into an adventure, before being opened as Mount Kilimanjaro national park in 1977, Mount Kilimanjaro was a game reserve. In fact, even today the abundance of elephants, rhinos, baboons, gazelles and hippos remain in residence. Although a popular climbing destination, Kilimanjaro is also an amazing destination for those with a passion for wildlife. Unlike most other Africa Mountains, Mt Kili Africa is accessible to any mountain climber with a moderate fitness level; no previous mountain climbing in Africa experience is required. The reason for this is because the Mt Kilimanjaro ascent is more like one long gentle hike rather than a climb requiring Mountain Climbing equipments pitons, ropes and ice axes. That’s not to say that you should equate Mount Kilimanjaro hiking safari with a walk in the park. Mount Kilimanjaro trekking safari take between five and eight safaris days and you’ll be trekking for between six and eight hours per day. Fortunately, you won’t have to carry all your Mt Kili equipment, as all Mount Kilimanjaro tour operators use porters for the heavy luggage. Over the past few years, the Kilimanjaro National Park has tightened climbing regulations to control the many climbers on Mount Kilimanjaro climbing safari who tour the mountain each year and damage the mountain and its fragile environment. If you want to undertake an Mt Kilimanjaro climbing safari you will have to book the hike through a tour operator in Mount Kili. Many tour operators in Kilimanjaro like climbers to go for a physical check-up before booking Mt Kilimanjaro climbing safaris, to ensure that there are no hidden problems and that they are at least moderately fit enough to reach the summit (bringing parties to the summit is a matter of pride for tour operators). In terms of fitness, it’s not necessary to embark on a fully fledged fitness regime before you fly out to Tanzania, but it doesn’t hurt to try and build up your lung capacity, get your heart used to physical activity, build up some leg (particularly calf) strength and, most importantly, break in your boots. The best times to book climbing safari to Mount Kilimanjaro are between mid-December and February, and June to September. Peak seasons are Christmas and the summer months of the northern hemisphere. The mountain Kilimanjaro is less crowded in mid-February and late September/early October. If you want a more extreme experience, however, you can climb any time from March to June, which is the heavy rain season. Climbing safaris to Mount Kilimanjaro are no easy feat, nor is it particularly cheap, but it is certainly doable and undoubtedly cheaper than scaling Mt Everest. The advantage is that you can bask in the same sense of achievement and enjoy the same wonder at nature as if you had slogged up the tallest mountain in the world. What’s more, you’ll be in a better condition to appreciate it. Without following designated Mt Kili routes it can be difficult for a Climber on Mount Kilimanjaro Climb Safari to reach the summit, many Europeans attempted. Take these vivid examples; finally Rebmann was the first European to have sighted Mt. Kilimanjaro in 1848, and it was not until 1889 when Hans Meyer climbed the summit. Mountain climbing safari is exhilarating, beautiful and challenging. As thousands of Tourists climb to Mt. Kilimanjaro every year, our Mountain climbing guide gains experience, explore and narrate all what is new in Mt. Kilimanjaro geology, Forests, wild animals, weather, and tips on successful climbing to the top. If you have not planned to Hike Mount Kilimanjaro and climb Mount Kilimanjaro, plan it now! You need to witness the Climatic change and its effects. Don’t wait to be told or just read as History from Mount Kilimanjaro Books. A little more legend about this Highest Volcanic Mountain which is crowned by Snow! Other names for this volcano are: Kilima Dscharo, Oldoinyo Oibor (White Mountain in Masai), and Kilima Njaro meaning shining mountain in Swahili. The Mount Kilimanjaro lowlands and even relatively high sheltered valleys can reach temperatures as high as 30 degree centigrade by day, night time temperatures generally fall below zero and even -20 degree centigrade. The cloud cover over the rain forest tends to be denser. In Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park must be noted that Kilimanjaro has a typical montane climate –unpredictable even in the ‘driest ‘season. A bright clear morning on Shira Plateau can turn to rain and Sleet in the Afternoon as the hot air rises from the lowland valleys and gathers moisture from the rainforest. Get prepared for high altitude sun that can burn the skin severely and for cold nights that demand four season sleeping bags and good thermal clothing. Today the main African Tribe to inhabit the Kilimanjaro foothill region is the Wachagga People. Most importantly they from the largest tribal group involved in the Operation of Kilimanjaro climbs. Wachagga are adapted so well and so cheerfully to the task of guiding and looking after the “Wageni or Wazungu” as they pour into Tanzanian their thousands to climb the big Mountain. It is clearly narrated in many Literature that the First White Man (European) –Hans Meyer to conquer Mt. Kilimanjaro in the year 1889 was led by Chagga Guide (Mr.YOHANA LAUWO) to the Top 5895m/19340ft. Kilimanjaro Trails. The Marangu Route is the most popular mountain climbing safari Route, because it provides hut accommodations and is short and steep, appealing to travelers wishing to save time and money. Honestly, we think that is a bit crazy. The rest are done by camping at mountain campsites though out the hiking. The number of days on Mount Kilimanjaro hiking safaris also varies on how fast you want to do it and from Route to route. The shortest hiking being the 5 days via Marangu Route. This Marangu Route and any other route is however done best by allowing a day of acclimatization which reduces the chances of developing mountain health complications and also enhances the chances of reaching the ultimate goal, the Summit, Uhuru Point.

Mt Kilimanjaro Safaris tours Operators. (You don't need this on the Marangu route as accommodation is in Mountain Huts. You still need a good sleeping bag, though...)
Invest in a good sleeping bag that's rated for at least -10°C/four seasons. Down sleeping bags are great. They are light, pack down small and definitely keep you warm at night, but down is of course expensive. Again, you can usually hire sleeping bags, since the real warm ones don't come cheap and most people will not need theirs again after Mount Kilimanjaro holiday. A sleeping bag liner can help with temperatures. We have a silk liner and it makes a huge difference at the higher camps. We wake up every time it slips of my shoulders. A liner is also good for people who are squeamish about renting a sleeping bag. (Or if you plan to backpack through Tanzania before or after and stay in more dubious accommodation...) You can also get more expensive fleecy liners that are made specifically for warmth and are made from the same material as the filling of synthetic sleeping bags. They may be a good option if you already have a good three season’s bag.  The most important piece of equipment for Kilimanjaro is a pair of good Mount Kilimanjaro trekking boots. Some people recommend leather, Read More

Mount Kilimanjaro Rescue                   Mount Kilimanjaro climbing is an ultimate challenge of life for both first time and regular climbers. Kilimanjaro unlike other mountains in the world has funny weather to share. In the lowland of Moshi town and around Marangu and other entrance gates the weather is tropical (the temperature ranges from 20 o c - 20o c) and much sun on the day. As you climb the altitude changes and here is when the drama starts (at the summit 5o c and below). The Kilimanjaro weather therefore gradually changes and might bring about altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is caused by the failure of the body to adapt quickly enough to the reduced level of oxygen in the air as one gains altitude. It is likely that you will experience some form of mild altitude sickness on a high mountain climbing. Mount Kilimanjaro Search & Mount Kilimanjaro Rescue is probably among the top three principal concerns that every Mt Kilimanjaro climber has when they start to ponder an expedition. This concern becomes acute when planning a Mountain climbing to somewhere like Kilimanjaro, and this thanks mainly to the fact that developing world standards can never be wholly relied upon. Even bringing to bear criticism is a bit of a minefield, and the best efforts of any individual operator are bound to some degree to be premised on the permission and facilitation of the local governing authority. On the Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes

Lemosho Route Mount Kilimanjaro  
 The concept of Lemosho Route to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro is a relatively new option, one that quickly became popular once established. Truly speaking not all of Lemosho Route is new. It is a variation of the Shira route. A lot of Mount Kilimanjaro trekking Companies even call the Lemosho Shira, to stress that you walk across the Shira Plateau. Read their detailed route description to find out which route exactly you will be on. Only the first two to three days of the two routes are different. But what a difference! The Lemosho Route is the most scenic Kilimanjaro route, from the first day to the last. The trail begins north of Shira, also on the western side of the mountain. But unlike the Shira Route, where for the first day you walk on a wide 4 WD road, Lemosho is a narrow wilderness trail right from the beginning, passing through pristine and remote rainforest with good chances of seeing wildlife. It then crosses the Shira Plateau before joining the Machame Route near the Lava Tower. Luckily, despite its growing popularity (especially with second time Kilimanjaro Mountain climbers), Lemosho sees a very low number of Mountaineers and there is still a massive gap between Marangu Route and the Machame Route, the two really crowded routes, and all the others. There is an obvious reason why the numbers on Lemosho will always remain much lower than on Marangu or Machame: it's not the cheapest option, Starting your climb on the western side means paying for extra transport, Using a longer trail means paying for an extra day or several on the mountain and climbing a less trafficked route means higher prices due to less competition from budget cheap Mount Kilimanjaro tour operators. The Lemosho Route is also a fairly demanding route, due to both the nature of the terrain and the duration of the trail. On the plus side Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route offers the best chances of any route to acclimatize to the altitude and with that much better summit chances. The fact that you are likely to climb this route with expert Kilimanjaro tour operators also means your success chances are much better than average. And if your safari operator in Mount Kilimanjaro has developed your safari itinerary in a way that avoids the big traffic surges on the Machame trail (some operators do) you will have a great climb all the way, on the most scenic route, without the crowds that plague the popular trails. There are several possible variations to the Kilimanjaro Lemosho routes, so don't be surprised if you see an itinerary that mentions different camps – Read More

Mount Kilimanjaro Shira route
The Shira route is a path that approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, and Shira route nearly identical to the Lemosho route. In fact, Shira route was the original route and Lemosho Route Mount Kilimanjaro is the improved variation. While Lemosho Route starts at Londorossi Gate and treks through the rain forest to Shira Camp, the Shira route bypasses this walk by using a Safari vehicle to transport Mountain climbers to Shira Gate, located near the Shira Ridge. On the first day on the mountain, a Mountain climber to Shira Route begin their hike from 11,800 feet (3,600 m) and spend their first night at the same elevation at Simba Camp. Then, the route merges with Lemosho at Shira 2 and follows the southern circuit route, traversing beneath the Southern Ice fields before summiting from Barafu Camp. Descent is made on the Mweka route. Although Shira is a varied and beautiful route, Lemosho is recommended over Shira due to the high altitude of Shira starting point. It is possible that climbers will experience altitude related symptoms on the first day due to failed acclimatization. Climbers using Shira should be confident of their ability to acclimatize. Both the Shira Plateau and Lemosho trails involve a crossing of the expansive Shira Plateau which stretches out for around 13km to the west of Kibo. This plateau is actually a caldera, a collapsed volcanic crater: when you are walking on the plateau, you are walking on the remains of the first of Kilimanjaro three volcanoes to expire, around 500,000 years ago; it was then filled by the lava and debris from the later Kibo eruption. The Shira plateau has a reputation for its fauna, largely thanks to its proximity to Amboseli National Park in Kenya from where herds of elephant, eland, buffalo, and big cats such as the lion have been known to wander, and there for booked as Amboseli safari package. Indeed, not so many years ago Mount Kilimanjaro trekkers on these routes had to be accompanied by an armed ranger (for which they had to pay) to protect them against encounters with Wildlife. That said you will be very, very lucky to see any evidence of wildlife existing on the plateau, save for the odd hoof print or two and the occasional sun-dried lumps of scat and spoor. So while the proximity of Africa’s finest wild beasts adds a certain frisson of excitement to the walk, don’t choose either of these trails purely on the strength of their reputation for spotting game: it’s an awful long way to come just to see some desiccated elephant shit. Climbing Kilimanjaro Shira Route means to invest some huge budget. The Shira route safari is one of the two longer Kilimanjaro climb routes that start on Read More

Umbwe Route Mount Kilimanjaro
The Umbwe Route is seldom used these days as a Mount Kilimanjaro ascent thanks to the fact that it has probably the steepest initial climb, and as one of the least developed of the main trails is given on occasions to be a rough scramble over tree roots and slippery gradients. Up to the point of Barranco Camp the trail is direct and unrelenting, and is about as close as Kilimanjaro comes to a technical climb. The upside of choosing Umbwe Route is that, apart from the odd party opting for this trail as a descent route, you will rarely come across a climbing party, and the views from the Umbwe Trail, in particular on the second day as you traverse a narrow ridge in the heather fields, are second only to the vistas that spread forth from the summit. Umbwe Gate 1661m (5449ft) to Umbwe Cave Campsite 2850m (9350ft) Umbwe Gate is the closest trailhead to Moshi so an early and usually uncomplicated start is possible. The initial hike is through the cultivated fringe the rings the mountain, and is mainly a landscape of small gardens, banana groves and patchwork fields. It is a relief to break out of this, step off what in effect is a 4×4 track, and plunge into the cloud forest proper. Before reaching the campsite the trail emerges from the forest, and a brief traverse through the heather belt follows. Umbwe is a route that holds the note as being the steepest and most difficult route on Kilimanjaro. However, since the scenery – in our eyes – is far more dramatic than that of other routes, with far more extremes, the Umbwe route counts as one of our favorites. It is certainly a route to be considered by the more adventurous mountain groups and extreme bush-walkers who like a challenge or two.  There are no Kilimanjaro park gates at the beginning of the trail-head so it starts with a small de-tour to the Machame Gate for registration and park formalities but after you return and head into the afromontane forest the mountain silence will envelope you only to be broken by the reverberating grind of black and white colobus monkeys or the loud guttural call of the Hartlaub’s Turaco as it flashes it wings whilst clipping through the over head canopy. The track is very scenic throughout, with giant stands of Senecio and pristine heather zones; as the Umbwe route is an ascent route only (descent only for rescue purposes) your party can find themselves trekking alone over the first two days before joining onto the popular Machame route a short distance below Lava tower. Umbwe Route is widely regarded as the hardest Mount Kilimanjaro trail, a tough vertical slog through the jungle, in places Read More

Mount Kilimanjaro Guides and Porters
 Those who have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro know that the Mount Kilimanjaro porters and Mount Kilimanjaro Guides are the heart and soul of your Mount Kilimanjaro trek. Without their hard work and strength we would not be able to fully experience the magnificence of Mt Kili. But the truth is Guides and porters in Mount Kilimanjaro are often impoverished Tanzanians who depend on this labor-intensive employment in order to feed themselves and their families. Mount Kilimanjaro Guide and Porters can be severely underpaid and many climb Kilimanjaro without adequate clothing, footwear, or equipment. Like climbers, porters can suffer from altitude sickness and hypothermia. In fact, in September 2002 three porters died of hypothermia when a late season storm hit Mount Kilimanjaro.  The importance of your Mount Kilimanjaro Porter and Guides cannot be underestimated. A quality Mountain Climbing guide and porters will make for a wonderful time on the mountain, while a mediocre staff can put your life in danger. Most Mount Kili companies hire a guide solely, while the rest of the crew remains unknown as they are contracted by the guide himself. Climbers may end up with inexperienced, part-time, or even dishonest people accompanying them on their climb. At African Safaris and Adventures we spend a great deal of attention is put into finding the right staff. Each and every employee, from lead guide to porter, has been screened intensely prior to hire and only the top performers plus genuine are retained. Because of this rigorous process, we can ensure professional, high quality, consistent performance across the board. This is very rare amongst Kilimanjaro operators. We are one of only a handful of companies that operate this way. Though certainly more expensive and laborious for us, knowing that our clients are on the mountain with the best crew makes the process well worth the time and effort. When you climb with us, you climb with the best crew on Kilimanjaro, period. Our local Mount Kilimanjaro guides are experts on the mountain. Each of our guides in Mount Kilimanjaro is licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park and Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project, climbs Kilimanjaro around 20 times each year, and speaks English fluently. For every climb, we assemble a competent team of lead Mount Kilimanjaro guides, Mount Kilimanjaro assistant guides, Mount Kilimanjaro cooks, porters in Mount Kilimanjaro and other camp staff to support you on the mountain. Read More

Mount Kilimanjaro Tour Operator - Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Company
A Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing tour is a once in a lifetime tour, It is a tour trip on which you spend a heck of a lot of money. Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing tours is a trip into a part of the world that you are likely not familiar with, and it is a tour that, if organized by irresponsible or incompetent Kilimanjaro tour operators, can quickly become dangerous and even life threatening. So how do you select a Mount Kilimanjaro trekking companies: After all you may think that, they have to get approved by the Mount Kilimanjaro Park authorities, right? And all the mountain Kilimanjaro guides have to be licensed, right? So that would ensure that no matter who you go with, at least you would be safe, right? Think again! There are several hundred Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari Operators who offer Kilimanjaro tours. We would trust only a small fraction of them with my life and money. Tanzania is a typical African country and regulation exists only on paper. There are a million loopholes and evasion strategies. The Tanzania authorities supposed to enforce the regulations are poor. A budget Kili tour operators can bribe his way out of any requirements that would cost him too much money to keep his rock bottom prices. Safety may be the most dramatic  issue, but it's not the only one. Your chances to reach the Mount Kilimanjaro summit depend on your Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Tour Operator more than on anything else. Yes, your tour operator in Mount Kilimanjaro is more important than your fitness level! We talked to long time Kili mountain guides about success rates, to investigate how the "official" numbers compare to their real life experience. They would not give me a number or estimate, because in their experience the success rate totally depends on the Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Safaris Operators. And last but not least, there is the issue of the Kilimanjaro porters. How they are treated does not necessarily affect your safety or success rate. But is that a reason to support the blatant exploitation of the people who make it possible for you to climb Kilimanjaro in the first place? If you haven't done so already, you may want to read the pages about the cost of climbing Kilimanjaro and the page about the Kilimanjaro porters. Reading them will help you make a better decision about who is the best tour Operators in Mount Kilimanjaro for you. So now that you know that you want a quality trekking operator with a good safety record, with good client success rates, who treats their staff fairly, how Read More  

Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Costs and Prices  

Mount Climbing Safari is not cheap. Undoubtedly, if you have done some mountain climbing research, you have already noticed this. And you probably have also discovered that there is a very wide range of Mount Climbing Safari prices charged for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro by different safari companies. There are many licensed operators on Mount Kilimanjaro and the choices may be overwhelming. Do not make your decision based on Mount Climbing Safari price alone. Price of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro should be only one component of your overall decision. High altitude trekking is not the place to shop for the lowest priced "deal", nor is it the place to overpay needlessly. We often are asked how we can price Mountain Kilimanjaro Climbing more than the competition. There are minimum expenses Kilimanjaro operators face, such as Mountain Kilimanjaro park fees, staff wages, food, Mountain Kilimanjaro equipment, transportation and other logistical costs. Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) entrance and Mountain Kilimanjaro camping plus hut fees by far make up the biggest expense, costing over $120 per climber per day. The other significant expenses are staff wages, food, and transportation costs. Local wages amount to around $25 per climber per day (depending on Mountain Kilimanjaro group size). Food costs come out to about $13 per climber per day. Add up the daily costs shown above and you can estimate what it costs to fund a Kilimanjaro climb. So instead of asking how we can be priced so low, you should be asking how those other Mountain Kilimanjaro companies can be priced so high. Do not assume that a high cost Mountain Kilimanjaro operator is providing a superior climb for the money. Do not assume high budget Mountain Kilimanjaro operators are better simply because they charge more. These operators pitch greater summit success, high safety standards and added luxury... and then they take advantage of climbers by charging exorbitant fees. Do not be misled. It is mind boggling that some operators will charge $4,000, $5,000, even $7,000 per person for 12-15 person parties on Mountain Kilimanjaro standard itineraries. It should not cost more than $3,500 per person to climb Kilimanjaro! The premium you pay goes straight to the pockets of the operator. The high priced Mountain Kilimanjaro operators are typically international Mountain Kilimanjaro safari companies who use foreign guides. But ask yourself, who knows the mountain better? A foreign guide, flown in for a few climbs per year, or a Read More

Mount Kilimanjaro Weather Temperature and Climate

Due to Tanzania proximity to the equator (between 1 and 11.45 degrees latitude south of the Equator and 29.20 and 40.35 degrees longitudes east), this region does not experience the extremes of winter and summer weather, but rather dry and wet seasons. The local Mount Kilimanjaro Weather conditions can be somewhat unpredictable to say the very least. Mount Kilimanjaro Rainfall varies from 2100 mm per year in the rainforest belt to less than 120 mm per year in the summit zone. Similarly, daily Mount Kilimanjaro temperature changes are unexpected when compared to normal weather cycles, and are largely dependent on Altitude. Mount Kilimanjaro has five major ecological zones, each approximately 3,280 feet (1,000 m) in altitude. Each zone is subject to a corresponding decrease in rainfall, temperature and life as the altitude increases. At the beginning of the Mount Kilimanjaro climb, at the base of the mountain, the average temperature is around 70°F to 80°F (27°C to 32°C). From there, the Mount Kilimanjaro temperatures will decrease as you move through Mount Kilimanjaro ecological zones. At the summit, Uhuhu Peak, the Mount Kilimanjaro night time temperatures can range between 0°F to -15F (-18°C to -26°C). This make Kilimanjaro weather very dynamic and you should always be prepared for wet days and cold nights. We recommend to our clients who want to climb Kilimanjaro that the long rains typically occur from February to May, and basically it is at this time when visibility is bad and the mountain becomes slippery and treacherous. The shorter rains occur during November and December white June though October it is a summer time and conducive for climbing the Mountain. Note Provided that February through May is long rain season mountaineers climb this mountain to the top without any problem so long as they have all required climbing gears. Weather in Mount Kilimanjaro near the base of the mountain tends to be tropical to semi-temperate and is relatively stable all year round. The lower plains are hot and dry with average temperatures of around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. As one heads away from the Lower Plains towards the Rain Forest condition become increasingly warm and humid. Kilimanjaro is big enough to have its own weather pattern. The theory behind this pattern is essentially very simple. Strong winds travel across the oceans, drawing moisture up as they go. Eventually they collide with a large object – such as a mountain like Kilimanjaro. The winds are pushed upwards as they hit the mountain slopes, and the fall in temperature and atmospheric pressure leads to precipitation or, as it’s more commonly called, snow and rain. A second seasonal rain-earing wind, the north-east monsoon, having already lost much of its moisture after traveling overland for a longer period, brings a short rainy season between November and February. While the northern side receives Read More