Kilimanjaro Climbing Cost

Before we get to the costs that you’ll incur during your climbing tour, let’s first see some expenses that you need to take into account before your Kilimanjaro Climb:

Getting to Kilimanjaro – Flights (From $800 onwards)

The following are three international airports that you can use to fly to Tanzania:

• Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
• Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)
• Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ)

Here’s the cost of flying to Tanzania from different countries:

Something to Know – After you land in the country, you’ll be staying in a hotel or lodge either in Moshi or Arusha the night before the climb. This cost will not be included in your Kilimanjaro Climbing Packages.

Tanzania Visa (From $50 onwards)

A single-entry Tanzania visa valid for 90 days costs $50. The visa allows you to travel between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. The cost is a little different for US travellers, i.e. $100.

The price is the result of a special travel agreement between the countries. The tourist visa is valid for one year and allows for multiple 90-day entries.

Handy Tip – To get your visa you will need a passport that’s valid for six months from the date of arrival in Tanzania. So it’s best to renew it if your passport isn’t up to date.

Medical Checkups and Vaccinations (From $100 onwards)

If you are travelling from a country that has a risk of Yellow Fever transmission, then you’ll need a vaccination certificate. The cost starts from $100 onwards.

• The risk of contracting malaria is relatively low on the mountain as mosquitoes are not found at higher altitudes (over 1,800 metres).
• So, the risk will only be before and after your hike. For this, we suggest bringing some anti-malarial tablets.

Moreover, having a medical checkup before your Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing adventure comes highly recommended by us.

Gear Cost ($500 - $600)

If you already have most essentials like quality hiking boots and a sleeping bag, then the cost will go down significantly. But, you should still budget around $300 for gear like layered clothing, walking poles, a duffel bag, a daypack, insulated water bottles, etc.

Travel Insurance Cost (From $50 onwards)

Travel Insurance is mandatory for hiking up to an elevation of 6,000 metres. It’ll cover you for high-altitude trekking, any accidents, thefts, lost/damaged luggage, delayed/interrupted travel, and off-mountain illnesses.  The cost ranges from $50 to $100.

This section will offer the complete breakdown of the Kilimanjaro Climbing Cost while taking into account every cost factor.

Tour Operator Cost (From $1,600 to $3,000)

It’s best to go with mid-range or luxury tour operators for Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. This is because budget operators more often than not compromise on the quality of climbing services.

The following is a Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro Cost comparison of budget, mid-range and luxury tour operators:

Practical Pointers – It's important to research and choose a tour operator that aligns with your preferences and budget while ensuring the necessary safety and comfort for your Kilimanjaro climb.

We at African Scenic Safaris offer tailor-made Kilimanjaro itineraries that align with your budget and needs.

Kilimanjaro National Park Fees ($70 per person)

Mount Kilimanjaro is located inside the premises of Kilimanjaro National Park. So, naturally, you’ll have to pay the entrance fees before the start of your climb.

The Conservation Fee of the Park is $70 per person, per day. The fee includes of upkeep of certain aspects like:

• Maintaining the Trails
• Keeping the park clean
• And, wages of the park rangers

Camping and Hut Fees

The fee ranges from $50 to $60 per person, per night. It’s charged for using the campsites and huts on the mountain.

Remember that huts are only available on the Marangu Route. All other routes have designated public campsites. The hut fee for a 5-Day Marangu Route Climb is $240 ($60 for 4 nights). And, on an 8-Day Lemosho Route Climb, the camping fee is $350 ($50 for 7 nights).

Rescue Fees ($20 per person)

Rescue Fees are charged in case the park authority needs to coordinate a rescue. The fee is mandatory whether there’s a need for rescue or not.

Guide and Porter Entrance Fees ($2 per staff, per trip)

All of the staff and porters that will be alongside you during the climb will also have to pay the park fee to enter.

Food, Water and Transportation Costs

Food and Water Costs on the mountain are around $10 to $20 (per climber, per day). This includes food for staff as well.

Transportation costs are around $100 per trip. This is completely dependent on what route you choose.

Taxes and VAT (18% of the services)

The Government of Tanzania charges an 18% VAT to the climbing operators of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Mountain Crew Wages (Around $80 to $150 per climber, per day)

The following are the estimated wages of each member of the Kilimanjaro mountain crew:

Worth Nothing – The above-mentioned costs are general estimates and vary based on the size of the group.

The Kilimanjaro Route Costs range from $2,183 (for Machame) to $3,256 (for Northern Circuit). This is based on a group with more than 4 persons. The following is a list of Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes and along with their estimated costs:

Insightful Intel – We recommend the 7 and 8 days itineraries. As more days on the mountain increase the overall acclimatization profile. This, in turn, makes for a safe and successful summit.

Now that you know the real cost of Climbing Kilimanjaro and the route costs, it’s time to move on to some of the additional things that also impact the cost of Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing.

Tips for your Crew (Around $90 per day)

There’s a tipping ceremony at the end of every Kilimanjaro Climb. This is when every climber pools in their tips for the staff on the mountain. Here is the tipping cost for each crew member:

Point to Remember – You can pay the tipping in US dollars, in fact, dollars are preferred. Furthermore, the more people that are in your group, the smaller the tip amount will be.

Accommodations before and after your Climb

We at African Scenic Safaris offer pre and post-accommodations for your trekking adventure. Though, they are not a part of the Kilimanjaro Climbing Packages. A stay in a 3-star hotel (for a double room) ranges from $90 to $330 in Moshi or Arusha. The costs will be more if you want to stay in a single room. Here are the estimated costs:

Noteworthy Detail – The accommodation charges tend to increase from closeness to the mountain and the services/amenities they offer.

Airport Transfers

Transfers to and from the airport to your accommodation are covered in our Kilimanjaro Climbing Packages. Thus, they are complimentary of charge.

Cash to Spend

On either side of your climbing expedition (i.e. before or after), you may like to have some cash in hand for small purchases like snacks, drinks, and souvenirs. The local currency is the Tanzanian Shilling (TSH). They come in the following notes:

• TSH 500
• TSH 1,000
• TSH 5,000
• And, TSH 10,000

Coins are also in use, including TSH 20, TSH 50, TSH 100, and TSH 200. An important thing to remember is that you can’t get Tanzanian Shillings outside the country.

Buying a Local Sim Card

A local Sim card costs around $2. The five network providers in Tanzania include:

• Vodacom
• Airtel
• Zantel
• Tigo
• Halotel

We advise going with either Airtel or Vodacom as these offer the widest network coverage. You can buy a local Sim card at the airport as soon as you land in Tanzania. You can learn about the exact SIM card plans here - https://africanscenicsafaris.com/tanzania-safari-cost

Some interesting facts about the Kilimanjaro Climbing Costs are listed below:

• The overall Cost of Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro varies based on the route you choose, the number of days allocated for the climb, and the level of support services provided.
• The Climb Kilimanjaro Cost UK is around £3,500.
• The busiest climbing seasons on Kilimanjaro are during the drier months of January to March and June to October. Climbing during these peak seasons may result in higher prices due to increased demand.
• The most affordable route to climb Mount Kilimanjaro is the Marangu Route, also known as the "Coca-Cola Route," which usually costs less due to its shorter duration and simpler facilities.
• The Machame Route is one of the most popular and scenic routes but tends to be slightly more expensive compared to other routes due to its longer duration and higher level of difficulty.

In summation, that was about all that we had! Hopefully, this read has provided you with a clear picture of the Kilimanjaro Climbing Cost. If you’d like even more specifics, then we’re just a call away! Don’t hesitate to contact our Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing experts to work things out and have a trekking experience that scales new heights.