Frequent Asked Questions

It is more reasonable to measure each day in hours walked rather than miles. Most days, other than the summit day, will begin with breakfast around 6:30 AM and departure at 7 AM. You will walk 4-5 hours with a break for lunch followed by another hour or two of hiking in the afternoon. These days are not long or difficult and you will be advised to walk slowly.

Most groups will start for the summit on ascent day at 11 PM to 12:30AM, depending on the perceived fitness of the group, the weather and the route. The pre-dawn hours, while cold, are also the calmest and clearest. The best views from the summit are at dawn. Often clouds and high winds develop not long after sunrise making the summit much less attractive and the descent more difficult. Guides who have been to the summit scores of times report that it is very rare to find it cloudy at the summit at dawn in any season. The ascent day is a very long day of hiking. Some people may require 15 hours to reach the summit and descend to the campsite for that day.

You will simply carry a day pack of about 5-6 pounds, though some people carry more or less. Your gear, not to exceed 33 pounds, will be placed inside a waterproof duffle at the trail head, and a porter will carry this for you. If you have things you do not need on the climb, you may leave a bag behind at Arusha.

The usual ratio is three local staff for each climber, although small groups may have four staff per climber. These usually consist of an English speaking guide or guides, a professional cook and gear-carrying porters. We encourage you to interact with your staff, though some will have limited English. They are all trustworthy local people who have grown up in the shadow of the mountain. Many of them have climbed the peak 50 or more times.

We provide tents, food, utensils and leadership. You should bring your own sleeping bag rated to 10 degrees F., water system, personal clothing, sleeping pad, light duffle bag and day pack. Hiking poles can be rented for $10. A packing list is provided to all climbers, along with our pre-departure packet.

(A). FOR THE HEAD AND FACE
– Pile or Wool hat: Bring one that covers ears, a balaclava type is excellent.
– Shade Hat: Visor hats with good brims are essential for protection from the equatorial sun.
– Sunglasses: Essential for eye protection in the tropics, at altitude. Bring a quality pair, preferably with IREX protection rating of 100.Attacheble side are necessary, or bring glacier glasses.
– Sunscreen: Bring plenty of complete sun block with a protection factor of 15 or more. Unless you have spent time in equatorial sun you will probably underestimate the amount necessary, so bring lots.
– Lip Balm: With SPF rating of 15 or more.

(B). FOR THE UPPER BODY:
– T-shirts: Two T-shirts that you don’t mind getting dirty while on the mountain. Synthetic is best, no cotton on summit day.
– Upper Body Layers: For climbing the mountain we recommend you have three layers for the upper body. Items must be made of wool, Synthetic or Pile. Make sure all layers fit comfortably over each other and supply good insulation. A good combination is a long underwear top, a sweater, and a pile jacket or heavy wool shirt.
– Rain Parka: Afternoon showers are common in east Africa, especially on the mountain. Bring a good packa of Gore tex or water proof nylon that has been” seam sealed”
– Wind Shirt: (optional if you have Goretex rain gears)A nylon wind shell(not water proof),roomy enough to comfortably over all upper body layers. Goretex is good for both this wind shirt and for the raincoat.
– Poncho: (Optional) Quick and handy protection for body and rucksack. Poor protection in wind.
– Mitten Shells: One pair to go over your mittens. These are for use against the winds some times on the way to the summit.

(C). FOR THE LEGS:
– Quick Dry Hiking Shorts: One pair good for hiking at lower elevation on the mountain.
– Long Underwear Bottoms: One pair. Wool or Synthetic.
– Wool Bunting or Pale Pants: One pair that fit loosely and are comfortable. These are essential to be worn on the long john bottoms.
– Rain Pants: Bring good pair of rain pants of Goretex or water proof nylon that has “been seam sealed”
– Wind Pants: (Optional if you have Goretex rain pants) One pair. These are used often on the mountain protection against wind. They should be breathable nylon and roomy enough to fit comfortably over wool or pile pants.
– Tights: Lycra type are best. These are comfortable to hike in, help prevent nettle stings, provide good warmth and on cool misty days, dry fast and prevent sunburn.

(D). FOR THE FEET:
– Thin Socks: Two of synthetic socks to wear under heavy wool socks. These help to prevent blisters and keep feet dry.
– Thick Socks: Six pair of heavy wool or synthetic socks to wear for warmth with hiking boots.
– Hiking Boots: One pair medium weight hiking boots large enough to be comfortable with one liner sock and one heavy wool or synthetic sock.
– Gaiters: One pair of either high or low gaiters made of breathable material to keep dirt and snow out of your boots.
–Tennis Shoes: These are to wear in camp after a day hiking.

(E). FOR SLEEPING:
– Sleeping Bag and Stuff Sac: On the mountain temperature can get down to zero degrees Fahrenheit at night so bring a warm bag.
– Sleeping Pad: A closed sell foam camping mattress is ok.

What kind of tents will I sleep in? What are the huts on the Marangu Route like?
Your tents are mountain-style, double-walled, mosquito-netted and durably-floored with waterproof material. While technically rated as four-person tents, they very comfortably accommodate two people. Tents are erected and packed up by the portering staff. There is enough space for tall people to stretch out and room for your gear within the tent. On the Marangu Route the huts are just large enough for four bunks built against the walls of A-frame cubicles. Tall hikers will feel cramped. Gear is stored on the floor. Wash and toilet facilities are shared and are outside of the bungalows.

Porters ration.
Our guide, cook and Porters ration is mostly stiff porridge made of corn flour and is saved with a sauce made of several vegetable and beef stew or fish. Rice and Potatoes are also food that we substitute with stiff porridge.

Our guests ration.
Our guest ration is mostly breakfast that is served buffet style inside the mess tent. Breakfast includes tea, coffee, cocoa, cream milk, eggs, toast, porridge, serials, bread, fruits, crepes, bacon, sausages etc.

Lunch includes – picnic Lunches that are served on the trails while on short hiking days we provide full Lunches that starts with soups, bread, vegetables, fruits, cheese, salad cream or mayonnaise, mustard cream, cookies, peanut butter, jam, chicken or fish or beef stew or fillet steak, potatoes, pasta or macaroni with some sauces.

Dinner also that are served buffer style starts with soups, followed by the main course, desserts and ended with hot drinks.

Water Bottle: Two, one-liter wide-mouthed plastic bottle.
To keep your system running normally we recommend you bring two bottle of “Potable Aqua” or a “Polar Pure”, crystal iodine in a bottle, to treat drinking water.

No one is forced to go on. There are always enough staff to split the party according to need and regroup later at the camp. Most people have no trouble reaching the highest campsite. If some party members decide not to climb the final distance they can wait for the climbers to come back down the same way or take a lateral path to the descent route.

You must arrive healthy and fit. A cold or other respiratory sickness is likely to worsen on the climb. There is no malaria risk on the mountain and biting insects are not evident. You should bring water purification tablets, though you may not need them.

We always have a first aid kit close at hand. More serious injuries are rare. Porters will assist injured climbers to the base of the mountain and onward to a clinic or hospital. Further on this Kilimanjaro National Park has a rescue team incase of any emmergency. Kilimanjaro International Airport is very near Marangu Gate if evacuation to The US or Europe is advisable.

Bottled oxygen is not routinely available on this climb and not included in the price of the trip. The most immediate treatment for serious altitude sickness is rapid descent, which is always possible on Kilimanjaro. Virtually no climbers on the mountain carry oxygen. If upon reaching the final campsite before the ascent your guide judges you to have serious symptoms of altitude sickness, you will not be permitted to attempt the final climb. Oxygen may be available on an emergency basis or at an added cost, but not as an aid for climbers who have not acclimatized adequately on their own.

Check with your doctor and the Center for Disease control for current recommendations. None are required for entry to Tanzania from the USA or for re-entry to the USA. If you are arriving from a yellow fever epidemic area such as Kenya, proof of vaccination is required.

Yes, You can obtain it in advance or on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airporport / Namanga Border.

Why, when looking at different companies who offer Kilimanjaro climbs that follow much the same route over the same number of days, do I find such a variance in the cost? The major sources of cost variations are the money spent on food, off-mountain accommodation, porter and guide wages, tents and the cost of getting to the mountain. JOURNEYS is determined to provide the best food, best guides and porters, best tents and equipment, top quality before-and-after-climb accommodation, a full professional pre-climb orientation, insurance for all staff and inclusion of all park permits, meals, transfers and local hosting costs. On some of the least expensive trips food is minimal and often prepared by frying. Because guides and porters are expected to cover part of their wages with tips, these companies cannot attract the best staff. Often they do not provide full warm clothing to staff. The mountain is hard on tents which are expensive in Tanzania meaning that tents on cheap trips are often worn or dirty. Our approach is not to provide the cheapest trip, but rather to do everything we can to increase the likelihood you will reach the summit and enjoy the overall experience with a staff of people who are well qualified and compensated for the extraordinary assistance they provide to you.