Kilimanjaro General Information

Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and one of the largest extinct volcanoes. It can be climbed at any time except in April and May during the long rains. January to March and August to October are the best climbing seasons. We use the Marangu route which is the easiest and the most accessible.

Many travellers are attracted to the highest point in Africa - Uhuru Peak on Kibo - which can be reached by several easy walking or scrambling routes. The two main summits of Kilimanjaro: craggy Mawenzi, 5149m, and 'flat-topped', Kibo, 5896m are separated by The Saddle, a 5km wide, high-altitude, semi-desert. From the summit glaciers, screes, cliffs, afro-alpine moorland then forests lead down to the cultivated foothills below.

The main routes to Kibo are:

The Marangu Route offers walking on gentle forest and moorland paths up to 4700m. Above, scree leads to Gillman's Point on the often snowy crater rim which is followed to Uhuru Peak. Accommodation is in huts.

The Machame and Umbwe Routes are tougher. Steep forest paths, easy scrambling and airy ridges lead to the final screes and hence the crater. Nights are spent in tents.

The Mweka Route is generally used to descend after either of the last two routes.

The Shira, Nanjara and Oloitokitok Routes are more remote but can be organised by us. The remote Lemosho Glades Route , is particularly beautiful and goes through one of the few areas on Kilimanjaro that is rich in game.

We can organise trips at any time of year for any size of group, We also offer several scheduled trips which combine the ascent of Kilimanjaro with that of Mount Kenya or Mount Meru and safari in Tanzania.

Information on Guides and Porters for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

The guides and porters are the masters of the mountain. Once on the Mountain, your well equipped guides and porters, will rank second, only to your mental determination, in terms of important factors contributing to a successful summit attempt.

For the duration of your Kilimanjaro trek, your guide will be your advisor, he will lead you to the summit, and he will bring down safely again. It will be important that you work closely with him and take note of his advice.

The guide recruits the porters and trains up a team which he himself will lead. Just before moving off, he spreads the loads between them not more than 15kgs. for each porter. He accompanies the climbers during the entire trek and can generally answer any questions about plans and wildlife. On the camp group, guide and porters make the camping arrangements and prepare meals. Their day's work begins before the climbers wake up and ends late with lengthy conversations and card games long into the night.

not to bring.

Good equipment is vital to a safe and enjoyable climb. Sure, in superb weather conditions you could climb the mountain in a pair of old trainers, your oldest pair of long trousers and with a couple of sweaters thrown in you will only suffer badly during the last night of the ascent. However, let the weather change for the worse, a couple of hours driving rain soon after setting off from the Horombo area, and you could be dead from hypothermia very rapidly.

Qualified and experienced guides

All Eyes on nature expeditions treks up the mountain are lead by highly trained and qualified guides, registered with the Kilimanjaro National Parks Board. Each of our guides have been selected over years, based on experience, safety record and through feedback from previous clients.

Support staff ratios

The average ratio of our support staff to climbers is 2 porters per climber, a cook and one guide for a maximum of 4 climbers. This excellent staff to clients ratio, bolstered by our superior support equipment, will ensure your safety and enjoyment on the mountain.

Porters and cook

The porters do not only transport your gear and the supplies up and down the mountain. Arriving at every mountain hut or camp site long before you, they will have already erected your tent on your arraval. In the evening they will also boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner of a quality that has surprised many previous clients.

Weight limits for porters

Remember that there is a weight limit of 15 kg (30 lbs) per climber, on the gear of each climber to be portaged. A soft duffel bag (barrel type) is preferred - a rucksack is not necessary as they prefer to porter the loads balanced on their heads and shoulders.

All climbs include a team of mountain guides, cooks and porters, typically ...

2 climbers : 1 guide, 1 assistant guide, 2 porters and 1 cook

3 climbers : 1 guide, 1 assistant guide, 4 porters and 1 cook

5 climbers : 1 guide, 2 assistant guide, 6 porters and 1 cookThe higher the specification, the greater the staff to climber ratio.

Even with porters, it is recommended that each member of the party carry a light weight day pack containing at the very least a waterproof jacket, nibbles to eat on the walk, a 1 liter bottle of water and a warm pullover to put on at rest stops. Plus of course camera and valuables.

Tipping

Rate of pay varies with the route you take to go up the mountain, we would suggest that you evaluate the tipping not only by how efficiently the porters carry your own equipment but also for services rendered, such as getting you a better place in the huts and how good the food was etc plus of course whether or not your guide has been / is generally informative about the mountain in all its aspects. For those climbers on the non tourist routes, the tip is also assessed on how much they assisted in the collection of firewood and water, clearing up the campsites or huts etc.

The tip amounts indicated below are given purely as a guideline, and it may be paid as in a group :

Marangu Route :

Guide US$ 50       Cook US$ 20  Assistant Guide US$ 30

Guide US$ 60 - 70    Porters US$ 15 - 20

Machame Route and others :

Assistant Guide US$ 40  Cook US$ 30     Porters US$ 20 - 25

RENTAL EQUIPMENT

Prices are for the entire trek in U.S. dollars, payable in cash in Moshi. It is best to come well-outfitted.

Rucksack/Daypack US$ 10

Balaclava US$ 5

Normal Sleeping Bag US$ 15

Mont bell Sleeping Bag US$ 30

The North Face Sleeping Bag US$ 30

Batteries US$ 2     Socks US$ 2

Duffel Bag US$ 5   

Hiking Poles (2) US$ 10

Gaiters US$ 8

Torch/Flashlight US$ 8

Gloves US$5

Sweater US$ 5

Sunglasses US$ 10

Long Underwear US$ 5

Raincoat US$ 5

Rain Pants US$ 5

Hiking Boots US$ 8

Water Bottle US$ 5

Fleece Pants US$ 5

Warm Jacket US$ 8

Hat US$ 5

 

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