Mount Kilimanjaro Planning

Please return the requested paperwork as soon as possible.

• Application
• Passport copy
• Flight itinerary
• Tanzanian Visa for customs
• Official vaccination document recommended for customs, not required

Trip Insurance & Evacuation Coverage

We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance. Even with the best planning, unexpected circumstances — such as an injury or family emergency — may prevent you from joining your trip.

Health Requirements

The most common considerations are 1) polio and tetanus 2) Typhoid 3) Hepatitis A 4) Malaria prophylactics. If you are coming from another East African country (transit not included) such as Kenya and Ethiopia, climbers must have a yellow fever shot and certificate. Climbers should bring a small medical kit which can include prescription drugs and Diamox/Acetazolamide for altitude illness. Your guide will discuss the proper usage and dosages for Diamox during your orientation day. We encourage you review the latest health information regarding Tanzania, at the Center for Disease Control.

State Department Warnings

We encourage you to visit your home country’s governmental travel website. The State Department (USA) travel warnings for Tanzania can be found here.

The climate in East Africa can be cooler than many expect. Arusha sits at 4,400’ ft. on the Masai step.

The July – September season is the dry season and the coolest time of year. Expect daytime temperatures in the high 60’s and nighttime temperatures in the low 50’s in town. Pants and sweaters are appropriate for the morning and evening. On safari, most wear long pants (lightweight trekking pants) and a light long or short sleeve shirt. Bring comfortable clothes for dining in the evenings.

The December – March season is warmer with short sleeves being the norm and daytime temperatures in the 80’s, with lows in the lower 70’s. On safari many wear either lightweight trekking pants or shorts, a long sleeve roll-up safari shirt with comfortable tennis shoes. We recommend swimwear for the lodge pools.

On the mountain, July-September is drier, but cooler with more wind up high. Summit temperature can be 0˚ Fahrenheit or colder with wind chill. December-March is warmer, with more precipitation, particularly in December. Expect rain on the first and last days through the forest zone. Summit temperatures are warmer, typically 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit at the summit, with no wind. As with any big mountain, the weather can be highly variable. Each item on the gear list is required to prepare for dramatic changes in weather.

In Arusha

During the program we base out of the 4 star The Arusha Hotel, a classic and elegant remnant of old Colonial East Africa. This recently renovated gem is located directly in the center of town, offers a swimming pool and gym, extensive gardens, along with a 4 hour laundry service, a bar, and 2 restaurants. We will begin our trip here, leaving all extra items while on the mountain. Valuables will be locked in a secured safe with the management while we are on Kilimanjaro. We will return after the mountain for our celebration, before departing on safari the following morning, again leaving all extra items in storage. Finally, we will return after safari to enjoy lunch and repack all our items for evening departures homeward. Please be advised that while in Arusha please drink bottled water only.

Four Points The Arusha Hotel
(Formerly New Arusha Hotel)
A classic colonial hotel that dates back to the 1920’s with a modern upgrade
Phone: +255 27-2977777

On Safari

Safari Lodges are deluxe 4 star accommodations with the world renowned Serena Lodges, located deep within each of Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti national parks. These lodges have been individually designed to complement their environments while reflecting the themes and influences of culture and custom within. They feature large open-plan areas and rondavel-style guest rooms. Dining is given great importance within Serena Lodges, with menus drawing from classical African, European, and Asian roots, fused with modern influences. Wherever possible, produce is sourced locally from the rich farmland areas nearby, allowing Serena Lodges to continue with support and commitment to local communities.

Serena Lodges

Manyara
Ngorongoro
Serengeti

Water Treatment: All water served on the dining table and at meals has been boiled- purified. We have a filling station available inside the dining tent for the daily sit down lunch. Climbers can fill their bottles from a large 4 gallon dispenser that has been purified by cartridge filtration. We ask that you add treatment tablets to this water or use a steripen. This extra step of precaution has largely eliminated water borne issues. We recommend carrying up to two liters of water depending on your comfort, with the opportunity to refill at lunch and each camp.

Food and Meals: We are all aware of the potential monotony of expedition food and Alpine Ascents makes every effort to have meals on the climb as enjoyable as possible. This includes local market shopping before each expedition, pre-planned meals and dining as a group in our dining tent. We take great care in our meal preparation while understanding the importance of enjoying your food and staying healthy.

We are proud to have some of the best expedition food on the mountain. Due to the hard work of the Tanzanian staff we are able to enjoy fresh fruit, vegetables, and meats every day, via several re-supply loads. Our chefs, most of whom have previously worked in hotels, are trained in camp hygiene and understand proper sanitation.

Dining: We use full dining tents for each meal, including lunches. On longer days you can expect sit down lunch on the trail, while other days we eat lunch after arriving at the camp. Each meal is a hearty selection with fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats. Your chefs are trained in expedition cooking and work hard to ensure you are never left hungry! In addition to sit down meals, you will also have access to a snack box each morning and are encouraged to add snacks to your daypack.

Sample Menus:

• Each morning we enjoy hot porridge, fresh fruit, eggs, toast, and bacon or sausage
• Lunches include fresh salads, soup, and grains. Dinners always include fresh meats, grains, vegetables, and soup
• For vegetarians it is easy to avoid the meat dishes while enjoying the plentiful grains and veggies
• We also provide a small snack bag each morning for our regular, short breaks throughout the day
• We are able to accommodate gluten free, dairy free, and most other food allergies. Contact us with your specific dietary needs.

During this journey you’ll pack and repack a few times, living out of your backpack during the day and accessing the rest of your gear in your portered boundary bag at night.

You will find several different types of luggage on your gear list:

• Small Pack – 32-40 liters, enough to carry light snacks, layers, water, and any other accessories during the day.
• Small Duffel – carry-on luggage for travels to Tanzania. This item is not needed on Kilimanjaro, so feel free to use an alternate carry-on sized item you already own instead. Note that this duffel also makes great luggage for the safari!
• Travel Luggage – whether in the form of a large duffel or suitcase, you’ll check some kind of luggage when you fly to Arusha. We prefer duffel bags, although hard-sided suitcases are OK.
• Boundary Bag – provided by Alpine Ascents during your gear check in Arusha, this 115-liter, waterproof pack will contain all of your gear and is portered from camp to camp so that you do not have to carry it.

There is some flexibility to how you might choose to pack for this trip. Read the below to gain an understanding of the logistical flow.

Stage 1 – Travel to Tanzania

Pack everything (except for a few items mentioned below) into your travel luggage and check it in with your airline. We prefer to flat pack our small pack inside this luggage.

Pack your small duffel (or similar) as your carry-on, being sure to include any usual comfort items for international air travel. Staying relaxed in the days prior to your expedition will contribute to your acclimatization! Pro tip: we typically fly with our hiking boots, insulated pants, and parkas in our carry-on baggage. In the event of lost luggage these items are difficult to replace in Arusha.

Stage 2 – Trip Prep in Arusha

Situated beneath Mount Meru, Arusha is mid-sized town in close proximity to Kilimanjaro, Ngorogoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park. Here, we take the time to do a thorough gear check. At the gear check, you will be issued an Alpine Ascents boundary bag to use during the trek.

After our gear check, we’ll pack as outlined below:

• Small duffel & travel luggage – pack up anything you want to leave behind, and plan to store it at your hotel during the climb.
• Small pack – your trekking clothes and footwear go in this bag, along with your water bottles, trekking poles, hydration mixes for your water bottles, some extra snacks, camera, and a few layers sufficient for an all-day trek. Your guide will assess the weather forecast and give specific coaching.
• Boundary bag – everything else is packed into this duffel bag, which will be ported for you from camp to camp on the trip. Note that you will not have access to it during each day as it is portered for you.

Stage 3 – Climbing the Mountain

Day by day, gradually ascending to allow our bodies time to acclimatize, we’ll climb Kilimanjaro with the all-too necessary assistance of our porter team. Each day, we’ll pack our boundary bags and hand them off for the day. During the day, everything we need must be packed into our small packs, including layers, water bottles, cameras, etc.

Upon arriving to each camp, we will again have access to the gear in our boundary bags. After descending from the top of the mountain, we will return to Arusha and de-issue boundary bags.

Optional – Safari/Serengeti Balloon Ride

After the climb, some will go on to participate in a safari and/or balloon ride over the Serengeti. During these portions of the trip, you will be using only your personal luggage, having already returned the boundary bag. The small duffel is useful for this state of your journey, as there is a 15kg weight limit for the flight back from the Serengeti.

During this journey you’ll pack and repack a few times, living out of your backpack during the day and accessing the rest of your gear in your portered boundary bag at night.

You will find several different types of luggage on your gear list:

• Small Pack – 32-40 liters, enough to carry light snacks, layers, water, and any other accessories during the day.
• Small Duffel – carry-on luggage for travels to Tanzania. This item is not needed on Kilimanjaro, so feel free to use an alternate carry-on sized item you already own instead. Note that this duffel also makes great luggage for the safari!
• Travel Luggage – whether in the form of a large duffel or suitcase, you’ll check some kind of luggage when you fly to Arusha. We prefer duffel bags, although hard-sided suitcases are OK.
• Boundary Bag – provided by Alpine Ascents during your gear check in Arusha, this 115-liter, waterproof pack will contain all of your gear and is portered from camp to camp so that you do not have to carry it.

There is some flexibility to how you might choose to pack for this trip. Read the below to gain an understanding of the logistical flow.

STAGE 1 – Travel to Tanzania

Pack everything (except for a few items mentioned below) into your travel luggage and check it in with your airline. We prefer to flat pack our small pack inside this luggage.

Pack your small duffel (or similar) as your carry-on, being sure to include any usual comfort items for international air travel. Staying relaxed in the days prior to your expedition will contribute to your acclimatization! Pro tip: we typically fly with our hiking boots, insulated pants, and parkas in our carry-on baggage. In the event of lost luggage these items are difficult to replace in Arusha.

STAGE 2 – Trip Prep in Arusha

Situated beneath Mount Meru, Arusha is mid-sized town in close proximity to Kilimanjaro, Ngorogoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park. Here, we take the time to do a thorough gear check. At the gear check, you will be issued an Alpine Ascents boundary bag to use during the trek.

After our gear check, we’ll pack as outlined below:

• Small duffel & travel luggage – pack up anything you want to leave behind, and plan to store it at your hotel during the climb.
• Small pack – your trekking clothes and footwear go in this bag, along with your water bottles, trekking poles, hydration mixes for your water bottles, some extra snacks, camera, and a few layers sufficient for an all-day trek. Your guide will assess the weather forecast and give specific coaching.
• Boundary bag – everything else is packed into this duffel bag, which will be ported for you from camp to camp on the trip. Note that you will not have access to it during each day as it is portered for you.

STAGE 3 – Climbing the Mountain

Day by day, gradually ascending to allow our bodies time to acclimatize, we’ll climb Kilimanjaro with the all-too necessary assistance of our porter team. Each day, we’ll pack our boundary bags and hand them off for the day. During the day, everything we need must be packed into our small packs, including layers, water bottles, cameras, etc.

Upon arriving to each camp, we will again have access to the gear in our boundary bags. After descending from the top of the mountain, we will return to Arusha and de-issue boundary bags.

Optional – Safari/Serengeti Balloon Ride

After the climb, some will go on to participate in a safari and/or balloon ride over the Serengeti. During these portions of the trip, you will be using only your personal luggage, having already returned the boundary bag. The small duffel is useful for this state of your journey, as there is a 15kg weight limit for the flight back from the Serengeti.

The vast majority of guides and porters on Kilimanjaro are from the Chagga tribe. We have long standing relationships with many local companies, and we are able to work with the same Chagga guides and crews for well over 10 years now. These highly experienced, hard working crews have done hundreds of trips with us and understand our high standards regarding risk awareness, quality, and organization. They have become our friends and colleagues and bring deep familiarity to the expedition.

The area in and around Kilimanjaro is sometimes referred to as Chagga land with a total area of 2007 square miles. Our Chagga guides work directly with you for the whole trip. The rest of the senior Chagga crew maintain camp and prepare our meals. The general porter staff transport all of our goods from camp to camp. We pass through Chagga villages on the way to the Machame trailhead start and from the Mweka trailhead finish returning to Arusha.

Tents: On each expedition we use spacious 3-person, 4 season mountaineering tents. It’s standard to sleep 2 climbers per tent, with gender and group considerations in mind.

Toilets: We carry portable toilets to be used at camps and at the mid day sit down lunch. The toilets include privacy tents and toilet paper, but we encourage climbers to carry their own toilet paper and a small ziplock bag for garbage each day.

Cellular service: There is limited cellular service on Kilimanjaro. Best locations are Shira camp (Day 2) and Karanga camp (Day 4). The reception is variable depending on weather and cellular provider. Local SIM cards are generally not available for purchase without a Tanzanian ID.

Boundary (Porter) Bags: Aim to keep daypacks relatively light for each day on the trail. Porters will carry all items you won’t need for each day in large porter bags. Please be aware that the maximum weight of these bags is 19kg or 40lbs.

Our guides record audio updates from their sat phones, whether high on an exposed ridge or warm inside a tea house, and we upload those dispatches straight to our website as they come in. When they stumble onto a pocket of internet, they’ll also try to send photos and text updates, so keep an eye out for those extra glimpses from the field. Most teams post every 1 to 3 days, so don’t read anything into a quiet stretch. No news isn’t bad news; we just haven’t had the chance to get the dispatch up yet.

Behind the scenes, our guides stay in daily contact with our logistics team and Director. (Note: we don’t update the cybercast on weekends or holidays.)

Tune into the cybercast here!

Plan to bring an additional $600+ beyond the recommended tips below, for additional personal items or souvenirs. US currency over ten years old, or bills ripped or torn in any way will not be accepted in Tanzania.

Travelers Checks: Difficult to use, generally for limited amounts with a commission.
Credit Cards: American Express cards are not accepted many places. Visa and Mastercard can still be useful in the hotels and lodges, but credit cards can be difficult elsewhere. Commission may be charged (usually 5%, occasionally as high as 8%) and covers the advantage the card user would normally have over typical hotel and agent exchange rates.
Cash: By personal preference.

Local Currency

Credit cards can be used at the hotel, lodges, most restaurants, and many shops in Arusha. Local currency can be obtained at ATMS and money changers available near the hotel in Arusha. A passport is required for these transactions. Local currency is helpful for smaller purchases and gifts intended to bring home. The largest bills available are 10,000 Tsh, equivalent to about $4 USD. We recommend converting $100-$150 USD to Tsh for small purchases on the mountain. The center of town is a great place to shop for small items and souvenirs, and the colorful local market is worth the visit.

Tipping

American Dollars are the preferred method of payment in Tanzania, so plan on handling some expenses in Tanzania with cash. Dollars are generally very difficult to get once in Africa, so plan ahead. Local ATM’s will give change in Tanzanian Shillings.

Tipping is in not mandatory but it is an established tradition on Kilimanjaro and safari. Tips help to supplement the low salaries that guides and porters may receive from their Tanzanian employers. We strive to meet and exceed what is recommended by the Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Project (KPAP), one of our program partners located in Moshi, Tanzania.

In partnership with our Tanzanian agents, we ensure that the crews receive a fair daily living wage (combined salaries and tips) that is in the top 10% of the industry. Travelers frequently comment that they wish that they had brought more for tips. Tips for the climb can be given directly to your lead guide during orientation and gear check day in Arusha. Your lead guide will convert to local currency and facilitate the tipping ceremony for the local crew on the last day at the Mweka gate end point. Each crew member receives their tip directly, one by one at the ceremony.

• The recommended tip pool donation per climber for the Tanzanian crew is $250-$350 USD. For teams of less than 8 people we recommend increasing the amount.  For climbers on the 9 Day Lemosho route the recommended tip pool donation per climber for the Tanzanian crew is $400 USD.
• Recommended denominations to bring: $20 in 1 dollar bills (for tipping hotel porters in Arusha and on safari) $100 in 10 dollar bills, $500-600 in 50 or 100 dollar bills.
• Money changers give better rates for large bills ($50 or $100) and will only take undamaged bills printed within the last 10 years.

Recommended Tipping Breakdown

There is an optional Sunrise Balloon Ride available at Serengeti National Park as part of our 4 day safari. Sign up by noting the balloon ride in your application or by replying to your confirmation materials following enrollment or simply email [email protected] if you would like to add the balloon ride to your safari.

Balloon Ride Cost: $575.00 per person

For Safaris beginning at Tarangire National Park the balloon ride is scheduled for Day 4, before returning to Arusha by plane. Safaris that begin in Serengeti National Park will include the balloon ride Day 2 before travelling to NgoroNgoro by Land Cruiser.

Expect to be in the air for between 40 and 60 minutes, depending on weather conditions. It’s common to arrive in the dark, and you will be in the air as the sun rises. Once in the air, the balloon will drift with the breeze. The pilot will adjust altitude to navigate, offering varying perspectives of the plains and the many animals that can be spotted from the air. You will be able to see wildlife trails formed by generations of animals that are impossible to see from the ground, and you may spot lions, hippos, and elephants depending on where you travel. No two flights are the same!

After landing, we celebrate in the traditional way with a sparkling wine toast before attending a special breakfast freshly prepared in the bush. Enjoy the scenery, your fresh meal, and the company of your peers before returning to the group and continuing the safari as scheduled.