Kilimanjaro Climb Cost

Where the money goes

A large part of any Kilimanjaro price is fixed by the national park: conservation fees, camping or hut fees and a rescue fee are charged per climber per day. That is why longer routes cost more, and why a very cheap climb usually means corners cut somewhere else — on food, equipment, the number of guides or what the crew are paid.

The rest pays for your crew — the guides, cook and porters — their food and park entry, the tents and equipment, all your meals on the mountain, and transport to and from the gates.

What a climb price should include

• Park conservation fees, camping or hut fees and the rescue fee
• Licensed mountain guides, a cook and porters, and their fees and wages
• All meals and drinking water on the mountain
• Tents and camping equipment (huts on the Marangu route)
• Transfers between your hotel and the start and end gates
• Airport transfers and hotel nights before and after the climb, if shown in the itinerary

Always check the list of inclusions on any quote — ours included — so that you compare like with like.

Extras to budget for

• Tips for the crew — on Kilimanjaro, tips are a big part of how guides and porters earn their living, and the crew is large. Plan for this from the start, and ask us for a guideline for your route and group size.
• Gear — a good sleeping bag, boots and warm layers. Some items can be rented in Arusha or Moshi. See the gear list.
• Travel insurance that covers trekking to 6,000 m — see rescue and insurance.
• Visa and flights — see our Tanzania visa guide.
• Drinks, snacks and souvenirs, and any extra nights in Arusha or Moshi.

How to keep the cost down — without risking the summit

• Join a group climb with other trekkers to share the fixed costs of the crew.
• Rent the gear you will only use once.
• Do not save on days: an extra acclimatisation day costs much less than a failed summit.
• Combine your climb with a safari or Zanzibar in one trip to save on flights.