Climbing Kilimanjaro is a dream for so many people and if you’re here, it’s probably on your list too. At 5,895 meters, it’s the highest peak in Africa and one of the most rewarding adventures you can experience on earth.
But before you start planning, it helps to understand what it actually costs. The price of climbing Kilimanjaro can vary quite a bit depending on the route you choose, the length of your trek, the quality of your guides, and the operator you climb with. This guide breaks all of that down for you, so that you can plan with confidence and make sure every dollar you spend goes towards the experience you’ve been dreaming of.
How Much Does It Cost to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
How much it costs to climb kilimanjaro varies depending on the route you choose and the number of days you want to spend on the mountain. At Ian Taylor Trekking, our guided Kilimanjaro packages start from $3,850 per person and range up to $4,550 per person, with pricing reflecting the length of the trek, the route’s difficulty, and the level of support provided throughout your climb.
Our most accessible option is the Machame Route (7 days), starting from $3,850 per person – a popular and rewarding route known for its scenic variety. The Rongai Route (7 days) starts from $3,950 per person and offers a quieter, more remote approach from the north.
For those looking for a longer acclimatization window and higher summit success rates, the Lemosho Route (8 days) starts from $4,270 per person, while the Northern Circuit Route (9 days) – the longest route on the mountain – starts from $4,370 per person. At the premium end, our Sleep in the Crater experience (9 days) starts from $4,550 per person, offering the unique opportunity to spend the night inside Kilimanjaro’s crater.
All prices are per person and include your guide, crew, park fees, accommodation, and meals on the mountain. When budgeting for your climb, remember to also factor in flights, travel insurance, gear, and gratuities for your crew – costs that sit outside the trek package itself.
If you’re thinking of climbing Kilimanjaro, we’ll love to chat with you! Contact us using our calendar below and we’ll be more than happy to answer your questions:
Cost Breakdown: Why is Climbing Kilimanjaro Expensive?
Kilimanjaro’s costs are higher than many people expect, but there’s a good reason for it. Tanzania’s national park fees alone are substantial, and every climber is required by law to trek with a licensed guide. Add in a full support crew of porters and a cook, quality equipment, food, and safety gear across multiple days on the mountain, and the costs quickly stack up.
The most important thing to remember is that a very cheap package almost always means corners have been cut somewhere; and on a mountain like Kilimanjaro, that’s not a risk worth taking. You should pay for a safe, well-supported climb with a team you can trust.
Staff Wages
Some operators have as many as 40+ staffs getting paid $12 to $25 each per day on an 8-day trip. If you want better tents, food, guides, hotels, this is the cost to it. There are some additional costs on top this if a team pays chefs, servers, and guides correctly. Most companies pay much less than this and some don’t pay anything and make the porters rely on tips. When you consider the price, it is important to make sure you are offering people a living wage.
Please do not choose a company who takes advantage of the local staff and is not invested in their future. At Ian Taylor Trekking, we have Kilimanjaro’s Number 1 Guide leading our team and we have helped over 25 of our staff gain access to high education to learn English, become guides and chefs.
Kilimanjaro Park Fees
Kilimanjaro National Park charges entry fees for climbers. These fees vary depending on the route and the number of days on the mountain. For an 8-day trip your permit fee is over $1,182. To camp at Kosovo Camp is $118 per person per night so these fees add up quickly.
I understand why some people choose 5 and 6 day trips, there is a a lot of saving to make by cutting out days on Kilimanjaro. Remember the success rates are 30% on a 5-day trip and 45% on a 6 day trip. The success rates go up to 85% on an 8-day trip up Kilimanjaro. Even higher, if you use Kosovo Camp at 4,900m/ 16,000 feet. Obviously these success rates vary depending on people’s physical preparation.
Tour Operator Fees
You pay for what you get. If you want expert advice prior to the trip alongside a high-quality offering with larger tents, better food, guides, support, fresh food drops, portable toilets. In addition to this, the cost typically includes guides, porters, food, camping equipment, and sometimes additional services such as airport transfers and hotels. We offer a high-end concierge service on Kilimanjaro and include the best of the above.
Food on Kilimanjaro
Unlike other companies providing prepacked meals and compromising freshness, we prioritize quality. We offer exquisite, three-course hot meals daily during your ascent. You can read more here: Food on Kilimanjaro.
Equipment Rental
Firstly, there are no rental stores or outdoor gear stores in Arusha or Moshi towns. You will need to bring most of your gear and clothing with you. If you don’t have your own gear, you may need to rent some equipment. We rent down sleeping bags, air mattresses, trekking poles, duffel bags and trekking poles from our office in Arusha.
Transportation
You must consider flights into Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO). We have found most people want to control their own flights as they are building points with specific airlines and want to control the class of seating they are booked in. You can book with KLM, Qatar Airways and always check out skyscanner.com for options on flights into Kilimanjaro International Airport. It can be challenging getting a taxi from Kilimanjaro Airport, so we always include all transportation to and from the airport and mountain.
Accommodation Consideration
You may need to budget for accommodation before and after the climb, especially if you arrive in Tanzania a few days early to acclimatize, join a coffee tour, visit Arusha National Park or stay for a safari afterward. We use either the 4 points, Mount Meru hotel or Kilimanjaro Boutique Lodge in Arusha for all our nights spent on the ground.
Visa and Travel Insurance Cost
Don’t forget to include the cost of the visa to enter Tanzania. This ranges from $50 to $100 per person depending on your nationality. Then you must consider the level of travel insurance you require. There are three elements to insurance that you will need to explore. Climbing Kilimanjaro presents some potential risk, and you need to consider having the following coverage.
1). Helicopter evacuation cover
2). Medical cover with repatriation
3). General Travel Insurance with trip cancellation cover
Tips
It’s customary to tip your guides, porters, and other support staff. This cost can add up, so make sure to budget accordingly. We recommend $300 as a tip to bring with you on the mountain. We hope you will find this is well deserved for all the hard work they do on Kilimanjaro in support of your summit attempt.
Picking The Right Team is The Key to Success
There are a lot of terrible operators on Kilimanjaro. The problem is many of the companies operating on Kilimanjaro are not reputable companies. Every trip I am on, I (Ian Taylor) am continually called over to treat sick climbers because their teams have no medication, oxygen or any safety equipment with them. The staff also have no idea what they are doing.
Your decision will either make to break your chances of success. Only a small % of climbers reach the summit. So you need more time on the mountain. We recommend 8 days as the minimum amount you should consider.
Every Kilimanjaro Climb Should Have The Following:
- Excellent food: 3 course meals for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- 1 to 1 support on Summit night
- 1 bottle of oxygen per every 5 climbers, Gamow bag and full medical kit.
- Warm tents (mountain hard wear Trango 4) & private toilet tents.
- Good seating for you to rest and eat meals
- Pulse Oximeters, as a secondary measure for testing o2 levels (morning and night)
- Flying Doctors cover (we have this included in our price)
- Access to professionals prior to the climb giving advice on preparation and training
- 8 days on the mountain via the Lemosho route gives the best chance at success
- Security team on the mountain to protect your equipment
Kilimanjaro FAQ
Trek With Us!
I (Ian Taylor) have personally climbed Kilimanjaro 40+ times and we have Kilimanjaro’s Number 1 guide leading our team on the ground and works full time for Ian Taylor Trekking. We only offer the best service on Kilimanjaro, leading the way with the best service, equipment, itineraries and taking care of our staff. Contact us today!