5. PAQUETE INTELIGENTE

Llevar todo el equipo necesario es muy importante. Recuerde, no podrá llegar a la cima si no tiene los zapatos y la ropa adecuados. Sé de lo que estoy hablando porque un chico que estaba conmigo en el grupo no tuvo éxito en parte (y creo que sobre todo) porque su ropa era completamente inapropiada para caminar en las montañas altas. (estuvieron bien hasta el día 3 o 4, pero definitivamente no para la cumbre).

Para asegurarse de no olvidar nada, solicite a su empresa una lista de artículos recomendados, ya que ellos estarán encantados de proporcionárselo. Al mismo tiempo, no tiene sentido empacar en exceso, es solo lo que puede llevar con usted (los porteadores tienen un límite de peso por persona), así que trate de empacar sus maletas de la manera más inteligente como sea posible.

Aquí está mi lista de elementos recomendados (esta es una combinación de la lista recomendada de la compañía + algunos elementos necesarios de mi experiencia):

Aquí hay un video para que pueda ver fácilmente cómo se ven todos los elementos:

https://youtu.be/HSLCJumNmyw

Sé que este es un tema muy importante, así que decidí escribir un artículo detallado en su lista de empaque del Kilimanjaro con enlaces directos a dónde puede comprar cada artículo en particular.

6. NO NECESITARÁ LLEVAR TODO EL EQUIPO USTED MISMO

Comme je l'ai mentionné plus tôt, à moins d'être un alpiniste professionnel, vous ne pouvez PAS gravir la montagne sans l'aide de porteurs! N'oubliez pas que, à l'exception des vêtements et des sacs de couchage, vous aurez besoin de nombreux autres articles lourds comme une tente, de la nourriture, de l'eau, etc. C'est vraiment un effort combiné de toute l'équipe pour vous aider à atteindre ce sommet.

Même si vous ne souhaitez PAS utiliser leur aide, le gouvernement exige d'avoir des porteurs dans votre randonnée et vous devrez toujours payer pour ce service, alors pourquoi ne pas l'utiliser?

La limite de poids est fixée par le gouvernement à 20 kg par porteur et, pour autant que je sache, elle est respectée. Il y a des rangers qui vérifient le poids lors de certains arrêts aléatoires et, s'ils trouvent un employé surchargé, l'entreprise paiera une grosse amende. Certaines entreprises fixent leur propre limite à 15 kg.

Donc, cela dit, je veux que vous sachiez que grâce à vos porteurs (ce sont des gens formidables!), Vous n'aurez PAS à porter votre sac avec tout l'équipement pendant votre trek – vous ne serez responsable que de porter votre sac à dos. Le sac à dos se compose généralement de raingear, d'eau, d'un écran solaire et de votre appareil photo.

Ces personnes font un travail incroyable pour rendre votre ascension possible, appréciez-les.

Ceci, en passant, m'amène au point suivant:

7. Gardez à l'esprit que des pourboires sont attendus

Le pourboire n'est pas autant «facultatif» qu'il est nécessaire pour votre équipe du Kilimandjaro. Malheureusement, les salaires des habitants sont encore très loin d'être élevés et ils dépendent des pourboires que vous allez laisser. La somme finale varie en fonction du trek, du nombre de jours et des personnes dans votre équipe, mais elle revient à environ 10-15% du total de votre voyage au Kilimandjaro à la fin. Veuillez vous assurer d'inclure cette somme dans votre budget pour le calcul du Kili.

Je suis assez sensible à ce sujet car l'un des touristes de mon groupe n'a laissé AUCUN pourboire après la randonnée. Ce n'était pas seulement impoli pour les personnes qui ont essayé si fort de rendre sa randonnée Kili possible, mais aussi vraiment égoïste parce que nous devions couvrir au moins une partie de ce qui manquait de son côté. Nous n'avons pas pu le faire car nous avons vu les visages tristes des porteurs et le visage surpris de notre guide qui a dit que cela ne lui était JAMAIS arrivé pendant ses 14 années de pratique!

Si vous y réfléchissez bien, le pourboire recommandé n'est que de 10 US $ par jour pour le porteur POUR TOUT LE GROUPE, et je pense que ces gens qui travaillent dur et souriants le méritent vraiment, non?

Les habitants essaient vraiment fort (je veux dire, il suffit de regarder les photos ci-dessous, ce sont de meilleurs humains! Comment peuvent-ils transporter autant? 🙂).

Je pense donc qu'il est juste de les aider un peu (l'argent ira directement dans leurs poches, pas le gouvernement, ni l'entreprise). C'est aussi un bon moyen de contribuer directement à l'amélioration économique du pays.

Vous recevrez des enveloppes le dernier jour où vous pourrez mettre vos pourboires pour tout le groupe. Votre guide principal distribuera ensuite la somme aux porteurs, cuisiniers et assistants de manière équitable.

Maintenant, les conditions de traitement des porteurs sont BEAUCOUP meilleures qu'il y a dix ans. Comme je l'ai dit plus tôt, maintenant ils ont des limites de poids et ils sont vérifiés pour l'équipement approprié (mon guide m'a raconté des histoires de porteurs qui mouraient auparavant parce qu'ils n'avaient pas de bons vêtements de pluie et des bottes appropriées). Néanmoins, j'ai encore vu des porteurs porter des chaussures vraiment simples et inappropriées et j'ai eu pitié du poids qu'ils portent (ils étaient si positifs cependant!)

Ainsi, si vous avez des vêtements de randonnée de rechange que vous n'allez pas utiliser après l'ascension, vous pouvez les donner aux porteurs, ils l'apprécieront beaucoup! Mon copain a laissé un pantalon et une veste et nous avons tous les deux laissé nos thermos. Les gars étaient plus qu'heureux!

CONSEIL DE PRO: C'est un article énorme et au cas où vous seriez perdu, je voulais vous rappeler que j'ai négocié une réduction de 7% pour votre pour toutes les visites avec Altezza, c'est pas cool? Pour obtenir votre code de réduction, écrivez-moi un e-mail avec "Remise du Kilimandjaro" comme objet de votre e-mail et je vous l'enverrai!

BONUS – COMMENT CHOISIR LA MEILLEURE ENTREPRISE POUR VOTRE RANDONNEE AU MONT KILIMANJARO

Uuff, c'est un sujet important car le succès de votre randonnée dépendra principalement du choix de votre entreprise. Ci-dessus, je vous ai donné mes recommandations pour les meilleures agences de voyage du Kilimandjaro en lesquelles vous pouvez faire confiance, mais si vous souhaitez faire votre propre choix parmi des centaines d'agences de voyages, voici les questions que vous devriez leur poser par e-mail:

• ¿Cuanto cuesta? Si leur prix au Kilimandjaro est bas, pourquoi est-il bas? Éloignez-vous de ce genre de sociétés, cela pourrait être dangereux pour votre santé, sans parler de la faible probabilité de sommet. La raison pour laquelle il en coûte quelques milliers est que seul le permis est de 800 à 900 US $ par touriste et il est facturé par le gouvernement. Le reste est d'environ 1000 US $, ce qui représente votre hébergement, votre nourriture, votre porteur et vos guides pendant environ 7 jours qui ont une mission importante, donc je ne dirais pas que c'est trop. De plus, si l'entreprise craint et que vous finissez par avoir un trek désastreux du Kilimandjaro, est-ce vraiment de l'argent économisé après tout? Pensez-y!
• How many years ago was this company founded and how many clients did they already have? (we are not expecting the exact number here obviously, just an approximate estimation)
• Do they provide airport pick-up and drop-off for their Kilimanjaro tours?
• Where are you going to stay before the hike? Is it a nice hotel with hot water or a hostel with no Wi-Fi?

• How many years of experience does your guide have? Will he carry emergency oxygen with him during the climb?
• Will you have insurance in case something goes wrong? (this is not always covered, so I recommend having your own insurance. This one for example)
• What is the success rate of summiting for that specific company? While they can, of course, lie with their answer, you have the right to know. Your operator quality level is more important than your fitness level in this case, trust me!
• Very important – do they have positive reviews on independent blogs like mine or TripAdvisor? What about negative reviews? Do your own research!
• Will you have a doctor with you during the hike? How often will the health checks be performed? (it is quite rare to have a doctor on the trek, only big international companies have them)
• How many kgs are porters going to carry? The standard is 20 kg, but some companies establish their own limit of 15 kg (which means more porters and a higher price for you, but it is nicer for porters).
• How many people are they expecting for your dates and route to climb the mountain together with you? What is their average age? (I talk about the ideal amount of tourist in the group below in this post)
• If you have any food allergies or preferences, can they provide the appropriate food?
• How often does the company change their equipment? This is EXTREMELY important! If you will need to stay in a tent that doesn’t close properly because the zipper doesn’t work, that will make everything much harder. Also, check that the sleeping bags are for at least -15 C or (0 F). The warmer the better!

• Does the company list the prices openly and freely or do you have to “request the quote”? I honestly do not understand why some of them do not show their prices right away, it is a standardized tour and not many customizations are needed. Is there a reason why they don’t write the price right away? To my understanding, they just change the prices according to which country the tourist is from. Or they want to see if you will want to negotiate to get a better deal. So, I prefer not to spend my time writing an email, waiting for the reply, comparing the results from other companies, etc. If you are ok with going back and forth and negotiating, then it is totally fine, but I almost never write to this kind of sites.
• How much is the deposit and do they charge for bank transactions? If it is not a big international company or the one you can trust for sure, I would not feel ok transferring 100% of the sum. My company asked for 30% advance payment and I think this is acceptable (though I still did a background check on them)
• Is the company ethical? Meaning do they pay fair wages to their staff? Ask them if they provide their porters with good trekking gear and do not overload porters with weight?

• If that is something special you will need – do they provide the private toilet service (yep, that can be arranged too), and if yes, how much will it be?
• Not so important, but nevertheless – what is your company’s attitude towards tourists’ entertainment on the mountain such as dancing performances every day? In most companies, porters and guides sing and dance for you every day to lift your spirit. If this is something you don’t feel comfortable with, you better double check in advance. Or, the other way around, if you feel that it would actually help you to raise your spirit, why not choose the company that organizes it?

Yes, the list of questions is super long, but please do not be afraid to ask questions and see if your company is responsive. If they are open and transparent that’s good, if not – then why not? Do they have anything to hide? It is better to figure it out now than later when you are already on the mountain.

MORE PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT KILIMANJARO

Of course, I could not let you go without sharing some important information about the food, season, Kilimanjaro climb cost and some other useful tips.

So, here you go, here are some Kilimanjaro facts and info:

How to get to Kilimanjaro

There are basically 3 airports where you can arrive at:

1. JRO – Kilimanjaro International Airport

Most of the treks start from Moshi. In this case, it is the best decision to arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). It is about 1-hour away by driving (43 km).

If you, like me, continue with a safari tour afterward, it usually starts and finishes in Arusha and it is about 1.5 hours driving to JRO airport (60 km).

2. ARK – Arusha Airport

There is also the option to arrive at Arusha Airport (ARK), but there are not many international flights that arrive there. You might arrive there if you fly internally, for example from Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam (the capital). Arusha Airport is only 8 km away from Arusha city center.

3. NBO – Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi

I know that many people fly to Nairobi (Kenya) first and then take a bus or any other means of transportation.

If you go by bus, Nairobi to Arusha is about 6-7 hours with the border stop, and Nairobi to Moshi is 7-8 hours.

NOTE: Currently, if you arrive from Kenya (by land or if you just had a transfer in Nairobi), you will need to be vaccinated from yellow fever. If you do not have that vaccine, I believe they can do it at the border for an extra payment.

I advise you to check Skyscanner for your dates and check both airports – JRO and NBO.

How much does it cost to climb Kilimanjaro?

I have already given you the estimated prices on how much each of the treks should cost, but here is an average of all of them for you to know what kind of costs to expect:

Total: +/- 2000 US$. It can be a bit more or a bit less depending on the trek and tips of about 200 US$ = ~ 2200 US$

You only need to add the flight cost and the cost of equipment to this and you will end up with your final price.

I think by now I convinced you that going for the cheapest option is basically a waste of money (and it is also dangerous). So I would not look into something that is less than 1800 US$ per person for a 7-days hike (this, of course, does not mean that everything above that is a good company by default, you will need to do your research). My hike was 2.500 US$ per person (Machame route, 7 days), plus the tips.

MISS TOURIST DISCOUNT: Altezza, the com(any I can vouch for is offering a 7% discount to all my readers, yay! To get your promo code write me an email with “Kilimanjaro discount” as the subject of your email and I’ll personally send it to you!

The larger the group is, the lower the price per person can be (I would not recommend going in a very big group, though, because each tourist has about 4 people assisting him, so you will end up with a small army of people!).

How about buying a last-minute ticket from a local operator to save some money? If you are already in Arusha or Moshi (this is where most tour companies are based), it is possible to buy the tour on the spot and it will be a bit cheaper. I, personally, would not recommend this option to people who have limited time because most good companies will be booked out or you might need to wait until a certain date to do your hike.

How many people should be with you on the hike?

In my opinion, the optimal amount of people in the group will depend on the type of traveler you are:

• A solo traveler: it probably makes sense for you to join a group (more about the number of people below)
• A big company of friends/ family: maybe it is better to opt for a private tour so that you could go at your own pace
• A couple: depending on how you feel about it – you can either opt for a private tour, either join a small group (5-6) people. I and my boyfriend preferred joining a group
• UNE very fast (slow) hiker/ professional photographer: I would recommend a private tour so that you can go at your own pace. You will not have to wait for anyone if you are fast and you will not need to make people wait for you if you are walking slowly while taking many pictures and videos.

Group tour or a private tour for Kilimanjaro – which one to choose?

The groups are usually made of up to 15 people, which means over 50 (!!) people in the team altogether (there are about 4 porters for each tourist).

Small group tours are great for meeting new people and private tours are good because you can go at your own pace and you do not need to wait for anyone or stop as long as you want.

I think the optimal group size is about 5-6 tourists as you will meet new friends and the size is not that big that you will need to wait for somebody all the time. Add 4 porters per tourist to that and we will end up with quite a big group, even if there are only 4 people climbing the Kilimanjaro summit.

I would not go with a group that has more than 10 people in it and I would also double check that they are in the same age group (more or less).

MY EXPERIENCE: There were just 3 of us in the group – me, my boyfriend and one more guy (we just assumed we are joining a bigger group, so we did not really ask). Considering the fact that our companion wasn’t the nicest person in the world, I would have actually preferred to be in a bigger group. Long story short: he hated the trek and the whole organization of it, he did not make it to the top because he wasn’t prepared and he decided to blame the organizers for it (who worked hard for his success) and he did not even leave them any tips at the end.

Anyway, when we split (he did a 6-days trek, we did the 7-days one), we were trying to find some friends to talk to after dinner and it turned out to be not that easy. Even if everyone is super positive and nice on the trail, you can’t really approach people because they were all “hiding” in their own tents. So, unless you “invade” each tent, it would not be possible to know who lives where. That was just a minor disappointment, I guess it would be more fun to summit with a group of like-minded positive people more or less my age!

So, if you feel the same way, I would say go with a small group – 5-6 people is an ideal size.

What is the highest point of Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro’s height is 5 895m (19 340ft) and the name of the highest peak is Uhuru Peak.

The second highest point is Stella Point at 5.739m (18.829) and you will reach it 40 minutes before Uhuru.

NOTE: Many people turn back once they reach Stella Point and they decide not to go further for Uhuru which is just 150m higher. Honestly, this is something I cannot understand – why you tried so hard for all these days only to turn back when you only have 40 minutes left?

Is it dangerous/hard to climb Kilimanjaro?

Well, let me put it this way – Hiking Kilimanjaro is definitely not a walk in the park. It is very much doable, but hard. But you will be proud of yourself, I promise.

Yes, it is doable. Yes, thousands of people do it but, chances are, it will be the hardest thing you will do (it was so for me)!

Is it hard? It is not easy – it is a constant fight with yourself and with your willpower that goes on every day.

It is definitely far from how dangerous Everest is but still, statistically about 1.000 people get hospitalized and about 10 deaths are reported yearly, mainly because of mountain sickness (AMS).

I said it before, but I will repeat it – I strongly recommend consulting your doctor before you make the decision on going to Kilimanjaro. If you have respiratory problems, serious knee injuries or anything of that sort, I think it is better not to risk your life.

All in all, I would not call hiking Kilimanjaro risky or dangerous – you will be under the constant supervision of your guide (and we now know how to choose a professional one using my tips, right?). If you won’t feel good all of a sudden, do not worry, you can turn back at any time and your guide will assist you down the mountain. If you don’t feel good somewhere close to the summit, they can pick you up with a helicopter and deliver to the hospital in Arusha. But as I said, this cases are rare.

Is it worth it to climb Kili?

Now that we discussed how hard it is to climb Kilimanjaro and I must have really scared you, let me sweeten it up by saying –

I would not trade a single moment of that hike, it was so worth it!

Climbing Kilimanjaro was one of the best things I have done in my life and one of my brightest experiences for me and my boyfriend that we will cherish for a long, long time afterward.

Honestly, I couldn’t hold my tears when we made it to the top – these are the moments we live for! It is life-changing and yes, it was worth it, 1.000.000 times worth it! (You can see it in my Insta stories by the way! If you haven’t yet, go to @misstourist and click on “Tanzania” under Highlights. Don’t forget to follow me too! 😉 )

So yeah, if you are still thinking about it and you are not sure about your decision – it is worth it, have no doubts about it! These memories with stay with you forever and you will never be the same after this experience.

What is the food like on Kilimanjaro Mountain?

You will be surprised, but the food menu in Kilimanjaro is really diverse and really good!

As I have been told by my guide, the majority of Kili tour companies (excluding the super cheap ones) have an almost identical menu because it is proven to work.

The cooks are doing their best to give you high-energy food, many fruits, and vegetables. We had fried eggs for breakfast, soups, and meat for lunch and soup and pasta for dinner. There are always plenty of hot drinks such as tea, coffee and powder hot chocolate that you can access at any time when you are at the camp.

The food is served 3 times a day in a special dining tent (sometimes you will be given a lunch box for eating during the day) where you will be able to sit normally without bending over.

You certainly should not expect a high-end Michelin star restaurant, but given the fact you are going to be veeeery far from civilization, the cooks are doing an amazing job!

NOTE: Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are usually available, make sure to double check this with your potential tour provider.

When to climb Kilimanjaro?

Kilimanjaro is located very close to the Equator, so it is always warm at the bottom of the mountain and, of course, always unpredictable at the top.

That is why almost all months are good for Kilimanjaro trekking. What you want to avoid, though, is the rainy season (mid-March to mid-May and sometimes November).

I highly recommend NOT summiting during those months because you will be constantly wet (there will be no place to dry your clothes) and you won’t see the views because of the clouds! I once went to Nepal during the raining season and, trust me, I wouldn’t repeat the experience  – I had no views and there was constant rain. It is a big effort and why would you try your luck and waste your vacation?

Outside these periods, the weather is mainly mild and dry, but, of course, you might catch some rain and no one can promise you that you will have amazing weather. For instance, I climbed at the beginning of January and we had a pretty bad rain during the last day and a snowstorm during the summit night, so you never know!

How about the best time to climb the mountains in terms of the number of tourists?

If you want to avoid the crowds, the best time to climb Kilimanjaro is either the rainy season (not recommended), either the shoulder season if you are willing to take a gamble. The shoulder months are December, March, and June. Also, try to avoid the full moon time (no kidding here!) as many people try to summit Kilimanjaro during the full moon. Rongai and Shira route are not so popular, so it makes sense to use one of the two if you are determined to escape the crowds.

Another great way to avoid the crowds is to start much earlier than everyone else and/or use alternative campsites, but for this, you will either need to take a private tour or to have an approval from the whole group beforehand.

How cold can it get on Kilimanjaro?

The weather on the mountain can change in 5 minutes from bright sunshine to heavy wind with hail. I have seen it with my own eyes, it is crazy! Kilimanjaro has its own microclimate!

On the summit night, which is the coldest night for obvious reasons, the Kilimanjaro temperature can get from -15 to -30° C (5 to -22° F), so you will be wearing many layers (refer to my post about What to pack for Kilimanjaro for details, please). I do not want to scare you, but you should know what to expect and be prepared for it.

MY EXPERIENCE: I think there was about -15° C when I did the ascent, but there was also a strong snowstorm, so I think I was quite unlucky. Our guide said that it is usually much easier to ascent than it was that time. Oh well, I still made it and I hope you will be luckier!

What about all the other days? The rest of the days are quite OK – it usually does not get below -3° C (26° F) during the night and the average temperature during the day is about 15° C (it highly depends on the Kilimanjaro elevation level you are at).

Some people try to match the full moon date with their summit day because it is supposedly warmer. It might be true, but trust me, the weather is changing literally every 5 minutes up there on the mountain, so I am not sure it would help much if there is a snow storm.

What are the symptoms of altitude sickness?

Do not worry, unless you are an experienced mountaineer, it is absolutely normal to experience mild altitude sickness. Most of the people I met on the mountain had it in a light form.

The most common symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) are light or heavy headache and a loss of appetite (I could not avoid these myself either). The harder symptoms are unexpected nose bleeding or vomiting. If these happen to you more than once, sadly, you will have to turn back – the risk it too high.

Will I need any special vaccination like yellow fever vaccine?

Here is the list of vaccines that are RECOMMENDED by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Yellow fever vaccine is only required if you fly from (or have a layover in) countries with a high risk of yellow fever (such as Kenya and Rwanda).

I did the yellow fever vaccine before and I had a certification with me just in case, but no one asked me about it (my connection flight was in Oman and this country is NOT on the list of high risk for yellow fever).

Do not worry if you forgot about it, you can usually do the vaccine right at the airport, upon arrival.

Is there internet connection on Kilimanjaro?

You will be surprised!

There is a 3G connection in some points, but not everywhere. If you really want to check your email and post some pictures on Instagram, just follow the porters, they usually hang out in the spots with good reception, they know places. 🙂

But I, of course, would recommend to completely unplug for these days and enjoy the nature, this is what I did and it was awesome!

Some important Swahili expressions

Swahili is the language spoken in Tanzania (and, in fact, in many other African countries).

The language is quite easy and these are the phrases you might find useful when on the mountain:

• Pole-pole – slowly-slowly (You will be using this A LOT!)
• Asante (sana) – Thank you (very much)
• Karibu (sana) – You are (very) welcome
• Twende – let’s go
• Mambo – how are you (slang-ish, more like “What’s up”)
• Jambo – hello
• Sawa – OK
• Poa – cool (that is your reply to Mambo)
• Hakuna matata – no trouble
• Haraka – fast
• Simba – lion (suddenly it all makes sense, right?)

Kilimanjaro easier alternative

If you are not ready to commit to climbing Kilimanjaro just yet, I can offer you an alternative – Mount Meru!

Of course, it is much easier to climb Mt. Meru and it only takes 4 days. As the elevation is not so high and you will be in a National Park, you might be able to spot many animals such as giraffes, baboons, and buffalos! The price for trekking Mt. Meru is about 1.200 US$ per person (porters, accommodation in huts, guides and 1 night in a hotel before and after the hike are already included).

The coolest things about Meru? You will have a great view of Kilimanjaro from there!

If you have enough time on your hands, this can also be perfect preparation for Kilimanjaro!

What is next? Safari!

If you have a few extra days for your Tanzania holidays, reward yourself and go on a safari!

Tanzania has excellent wildlife and you will have no regrets for taking part in one of them!

I have continued my Tanzanian journey to safari and I have seen all “Big 5” and so many other animals in only 3 days! It was unforgettable and an amazing reward to myself after conquering the tallest mountain in Africa!

I have described everything about my Tanzanian Safari experience including prices, duration and other tips in this post!

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Conclusión

Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest free-standing mountain and climbing it is a challenge, an adventure that you will never forget!

This post has to be one of my longest ones ever, but I really tried my best to give you enough information about pricing, duration, choosing the trek and the tour company and other practical details to help you prepare in the best way possible!

And I also hope I have motivated you as well – it is a once in a lifetime experience and you will be telling stories to your friends and family about it years and years later! I surely will! 🙂

Let me know what you think about it and don’t hesitate to drop me a line if you have any comments!

Did you climb Kilimanjaro? Tell me about your experience!

Yulia

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