Kilimanjaro
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PAMOJA SAFARIS

KILIMANJARO HIKE

There is generally little or no snow or ice in the first few days of the hike—if there is any, it will be mostly near the peak of Kilimanjaro. Since we’ll only spend a few hours at the summit, this won’t really be an issue at all (no crampons are needed for your boots, for example).

If we do encounter snow during our ascent, it will usually be a foot (.3 m) or less — nothing too challenging as far as hiking goes (although it can get slippery at times).

There are glaciers at the summit, but they are far off the hiking trails, so we do not get very close to them.

The weather gets colder as you go up the mountain, and it is not uncommon to be at, or a bit below, freezing at night during the last few days near the summit. Pack warm clothes, and dress in layers (as it could be cold in the morning when we start, get warmer during the day as the sun is out and we are hiking, then get cold again in the evening).

Regarding rain, definitely bring a poncho if you can (one that covers your day pack, or a backpack cover), as it may rain at the lower elevations. Making sure your pants/boots/outer layer are rain repellent or rainproof is also a good idea, just in case.

More info on the weather can be found here.

What you wear has a huge effect on the overall Kilimanjaro trekking experience, so bringing the right stuff definitely matters.

You’ll be traveling through a few distinct climate zones during your hike, from an elevation of about 8,000 ft (2,400m) — which will be tropical forest — all the way up to the summit, which can be cold any icy no matter what time of year you decide to climb.

As the temperature can fluctuate throughout each day as well, it pays to dress in layers. We’ve found that light Merino wool (such as Icebreaker), or synthetic blends (such as Ex Officio), work best as base layers. Cotton absorbs moisture and doesn’t tend to dry quickly, making 100% cotton anything a poor choice for the climb.

On top of your base layer wear a long-sleeve button-up shirt, sweatshirt, or sweater along with pants (jeans are acceptable, but if they get wet they’ll stay wet, so better to use something that is a synthetic fabric, such as hiking pants). Your top layer will consist of a jacket or two — a light shell-type jacket for the lower elevations that protects against wind and water, and an insulated winter jacket for the last day or two of the ascent, as it starts to get colder.

You may also opt to wear long underwear underneath everything, as that does a great job of keeping you insulated and warm. Snow pants are also encouraged as a third layer for the lower half of your body, even if you don’t need them until the final ascent.

Winter gloves will be necessary for the final day of ascent at a minimum, so be sure and include them in your kit. A winter hat is important as well, as you lose a lot of body heat through your head.

Earmuffs and a balaclava are optional, but in general, we recommend over-packing rather than under-packing when it comes to gear. If you don’t need it, great, but at least you have it with you if you do.

Note: you do have the option to rent some of the outerwear (jacket, gloves, snow pants, hiking poles, etc.) from a local gear shop if needed. However, be aware that we cannot guarantee availability in your size.

Absolutely the most important piece of gear you’ll be bringing, it is necessary to bring a comfortable pair of hiking boots, worn before the trip to break them in. To prevent ankle injuries, these boots should be at least mid-length in height and have a rubber sole on them to prevent slippage.

Tennis shoes/sneakers are only acceptable for the lower elevations of the climb — at higher elevations your feet will be freezing, they’ll let moisture in, and won’t dry quickly. They also won’t protect your foot from rocks and debris. Many guests wear regular shoes for the first few days of the hike, while you are still in the lower elevation areas, and then switch to boots once conditions warrant.

If you tend to be the type that suffers from foot irritation or wants to prevent any unnecessary rubbing due to new footwear, be sure to pack some anti-blister foot balm or blister pads (not corn pads).

Be sure to bring the following items to ensure a comfortable climb for you and your companions:

  • a day pack (35L in size or less, such as these day packs from Osprey), to carry your snacks, water, and rain gear
  • a larger main pack (such as a large backpack or duffel bag from around 70-90L with a total packed weight of 15 kg/33 lbs or less that the porters will carry)
  • mobile phone (there is occasional service while climbing the mountain)
    • make sure your phone is unlocked in order to use a local SIM card (ask us in advance if you’ll need one), or be sure to sign up for a travel package through your current service provider
  • a wide-brim hat (to keep the sun out of your eyes and prevent sunburn on your face and head)
  • sunglasses (along with cleaning spray and wipes, as it gets quite dusty)
  • water bottle or Camelbak-type hydration reservoir (make sure it has the cold weather package, otherwise the lines tend to freeze on summit day)
  • sunscreen and SPF lip balm
  • swimsuit (for pre- and post-hike lodging pools)
  • bug spray/insect repellent (DEET or Picaridin, just for the lower portions of the climb)
  • hand warmers (for the final ascent night especially)
  • camera (something better than your smartphone, if available and you don’t mind carrying the extra weight in your day pack)
  • extra batteries and USB charging packs (as we won’t have any access to electricity for the duration of the climb)
  • flashlight (torch) or headlamp (preferred)
  • collapsible walking poles (optional — some prefer to use them, some do not, but they can save your knees on the last portion of the trek, which is all downhill)
  • energy bars and snacks (we are fed three meals per day, but you are also burning a lot of calories each day)
  • ear plugs and a sleep mask
  • personal toiletries and medication:

Regarding sun care/prevention: we are pretty close to the equator, and the sun here burns a bit stronger than you may be used to. Be prepared — bring sunscreen and cover up!

Please note that we will carry a first aid kit, emergency oxygen, and water (see Water).

You’ll be carrying one smaller day pack with some warmer clothes, rain gear, snacks, water, camera/phone + charging pack, etc. in it during the day. This can be a smaller pack, such as a 25-35L backpack.

You’ll also be bringing one larger bag/backpack, which will have all of the rest of your gear in it, such as clothing, summit day supplies, etc. This is usually 50-70L, and the porter carries it the entire climb. This bag must be soft-sided — a duffel back, backpack, or similar. The maximum weight limit for this bag is 15 kg/33 lbs.

We recommend making sure both packs have some sort of rain tarp/poncho attached to them, to protect the bag (when porters are carrying it along with their other loads), and for water protection, should it rain.

You will be able to leave anything not needed for the hike at the lodge at our Arusha city for pick-up after the hike.

We will be assigning two guests of the same sex to each 3-4 person capacity, four season-rated tents. This will allow ample room for you to move around, as well as to store your gear.

If there is an uneven number of guests, we can put up to three guests in one of the larger size tents. We do not encourage tents with only a single guest inside, as it gets extremely cold at higher elevations, which extra body heat helps dissipate.

We will provide tents, sleeping pads, and pillows, but if you would like to bring your own gear you are more than welcome to do so. You may bring your own sleeping bag (make sure it is rated to 15°F/-10°C or lower), or may choose to rent one from us — $50 for the duration of the trek.

If you choose the shorter, more crowded routes such as Machame or Marangu, there is an option to sleep in your sleeping bag in a hut, which most guests choose to do (provided the trip is booked far enough in advance to secure reservations).

Initially, potable water from the town will be carried up the mountain by porters. Later in the hike, water will be gathered from springs, and boiled to ensure potability. We will be able to refill at the very least in the morning, afternoon, and evening when we stop for lunch or make camp for the night.

There is no need for sterilization tablets/UV devices to purify your water. You will, however, need to carry your own water bottle/water reservoir/Camelbak, etc. with you in your day bag during the hike.

Be aware that if you are using a hydration reservoir that is sitting on the outside of your body, it may get too cold on summit day to function properly (unless you have one with insulation, such as this model).

It is a good idea to bring electrolytes or other hydration powders to keep you properly hydrated and full of vitamins. We recommend NUUN tablets for taste + ease of use.

There will be no access to showers starting from the start of the climb until we leave the mountain. As water gets scarer the higher we go, you will have access to enough water to wash your hands and face each day, but that is about it.

The best way to stay as clean as possible is to bring a pack or two of moistened baby wipes, which you can use to at least wipe some of the sweat and dirt off of your body each night before bed. Some guests — especially those with longer hair — choose to also use dry shampoo to keep their hair as manageable as possible.

Female guests have been recommending bringing a GoGirl-type device for urination while on the trail.

We encourage all guests to consult with their licensed medical professional prior to setting off to Tanzania.

Malaria prevention medication, such as Malarone or doxycycline (both prescription-only in the U.S.), may be taken if you wish. Each medication has its side effects, so consult with a physician before you decide on which to choose, if either. We will not be encountering many mosquitoes after the first couple of days due to the elevation, so it is up to you whether you prefer to take the medication or to use insect spray and long clothing instead.

Make sure you are up-to-date on your basic travel immunizations, such as Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, MMR, DPT, etc. See a full list of recommended immunizations at the U.S. Center for Disease Control website, here.

Proof of the Yellow Fever Vaccine having been administered is required if coming from an endemic country, or if spending more than 12 hours on a layover in an endemic country (e.g. Brazil, Kenya, etc. – check the current list of countries here).

If you may need any other medication, such as prescriptions, aspirin, an inhaler, Imodium, etc., please make sure to bring enough with you to last the duration of your trip (and maybe a bit more, in case of any delays).

Despite the easygoing reputation of Kilimanjaro, climbing it can be dangerous, and people have died while attempting to summit the mountain (although this is a very rare occurrence, and something that we as a company have never had happen on a trek).

The number one cause of aborted summit attempts is due to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). AMS happens when your body’s red blood cells cannot acclimate to a sudden drop in the amount of oxygen in the air, causing your body to struggle to keep up with any exertion you experience. Symptoms of AMS include dizziness, vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of sleep, and in severe cases, even death.

Acute Mountain Sickness can affect anyone, at any time. We have seen 60-something-year-olds that have done little to no training summit with no issues, while an athletic 20-something that has trained for weeks is hit with moderate AMS symptoms. The amount of training, your age, and your fitness level have little to do with how AMS may impact you during your climb — you could climb once with no issues, and then climb again a month later and have issues.

The best way to combat the chance of experiencing AMS symptoms is one of two things:

  1. Train, or at least spend time, at as high an elevation as possible. Since this isn’t possible for many people, we at least recommend doing your safari before your Kilimanjaro trek (if also going on a safari), as we spend most of the time at 4,500 ft (1,300 m) or so, which helps quite a bit versus immediately going from a low elevation and then starting your hike.
  2. Take a longer, less strenuous route. You can theoretically climb Kilimanjaro in as little as five days, but we don’t recommend it. Instead, we recommend spending at least seven, if not eight days on a longer, less crowded route, such as the Lemosho Route. The added cost is negligible, and your chances of summiting increase with every day you spend on the mountain pre-summit.
  3. Take Diamox pills.

If your mountain guide detects that you may be suffering from AMS, they will slow down the pace a bit, and check with you to see how you feel. If symptoms appear severe enough, your guide may send you back down the mountain with one of the assistant guides. Your safety is our utmost concern, so please keep this in mind if your guide determines that your symptoms are too severe to continue up the mountain.

In the case of severe AMS, or an injury, your guide may radio for assistance and send you along with a team (with a stretcher, if needed) back down the mountain as quickly as possible for recovery and/or medical treatment.

We require every guest who attempts Kilimanjaro to purchase a travel health insurance policy that will cover them in case of injury or evacuation is necessary (see Trip Cancellation & Medical Insurance).

Please note there are no refunds given in the case you cannot summit, as all park and crew fees are paid in advance. Also, any additional costs as it pertains to rescue, transportation, and additional lodging once down from the mountain must be paid by you (all or most of which should be refundable via your insurance). 

If you suffer from extreme AMS and need to head back down the mountain, chances are that you will completely recover within a day or two after reaching a lower elevation (and sometimes even hours).

This may mean that you have extra days left in your schedule before your flight onward. Seeing as you cannot have another attempt at the mountain right away, you have two choices:

  1. Check into a hotel, and rest up and/or do a day trip around Arusha City, or to Arusha National Park.
  2. If you haven’t yet done so, book a safari (either through us or through a partner firm, based on availability).

Based on how you feel, and how many days you have left (as well as if you already did a safari, or have a safari planned), this decision is up to you. In the meantime, a driver will meet you at the bottom of the mountain and drive you back towards Arusha city so you can either: a.) receive medical attention, and/or b.) check into your lodging.

If you are looking to fill your remaining time with a day-long or multi-day safari trip, you may be limited as far as choices by the last-minute nature of your booking. In the case that you cannot book a safari through Pamoja Safaris, we may refer you to another company that has an opening in their safari schedule (whether it is a private or a group experience).

Note: although we will do our best to ensure the quality of any companies we refer you to, they are completely separate entities from Pamoja Safaris, and we assume no responsibility for your experience once you book/start a trip with them.

Guests are responsible for the cost of medical care and any extra days of lodging, food, and activities post-evacuation. Fees paid for trekking Kilimanjaro are non-refundable, as all parties are paid prior to beginning the ascent.

Diamox pills (a.k.a. acetazolamide, prescription only in the U.S.) can be taken in order to try and prevent altitude sickness. It works by increasing the amount of oxygen your red blood cells are able to transport through your body. It’s good to at least have it on hand in case you start to feel symptoms when climbing higher and higher, although it works best if you start the regimen before you start climbing.

One unfortunate side effect of Diamox is that it dries you out — making you need to drink even more water than usual, which then makes you urinate more frequently.

Please consult your local medical professional regarding Diamox use, side effects, etc.

Note: if allergic to sulfa/sulfonamide-based drugs, you should not take acetazolamide.

We require all Mount Kilimanjaro trekking guests to purchase travel medical insurance, in the event that you get sick or injured while you are on the trek.

Optionally, medical insurance plus trip cancellation/delay insurance should cover your trip costs, including airfare, if for whatever reason you cannot make your trip as previously scheduled (illness, death of a family member, etc.), as well as if you need to be evacuated off of the mountain.

There are few companies that provide the needed insurance to cover you when climbing over 14,000 ft, as we will be doing on Kilimanjaro.

The company that we’ve found that does include such coverage is:

Note: be sure to check here to make sure that hiking up to 6,000 meters is covered in your plan, as it depends on your country of residence. If not included in the STANDARD plan, then be sure to select the EXPLORER plan.

Make sure to bring all necessary chargers to power any devices you’ll be bringing with you. There will be power outlets in the hotel rooms, as well as in the transport vehicle so that you can keep everything charged up before hitting the mountain.

Tanzania runs on a 230 volt/50-hertz electrical grid. Most power sources auto-switch voltage nowadays, so you most likely will not have to bring a voltage converter with you (notebook computers, smartphones, anything with a USB charger, camera battery chargers, etc.).

Tanzania’s plug type is the same as the UK plug (as it was once a British colony). We will have some plug converters on hand in case you need them, but we recommend grabbing at least one converter to bring with you — such as this one.

We don’t recommend bringing high-draw electronics that can’t auto-switch voltage, such as curling irons and hair dryers, as using them on the local voltage could break them.

Note: there will be no access to electricity once we begin our climb, so be sure and bring enough batteries and USB charging packs to charge your phone, camera, etc. during the climb.

The local currency is Tanzanian shillings (abbreviated TSh or TZH) and is available via ATM withdrawals in Arusha city, by local money changers at Kilimanjaro International Airport, or at the banks in town.

Denominations of paper currency include 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 shilling notes. With the largest note — TSh10,000 — valued at just over USD$4.00, be aware that you’ll be carrying a ton of notes around if you make a large withdrawal/currency exchange.

However, most transactions during your stay will be listed in U.S. dollars. U.S. dollars are the preferred currency for everything from souvenirs, alcohol, and services at the lodge, and gratuity. If you prefer to pay a bill listed in U.S. dollars in Tanzanian shillings instead, just let the clerk or staff member know and they will convert the total to shillings.

Euros are also accepted but are not as preferable as U.S. dollars.

Base gratuity is included for all members of the crew in the price you pay to climb Kilimanjaro. We’ve found that this provides a better experience for our guests, as you don’t need to carry large sums of cash with you, don’t need to do the math of who gets what, and don’t need to awkwardly hand it over to all of the crew members on the last day.

Including gratuity also provides a better experience for our crew, as they are all guaranteed a certain amount of money to take home to their families when they work with us. This allows us to attract and keep the best talent, which also improves your experience in the end.

However, if you feel that any team member goes above and beyond the call of duty during your time with us please feel free to show your appreciation if you feel called to do so. You may want to have some cash on hand for this purpose, as alternate payment methods such as Cash App, Venmo, and PayPal do not work in Tanzania.

Note: there are no shops on the mountain.

If you have an unlocked mobile phone, you will be able to use a local SIM card in your phone (check with your carrier if you don’t know if your phone is SIM locked or not, as many carriers will unlock your phone for you if you just ask).

However, in order to get a local Tanzanian SIM card you’ll need to bring your passport and some Tanzanian shillings to one of the registration centers in Arusha, choose your calling/Internet package, and wait for them to sign you up.

Although this can be done, we ask that you let us know in advance if this is a service that you’ll be needing, as your schedule may not allow for such a stop.

You will have wifi internet access at your lodges before and after your climb. During the actual climb itself, your access will be sparse, but it is usually accessible at certain points of the trail, depending on the route you take.

It’s a relatively simple process to go online and apply for a Tanzanian e-visa. After filling out a few pages of personal details, you’ll pay online via credit card, print out your confirmation page, and bring it with you to the airport, where the Tanzanian immigration officials will stamp you in.

Please make note of the following important information before applying for your visa:

  • The cost for the visa is $100 for U.S. Passports and $50 for most other nationalities that require a visa (listed here).
  • If a U.S. Citizen the only option for a tourist visa is a multiple entry visa. If you are not a U.S. citizen, your only option is a single-entry tourist visa.
  • Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date in Tanzania, and you will need at least one page free in your passport for the entry and exit stamps.
  • Visas must be applied for more than 10 business days in advance of your departure date to Tanzania, to allow time for processing (we recommend at least 30 days).
  • You will need to upload a scanned passport photo, a copy of the photo page of your passport, and a PDF copy of your onward flight ticket. 
  • The port of entry and departure will usually be Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) unless flying in or out of Zanzibar’s Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (or some other city or land border crossing, in which case just contact us for assistance).

To apply for the visa, please visit the official website here.

Note: if the form mentions that you need proof of travel and/or a Letter Of Invitation, please contact us for further assistance. If your passport/photo upload doesn’t work, try decreasing the resolution/file size of the image and trying again.

If arriving in Arusha from an international destination, the airport you’ll be flying into will be Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).

If you will be flying to Arusha via a domestic flight (e.g. from Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar), you can choose either Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha City Airport (ARK).

Either way, we’ll be there to pick you up when you arrive — just look for our representative holding a sign with your name(s) written on it outside of the baggage claim area. From Kilimanjaro Airport, it will be about a 1-1.5 hour drive to Arusha; from ARK, it will be 15 minutes or so. If staying in Moshi town before your ascent, the drive is around 30 minutes from the airport.

On departure day we’ll be driving you to the airport, or your lodge will have a free shuttle. You will be scheduled to arrive approximately two to three hours before your flight departs.

Tip: many airlines pass out the paper immigration form on the flight, so bring a pen with you so that you can fill out the immigration form and have it ready when you land at the airport. Also, if needed, be sure and go to the bathroom before the plane lands, as there are no facilities available while waiting in line at immigration.

Ready to plan your trip?

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