Question 1

How big is the group and where are my fellow travellers from?

Accepted Answer

The group size is between five and a maximum of ten persons

On a private climb, you choose your hiking partners. You will not be teamed up with strangers. We can accommodate private groups of up to 200 or so.

Question 2

Is there an age limit on this tour?

Accepted Answer

As per the national park authorities, the minimum age for climbing Kilimanjaro is 10 years but seeing that children are more prone to altitude sickness than adults, we recommend a minimum age of 12. There is no maximum age restriction, but a medical check-up is advisable for people over the age of 65.

Question 3

How fit do I have to be?

Accepted Answer

Kilimanjaro is one of the few mountains of its height that can be summited without mountaineering skills or experience. You should however be healthy and fit enough to manage the 4-6 hour hike each day, as well as the 12-14 hour hike on the day of the summit. For the last stretch, much endurance and willpower is needed.

Question 4

Is it possible to climb Kilimanjaro at any time of the year?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes. We however discourage any attempts during the main rainy season (end of March to beginning of June). During the short rainy season (November), daily short rainfalls and cloudy views can be expected. From December until the end of February, temperatures are at their highest and rainfall is at its minimum. These are the busiest times. Between the end of June and the middle of October is also a good time to climb. Temperatures are a little lower but there is almost no rain.

Question 5

What is the route like?

Accepted Answer

The Northern Circuit route is one of the best routes on Kilimanjaro, offering nearly 360 degrees of beautiful scenery, including the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes. As the longest route on Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit also has the most acclimatization time and the highest summit success rate. Thus, the Northern Circuit route is highly recommended.

(And by rule of thumb, the longer the route, the better the chances of making it to the top).

The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Lemosho Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge, before crossing the Shira Plateau. The route then heads north and circles clockwise from Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp to School Hut, before summiting from the east at Gilman’s Point. Descend via the Mweka route, where you will most likely encounter other trekkers who ascended via the Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe, or Machame routes.

Question 6

Where does the group overnight?

Accepted Answer

Overnight accommodation will be in two-man tents and sleeping mats are provided. Single travellers usually share a tent with another group member of the same gender. Single tents can be provided on request at additional cost.

Question 7

What kind of ablution facilities can I expect?

Accepted Answer

There are no ablution facilities except for basic long-drops (very simple latrines), but on private climbs mobile chemical toilets are included.

Question 8

What meals are included and what food can be expected?

Accepted Answer

Fresh water will be collected from the available sources on the mountain and is boiled before it’s served. Porters will carry water in canisters for the higher areas, where no more fresh water is available. All meals are freshly prepared by your cook.

Meals are included as indicated in the itinerary.

Breakfast usually consists of fruit, scrambled eggs, porridge, toast and jam, hot chocolate, coffee or tea. For lunch you are usually provided with a lunch box that contains sandwiches, boiled eggs, chicken etc.

For dinner you will be served a soup and bread followed by the main course that either consists of red meat or poultry served with some sort of starch (chips, mashed potatoes, pasta or rice) and vegetables. For dessert you will get fresh fruit, hot chocolate, coffee or tea and milk.

Breakfast and dinner are served in a mess tent that is equipped with a table and chairs while lunch is usually enjoyed en-route.

We are able to provide meals for vegetarians or people with other dietary requirements or food allergies but we need to know in advance in order to cater for special requests.

Question 9

How to handle the altitude?

Accepted Answer

Almost every hiker attempting Kilimanjaro will notice the altitude and the thinner air. Fitness fanatics are just as likely to suffer from it as couch potatoes. Symptoms include headaches that are often accompanied by fatigue, loss of appetite and nausea. More often than not, symptoms are mild, allowing you to continue to ascend. Occasionally the symptoms are more severe and a rapid descent is required, after which your body tends to recover quite quickly. Please however always keep in mind, that severe altitude sickness can be life-threatening and it may even lead to death. We do not recommend the use of medication, as it suppresses the symptoms of altitude sickness. We do however encourage you to drink enough water to replace the fluids lost from the physical activity. Two to four litres per day are recommended, as well as mineral supplements (magnesium etc.) to help replace lost minerals and to prevent muscle cramps.

Question 10

What happens in a case of emergency?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately there are no state of the art mountain rescue services like the ones to be found in the European Alps for example. If you no longer have the ability to walk, you will either be carried or transported on a wheeled stretcher. This is by no means a pleasant experience which is why we encourage you not to overstrain your body and to travel safe. Helicopters can only land at a lower altitude and are therefore rarely used.

Please ensure that you are covered by your health insurance while travelling. If you do not have sufficient coverage, we highly recommend taking out appropriate travel insurance. Your insurance should cover all your medical expenses including costs for rescue and repatriation.

Question 11

How much extra money do I have to take along?

Accepted Answer

It is common practice to tip the members of your mountain crew after the climb. Tips make up a large portion of their income and are therefore highly appreciated. Below are some guidelines based on a group (not per person)

Guide: 15-18 USD / day

Assistant Guide: 12-15 USD / day

Cook:   8-10 USD / day

Waiter: 7-9 USD / day

Porter:   6-7 USD / day

Of course the above is just a guideline. If you are happy with the service received, you are welcome to show this when it comes to tipping.

If you plan to tip in USD, please make sure the notes have been printed after 2004 as any earlier dated bank notes are not valid and can therefore not be used in Tanzania.

Question 12

What kind of equipment and clothing should I bring?

Accepted Answer

Travel bag, backpack or kitbag, weighing no more than 12kg. Please do not bring a suitcase or trolley bag, as this type of luggage cannot be carried by the porters.

Day backpack with rain protection.

High quality sleeping bag for harsh conditions (at night temperatures can drop to -20°C).

Different layers of clothing including thermal base layers, fleece clothing, trekking pants, warm jacket and water-resistant top layers as well as a warm headgear.

Water-resistant and comfortable hiking boots and a variety of trekking socks.

Please note that the above list is not complete and these are just a few things that you will have to bring with you. Once we have confirmed your booking, you will receive a more detailed list.

Question 13

Do I need a visa for this trip?

Accepted Answer

Citizens of all nationalities need to contact the embassies of their travel destination to check the visa regulations.

In general, European citizens can apply for a Tanzanian Tourism Visa upon arrival in Tanzania.

It is the sole responsibility of every traveller to be in possession of the required documents and visa that allows them to enter their holiday destination.

Question 14

Do I need vaccinations for this trip?

Accepted Answer

Tanzania is no longer a yellow fever region, so a yellow fever certificate isn’t generally a requirement. If visiting any other countries in the region either before or after Tanzania, be sure to check if a yellow fever vaccination is required

Although there are no mosquitoes at high altitude, Tanzania is within a malaria region. It is up to you if you wish to take medication, but we suggest that you speak to your doctor or travel clinic about the different prophylaxis and their effects and side-effects.

Although Tanzania does not require proof of immunization against tetanus, diphtheria, polio and hepatitis A and B, we nevertheless recommend those vaccinations.

Kilimanjaro Trek 8 Days Northern Circuit Route

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