Difficulty:
The Lemosho route on Kilimanjaro is often seen as one of the less challenging due to its extended schedule, which aids in better acclimatization. However, climbers will still face the Barranco Wall and a steep summit push during the night. The 8-day Lemosho itinerary boasts one of the highest success rates by providing an additional day for rest before the summit, allowing you to reach base camp by lunchtime for a meal and rest in preparation for the midnight start of the climb. No technical climbing skills are required, but good physical fitness is essential. For training, consider looking into Kate Sielmann’s mountaineering-specific coaching programs.
Food & Drink:
Eating and drinking well is crucial on Kilimanjaro, particularly when altitude might suppress your appetite. Our head chef has curated menus to be appetizing, nutritious, and energizing. Daily fresh fruits and vegetables are included, with meat available at the beginning of the trek and resupplied at Karanga Camp on southern routes. Post-summit, enjoy an “All Day English Breakfast” at base camp, tailored to your egg preference. Before departing, savor local Tanzanian dishes like Njegere and Machalari.
Accommodation:
Your itinerary details hotel stays and meal plans in Moshi before and after the climb. If you’re coming from a safari, we arrange accommodations in Arusha to minimize travel. Be aware that Tanzania’s infrastructure might lead to intermittent water and electricity, potentially affecting hot shower availability. On the mountain, we use top-quality Mountain Hardwear Trango 3 tents for comfort, though these tents are designed for harsh conditions, not for standing room. Meals are served in a spacious mess tent where you can relax in comfort. A toilet tent with toilet paper is also provided.
Transport:
We ensure high-quality vehicles and drivers for your transfers. Note that rear seatbelts might not be standard in Tanzania, and police checks are common but not indicative of vehicle or driver issues. If you have concerns, please speak to the driver or our local team immediately.
Airport Transfers: From your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport in a Toyota Alphard to trailhead transfers in Toyota Hiace or Coaster vehicles suited for rough terrain, and your return to the airport, we ensure comfort, convenience, and safety with complimentary amenities like water, Wi-Fi, and wet wipes. Our drivers are experienced, English-speaking professionals dedicated to your travel ease.
Luggage:
Climbing Bag Weight: The park limits porters to 15kg per bag, including your sleeping bag. Bags are weighed at the hotel; exceeding this weight means leaving items behind or hiring additional porters for $25/day.
Plastic Bag Ban: Since June 1, 2019, Tanzania has banned single-use plastic bags. Use sustainable alternatives like packing cubes. Airport security does allow zip-lock bags for liquids in carry-on luggage.
How Do I Get There?
From the UK or US, fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). KLM offers flights from major UK and US airports, with a layover in Amsterdam. Our tours start in Moshi, a short drive from JRO, where we arrange transport. Consider a rest day post-flight. Flights through Nairobi are not recommended due to potential inconveniences. Airlines like Turkish, Emirates, and Qatar serve JRO, with varying experiences depending on your departure point. For those exploring further, flights to Zanzibar from Dar es Salaam are convenient.
Travelling Responsibly:
We offset carbon emissions for our trips, but this does not cover flights. Use the provided eCO2 calculator to offset your flight emissions.
Fitness and Training:
Our Kilimanjaro Training Guide offers advice on physical preparation for the climb.
Budget & Change:
The Tanzanian Shilling isn’t available outside Tanzania, so bring new, crisp US dollars. Use ATMs or exchange at the airport for local currency. Inform your bank if using cards abroad to avoid issues.
Leave No Trace Adventure
At Tranquil Kilimanjaro, we take pride in offering environmentally friendly treks. Our goal is to leave Kilimanjaro cleaner after every expedition. To achieve this, we assign a special team to ensure that our climbing crew and customers leave no waste on the mountain. This team also collects any waste left by litterbugs from other groups on the trek, maintaining the pristine condition of Kilimanjaro reminiscent of the days of Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller, the first Europeans to reach its summit.
We are committed to minimizing plastic use during our expeditions. For example, the packaging for the lunchboxes on the first day of your trip (hot lunch is provided on all other days) is compostable. We source our packaging from Vegware, a leading UK-based provider of environmentally focused food packaging.
Safe Storage of Luggage
We understand that some items you bring to Tanzania won’t be necessary for your Kilimanjaro climb, such as suitcases, safari clothes, laptops, gadgets, and documents. We recommend taking only what’s essential for your expedition and leaving fragile or easily stainable items in our storage facilities or at the hotel’s storage that we trust.
Dedicated Support Team
When you book with Tranquil Kilimanjaro, your tour is managed by over 200 dedicated professionals committed to making your experience amazing. Our team includes experts in reservations, transfers, expeditions, customer service, logistics, and more, each specialized in their role. We also have comprehensive teams for hotels, transfers, ensuring every aspect of your tour is planned and executed flawlessly.
Our travel consultants are available 24/7, accessible through messengers, email, phone, or other convenient methods to handle your queries and concerns promptly, regardless of time zones.
All Park Fees (All inclusive treks)
Tranquil Kilimanjaro trips are fully inclusive of all park fees required for every hiker. This encompasses camping and conservation fees, rescue fees, crew fees, forest fees (on certain routes), and other payments, which make up roughly half of the total price, explaining the higher cost of Kilimanjaro hiking compared to other destinations.
Professional Guides and Porters
Your adventure is led by our exceptional Kilimanjaro guides, each with at least seven years of experience and deep knowledge of the mountain’s terrain, flora, and fauna.
Our guides are excellent storytellers, sharing legends, tales, and educational insights about the mountain’s history, culture, and biology. They respect your need for solitude too, stepping back when you wish to enjoy nature quietly.
Skilled Expedition Team
Our guides are supported by porters, camp managers, and other crew members who set up camp, fetch water, and handle all logistics. Our mountain chefs prepare nutritious meals, ensuring your physical well-being.
Tips:
We follow the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project’s tipping guidelines: $6-10/day per porter, $20/day for guides, $12-15/day for assistant guides and cooks per group. Additional tips for porters assisting on summit night are appreciated. Tips are collected and distributed at the hotel after the climb for security reasons, using provided envelopes for clarity and fairness.
