You are probably reading this page because you have decided to climb Kilimanjaro. Congratulations! It’s excellent news. Many people decide to climb Kilimanjaro without knowing the financial costs associated with the adventure. Below I’ve laid out the top seven costs you can expect to pay.
flights
Getting to Tanzania can be quite expensive depending on where you are flying from. Most people fly to Addis Ababa or Nairobi and then take a connecting flight to Kilimanjaro. Climbers from Europe can fly directly to Kilimanjaro International from Amserdam. Regardless of where you fly from, I would budget $1,200 for flights. Often your flights are included in your tour package; see below
Tourist packages
Tour packages vary depending on the number of days you spend climbing the mountain and the route you choose. Packages range from 5-day treks to 10-day treks on 6 different routes. I recommend a 6 day trek if you are trying to go on a budget as you have an acclimatization day which increases your chances of reaching the top. For a 6-day trip, I would budget $1,500 (or $2,700 with flights). This usually includes transfers and a night in a hotel before and after your upgrade.
Visa
You will probably need a visa for Tanzania. Budget $100
vaccines
You will need to show a yellow fever vaccination card upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International. You may want to buy other vaccines (Hepatitis A, etc.). and malaria pills. I would budget $200
Team
You’ll need various gear for your climb, including layering clothing with a high-quality outer jacket, quality hiking boots, a warm sleeping bag, a duffel bag to carry your gear, walking poles, and a headlamp. I would budget $1000 for the equipment.
Tips for guides and porters
Tipping guides and porters is standard in the mountains. These guys work very hard for very little pay. The tips you get from your climbing guests are very important. The standard tip rate is approximately $200 per climb for your climbing support team
other
Miscellaneous expenses, such as food at your hotel before and after the climb, add up. I would budget another $200 for miscellaneous expenses
Total cost
So in total I would budget for at least $4,400 to climb Kilimanjaro.
I hope this information has been useful to you and I hope the cost has not discouraged you from climbing Kilimanjaro. The challenge is great but very rewarding. Prepare well and you will be fine.
Many people take the opportunity to raise money for charity. I suggest reaching out to worthy causes you’d like to support to see if they have specific fundraising schemes for climbing Kilimanjaro.
Best of luck!