Safari Guide
Climbing Kilimanjaro
Quick answer
What does it take to climb Kilimanjaro?
Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain: Uhuru Peak on Kibo stands at 5,895 m, inside a national park of 1,712 km². You climb with a licensed company over several days, sleeping in huts or tents, and pay the park TZS 178,850 per day for entry plus a hut or camping fee per night, before VAT. Altitude sickness is the main risk, so the length of the route matters more than the speed.
| Summit | Uhuru Peak on Kibo, 5,895 m (TANAPA) |
| National park | 1,712 km², a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 |
| Park entry | TZS 178,850 per adult per day, excl. VAT |
| Nights on the mountain | Hut TZS 153,300 · camping TZS 127,750 |
| Main risk | Altitude sickness; talk to your doctor first |
| After the climb | 5–9 nights on Zanzibar |
| Last verified | 2 October 2026 |
The mountain
What is Kilimanjaro National Park?
Kilimanjaro National Park was gazetted in 1973, opened for tourism in 1977 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. It covers 1,712 km² around the mountain's three volcanic cones: Kibo, the highest, at 5,895 m, where Uhuru Peak is the summit; Mawenzi at 5,149 m, a rugged, technical climb; and Shira at 3,962 m, a high plateau.
TANAPA describes five eco-climatic zones on the way up, from the tropics to arctic conditions: the montane forest between 1,800 and 2,800 m is one of them, and the glaciers and ice fields of the summit are the last. The mountain is sacred to the Chagga people, especially along the Marangu route.
Routes
Which Kilimanjaro route should you choose?
Start with the company, not the route. The UK government's advice for trekking in Tanzania is to use only a reputable travel company, stick to established routes and always walk in groups, and to be prepared and equipped for the terrain and the low temperatures.
The routes differ in where you sleep and how quickly you gain height. Some use the park's huts; the others are camping routes, and the park charges a hut fee or a camping fee for each night accordingly. A route that spends more days on the mountain gives your body more time to adjust, which is why the length of the itinerary matters more than its name.
Fees
How much does it cost to climb?
These are the park's own fees for non-residents, in Tanzanian shillings and before VAT, valid from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027:
| Fee | Amount, excl. VAT | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Entrance, adult | TZS 178,850 | Person and day |
| Entrance, child aged 5 to 15 | TZS 51,100 | Person and day |
| Hut fee, adult | TZS 153,300 | Person and night |
| Public camping, adult | TZS 127,750 | Person and night |
| Rescue fee | TZS 51,100 | Person |
| Crater camping | TZS 255,500 | Person and night |
The climbing company adds guides, porters, food, equipment and transfers, and usually pays the park fees for you; ask what its price includes. More on budgets: Tanzania safari costs.
Days
How many days do you need?
Several, and more is better. Every company offers itineraries of different lengths on each route; the extra days are not luxury but time for your body to adjust to the thinner air. Ask how many nights you sleep at each height, whether there is a rest day, and how the summit night is planned.
Leave a buffer at the end, too: if bad weather or health slows the climb, you do not want a flight to Zanzibar the next morning.
Health
What happens with altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness is the main risk on Kilimanjaro. The US CDC notes that the high altitude may lead to it and advises talking to your doctor before you go about how to prevent and treat it; the UK government lists altitude sickness as a risk in parts of Tanzania and points to its TravelHealthPro guidance.
On the mountain, tell your guide about headaches, nausea or breathlessness straight away. Going down is the treatment that always works, and a good company will turn back with you without argument. For the kit, see our safari packing list.
After the climb
How do you get from Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar?
Most climbers fly from Arusha to Zanzibar, around 1 hour, depending on the airline and the aircraft; Flightlink's schedule also lists a flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Dar es Salaam that stops on Zanzibar. From Zanzibar airport it is about 65 km and 1h15 by car to Michamvi Pingwe on the south-east coast. After the climb, sleep, warm water and slow days are the point; our page on Zanzibar after safari covers how many nights to plan.
Where these facts come from
Official sources
- TANAPA: Kilimanjaro National Park: The park in its own words: founding year, area, the three volcanic cones and their heights, the five eco-climatic zones.
- TANAPA: park entry tariffs (online reservation system): The official Kilimanjaro fees in Tanzanian shillings, excluding VAT: entrance, hut, camping and rescue fee.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Tanzania safety and security: Trekking and climbing advice and the rainy seasons.
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: Tanzania health: Altitude sickness as a risk in parts of Tanzania.
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Tanzania: Altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro and talking to your doctor before you go.
Checked on 2 October 2026. We link to the bodies that set the rules, not to summaries of them. Rules change: check the page itself before you travel.
Good to know
Questions travellers ask
The questions climbers ask us when they plan to finish on the beach.
Which Kilimanjaro route should I choose?
Choose a reputable, licensed company first and let it propose the route; the UK government advises sticking to established routes and walking in groups. Some routes sleep in huts and the others in tents, and longer itineraries give your body more time at each height, which matters more than the route's name.
How much does it cost to climb Kilimanjaro?
The park's own fees, per non-resident adult and before VAT: TZS 178,850 entry per day, TZS 153,300 per night in a hut or TZS 127,750 per night camping, and a rescue fee of TZS 51,100. The company adds guides, porters, food, equipment and transfers, which make up most of the price.
How many days do you need to climb Kilimanjaro?
Several. Companies offer itineraries of different lengths; choose one with time to acclimatise rather than the shortest. Ask how many nights you spend at each height and whether there is a rest day.
What happens if I get altitude sickness?
The US CDC notes that the high altitude on Kilimanjaro may lead to altitude sickness and advises talking to your doctor about how to prevent and treat it before you go. On the mountain, tell your guide about symptoms at once; going down is the treatment that always works.
When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro?
In the drier months between the rainy seasons, which the UK government gives as generally the end of March to May and October to mid-December. The mountain is cold at any time of year near the top, so prepare for low temperatures whatever the month.
How do I get from Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar?
Most climbers fly from Arusha, around 1 hour, depending on the airline and the aircraft; Flightlink's schedule also lists a flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Dar es Salaam that stops on Zanzibar. Then plan the beach; see Zanzibar after safari.
Your stay at Matlai
Choose your dates and the booking page opens with them, showing live availability.
Bookings with children go by enquiry: the booking page books adults only, so send us your dates on WhatsApp and we reply with the options. Children under 14 stay with a whole villa. WhatsApp →
Indicative public rates — the engine shows live availability for your dates.
Welcome drink, kayaks, bicycles and snorkelling gear, free of charge.
Booking with the hotel itself? Ask us what we can offer for your dates.
Why guests book Matlai
- Your own butler, 07:00 to 22:00. One message and it is arranged.
- Half board with a chef’s menu that changes daily: three courses, plus two à la carte kitchens at every table, Zatiny (Indian Ocean fusion) and Duyên (Vietnamese).
- Dine where you like: in the restaurant, in the garden or on your own balcony. A private table by the beach or a candlelight dinner can be arranged at an extra charge.
- Six rooms in two villas, a pool for each villa, shared by its rooms, and every room facing the sunrise over the ocean.
- Bustani, the garden spa; the sandbank in front of the hotel at low tide; a quiet beach lined with small, family-owned hotels.
WhatsApp Zanzibar after safari →
TripAdvisor 4.9/5 · 378+ reviews · Google 4.8/5