Frequently Asked Questions

Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed anytime throughout the year if you have the right equipment. Most climbers prefer June to October, and January to the end of February which is the drier season but others prefer December to summit on Christmas or New Year.

There are seven established routes up to the summit of Kilimanjaro and each route are vary from another. It will depend on where you want to sleep and the hiking distance each day and the number of days of each route. On the Marangu Route, you sleep in huts with simple beds, while on all the other routes, you sleep in tents. There are two most popular routes on the mountain: the Marangu and Machame route but you may also consider the Rongai Route as it is a far less travelled or long route than Lemosho for enough acclimatization.

You can expect equatorial to arctic conditions on Mt Kilimanjaro. Depending on the route chosen, you will begin your trek in dry plains or tropical forests with average temperatures between 25 to 30 degrees Celsius and -10 to -20 degrees Celsius on top plus wind chill.

Depending on the route chosen, most trekkers take 4-6 days to reach the summit. The longer you spend on the mountain, the more time your body gets to acclimatize, and the higher the chance you will succeed in reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro.

The trek up Mount Kilimanjaro requires no technical climbing experience and No need for any mountaineering equipment to reach the summit. Any moderately fit person can reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Hilbas Treks descend via the Mweka Route or the Marangu Route. This route is well-maintained and provides you with a final chance to sightsee before finishing your trek. At the gate, you’ll be awarded your climbing certificate before your driver transfers you back to the hotel.

The minimum age limit set by Kilimanjaro National Park for children trekking to Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro is 10 years old.

Fully 98% of the clients reach Uhuru Peak (Mt. Kilimanjaro’s summit).

You will need waterproof hiking boots, a small day pack, waterproof jacket and trousers, a sleeping bag (but depends on which route you choose), warm upper body layers, and thermal underlayers. These are just simple but to know all the gear details, please click Kilimanjaro Trekking Checklist for Rental Equipment Click here. You can hire top-quality mountain rental gear for a few dollars per item per day. However, please contact us early with your requirements to ensure we can reserve this for you.

All cooking stuff and camping equipment (including a tent, chair and table) are included in the price, clothes, boots, gloves, rainwear, head torches and trekking poles are not but you can rent from us all these items for a few dollars per item per day. Please click Kilimanjaro Rental Equipment for more details.

Hilbas Tours: We would recommend that you carry no more than 7kg. You only need to carry the 3 L of drinking water, Camera, Valuables, lunch box /Snacks, Rain layer…). The rest of the items you can leave with porters to carry.

Each porter can carry up to 20 kg of luggage but please remember to limit the weight of your duffel bag and its content, to be carried by the porters on the climb to 15 kg (32 lbs or less. The remaining 5kg is for other things like tents, chairs, food etc. Extra luggage, including clean clothes to wear after your climb, can be left at the hotel. Make sure you have everything you need to help you successfully summit the Roof of Africa. Please feel free to contact us with furthermore questions regarding the checklist.

Groups are limited to 10 people, but they are typically around 5 people. We will combine groups up to this limit if they are starting the same route on the same day. However, still, we can arrange for private groups at no extra cost. We will try to add a single traveller to the group if at all possible, but we cannot guarantee it. We can also accommodate large groups of any size.

Depending on the route you choose, usually are (30 – 50 miles) because there is a long and short route.

Yes, all Tanzania National Park (TANAPA) fees are included in our Kilimanjaro price. Crew entry fees and Tanzanian Forest Services Agency (TFS) fees (applicable for Rongai, Shira and Lemosho routes), Rescue fees, and Emergency Oxygen Tanks.

Yes, the portable toilet is available for rental at US$100/group (up to 4 climbers).

You ‘ll have guides and assistant guides. If someone becomes ill, an assistant will take the ill person down while the rest of the group goes on. You won’t be left on the mountain without a guide!

Extra expenses include:

Tips for guides, cooks and porters

Rental equipment (sleeping bags, hiking poles, etc.) if you don’t have one.

Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel in Moshi/Arusha.

Any personal expenses (visas, insurance).