Updated · On BootsnAll since 2001 · History
Overview and Things to Consider
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak and draws climbers from all over the world. Arusha is where you base yourself, with cultural experiences and time to acclimatize.
The mountain dominates northern Tanzania. Most people come to climb, but there's more to do in the region, and Arusha town is the actual base.
Kilimanjaro is a hard climb. Altitude sickness is serious, so get in shape and prepare properly.
This isn't a normal tourist trip. A summit attempt takes commitment and realistic expectations.
Getting There and Around
Kilimanjaro International Airport serves the region, and Arusha town has the hotels and tour operators. Every climbing expedition needs guides, porters and permits.
Getting from the airport to Arusha is straightforward, and the climbing expeditions leave from there. The region is easy to reach but takes planning.
Your guide matters, and quality varies a lot, so choose your operator carefully.
What's Changed Since 2016
Infrastructure around Arusha has improved. Climate change is visibly affecting the snowline and glaciers, and commercial trekking is more regulated.
Operator quality still varies a lot, so choose carefully and prepare.
The climb itself is basically the same as it was.
Ideas to Consider for Your Visit
There are several routes, including Marangu, Machame and Lemosho, and each has a different feel and acclimatization profile.
Arusha National Park is good for warm-up treks. Ngorongoro Crater nearby has wildlife and cultural experiences, and the coffee plantations offer farm visits.
Realities to Be Aware Of
Altitude sickness is serious, so acclimatize properly. The altitude leaves only narrow summit windows, and your physical conditioning matters.
Weather can be extreme and costs add up. Guides and permits are mandatory.
If Kilimanjaro Is Part of a Longer Trip
Arusha is the base for Kilimanjaro and the start of the northern Tanzania safari circuit, with Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti in reach. Zanzibar's beaches make a good way to recover after the climb.
From here you can head on to the rest of Tanzania.
Yearly Things to Consider
Dry seasons are June-October and January-February. Rainy seasons are March-May and November-December. Altitude affects conditions regardless of season.
Summit success depends on acclimatization and weather, and some climbers need more than one attempt.
Kilimanjaro takes serious planning. Getting in shape isn't optional, and your acclimatization schedule matters a lot. Your odds of summiting come down to readiness and realistic expectations.
These insights come from real traveler experiences and local perspectives. Your visit will uniquely combine recommended experiences with personal discoveries and unexpected encounters. The best travel happens when plans meet spontaneity.
Ideas for Itineraries
3 Days in Kilimanjaro
3 days: acclimatize and get oriented in Arusha before the climb.
5 Days in Kilimanjaro
5 days: a 5-day route like Machame, at a moderate pace.
1 Week in Kilimanjaro
7 days: Lemosho and similar routes acclimatize you better, and success rates go up with more days.
2 Weeks or More in Kilimanjaro
2 weeks: climb, then add Ngorongoro, the Serengeti or Zanzibar.
From the BootsnAll archive
5 stories and articles about Kilimanjaro, 2006 to 2009
- Climbing Kilimanjaro: Reaching the Rooftop of Africa, Part 1
Article · Sasha Tenworth
- Climbing Kilimanjaro: Reaching the Rooftop of Africa, Part 3
Article · Sasha Tenworth
- Climbing Kilimanjaro: Reaching the Rooftop of Africa, Part 2
Article · Sasha Tenworth
- Memoirs of an Irish Lad on Kilimanjaro - Tanzania
Article · 2009 · Aiden Murtagh
- Taking On Kilimanjaro - Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa
Article · 2006 · Kent Stewart
FAQ
Visa requirements vary by nationality. Check your country's requirements for Kilimanjaro. Many visas are available on arrival.
The right vaccinations for Kilimanjaro depend on your exact route, how long you're staying, what you'll be doing, and your own medical history, so we don't publish a fixed shot list here. Requirements and disease risk also change from year to year. Check the CDC's destination guidance and the WHO, then see a travel-health clinic four to six weeks before you go so they can match vaccines and any malaria precautions to your specific trip.
Altitude sickness is the serious risk, so acclimatize properly. In town, take standard precautions and use registered transport.
It's dry June-October and January-February, and rainy March-May and November-December.
Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport. Climbs leave from Arusha with guides and porters.
Arusha town has the hotels and tour operators, and it's where climbs start.
Local cuisine offers authentic experiences. Street food carries risks. Established restaurants are generally safer.
Three days to acclimatize in Arusha, five to seven for a climb, two weeks to add Zanzibar or a safari.
Update history (24)▸
· Rewrite
Edited for readability and the BootsnAll voice: generic phrasing cut in 33 passages, no facts changed
· Fact-check
Fact-checked against current sources: no corrections needed
· Fix
Replaced templated vaccination advice in the FAQ that was wrong or unsafe
· Rewrite
Updated for modern frameworks, with content updates and changes
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
1 message-board post from 1 traveler
- 2013: 1 post from 1 traveler in the Mt Kilimanjaro forum (source)
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Archive
Travel guide on BootsnAll, at a new address
Archived copy of /Africa-Tanzania-Kilimanjaro· Contributors
3 message-board posts from 3 travelers
- 2012: 3 posts from 3 travelers in the Mt Kilimanjaro forum (source)
· Update
Annual update by Adam Seper, including traveler dispatches and AirTreks returnees
· Contributors
39 message-board posts from 25 travelers and 1 member blog post from 1 blogger
· Contributors
72 message-board posts from 35 travelers and 8 member blog posts from 1 blogger
· Contributors
178 message-board posts from 71 travelers and 9 member blog posts from 3 bloggers
· Contributors
645 message-board posts from 129 travelers and 2 member blog posts from 2 bloggers
· Contributors
273 message-board posts from 92 travelers and 3 member blog posts from 2 bloggers
· Contributors
1 article, by Kent Stewart, plus 343 message-board posts from 99 travelers and 25 member blog posts from 7 bloggers
· Contributors
235 message-board posts from 16 travelers and 2 member blog posts from 2 bloggers
· Archive
Covered in BootsnAll's round-the-world destination guides
Archived copy of /rtw/destinations/africa/kilimanjaro.shtml· Contributors
1 Insider dispatch, by Melinda Rees
- July 2001: Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania - Melinda Rees (Insider dispatch, archived copy) (source)
· Contributors
Chris Heidrich, BootsnAll co-founder, has contributed to this guide since 1999, including dispatches from BootsnAll and AirTreks travelers