Tour Guide, Moshi, Tanzania
| 3 mins read
No fixed cost is yet known on how much is needed to pay for Kilimanjaro climb, however, the cost is highly influenced by multiple factors. According to our advice, do not run to those companies offering the lowest climbing costs, as a result, you may receive the worst service ever. Just relax and consider the following factors, so that you can plan your budget accordingly.
Important things to consider:
1. Climber’s Preference: Budget versus Luxury Climbing.
In our experience, some tourist inquires for budget climbing while others choose to hike in the standard model. The price difference between the two preferences is caused by accommodation type (budget vs. standard), Kilimanjaro camping equipment (standard vs. luxury), crew size (number of porters and guides), and the quality of other service offered.
2. Group Size: The Cost for Solo Climber versus Group Climbers.
If you plan to climb Kilimanjaro alone, it’s obvious the climbing cost will be relatively higher than a shared group cost. If climbing solo, variable cost like airport transfers, and other transport costs, accommodations, food, equipment, and gears, and tipping will be liable to a single person while it can be divided among the group members if climbing as a group. Keeping other factors constant, the larger the group, the lower the price and vice versa.
3. The Route Chosen: Short Route versus Long Route, and its Facilities.
There are more than 5 different routes to climb Kilimanjaro; each route has its own unique features. Routes differ in terms of difficulty level, distance to the top, costs, routes success rate, facilities, and traffic ratio. In this case, the cost for climbing Kilimanjaro let’s say 5-days Marangu route will be relatively cheaper than that of 8-days Lemosho route.
Another factor about the route is facilities available; it's only Marangu route that offers shared accommodation in cabin huts with beds and mattresses, the rest of the routes offers tents camping, hence extra cost for camping equipment and more people will be needed to carry camping equipment each day. In this case, the cost for the Marangu route will be relatively cheaper compared to other routes.
4. Number of Days Spent on Climbing Kilimanjaro: Case Study of 5-Days versus 8-Days Climbing.
Kilimanjaro climbing cost is highly affected by the choice you will make about the total number of days to spend on Kilimanjaro. A question like how many days I should go for Kilimanjaro climbing is highly associated with the prices you are going to pay. Normally, Kilimanjaro climbing is done for 5 to 8 days; the cost for 5 or 6 days is relatively lower than the cost for 8 days climb.
5. Tour operators' own price
Different tour operators charge different climbing prices basing on their own factors like size of the company running cost, the nature of the climb they specialized to offer (budget vs. luxury), profit margins they want to make, and many more.
