Please find our Kilimanjaro FAQs below. We also have Safari FAQs and general FAQs on their individual pages.
Your trek will include a full crew: guides, a cook, and porters. Pristine Trails guides have extensive climbing experience and are Wilderness First Responder certified. There is a minimum of one guide per two clients to ensure health and safety. Cooks provide nutritious meals, and porters carry gear and assist with camp setup.
There is a minimum of one guide per two clients to ensure personalized attention to health and safety.
Open group treks are scheduled weekly during dry seasons, available for different parties to join, and are capped at ten climbers. They can be confirmed with a minimum of two climbers.
Private treks can be organized year-round and are exclusive to your party. They can be any size and are priced according to the number of climbers, with potential discounts for large groups.
Pristine Trails does not offer self-guided Kilimanjaro treks due to safety and logistical concerns.
Full summit treks range from 6-8 days, though can be longer. The routes we most recommend are 7-day and 8-day treks, to maximize your opportunity to acclimatize. You may choose a 9-10-day trek depending on the route and other considerations.
The best times of year to climb are during the dry seasons, from late December through March and mid-June through October when rain is less likely.
Summiting at night allows you to witness a spectacular sunrise, covers the long distance between base camp and Uhuru Peak, helps avoid sleeping difficulties at high altitudes, and manages limited resources like water carried to high elevations.
Your guides monitor your health twice daily, by observing you, asking questions, and using a pulse oximeter to check pulse and oxygen saturation. If severe symptoms of altitude sickness occur and cannot be managed, you will go back to Moshi with a guide for treatment.
Safety gear includes pulse oximeters, emergency oxygen canisters, radios for communication, first aid kits, and Gamow bags (hyperbaric pressure bags) upon request.
The choice to descend early will be made by you, together with your guide, based on your health and safety. Anyone who needs to descend early will do so with a guide and porter, be met at the park gate, and be transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment or to your hotel. The remaining group members will continue with the trek as planned.
There are no refunds granted for early descents and you will be charged for additional bookings required, such as additional hotel bookings.
Emergency services include first aid kits, pulse oximeters, emergency oxygen canisters, and communication radios. There is generally a helicopter evacuation service available as well for emergency scenarios that require immediate descent from the mountain. Your insurance must cover trekking up to 6000 meters to cover the cost of helicopter evacuation.
Training is recommended before you attempt a hike of Kilimanjaro. Recommended training involves regular hiking in your area, in your hiking boots. Carrying a day pack is also a good idea to get your body ready for that experience. Other training methods include a treadmill or Stairmaster workouts and strength training, focusing on your quads, glutes, and calves. Starting a minimum of 3 months before the trek, gradually increasing time and distance.
Pristine Trails provides all camping and cooking equipment. Sleeping tents are Mountain Hardwear Trango 4, and sleeping mats are included. Meals are served in a mess tent with a table and chairs. Portable toilets with eco-friendly systems are provided as well. Mountain Hardwear Lamina Z Bonfire sleeping bags and other gear are available for rent – Pristine Trails Rental Gear.
Pristine Trails offers rentals for sleeping bags, trekking poles, clothing, and more. View the full list of available rentals.
There is no power on the trek, so bring additional batteries, external chargers, or small solar-powered chargers.
Yes, Pristine Trails offers secure storage facilities in Moshi town for extra luggage and valuables during your trek.
Cooks prepare three fresh meals daily, catering to various dietary needs. Meals include hot breakfasts, packed or hot lunches, snacks, and dinners. Drinking water is filtered and treated, with up to 3 liters provided each morning and more available when you arrive at camp each afternoon.
Hot water and soap are provided each morning and evening for brushing teeth and washing. Camping showers are available for rent.
Provisions include private portable toilets, eco-friendly waste systems, and daily cleaning. Morning and evening hot water basins for washing and brushing teeth are provided, with camping showers available for rent.
A typical day includes waking up between 6:00-7:00 am, washing, having breakfast, and then hiking for 4-6 hours. After reaching camp, you have lunch, followed by relaxation time or acclimatization walks. It is recommended to bring a book to read, your journal, play cards, or the like for downtime in the afternoons and evenings. Dinner will be served in the early evening when you will discuss the next day’s schedule with your guide. Browse our Kilimanjaro Routes to learn more.
Pristine Trails practices ethical travel in a variety of ways. On our treks, we partner with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project to ensure fair treatment of porters, including fair wages, limited loads, and proper meals and sleeping conditions. We have also eliminated single-use plastics and properly dispose of all waste. Other ethical practices include valuing our staff and crews and assisting with clean-up efforts on the mountain.
Crater Camp is located at 5750 m / 18,865 ft. While it offers a unique experience, it poses significant risks due to the high altitude. Consult with a Trip Expert for advice.
The weather varies throughout the year and in each altitude zone of your ascent to the summit. Below are general descriptions of the conditions you can expect on your trek.
Read our Kilimanjaro Destination Guide to learn more.
Tipping is customary for your mountain crew and usually ranges from USD $350-500 per hiker, depending on trek length and group size. Tips are distributed transparently at a ceremony post-trek. More details can be found on our route pages and will be provided upon booking.