Kilimanjaro climbing advice
Budget advice
Andrew Appleyard of our supplier Exodus, experts in Kilimanjaro, has climbed Kili many times and is a font of information when it comes to Kilimanjaro climbing advice: “Altitude sickness is a complete unknown. But I would say that if you give yourself time to do a longer route and, therefore, have longer to acclimatise, your success rates are higher. My top tip is that if you’re going to do it, do not scrimp on cost. Don’t try and carry tons of your own gear so that you can cut down on porters, it’s just not worth it. I did it a decade ago and there were 11 in our group – I took ten of those to the summit. The other group had 19 people and only three made it. They told us they came up too quickly, had altitude sickness, didn’t eat enough food, ran out of water… ”
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Strenuous route up Africa's highest peak
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A child friendly Lemosho route Kilimanjaro trek
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Kilimanjaro climb, Rongai route
Ascend Mt Kilimanjaro's Rongai Route
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Kilimanjaro climb Lemosho route
Awesome 10-Day Kilimanjaro Climb via the Lemosho Route
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Tanzania tour with Kilimanjaro day trek
Tanzania's wildlife with Mt Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar beach
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Kilimanjaro Lemosho trek and safari in Tanzania
Challenging trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
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Safety advice
Paul Deakin from our Kilimanjaro supplier, Private Expeditions:“On Kilimanjaro, if someone has altitude sickness, we will get them back down the mountain very quickly. It depends on the severity, of course. We use a pulse oximeter to test their oxygen saturation, and then there is a system called the Lake Louise altitude scoring system which has a whole list of questions with points allocated to them. The number of points shows whether their altitude sickness is mild, severe or critical. As soon as we get warning signs that it is moving from mild to severe, then we bring them down by putting a guide under one arm, and a porter under the other arm, and run them down. Very rarely with altitude sickness would you need to stretcher someone down. If they are being stretchered down for altitude sickness, then you have done something very badly wrong.”
Tips on keeping comfortable
Dr. Gotlind Blechschmidt , Vice President of conservationist organisation, Mountain Wilderness Germany: “Don’t expect hotels or any comfort! They should be used to sleeping in tents or lodges with simple facilities. Be prepared for darkness (long nights), cold, storms, and a large amount of dust all over the routes. I took the Rongai Route for going up and Marangu down, so I made a crossing of the massif. Because you get only little water for washing it is good to take some wet wipes with you; a big plastic bag is useful (one can take it as a poncho against rain and put it in front of the tent to have a clean “entrance”). Everybody should be friendly to the porters and guides. Don't forget a tip at the end. Take care of the porters if they are cold in the nights, especially when up at the highest points.”Packing advice
Chloe Knott is another mountain expert at Exodus, our leading supplier in trips to Kilimanjaro. She shares her Kilimanjaro climbing advice for keeping warm: “If you have a metal Sigg water bottle, you can fill it with hot water at night, put it in a sock and use it as a hot water bottle. I learned that one at Everest Base Camp - it was a life saver!”
Our top Kilimanjaro Vacation
Lemosho trek up Kilimanjaro
Strenuous route up Africa's highest peak
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US $3990 to US $4400
10 days
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Small group travel:
2023: 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 10 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 28 Sep, 5 Oct, 12 Oct, 26 Oct, 21 Dec
2024: 18 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 22 Feb, 29 Feb, 27 Jun, 8 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 19 Dec
2023: 29 Jun, 13 Jul, 10 Aug, 24 Aug, 7 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 28 Sep, 5 Oct, 12 Oct, 26 Oct, 21 Dec
2024: 18 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 22 Feb, 29 Feb, 27 Jun, 8 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 10 Oct, 24 Oct, 19 Dec
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Vacation reviews from our travelers
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travelers are often... other travelers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Kilimanjaro climbing advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Kilimanjaro climbing advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your vacation - and the space inside your suitcase.

do what the guides recommend, get to know them, and enjoy what’s to come because the guides and staff are the personality of the mountain. Don’t go overboard with the gear that you bring, a lot of people take too much with them.![]()

– Matthew O’Grady
“We all got sunburned on the backs of our hands during the trip very badly. This was due to holding walking poles. Try to protect your hands either with total sun block or a pair of thin silk gloves. Get sun block on at midnight on summit night. It sounds stupid but the glaciers and surface snow will burn you badly.” – Craig Lewis
“Practice putting your equipment and clothing for Kilimanjaro climb in and out of your bag, Make sure you know where everything is when you might need it.” – Lorraine Scott
“I would recommend taking a nail brush (you won't believe how filthy your hands and nails get), and hiring a down jacket, sleeping mat and sleeping bag from the company as they are all good quality stuff and saves having to pack them.” – Catharine Gidney
“We did have a very special reason for wanting to climb Kilimanjaro - in 2003 our 24 year old son Neil was lost whilst climbing the second highest mountain in S. America (Mt. Pissis 23,000ft). After his death I set myself three challenges in order to raise money for the charity we set up in his name. Neil was a champion runner with an English rating, a long distance cyclist and a climber. My three challenges were to ...run for Neil.. I trained and completed the 2004 London Marathon in under 5 hours... to cycle for Neil....last August(2005) I cycled 1,041 miles from John O'Groats to Lands End in 15 days. The remaining challenge ... to climb for Neil....had to be to climb Kilimanjaro. I am absolutely delighted that I've actually been able to fulfil this challenge. The whole experience of being on the mountain will stay with me forever. Although our trip to Tanzania was born out of great sadness for us, we have certainly come back feeling ' on top of the world' ....and I have been!” – Gill Tucker
“Practice putting your equipment and clothing for Kilimanjaro climb in and out of your bag, Make sure you know where everything is when you might need it.” – Lorraine Scott
“I would recommend taking a nail brush (you won't believe how filthy your hands and nails get), and hiring a down jacket, sleeping mat and sleeping bag from the company as they are all good quality stuff and saves having to pack them.” – Catharine Gidney
“We did have a very special reason for wanting to climb Kilimanjaro - in 2003 our 24 year old son Neil was lost whilst climbing the second highest mountain in S. America (Mt. Pissis 23,000ft). After his death I set myself three challenges in order to raise money for the charity we set up in his name. Neil was a champion runner with an English rating, a long distance cyclist and a climber. My three challenges were to ...run for Neil.. I trained and completed the 2004 London Marathon in under 5 hours... to cycle for Neil....last August(2005) I cycled 1,041 miles from John O'Groats to Lands End in 15 days. The remaining challenge ... to climb for Neil....had to be to climb Kilimanjaro. I am absolutely delighted that I've actually been able to fulfil this challenge. The whole experience of being on the mountain will stay with me forever. Although our trip to Tanzania was born out of great sadness for us, we have certainly come back feeling ' on top of the world' ....and I have been!” – Gill Tucker

Go slowly (pole pole) right from day 1. This helps your body to get ready for the hard summit day... and really believe that you can reach the top![]()

– Marlene James