Climbing Kilimanjaro

Don't stop, I think. This is what it has all been about.

My vision is hazy as I try to focus on the path in front of me. All I can see in the pitch black darkness is my feet in front of me and the mocking light of other hikers' headlamps way above me. Looking away from them, I try to steady my body as it sways from exhaustion and the howling wind. 

Don't stop.

It feels endless. The darkness. The cold. The ragged breath that hurts the lungs. How long have we been at this? 

It feels like hours. It has been hours.

You're not weak. You can do this. It's just one more step. Just one more. Okay, now another.

I stop to catch my breath, slumping over my hiking poles as a fellow hiker slowly drops to a knee. I feel you. This is fucking brutal. Somehow, we keep going.

Five hours in, I hear a guide call out, "You're 5 minutes from Stella Point."

I barely believe him. We couldn't be five minutes away from the final marker before the summit. We couldn't be a mere half a mile away from the end.

Could we?

"One minute away!"

My heart rises up into my throat. I see a sign I can barely read through blurred vision. "Are we here?" I cry, with tears welling up in my eyes. 

"We're here."

I sit down and burst into tears. A porter comes over to give me ginger tea and ask if I'm okay, rubbing my hands for warmth as I shake. 

 "I'm okay," I say. "I'm okay. I'm just overwhelmed. These are happy tears. I'm just really happy to be up here." 

As our guides and porters sing, I stand up for the final push. Finally, dawn starts to break. There's light; there's hope. The sky slowly fills with color and the glacier and snow all around me comes into view. Time slows down. Every moment is full, silent, and still, with hikers silhouetted against the morning sky. 

I can't believe this. I will never, ever forget this moment.

 And with a final step, I am at Uhuru Point, on top of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Roof of Africa.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a bucket list experience for hikers, adventurers, and travelers alike. As the highest point in Africa, the highest free-standing mountain in the world, and one of the Seven Summits, it has earned its reputation as a challenge worth taking on.

 We’ll be real with you: The hike is hard! But unlike other world class mountains, hiking Mount Kilimanjaro requires no technical skills. There is no rock climbing, rappelling, or ice picking your way up the side of a cliff. It’s truly just a hike. And because of that, it’s achievable for many people (including you!)

We hiked Mount Kilimanjaro in January 2022 with another couple using the 7 day Lemosho route. The hike took us through the five distinct climate zones of the savanna bushland, rainforest, moorland, alpine desert, and arctic summit– with stunning views every step of the way. Most of the hike– the first five days leading up to the summit– were challenging, but very doable. Summit night was the hardest thing we have ever done, and because of that it was also one of the most rewarding. All four of us made it to the top successfully and can say we took on one of the Seven Summits– and survived!

 If you’re like us, you are reading this to gain as much information as possible before booking your own trip to hike Kili. So we’ll give you all the details– the good, the bad, and the ugly– and break down everything you need to know to feel confident to take on the summit yourself.

First, we’ll break down the details about each day so you know exactly what to expect in terms of climate, altitude, challenge, and overall experience. Then we’ll give you all the logistical information you need, such as why we chose the company and route we did, when to go, what to pack, how to prepare your body, tipping expectations on the mountain, and more.  

Let’s get right into it!

DAY ONE

Where: Lemosho Gate to Mti Mkubwa

Distance: 7 km / 4.3 mi

Time: 4 hours

Altitude Gained: 2385m / 7824 ft → 2780m / 9120 ft

We flew into Arusha the previous day and were taken right to our trek guides, Noah and Jackson. They gave us an overview of the hike and went through our gear to make sure we had all the necessary equipment. They encouraged us, saying that hiking Kilimanjaro was "very easy"-- as fun as a beach vacation!--  and that they could tell by our faces that we would all make it to the summit. We weren't sure what they saw, as we were all hungover from partying on New Years Eve the previous night and exhausted from catching an early flight, but we took their word for it. After the briefing we were dropped off at our hotel and tried to get to bed as early as possible.

We were picked up from our hotel in Moshi at 8am and driven to the start of the trek at Lemosho Gate. The drive took a few hours, and once we arrived we dug into our first meal of the hike. We were given a lunch box with fried chicken, a sandwich, fries, fruit, biscuits, chocolate, juice, and more. It was a sign of what was to come, as we were very well fed the entire trek. Calories give you fuel, and our guides made sure we ate!

After having lunch, we started climbing through the forests of the Lemosho glades. The climb was slow, steady, and not too challenging. We were consistently encouraged by what would soon become a regular mantra on the mountain: pole pole (slowly, slowly). We passed through lush rainforests, full of unique flora and fauna, and even saw some monkeys along the way. Only four hours in and we were already at our camp for the night: Mti Mkubwa.

Day one was just a warm-up, meant to ease us in without scaring us off! Once we got to camp, the girls did some yoga, and the guys started a pushup challenge. We played cards as we had tea and popcorn, and felt that we would keep up this tradition of yoga, pushups, and cards every night. 

Psych! That was the one and only night we did any of that, as we were too exhausted most nights to do anything besides rest. Ah… to be that young and naive again!

We got into our tents (which our porters had already set up for us) and familiarized ourselves with what would be our nightly ritual: Washing in the water bins they brought us, rolling out our sleeping bags, organizing our gear, and having a big dinner. Every night dinner consisted of hot soup, some kind of carb (usually pasta or rice), some kind of protein (like beef stew or chicken), and fruit to finish. After dinner, our guides briefed us on the following day, and recorded our heart rate and blood pressure. We were told we would do this nightly, as well as note any diarrhea, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms of altitude sickness. If our blood pressure ever dropped below 50, we would have to turn around and stop climbing (luckily, our blood pressure stayed in the 90s the entire trek!). After recording our health stats it was time for bed and lights out by 8pm. Trust us, you’ll be more than ready for a full night’s sleep, and you’ll need it for day two!

DAY TWO

Where: Mti Mkubwa to Shira 2

Distance: 16.5 km / 10.3 mi

Time: 10 hours

Altitude Gained: 2780 m / 9120 ft → 3900 m / 12,795 ft

Gear up for day two, because this was one of the longest days on the mountain. We were woken up by morning tea brought to our tent, and given a few minutes to wash and pack up. After a hearty breakfast of eggs, toast, oats, porridge, and fruit, we left camp at 7am and hiked for about 5 hours before lunch. 

We covered A LOT of ground and gained a decent amount of altitude as we made our way out of the rainforest and into the moorland. Slowly, the trees got shorter and the climate got dryer as we trekked across plateaus, grassy moorland, and heather. The landscape started to look more like desert, scattered with volcanic rock formations and uniquely shaped trees. We stopped for lunch at a camp called Shira 1, where some routes stop to camp for the night. But we kept hiking.

We had about 5 more hours to go after lunch, and as we kept climbing higher we definitely felt the altitude. Parts of the route are relatively steep, but we kept being reminded to move pole pole. It started to rain a little, so we busted out our rain gear and covered our bags and kept pushing through. We got lucky: That was the only rain we experienced the entire trek! 

Our spirits were still high, as we learned some Swahili to distract ourselves and chatted with our guides and porters along the way. We learned to say “Mambo vipi?” (how are you?) as porters passed, to which the response was “Poa!” (good, or cool!). We also learned some slang, which translates to “Feeling cool as a banana in a freezer!” So if you’re up for the challenge, learn to say “Mambo poa kichezi kama ndizi ndani ya fereji!” to impress your guides and get a laugh.

We learned our call and response mantra that would guide us through the rest of the hike:

Guide: “One team!”

Us: “One dream!”

Guide: “More fire!”

Us: “More water!”

Guide: “Nonstop!”

Us: “To the top!”

To say we were wiped by the end of day two would be an understatement. Luckily Shira 2 was a beautiful place to camp, with our first view of the peak since starting the trek. The summit felt in reach!  Once we got to camp everyone agreed to put an end to the previous day’s pushup challenge and yoga, and we rested and lazily stretched in our tents before another hot dinner, tea, and bed. 

DAY THREE

Where: Shira 2 to Barranco Camp

Distance: 10km / 6.2 mi

Time: 7 hours

Altitude Gained: 3900 m / 12,795 ft → 3960 m / 12,992 ft

Not gonna lie: We woke up on day three with a mild sense of dread and foreboding after how LONG day two had been. Luckily, day three would be much shorter. After another hearty breakfast, we left camp at about 8am and began our trek up to Lava Tower. 

Day three was all about acclimatization. Lava Tower sits at 4640 m / 15,223 ft and was the high point of the day, where we had our lunch. The four hour trek there was challenging, mainly due to the altitude. The climate started to shift from moorland to alpine desert, with rocky lava ridges all around.

 As we got close to Lava Tower, our friends started experiencing mild symptoms of altitude sickness like nausea, upset stomachs, and loss of appetite. While we didn’t experience any of that, our energy was definitely taking a hit. Turns out, this hike was slightly more challenging than a beach vacation! Controlling our breath became a way to focus our minds and stay steady in our pace. If your breath gets away from you, your heart rate elevates and your stamina wanes. But if you control your breath, you control your body and your mind. And day three was all about intentionally working with the breath to keep moving.

Luckily, after lunch we began our three hour climb back down to camp lower, following the old hikers adage of “climb high, sleep low” to give the body time to acclimatize. Any symptoms of altitude started to go away as we descended into the Great Barranco Valley, surrounded by towering cliffs, funky desert trees, and sweeping views of the plains below. We made it to Barranco Camp around 4pm and had most of the evening to unwind and rest before a big dinner and bed.

Although the day had been hard, our guides knew we were fine because when they came to check on us, we were all out on the cliffs taking pictures and basking in the gorgeous sunset underneath the Barranco Wall. We felt good. The views made the day more than worth it.

DAY FOUR

Where: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Distance: 5.5 km / 3.4 mi

Time: 5 hours

Altitude Gained: 3960m / 12,992 ft → 3963m / 13,001 ft

Today started off FUN! After leaving at about 7am, our first objective of the day was to scale the Barranco Wall. The Wall looked daunting and a little scary, but was actually one of the highlights of the trek.

We started by descending to the start of the Great Barranco, a large ravine, before exiting steeply up the Great Barranco Wall. For a few hours, we got to scramble over rocks, use our hands, and feel like Spiderman as we made our way up the cliff. It was a welcomed change of pace after a few days of regular hiking, and a fun distraction that kept things interesting. We passed the famous Kissing Rock along the way, where you have to basically straddle two rocks and come face to face with a large boulder that you then– you guessed it!-- kiss for luck.

 After scaling the Barranco wall, we made our way down toward the Karanga Valley, passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers. After descending into the Valley, we made our way back up to our camp for the night. Today was all about the “up-down,” as we wound our way up and down the mountain several times to help us acclimatize.

We made it to Karanga Camp pretty early, and after lunch we got to relax at camp, nap before dinner, and call it an early night. Trekkers doing the 6 day route continue right to Barafu Camp, the final camp before the summit, and tackle the summit starting at midnight. But we were really grateful for the chance to rest and get some good sleep, which definitely helped us when it was our turn to summit the following night. 

 Karanga Camp was a stunner, with gorgeous views and a stunning sunset. As night fell, we could see the glimmer of lights from the town of Moshi below, where we had started our trek. More stars than we’ve ever seen filled the night sky. We felt the weight of it all up there, and soaked in how priceless our time on Kili was.

DAY FIVE

Where: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Distance: 3 km / 1.9 mi

Time: 3 hours

Altitude Gained: 3963m / 13,001 ft → 4640m / 15,223 ft

Today was another short day. We left Karanga Camp around 8am and set off on our short trek to Barafu Camp. The climb took us along desolate scree slopes, with no vegetation around whatsoever. The rocky climate made it seem like we were walking on another planet, or the moon. There was a moment where we literally forgot we were on Planet Earth!

While the altitude made the trek a little challenging, we had already been at this height on day three at Lava Tower, so we were acclimatized pretty well. The day was pretty fun, and we even had some energy to dance along the rocky ridges and sing Disney songs as we made our way to base camp. Hercules’ “I Can Go the Distance” gave us the motivation we needed to finish out the day with smiles on our faces. In hindsight, we probably should have saved some of that energy for what was to come!

After eating lunch, we took advantage of another “off” afternoon to nap and rest. We would be tackling the summit starting at midnight, so more rest was necessary. After an early dinner, Noah and Jackson told us what to expect on the summit. Until this point, whenever we had asked questions about summit night they would casually wave their hands and tell us not to think about it. Today, they reminded us that it was "very easy," but added that it would be "extremely challenging" and that we would have to "push ourselves mentally." We laughed nervously and noted that this felt like mixed messaging, but what was there to do? We were already up here, and we would find whatever was waiting for us at the summit soon enough. We went to bed early but it was hard to sleep, mainly because we kept thinking about the challenge of conquering the summit in just a few hours.  

DAY SIX

Where: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka  Camp

Distance: 13.4km / 8.3 mi

Time: 13 hours

Altitude Gained: 4640m / 15,223 ft → 5895m / 19,340 ft → 3790m / 12,434 ft

Today was the day we had been waiting for. Summit Day! We woke up at 11pm, put on as many layers as possible, had a quick breakfast, and hit the trail. We started our climb with a team huddle, putting our hands in the center of the circle and chanting “Kilimanjaro!!!” before we took off. It was the boost of energy and confidence we all needed, although it would be short-lived.

Most of the trek thus far had been moderately challenging. Summit day was a different story. Summit day almost broke us, and we doubted many times whether we would make it to the top. The climb was grueling, and by far the hardest thing we have ever done. We never thought we would be so close to the summit and even consider turning back, but we were wrong. For hours, we were in our own minds, fighting our own weakness that was telling us to turn back– or throw ourselves off the side of the mountain to put it all to an end.

What made it so hard? For starters, the altitude. The climb was steady and steep. We gained about 4,000 ft of altitude on the way to the summit. Uhuru Peak sit at 19,340 ft which is fucking HIGH, y’all! We wanted to stop and rest, as our breath became ragged, but we couldn’t stop for more than two minutes at a time. Our guides pushed us to keep going, as pole pole as we needed, but we had to keep going. Otherwise the cold would set in, and we would start to shake uncontrollably (remember, Kili is an arctic summit!). To keep our bodies warm, we had to keep moving.

In addition to the cold the wind was brutal. There were moments it was so intense it would knock us off balance or blow our hoods off our heads. It would knock our headphones out of our ears, which we couldn’t fix with our gloved, bulky hands. There was no sunlight to warm us up. It was pitch black and cold, with no scenery to distract us either. For about five hours, we could only see our feet in front of us, and the lights from other hiker’s headlamps in the distance. We thought it would be encouraging to see the lights of all the other hiker’s and bring a feeling of solidarity, but it only brought dread seeing how much higher than us they were, and how much further we had to go. The lights were mocking us. There was no choice but to surrender and to be where we were. We were stuck here on this mountain, and we had to keep moving.

Our guides knew we were struggling, so would sing some traditional songs to hype us up. It was helpful, but only to a point. One of the scarier moments was when our vision started to blur, a symptom of altitude sickness, and our walk became a slow stagger. We were warned that we might feel like we were drunk on the summit, and we began to feel that disorientation. It almost felt like we were sleepwalking, but much more challenging! Right when we thought we couldn’t go any further, we made it to Stella Point. Stella Point is the final marker before reaching the final summit of Uhuru Peak, and only about half a mile to the finish line. When we reached this point, we couldn’t believe it. We burst into tears. We knew we had made it. Until this point, it all felt endless. It felt like the night would keep going forever, and that we were no closer to finishing than when we started. But the happy tears that flowed at Stella Point brought an overwhelming relief. We were so close! 

And then, as we started the final stretch— walking slowly, steadily, and quietly— we finally saw light as the sun started to rise. On one side of the mountain, the sky was creating soft, beautiful colors. On the other side, there was a glacier and snow all around. All of the hikers were silhouetted against the breaking dawn. No one spoke, we just kept putting one foot in front of the other. It was a quiet, soft, magical, exhausting moment that felt isolated and private, reserved only for those that make it to this point. We’ll never forget that final walk to the top.

Being on the summit of Uhuru Peak was a blur– a literal blur due to impared vision and tears. We couldn’t even read the sign saying we had made it! Looking back, our mental faculties were clearly not firing on all cylinders. Beyond our vision being blurry, our voices slurred and sounded like Rocky after a fight. We staggered around to take what pictures we could, but were only up there for ten minutes max before we were encouraged to quickly make our way down the mountain due to the effects of the altitude.

Getting up the mountain was only half the battle. We had to descend immediately down another side of the mountain, which was basically one big sand dune. It took about three hours, and it was the worst reward we’ve ever gotten for accomplishing something. Going downhill is already hard on the knees, but going downhill on sand with no traction is even worse. Add to that our exhausted bodies and blurred vision, and it was a recipe for disaster. We had to hold onto our guides and use our hiking poles like walking sticks for the blind, banging them along rocks to know where to step. It was awful. Finally, three hours later, we made it back to Barafu Camp and got to take a nap.

When we woke up, our vision was slightly better but still hazy. After eating lunch, we had about four more hours of descending to make it all the way back down to the jungle and our final camp. Getting down was a much shorter experience than climbing up, but brutal in its own way. We just wanted to be done! We had already reached our goal, the summit, but still had to keep moving our exhausted bodies to the next finish line. Luckily, the lower we descended the more our vision returned to us. We finally made it to Mweka Camp, had dinner, and passed out in one of the deepest sleeps we’d experienced yet on the mountain.

DAY SEVEN

Where: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Distance: 12.1km / 7.5 mi

Time: 6 hours

Altitude Gained: 3790m / 12,434 ft → 1630m / 5347 ft

Our final descent was pretty gentle, taking us down through the rainforest and to our final gate. Our vision was completely restored, and our bodies felt more rested (aside from sore feet, aching calves, and throbbing knees). The last stretch of the trek felt more like an easy walking trail than a hike, and we took the time to chat with our guides about anything and everything. In our call and response, the answer to “Nonstop!” was “TO THE BOTTOM!” And man, were we excited to get there.

When we finally made it to the end, our porters greeted us with Kilimanjaro beer (it was warm, but still well received!) and smiles. We sat and rested, watching other hiker’s complete their trek and reveling in what we had just accomplished. Because as rough as summit night was, hiking Kilimanjaro was the experience of a lifetime. And we felt so, so happy we embarked on this adventure. 

We were dropped off at our hotel in Moshi, where we said an emotional goodbye to our guides and porters, who had become our trekking family. We took our first shower in a week, did laundry, and looked back on pictures and videos from the trek with smiles and tears.

Some hikers fly out directly from there, but we chose to do a 2 day safari with the same company, then spend a week exploring Zanzibar on our own. Give yourself time to unwind and permission to treat yourself. You deserve it!

Why We Hiked Kilimanjaro

You might be wondering…. WHY?! Many people asked us why we would put ourselves through something so difficult… and pay a hefty amount to do so! Beyond our love for fitness, travel, and bucket list adventures, we believe that humans are meant to do hard things. People tend to shy away from challenge and lean into ease, but we lose something in doing so. Challenging the body and mind strengthens where we’re weak, confirms what we doubt, and reinforces what we lack. It enhances the human experience. While it’s important to rest and find simplicity and ease in life, it’s necessary to dig deep into your weaknesses, no matter how uncomfortable. Because it’s not supposed to be easy. It’s supposed to be hard. Somewhere in that challenge, you uncover something real in yourself. And that’s worth showing up for every time.

Picking a Company

It’s required to hike Mount Kilimanjaro with a guide. There are literally hundreds of trekking companies to choose from, which can feel overwhelming when trying to figure out what the best choice is for you. After a lot of research (there may have been a spreadsheet involved!), we landed on Top Climbers Expeditions. We chose them for a few reasons: 1) Local company, 2) Great reviews, 3) High summit success rate, and 4) Price.  

We wanted to support a local, Tanzanian owned and operated company as opposed to one of the many trekking companies owned by foreigners. As a local company, Top Climbers stands by their commitment to the fair treatment of porters, the local workers who carry all of your equipment up the mountain. Top Climbers pays porters the standard minimum wage, and weighs all equipment porters carry to make sure their load is not too heavy. In addition to being ethical, treating porters well has a direct correlation to your own success on the mountain. Porters who are paid well and more likely to care about getting you up the mountain safely.

 Top Climbers has hundreds of raving, five star reviews that confirm their standing as a company worth trusting. Every review we read was positive, and everyone seemed thrilled with their experience on the mountain. Most importantly, their high summit success rate stood out. While the average success rate across all companies and routes is 65%, Top Climbers boasts a 99% success rate.

Price was another major factor. At the time of our hike, each of us paid $1,950. At the time of writing this, the rate has now gone up to $2,275 per person. Top Climbers is not one of the most expensive operators, so we could afford them, but they also aren’t a low budget operator that cuts corners. Be aware of companies that charge on the low end, as this often means porters are paid less than minimum wage, the food isn’t as good, and their guides and gear are sub par. While a low budget option might seem worth it, companies that charge less and cut corners in these ways directly impact your success on the mountain. It’s definitely worth it to choose a company that will get you to the top safely, even if that means paying a little extra.

We are beyond happy with our choice. Top Climbers was incredibly helpful every step of the way, and made our climb an incredible experience. We were originally scheduled for our trek in January 2021 but had to cancel due to COVID. Top Climbers allowed us to reschedule for a year later, honored the original pricing, and helped make a very stressful experience more manageable. We loved our guides and porters, and all four people in our group made it to the top of Kilimanjaro successfully.

Picking a Route

There are seven major routes on Kilimanjaro: Lemosho, Machame, Rongai, Marangu, Umbwe, Northern Circuit, and Shira, with Lemosho and Machame being the most popular. We were torn between the two, but eventually settled on Lemosho.

Lemosho is a newer route on Kilimanjaro known for being the most scenic route with the best acclimatization profile. While being a little more expensive than other routes, and typically a day or two longer, we were drawn to the high summit success rate and gorgeous views. Being a newer route, Lemosho also has less people than Machame, which was appealing to us.

Lemosho can be done in 6, 7, or 8 days. We chose the 7 day route in order to prioritize acclimatization and give our bodies time to adjust to the altitude. The price is a little higher than other routes, but well worth it in our opinion. When you’re already spending a lot of money, what’s a couple hundred bucks more in order to increase your chance of making it to the top– and get the best views along the way?

Picking A Time

The best times to hike Kilimanjaro are January-February, and late June-October. We chose to hike in January, as it’s relatively warm with good visibility on the mountain, and less crowded. June-October is slightly colder, and busier as it coincides with the American and European summer travel season. March, April, May, and November are the wettest months on the mountain, so unless you like hiking through the rain and mud, it’s better to pick another time.

Preparing Your Body

Disclaimer: We are both personal trainers and are more fit than the average person. A strong baseline level of fitness is required for hiking Kilimanjaro, but you don’t have to be a crazy fitness person in order to take on the trek! The other couple we went with are not “fitness people” and workout less regularly, and while they struggled a little more with the altitude they made it to the top right alongside us.

Before the trek, we suggest upping your workouts to at least 3 times a week and focusing on lower body strength training and cardio. Our typical workout schedule consisted of two lower body strength training days, one upper body strength training day, and one to two cardio days. Outside of that, we didn’t do any special training for Kilimanjaro and felt we were as prepared as we could have been.  

One of the greatest challenges on Kili is the altitude, which can impact anyone and everyone regardless of fitness level. It’s an equal opportunity beast! To help combat that we took Diamox twice a day during the climb, which we got from our doctor when we got our yellow fever, typhoid, and hepatitis vaccines. It kept our blood oxygen levels (which were monitored by our guides daily) above 90 the entire trek, and made the altitude much easier to deal with.

Packing for the Trek

Let’s start from the head down. Pack a beanie to keep your head warm, and buff to cover your face from the dust and cold (1-2).

For your upper body, pack a thermal base layer (1-2), sweat-wicking long sleeve shirts (4-7), a zip up fleece sweatshirt (1), a rain jacket (1), a down vest (1), an insulated snow jacket with a hood (1), light gloves (1), and thick gloves (1).

For your lower body, pack a thermal base layer (1-2), leggings or pants (3-5), snow hiking pants (1), rain pants (1), underwear (7), and wool socks (7).

 You will also need warm pajamas (we wore our thermal base layer and a sweatshirt), waterproof hiking boots, a hiking backpack, a rain cover for your backpack, hiking poles, a headlamp, biodegradable body wipes, sunscreen, bug spray, and any other toiletries you use.

The porters carry most of your stuff in waterproof duffel bags, and your guides will let you know what you need to keep each day in your day pack. You will always want to keep your rain gear and a few extra layers on you, as the weather can change quickly on Kili. But you don’t need to worry about carrying everything yourself the entire time, so don’t skimp on your gear. The day before the hike, your guides will go through your gear with you and make sure you have everything you need. Whatever you don’t have will be available to rent.

Tipping on Kili

Tipping guidelines can vary by company, but the standard rates are $15-20 per day for each guide, $12-15 per day for the cook, and $8-10 per day for each porter. These rates are per group, not per person. Divided among the four of us on the hike, this came out to an additional $325 per person. 

While it may seem expensive after paying for the trek to begin with, the porters deserve every penny. They truly make the hike possible and do all the heavy lifting for you. Even though they are paid a minimum wage by the tour operators, their salary isn’t much and they deserve so much more. What is a relatively small amount for us is a huge amount for them, and literally feeds their families. Pay your porters well, no questions asked.

Overview

There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment that comes with summiting Kilimanjaro. When people ask us if we would do it again, we know somewhere deep inside of us that the answer is “yes.” We may need to wait a few years to lick our wounds, but we would do it! As challenging as reaching the summit was, we were already talking about other treks we’d like to accomplish before we even got off the mountain. 

It’s truly the experience of a lifetime. If you plan your trip well, prepare your body with intention, and strengthen your mind you can summit Mount Kilimanjaro. And you’ll be so glad you did.