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Trekking FAQ |
If your question is not answered in this section, take a look into our Trekking Tips or General FAQ; if still not, please do not hesitate to contact us! We will do our best to assist you.
- What to bring on a trek?
- When is the best time to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Meru and Ngorongoro Crater Highlands?
- Does climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro involve technicalities?
- Can children climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?
- Which route do you recommend for Mt. Kilimanjaro?
- What is the weather like on Mt. Kilimanjaro?
- How many guides, cooks and porters will accompany us?
- What if one of us gets sick and has to return?
- How many people make it to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Uhuru Peak?
- Can I climb Mt. Meru or Mt. Kilimanjaro independently?
- We are interested to see Haadzabe Bushmen at Lake Eyasi. How can we get there and what type of activities are offered?
- Why is the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands trek so expensive?
- What is included in your prices and what are additional costs?
- How much is a good tip?
- We are a group of 7 people. Do we get a discount?
- I am alone. How can I join others for a trek?
- Can I leave excess luggage behind whilst on safari or trekking?
It really depends which mountain you have chosen to trek. More detailed information is given in our Trekking Tips section. In any case, the following is recommended:
- waterproof rucksack with daypack;
- sleeping bag (covering at least 3 seasons);
- roll mats and insulation pads;
- comfortable hiking boots, light walking trainers, thongs (flip-flops);
gaiters
(useful when encountering snow) - wooden walking stick/ski pole;
- sunglasses or snow-goggles;
- sun hat;
- balaclava or woolen hat;
- warm scarf;
- gloves and mittens;
- thermal underwear;
- sweaters/jumpers;
- anorak/raincoat;
- water and windproof pants and jacket;
- t-shirt and long sleeved shirt with collar;
- several pairs of socks;
- small towel, toiletries, toilet paper;
- sunscreen and lip salve;
- first-aid kit and insect repellant;
- flashlight (head-mounted preferable);
- spare batteries;
- pocket knife;
- sewing/repair kit;
- water bottle;
- whistle;
- some plastic bags;
- camera with spare film and batteries;
- notepad with pen/pencil.
Crater
Highlands in Ngorongoro Conservation Area: all year round;
Mt. Meru in Arusha National Park: all year round;
Kilimanjaro National Park: all year round.
- Does climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro involve technicalities?
Not 
at
all. If you are in good physical condition (if you are able to run
for half an hour or more without feeling short of breath) you can climb
and reach the summit.
Anybody with a sore throat, cold or breathing problems should stay below 3000 meters.
People with cardiac, pulmonary/respiratory or high/low blood pressure problems and the ones undergoing medical treatment should not attempt the mountain at all without consulting their doctors.
Being in the right mental state is also very important; do not push yourself to go if your body is exhausted, or if you have extreme mountain sickness or more serious symptoms.
Acclimatization is a state without Altitude Illness (
more).
- Can children climb Mt. Kilimanjaro?
According to the Kilimanjaro National Park Authorities, the minimum age limit for trekking to the Uhuru Peak is 12 years old.
- Which route do you recommend for Mt. Kilimanjaro?
We highly recommend the Machame Route, as long as it is done in six days and the Arrow Glacier shortcut is avoided; but do note that overnight is possible only in tents! For those who want to have the comfort of sleeping in the huts, the Marangu route is the only option.
Machame Route is also known as the »Whisky route« and if you choose it, you will see much more of the mountain, as you are ascending from Machame Village to the Uhuru peak and then descending to Mweka Village. You will see much more of the landscape, and acclimatization is done while you are walking (you will be trekking through Karranga Valley and gaining minimal height while keeping yourself active and enjoying the scenery).
The most popular, and sometimes quite crowded, the Marangu Route is also known as the »Coca Cola route«. Choosing this route, you will be ascending and descending on the same path and acclimatization is usually done by one-day resting in the huts.
The trek to the Uhuru peak is hard in both routes, but the advantage of the Machame Route is that it is less steep compared to Marangu Route, and most people spend less time reaching the peak than in Marangu.
Equatorial to arctic conditions are present on Mt. Kilimanjaro. The range begins with the warm, dry plains with average temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius, ascends through a wide belt of wet tropical forest, through zones with generally decreasing temperatures and rainfall, to the summit where there is permanent ice and below freezing temperatures. The temperature at the top of the mountain can get as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius (metric converter).
All depends on the number of people in the group. You will have one leading guide, with assistant guides serving as porters, a cook and porters.
In case one person gets sick and has to stay behind or even return, he/she will be accompanied by one of the assistant guides while the rest of the group will continue with the leading guide.
- How many people make it to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Uhuru Peak?
If
you
are in a good physical condition and plan enough time to climb the
mountain, the odds that you will not reach the Uhuru peak are minimal.
People, who do not reach the summit, either get too exhausted or are
suffering from strong headaches and nausea due to the altitude. The
best advice is to take it slow, drink lots of water and pay attention
to the symptoms of the altitude illness (more).
You can not climb Mt. Kilimanjaro if it is not organized through a licensed company. There are strict rules regarding guides, porters and weight of the luggage.
You can arrange a trek to Mt. Meru on your own. But booking with a company has many benefits since you do not need to arrange for the food by yourself, porters will carry all your supplies and you will be in safe hands should anything unexpected happen. Even if you arrange a trek on your own, there are rules to be followed and it is obligatory that an armed ranger accompany you. You are also not allowed to carry more than 15kg (metric converter).
- We are interested to see Haadzabe Bushmen in Lake Eyasi. How can we get there and what type of activities are offered?
Some of our pre-arranged Safari Tours already include a visit to Haadzabe; however when you book any safari with us, you can add two days to visit the Haadzabe tribe in Lake Eyasi. It can be added to your itinerary after visiting Lake Manyara or on the way from Ngorongoro and Serengeti back to Arusha.
We can also arrange to see »the Bushmen« if you decide
for the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands trek (more)
In
Lake Eyasi the most exiting activity is to go hunting with »the
real Bushmen« and thus experience how to survive in the wilderness!
You can learn something about their unique way of living and unusual
customs and traditions. Sightseeing around Lake Eyasi can be arranged
as well, where large flocks of flamingoes can be observed.
On the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands trek the special campsites are used (there are no public ones) which
are twice the price of the public ones. There are also a number
of people escorting you. Beside our trained walking guide, an armed
ranger from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority and Maasai
warriors will accompany you while on trek as well as donkeys to
carry your supplies and also assist you at times when you might
feel too tired to walk by yourselves (more).
All our prices are quoted in US dollars (US$) per person and in general consist of park entrance fees, rescue fees, camping/hut fees, full board/a cook, English speaking guides, porters, 4x4 vehicle, camping equipment, if not stated otherwise under a specific tour.
Items of personal nature (e.g. toiletries, phone calls, souvenirs, bottled water, beer, cigarettes etc.), medical and personal insurance, accommodation and meals before/after the tour and tipping to the crew are not included in our prices.
A tip is not included in our prices; an amount of the tip depends on your appreciation of the received services. An estimation of 5-10% of the total you have paid for your tour can be considered as a tip to the crew. In general, one can say that 5-10 USD per day is a good tip for a guide and a cook. A porter can get 5 USD per day. Given amounts are for the group, not per person.
Certainly. We have prepared special rates for larger groups. Since the discount depends on the tours you have chosen, please contact us for additional information.
If you are flexible about departure dates and itineraries, we could sign you up to one of our groups with other people who have already booked. Take a look also for our Special Promotions and Last Minute Deals, where we advertise tours for people to join in.