KILIMANJARO TREK COSTS - FROM $1373 TO $2229 PER PERSON

Here are costs related to a group trek for Kilimanjaro per person per day:

1. Conservation fee costs USD 70
2. Camping fee costs in the range of USD 50 - 60
3. Rescue fee costs USD 20
4. All of the above when combined constitute the Park Fees for the trek, and on the total amount a government tax of 18% VAT is charged.

The costs of these tours are inclusive of park fees, all meals on the mountains, transfers from your hotel to the mountain and back, along with professional guides and porters.

The total cost of your tour is impacted by the duration of your trek, preferred accommodation type pre and post-trek, and other add-ons you may opt for. We discuss each of these and more in detail below.

1. Cost For All The Routes Available for Kilimanjaro Treks

The table below gives you an overview of the prices for all routes available to trek on Kilimanjaro. Please keep in mind the following points while referring to the prices mentioned below:

-Prices mentioned are per person in USD. -The prices are for all trekkers interested in a group trek for any date in the year. -The camping fee for Marangu routes is USD 60 per day as you will be staying in huts and not tents. -The same prices are applicable throughout the year for all group sizes except a solo trekker. -For solo trekkers, who want to start the trek in the months of March to May or November, both a part of the Low -Season in the country, an off-season supplement of USD 15 per day is applied on the prices mentioned below. However, we have daily departures on all routes, irrespective of the season, so if a solo traveller chooses to join an existing group during the Low Season, the supplement fee will not be added.You can join a group here.

2. Factors That Affect The Overall Cost of Your Tour

2.1 Number of Days Conservation Fee, Rescue Fee, and Camping Fee are applied per person per day. In addition to that, salaries of crew members and resources used during the trek factor in as well. Therefore, the longer the number of days, the higher the overall cost of the tour will be.

2.2 Group or Private Trek During a trek, we provide you with an entire crew team dedicated to serving and guiding you. When considering Kilimanjaro trekking, two options await: group trek or private trek. Joining a group means sharing costs with fellow travellers for the crew team, making it a more affordable choice for those who are on a budget. In contrast, a private trek offers exclusive access to a personal guide and tailored services, but comes with higher costs since there won’t be individuals amongst whom the prices could be divided. Although, please note that if you have a large group of your own, then a private trek will be the best for you as you will be able to divide the expenses between the members of your party. Hence, a private trek would cost more than a group trek, and depending upon your choice, the overall cost of the tour will change as well. This decision hinges on your budget and preferences.

2.3 When Are You Travelling For solo trekkers, who want to start the trek in the months of March to May or November, an off-season supplement of USD 15 per day is applicable on the mentioned prices, increasing the overall cost of the tour. However, the off-season supplement is not applicable for individuals who join a Group. We have daily departures on all routes, irrespective of the season, and travellers can sign up to join a group by clicking here, and avoid the fee.

2.4 Airport Transfers & Moshi Hotel Accommodation Before or After The Trek Our standard itineraries start in the morning of day 1 at Moshi and end in the afternoon of the last day at Moshi. We offer a complimentary pickup and drop off service from any hotel in Moshi on the first and last day of the trek. However, if you need to be picked up from or dropped off at Kilimanjaro airport before and after your trek, we can arrange it at an additional cost. Additionally, we can also arrange accommodation in Moshi before and after the safari at an additional cost.

2.5 Extra Costs to Consider Other elements that will add to the overall costs of your journey are the international flights you travel by, VISA, tips you give to the trek crew and hotel staff, snacks, beverages and souvenirs.

3.Cost Components:

3.1 Conservation Fee: The fees, imposed by the park department, is essential for maintaining the national park's pristine environment. The charge stands at USD 70 per trekker per day, and is calculated based on the number of days spent within the park. For instance, a 7-day Lemosho route incurs a conservation fee amounting to USD 490 (USD 70 x 7 days). These contributions ensure the preservation and protection of the park's natural wonders for all visitors to enjoy while supporting its ongoing conservation efforts.

3.2 Camping Fee: Except for the Marangu route, all treks involve camping at public campsites, which the park department carefully maintains, along with common facilities like toilets. The camping fee amounts to USD 50 per trekker per night, and calculated based on the number of camping nights during the trip. For instance, on a 7-day Lemosho trek, you would camp for 6 nights, resulting in camping fees of USD 300 (USD 50 x 6 nights). This fee contributes towards the upkeep of the campsites and facilities, ensuring a comfortable experience for trekkers.

3.3 Hut Fee: If you’re travelling by the Marangu route, you will be staying within huts instead of camping sites. Managed by the park department, huts like Mandara, Horombo, and Kibo provide shelter along the route. The hut fee amounts to USD 60 per trekker per night, and is calculated based on the number of nights spent in the huts during the trek. For example, on a 5-day Marangu route, the hut fees would total USD 240 (USD 60 x 4 nights). This fee contribute to the maintenance of the huts, ensuring a comfortable rest for trekkers

3.4 Rescue Fee: The park department levies a rescue fee of USD 20 per trekker per trip, enabling them to offer essential rescue services on the mountain when needed. This fee ensures safety and assistance for trekkers during emergencies.

3.5 Guide and Porter’s Entry Fee: Apart from your own park fees, you are accountable for covering the park entrance fees for your crew, including guides, cooks, and porters, at USD 2 per person for the entire trip. Ensuring their entrance permits are paid ensures a smooth journey and compliance with park regulations.

3.6 VAT: The government of Tanzania imposes a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 18% on Kilimanjaro treks since July 2016. This VAT applies to all the mentioned components, including park fees, camping or hut fees, and other services.

FAQs

1. Are there any discounts available?

The park department offers discounts for children under the age of 16 years at the time of the climb, residents and expats of Tanzania, and East African citizens. Let's look at these discounts in detail.

1.1 Children aged between the age of 5 and 15 years:

• Children aged between the age of 5 and 15 years get a discount on conservation and camping fees. However, there is no discount on hut or rescue fees.
• Conservation fee is reduced from USD 70 per day to USD 20 per day.
• Camping fee is reduced from USD 50 per day to USD 10 per day.
• No change in hut fees. Hut fee remains USD 60 per day.
• No change in rescue fees. Rescue fee remains USD 20 per trip.

1.2 Children below the age of 5 years:

• Park department charges no conservation fees or camping fees for children below the age of 5 years. Hut and rescue fees is still applicable.
• No Conservation fees.
• No Camping fees.
• No change in hut fees. Hut fees are still USD 60 per day.
• No change in rescue fees. Rescue fees are still USD 20 per trip.

1.3 Expatriates/Residents living in Tanzania

If you are an expat or a resident living and working in Tanzania, the park department provides a discount on your conservation fee. However, there are no discounts on camping fees, hut fees or rescue fees.

• Conservation fee is reduced from USD 70 per day to USD 35 per day.
• No change in camping fees. Camping fee remains USD 50 per day.
• No change in hut fees. Hut fee remains USD 60 per day.
• No change in rescue fees. Rescue fee remains USD 20 per trip.

1.4 East African Citizens

Nationals of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, and South Sudan are eligible for discounts. This discount is exclusive to citizens of these countries, not residents. To avail the discount, nationals must present their passport at the entry gate as proof of citizenship.

2. Why are our trek prices more competitive than some of our competition?

The primary reason for our lower prices compared to others is the larger number of trekkers we accommodate. While many companies take around 100 to 200 trekkers annually, we plan to host 1000+ trekkers.

This substantial difference allows us to reduce operating costs, enabling us to pass on the savings to you. Our mission is to become the largest budget tour operator in Tanzania, offering honest prices and exceptional service, without aiming for luxury at high prices.

However, rest assured, our commitment to affordability does not compromise the quality of service. Our outstanding TripAdvisor reviews speak for themselves, attesting to the excellence of our well-trained staff, advanced technological systems, and refined processes. We take pride in delivering exceptional service at lower costs, demonstrating that affordability and high-quality experiences can go hand in hand.

Here is how we further manage lower operating costs:

2.1 Lower Operating Costs:

Having a higher number of trekkers booked allows us to spread fixed costs more efficiently, leading to reduced operating costs. For instance, consider the TALA license, an essential requirement for tour operators in Tanzania, which costs USD 2,000 per year. When a tour operator has only 100 trekkers, the cost per trekker is USD 20. In contrast, with 1,000+ trekkers each year, our cost per trekker plummets to just USD 2.

This principle extends to other fixed costs like office space and staff expenses, which can be distributed across a larger client base. As a result, our ability to serve a significantly higher number of trekkers enables us to provide competitive prices without compromising the quality of service. Rest assured, our commitment to exceptional experiences remains steadfast, even as we pass on the benefits of efficiency to our valued clients.

2.2 Combining Groups:

Our advantage of accommodating 1,000+ trekkers allows us to create unique opportunities by combining more groups than smaller operators. Groups with matching routes and dates are merged, significantly increasing the likelihood of successful combinations. As a result, the cost of running the tours decreases, and these savings are transferred to our customers. The prices we quote already consider this, reflecting our confidence in the effectiveness of group combination.

You might wonder if trekking with us means being part of a massive crowd. In reality, we maintain smaller groups on average compared to other operators. While they offer 1 or 2 departure dates per month, we provide over 20 options. Instead of cramming people into limited dates, our abundance of departures ensures our trekkers are divided into smaller, more intimate groups. This results in a truly personalised and fulfilling experience, emphasising quality over quantity throughout your journey.

2.3 Sticking to Standard Itineraries:

We focus on offering standard routes and itineraries, which happen to be the most sought-after and well-established options for Kilimanjaro treks. While we do acknowledge that routes like the Northern Circuit are truly exceptional, and we may occasionally offer them upon request, our primary emphasis remains on the popular routes and their variants.

For example, the Machame route is typically available in 6 or 7-day itineraries, with an 8-day option possible but not included in our offerings. This decision is driven by our commitment to maximizing cost savings through group combinations. Introducing non-standard itineraries would decrease the probability of matching groups, consequently raising overall prices.

By adhering to popular routes and variants, we maintain a balance between providing exceptional experiences and optimizing affordability. Rest assured, the standard routes we offer still encompass breathtaking landscapes and incredible adventures, ensuring a memorable Kilimanjaro trek for all our valued trekkers.

2.4 Driven by Technology:

At the core of our operation is a deep appreciation for technology. Our entire approach revolves around leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional service consistently.

From our website to the backend systems, our systems have been created by us, and for us. These custom built systems seamlessly handle scheduling, bookings, payments, and more, ensuring efficiency. The automation significantly reduces the need for additional staff for backend operations, enabling an error free process.

Embracing technology empowers us to constantly explore innovative solutions that drive down costs without compromising on quality.

2.5 Continue to Enhance Our Services:

Every day, we diligently explore avenues to enhance our service quality and improve the overall customer experience while simultaneously reducing costs. Numerous companies across various industries have successfully implemented these principles before, and we are determined to do the same. By studying successful models, we aim to adopt and apply similar fundamental principles within our business to achieve our goals.

Our commitment to continuous improvement and innovation drives us to learn from the best and adapt their successful strategies to deliver even greater value to our trekkers.

3. My friends did the same tour in 2019 and the prices were cheaper then. Why are they higher now?

Each year, fuel prices surge. A significant surge was witnessed during Russia's conflict with Ukraine in early 2022, causing a 45% rise in diesel costs within three months. Additionally, the Tanzanian government raised National Park fees by 10-20% in 2020. Furthermore, inflation and increased costs of living and business operations further impact expenses. To maintain sustainability, our prices have to rise annually. These adjustments are essential to ensure the continued provision of exceptional service, and ensuring a successful and lasting experience for our trekkers.