Climbing Kilimanjaro During COVID
First of all - you can definitely still climb Kilimanjaro during COVID-19! There is absolutely no impediment within Tanzania. Issues only potentially arise with your own country's rules.
The Tanzanian government became aware of the threat to the economy posed by COVID-19 - especially in terms of potential losses to tourism revenues - quite quickly. By June they had identified the primary areas of risk of transmission and had formulated standard operating procedures for the tourism industry.
Prospective climbers who would like to learn more about these procedures should please visit this link: Tanzania National Parks' COVID-19 Health and Safety Standard Operating Procedures.
Additionally, they created suggested handling procedures specific to Kilimanjaro, and scheduled training courses for all licensed guides. To see a PowerPoint presentation of these procedures, please visit this link: Kilimanjaro National Park Handling Procedures of Tourists During the Outbreak of Corona Virus (COVID-19).
Cancelling Your Plans Because of COVID-19
We have found that many climbers are nervous about securing their climb and safari arrangements because of the uncertainties associated with possible future surges in their country and the effect that these may have on travel restrictions.
To address these concerns, we have implemented two measures:
1. Revised COVID-19-Specific Terms and Conditions
Rather than simply applying our usual cancellation terms, we have supplemented these terms with new terms that will apply until such time as there is consensus that COVID-19 ceases to be a pandemic. You can download our Revised COVID-19 Terms here.
These terms essentially mean that if a client cannot attend an event they have secured because of changes to travel restrictions as a result of government response to COVID-19, any monies paid and subsequently disbursed by Team Kilimanjaro to third parties, will be credited towards any future alternative bookings with Team Kilimanjaro and the same third parties, at any time within the ensuing 14 months following the originally intended dates of travel.
Team Kilimanjaro will under no circumstances initiate a cancellation of any booking, except in the event that the Tanzanian government legislates to prohibit the delivery of such a service. However, on the basis of the nature of Tanzania's stoic response to COVID-19 to date, this eventuality is deemed extremely unlikely. Return of any paid funds would not occur, except in the extremely unlikely event of Team Kilimanjaro initiating a cancellation of any booking - something we have never had to do to date, since beginning operations in 2004.
2. Revised Payment Deadline Policy
Prior to COVID-19 we were required to receive the final balance of outstanding funds due 45 days prior to the event start date. We have recently updated our payment service providers to allow payments on the latest day possible, being:
- 28 days prior to the event start date for card payment
- 14 days prior to the event start date for bank transfers
Note that with small groups, or where an additional client joins an event that has already been paid for in full, there may on occasion be some flexibility on these deadlines. More detail on payment procedure is available here.
Getting a Negative PCR COVID Test Result Prior to Travel
Tanzania does not require travellers to provide a negative PCR test result in order to visit the country. However, many visitors will be required by their own countries to provide such a document prior to boarding their flight home. This is a simple matter to arrange, both for clients ending their visit to Tanzania after a climb or safari, or for those travelling to Zanzibar before returning home. Please visit these links for further advice on obtaining a PCR test certificate:
Arusha Pedal Series club aims to organise a group ride three times a week - on Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays, and Saturdays. All keen cyclists are welcome to join.
This is a safari itinerary that is recommended when the wildebeest migration is towards the south of the Serengeti.
This is a safari itinerary that is recommended for around January to February when the wildebeest migration is towards the south of the Serengeti. (Please note that dates depend on availability of flights and receipt of full payment).
Following a rigorous 8 days spent on Kilimanjaro this is a good, varied use of limited available time on safari, which strikes a good balance between game viewing, fascinating cultural insights, and activity on-foot.
After a very challenging trek on Team Kilimanjaro's Excel Series, this safari is a great use of limited time to enjoy some game viewing, fascinating cultural exchange, and vigorous on-foot activity in the heart of the African bush.
We read widely divergent estimates of deaths on Kilimanjaro, but how dangerous is it really? In this post we share our own experience of the dangers.
First of all - you can definitely still climb Kilimanjaro during COVID-19! There is absolutely no impediment within Tanzania. Issues only potentially arise with your own country's rules.
Although there is no requirement to have a PCR test for COVID in order to enter Tanzania, many climbers are nonetheless required by their airline to show evidence of a negative COVID test before boarding the flight home.
Since the onset of COVID-19 and the immediate and dramatic subsequent loss in booking numbers suffered by tour operators as a consequence of travel restrictions imposed both by governments worldwide, and initially, the Tanzanian government itself, it has been surprising to TK that the Tanzanian government has not made more effort to make information available to prospective travellers explaining how to go about ensuring that they are able to comply with their own country's travel requirements on returning from their Kilimanjaro climb or Tanzanian safari.
Most of this donation was given to the orphanage on 12th November 2020. Funds received during the climb will be given on 20th November, the day after the climb ends.
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