Questions About TK's Climb Costs
What's included / excluded in TK's climb costs?
Things that are included in the cost of your Kilimanjaro climb are:
- Pick up at Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to your hotel in Arusha
- A nightβs accommodation both before and after your climb*
- All climb costs, salaries, food, fees, etc (excluding tips)
- All transfers to the mountain and back to your Arusha hotel again
- Transfers back to Kilimanjaro Airport for your return flights
*Accommodation is on B&B basis in our standard range hotels, ie either at the Outpost Lodge, Arusha Naaz Hotel, or Le Jacaranda. If you wish to upgrade to either a mid-range or luxury option a surcharge is payable.
Significant additional cost considerations are:
- Flights to Kilimanjaro or overland transfers to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha town if approaching from Nairobi (please see bottom of this page)
- Visas
- Tips to the mountain staff (climbers typically tip 10-15% of climb price)
- Meals other than breakfast while in Arusha
- Additional nights beyond the two standard hotel nights included
- Hotel upgrade costs if you decide to request an alternative hotel to the standard
- Items considered to be non-essential, such as alcohol, beverages, cigarettes, snacks, etc.
Links Related to Climb Prices
- Prices for climbs in 2024, with explanation of different support options
- Advice on tipping your mountain support staff
- To reduce the cost of your climb for small groups and solo climbers, please post your proposed dates on our Facebook page
Why canβt I pay for my climb online when Iβm travelling abroad?
As regards paying online, we have noticed that often when a climber attempts to transact from outside their own country the transaction is flagged and the payment is declined. This is because of algorithms written into the payment processor's software that can detect from the computerβs IP address that the payment is being attempted from outside the country of card issue, and for some bizarre reason this is therefore assumed to be potentially fraudulent (as though it is very surprising that anyone should ever travel and make purchases concurrently).
Because of this we would suggest that anyone wanting to make a payment while away from home should contact their bank and ask them to press the magic button on their end that will allow you to use your card online while abroad, or else consider contacting a trusted relative or similar, and asking them to assist with the payment from within your own country or residence.
If this proves unworkable, please use the details on the International Payment Information document for wire transfers.
Why are your prices so much lower than most of the other quality climb operators?
Our fees are lower because we have climbs almost every day of the year, are able to provide permanent work to all our mountain staff, and enjoy high numbers of climbers. Our most prominent natural competitors need to charge around double what we charge for a similar description of services simply because they generally only have around 10% of the climbers booking that we have. Our low operational margins simply could not support a company that only serves comparatively few climbers a year, as most of the companies to which you are likely referring do.
Do your prices include the use of tents and sleeping mats?
Yes, we supply everything required but require you to bring the items on the kit list.
Do your prices include the portersβ wages?
Yes, (and the guideβs, assistant guidesβ, cooks, and senior camp crew).
You should remember that for many years the RGS denied even the existence of snow on Kilimanjaro because snow at such a location was obviously scientifically impossible, and the missionaries who reported seeing it were not scientifically qualified.
I have personally selected all of our chief guides, most of my assistant guides, some of my cooks and a small percentage of my porters. On the last selection course I ran, I started at 0545 in the morning with 220 porters and after beasting ourselves up and down our local training hill (Kivesi), having strength tests on the summit and a race back to TKBase there were only actually around 25 names that were permanently added to my staff list.
If there is heavy snow on the mountain it should be noted that reaching the summit can become more challenging than at other times of year, with your guide being required to cut and kick bucket steps for you.
If unable to find affordable flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport an alternative is that you fly to Nairobi, spend the night at a hotel there and transfer to Arusha via a six hour bus journey, crossing the border at Namanga. Youβll need a Kenyan tourist visa for this option which you can purchase at Nairobi airport when you arrive.
On our Advantage Series, we ask that you divide your equipment into two parts: those things that you need to have with you while you trek, such as waterproof jacket and trousers, spare fleece, camera, batteries, personal medications, sun cream, 3 litres of water-carrying capacity, etc, and those things that you will only need to have access to in the evenings and mornings.
Things that are included in the cost of your Kilimanjaro climb are: