Mountain trekking · Private crew
Climb Kilimanjaro, Meru & Lengai
Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 m, plus Mount Meru and the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai. Every climb has its own guide and porter crew from Arusha.
- 5,895 m summit
- 2–8 days
- Private guide and porter crew
From$650per climber
Choose your mountain
Climbs we run
Prices per climber for a group of six; smaller groups pay a little more. Marangu, Rongai and Northern Circuit climbs are quoted on request.
Kilimanjaro routes
Compare the routes
| Route | Days | Distance | Difficulty | Why choose it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machame | 6 days · 7 days | 62 km | Challenging | Scenic, busy, good acclimatisation |
| Lemosho | 7 days · 8 days | 70 km | Moderate | Quiet start, best acclimatisation |
| Marangu | 5 days · 6 days | 58 km | Easiest gradient | Huts instead of tents |
| Rongai | 6 days · 7 days | 70 km | Moderate | Only route from the north, drier side |
| Northern Circuit | 8 days · 9 days | 88 km | Moderate | Longest, quietest |
| Umbwe | 6 days · 7 days | 53 km | Challenging | Steepest and most direct, very quiet |
On the mountain
Your crew and tips
Your crew
On every climb: a head guide, a cook, a waiter, a toilet porter and four porters per climber.
- Porters carry tents, food and your main bag
- Your guide checks oxygen and pulse each evening
- Hot meals cooked on the mountain
- Summit certificate at the gate
Tipping the crew
- Head guideUS$20–25 per day
- Assistant guideUS$15–20 per day
- CookUS$15–20 per day
- Assistant cookUS$10–15 per day
- PorterUS$10–15 per day
1 climber: 4 porters · 2 climbers: 7 · 3 climbers: 9 · 4 climbers: 11 porters and 2 assistant guides. Tipping guide
Before you go
Prepare for the summit
Mountain packing listWhat to bring
- Four-season sleeping bag (rated −10 °C or lower)
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Insulated down jacket for summit night
- Warm hat, gloves and buff
- Broken-in waterproof hiking boots
- Head torch with spare batteries
- Trekking poles
- 2–3 litres of water capacity
- Sun hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen
- Daypack of about 30 litres
Acclimatising well
- Choose 7 or 8 days rather than 6: more time, better summit odds
- Walk slowly from day one (pole pole)
- Drink 3–4 litres of water a day
- Climb high, sleep low: the Lava Tower day does this
- Tell your guide about headaches, nausea or dizziness straight away
Good to know
Kilimanjaro questions
Do I need climbing experience?
No. It is a long walk at altitude with one easy scramble (the Barranco Wall). Good fitness and a steady pace matter more.
Which route should I choose?
Lemosho for the best acclimatisation and a quieter start. Machame for great scenery in fewer days. Marangu if you prefer huts to tents.
When is the best time to climb?
January to March and June to October are the driest months on the mountain.
What if I feel ill at altitude?
Your guide checks your oxygen and pulse every evening. If symptoms get worse, you descend with a member of the crew; going down is the treatment.
Is a sleeping bag included?
No. Bring a four-season bag, or ask us to rent one in Moshi.
How much should we tip the crew?
Roughly US$20–25 a day for the head guide and US$10–15 a day per porter. The full table is on our tipping page.
Guest reviews
Travellers on travelling with Makini
5.0Excellent · 105+ reviews
The communication with the company was very good, and we were in good hands from the minute we arrived… we got a lot of value for the money.
Saudat N. TripAdvisor The communication with Lucas via WhatsApp was always very friendly, direct and immediate… our tour guide Aboh was very familiar with all animals and plants.
Godfrey M. TripAdvisor Great value local Tanzanian operator that provided an unforgettable safari experience.
Damas F. TripAdvisor
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