How To Book A Kilimanjaro Trek: Deposits, Timing, Safety And What Happens Next

Booking Kilimanjaro is simpler than most travelers expect, but there are a few decisions to make in the right order. This guide walks you through each step, from picking a route to the briefing in Moshi the evening before you start.

If you would rather talk it through, request a free quote and one of our team will reply with a tailored itinerary and price.

Step 1: Choose your route and number of days

Your route and trek length matter more than anything else for reaching Uhuru Peak. We recommend a minimum of six days for proper acclimatisation, and longer itineraries such as the 8-day Lemosho give the best summit chances. Our route guide compares Lemosho, Machame, Rongai and Marangu side by side.

Step 2: Decide when to climb and how far ahead to book

The main dry seasons, roughly January to early March and June to October, are the most popular. For those months, booking several months ahead gives you the widest choice of dates. Shorter-notice climbs are often possible too, so ask us even if your trip is soon.

Step 3: Request a quote

Tell us your preferred route, dates, group size and country of residence. We reply with a written itinerary and price, and can adjust days, hotel nights before and after the climb, or add a safari or Zanzibar extension.

Step 4: Confirm with a deposit

• Deposit: 10% of the trek price secures your booking
• Pay in full: you can also settle the whole amount at booking
• Payment methods: card or mobile money through our secure Pesapal checkout, or bank wire transfer
• Balance: the remaining amount is paid before your climb, as set out in our booking terms

Step 5: Arrange travel insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory for every climber. Your policy must cover trekking to 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation. From October 2026, visitors to Mainland Tanzania also need the government's mandatory inbound insurance, which is a separate US$44 policy.

Step 6: Safety on the mountain

Our guides take twice-daily pulse and oxygen saturation checks at camp, carry emergency oxygen cylinders, oximeters and a first-aid kit, and stay in contact with our office. Medical evacuations are arranged with AMREF Flying Doctors.

Step 7: Arrival and pre-climb briefing in Moshi

We meet you at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transfer you to your hotel. The evening before the climb, your guide holds a briefing and checks your kit. Anything missing can be rented locally.

Porter welfare

Our porters are paid fairly and in line with KINAPA and KPAP standards. Each client is allowed a maximum of 15 kg of luggage for the porter to carry, and porters carry no more than 20 kg per porter, in line with responsible porter welfare practices. Porters are provided with appropriate accommodation, meals, drinking water, and suitable equipment and clothing for the trek. We follow responsible porter-treatment practices and ensure porters are not overloaded.

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