Park fees are the largest single component of any Kilimanjaro price and they are non-negotiable — they go directly to Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), not to the operator. Understanding them is the fastest way to tell a fair quote from a dangerous one.
Below are the published rates for international, non-resident adult climbers. All park fees attract 18 % VAT.
The fees TANAPA charges
| Fee | Rate (non-resident adult) | Charged |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation fee | USD 70 per person | Per day on the mountain |
| Camping fee | USD 50 per person | Per night (all routes except Marangu) |
| Hut fee (Marangu only) | USD 60 per person | Per night |
| Rescue fee | USD 20 per person | Once per climb |
| Crew entry / permit fees | ≈ USD 2 per crew member | Per day |
| Guide & porter park entry | USD 10–20 per crew | Once per climb |
| VAT | 18 % | On all of the above |
| Rates are TANAPA published fees for international climbers; children 5–15 pay a reduced conservation fee. | ||
What that means per route
A climb described as "7 days" spends 7 days inside the park and 6 nights camping or in huts. Multiply the conservation fee by days and the camping or hut fee by nights, then add the rescue fee and 18% VAT. Listed below are the park fees for the common Kilimanjaro routes, per climber, inclusive of VAT. This figure does not include guide and porter entrance fees.
| Route | Tage | Park fees per climber (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Marangu | 5 | USD 719.80 |
| Machame | 6 | USD 814.20 |
| Rongai | 6 | USD 814.20 |
| Umbwe | 6 | USD 814.20 |
| Marangu | 6 | USD 873.20 |
| Machame | 7 | USD 955.80 |
| Lemosho | 7 | USD 955.80 |
| Rongai | 7 | USD 955.80 |
| Umbwe | 7 | USD 955.80 |
| Lemosho | 8 | USD 1,097.40 |
| Conservation, camping/hut and rescue fees with 18% VAT, per climber. Excludes guide and porter entrance fees, wages, food, equipment and transport. | ||
How to calculate the park fees
Now that we know all the components of the park fees, it is straightforward to calculate the total for any route. You pay a daily conservation fee for every day inside the park, a nightly camping or hut fee, and a single rescue fee — then add 18% VAT on top.
Total = [ (USD 70 × days) + (accommodation rate × nights) + USD 20 ] × 1.18. The accommodation rate is USD 50 per night for camping routes (Lemosho, Machame, Rongai, Umbwe) or USD 60 per night for the Marangu huts. Remember that nights = days − 1, because the final summit day ends at the park gate rather than another camp or hut.
Let's say you are doing an 8-day Lemosho route. You spend 8 days and 7 nights on the mountain, camping at the public campsites. Here is how you would calculate the Kilimanjaro park fees:
| Fee | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation fees | USD 70 × 8 days | USD 560.00 |
| Camping fees | USD 50 × 7 nights | USD 350.00 |
| Rescue fee | one-off | USD 20.00 |
| Subtotal (before VAT) | USD 930.00 | |
| VAT (18%) | USD 167.40 | |
| Total (inclusive of taxes) | USD 1,097.40 | |
| Example 1 — 8-day Lemosho route (camping). | ||
Take another example for Marangu's 6 days. On the Marangu route you spend 5 nights in huts instead of camps:
| Fee | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation fees | USD 70 × 6 days | USD 420.00 |
| Hut fees | USD 60 × 5 nights | USD 300.00 |
| Rescue fee | one-off | USD 20.00 |
| Subtotal (before VAT) | USD 740.00 | |
| VAT (18%) | USD 133.20 | |
| Total (inclusive of taxes) | USD 873.20 | |
| Example 2 — 6-day Marangu route (huts). | ||
What park fees do not cover
- Guide, assistant guide, cook and porter wages (KPAP-compliant minimums)
- Food and drinking water for you and the crew for the whole climb
- Tents, mess tent, tables, chairs, toilet tent and cooking equipment
- Transport from Moshi to the gate and back from Mweka
- Oxygen cylinders, pulse oximeters and the mountain first-aid kit
- Pre and post-climb hotel nights in Moshi
- Your tips to the crew (budget separately — see our tipping guide)
If park fees alone for a 7-day route are around USD 1,100, an operator charging USD 1,300 total is paying for food, equipment, transport and an entire crew out of USD 200. That money is almost always taken from porter wages and food. Ask any operator to show you the park-fee line in their quote.
Do fees change?
TANAPA reviews fees periodically, usually with effect from 1 July. Our quotes lock the fee in force on the date you pay your deposit; if TANAPA raises rates before your climb we absorb the difference on confirmed bookings.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Are park fees included in Tanzania Travelers prices?
Yes. Every price we quote includes conservation, camping or hut, rescue and crew permit fees plus VAT. There is nothing to pay at the gate.
Do children pay less?
Yes — children aged 5 to 15 pay a reduced conservation fee. Under-fives are not permitted on the summit routes. Send us the ages and we will quote exactly.
Is the rescue fee the same as insurance?
No. The USD 20 rescue fee covers park-run ground evacuation to the nearest gate only. You still need travel insurance covering trekking to 6,000 m and helicopter evacuation.
Planning a Trip?
Our Moshi team answers every enquiry personally. No deposit required at this step, we reply within 24 hours.
