Park or nature areaOutline guide

Mount Kilimanjaro

Mountain in Tanzania, highest in Africa

Photo: James Heilman, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Mount Kilimanjaro is an inactive stratovolcano in northeast Tanzania, near the border with Kenya. At 5,895 m (19,340 feet) above sea level, Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest peak and the world's highest free-standing mountain. Aided by its relatively easy ascent, Kilimanjaro has become a major destination for mountaineers and trekkers from around the world. It's also inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Getting there and around

Getting there

Cost
It is required to have a licensed guide to climb Kilimanjaro. The guide can either be hired upon or before arrival. Park entry and camping/hut fees are over USD$100 per day.

Read in the guide

Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

Kilimanjaro International Airport

Arusha · International · JRO

Search stays near JRO

Search flights

Read before you go to Mount Kilimanjaro

Articles and travel topics about Mount Kilimanjaro and Tanzania.

Nature & adventure

Mountaineering

Mountaineering (or mountain climbing) is the act of climbing mountains. The sport aims at reaching the highest point of mountains, preferably high, difficult to climb or (mostly historically) yet unclimbed ones.

Wikivoyage

Culture & history

German East Africa

German East Africa was a German colony that existed for some three decades from the 1880s to the end of World War I (1918).

Wikivoyage

Nature & adventure

Wilderness backpacking

For information on travelling through urban areas via public transit, while sleeping in hostels and other budget accommodation, see urban backpacking.

Wikivoyage

Nature & adventure

Volcanoes

Volcanoes come in many shapes and sizes, and their eruptions vary hugely in both frequency and intensity. Many volcanoes are tourist attractions and are worth a visit provided you take due care, in particular keeping a…

Wikivoyage

Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandAlthough positioned 330 km south of the Equator, Mount Kilimanjaro is famous as Africa's snow-capped mountain looming over the plains of the savannah. The snows have been fast disappearing.

Get inThe closest International Airport is Kilimanjaro (JRO) and, if coming from Europe, KLM has a daily non-stop flight from Amsterdam to JRO.

DoIf you do not want to reach the summit but still want to experience a hike at Kilimanjaro, you can do a one-day hike from Marangu Gate to Maundi Krater. The hike is easy and you will cross the forest of Kilimanjaro.

EatThe various food requirements are met by the cooks and porters who come along with you on the mountain. However, the quality of the food depends on the reputation of the tour operator you use.

DrinkA lot of water. Also, a lot of oral rehydration salts (ORS) are recommended for preventing dehydration while trekking on the mountain.

SleepLodging options on the mountain are limited to designated camp sites. It is prohibited to sleep in the caves. There are huts available, but are generally not recommended.

Stay safeKilimanjaro is a high risk destination for altitude sickness due to its height, technical ease and usual rapid ascent. There are seven main factors that affect the incidence and severity of Kilimanjaro altitude sickness:

Stay healthySeveral immunizations are recommended for yellow fever, tetanus, typhoid, polio, and hepatitis. An anti-malaria prophylactic is also needed.

ConnectGSM mobile phone coverage is available on the summit of the mountain. Various networks like Vodacom, Tigo and Airtel operate in the region and can be accessed from various high points on the mountain.

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Mount Kilimanjaro" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Mount Kilimanjaro", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: James Heilman, MD, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage