Plan your trip · Guide
Tanzania
What to know before you climb Kilimanjaro: getting there, visa, money, health and when to go.
01 · The basics
Before you go
The trip starts in Moshi or Arusha, the two towns at the foot of the mountain.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Getting there | Flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), near Moshi and Arusha. |
| Visa | Apply online on the official website (visa.immigration.go.tz) or on arrival at the airport. Check the price and requirements for your nationality, and watch out for unofficial websites that overcharge. |
| Currency | Tanzanian shilling. Hotels and agencies accept US dollars, but only notes issued from 2009 onwards. Foreign currency can only be exchanged at banks. |
| Mandatory insurance | Since 1 October 2026, entering mainland Tanzania requires the Government’s mandatory travel insurance: USD 44, valid for 92 days. This is separate from your mountain insurance. |
| Accommodation on the trail | On the route we use, the Lemosho, you camp. Porters set up the tents and carry your bag, up to a maximum of 13 kg per person. |
| Tips | It’s customary to tip the team of porters, cooks and guides at the end. Tips are not included in the price. |
| Weather | Hot in Moshi and Arusha. On the mountain you go from humid rainforest to the intense cold of the summit, below freezing in the early hours. |
| Plugs | Type G (the British plug), 230 V. If yours are a different type, bring an adapter. |
02 · The trip
Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho route
Best time: the driest periods, January to early March and June to October. The heavy rains come between March and May, with a shorter rainy season in November and December.
Nine days on the Lemosho route. You go from rainforest to high-altitude desert and glacier, so your gear needs to handle everything: see the gear page.
All dates are in the departure calendar.
03 · Health and insurance
Health, altitude and insurance
- Altitude: our trips are designed to give you proper acclimatisation. Safety comes first, and with altitude we don’t take chances. If you have any questions, just ask us. More in altitude sickness and acclimatisation
- Vaccines and malaria: requirements such as a yellow fever certificate, and malaria prevention, depend on the country you’re travelling from. Check the latest on your country’s official health website or with a travel health clinic, or ask us
- Insurance: it’s mandatory. It must cover the activity you’ll be doing, based on the maximum altitude and whether technical gear is involved, as well as helicopter rescue and evacuation and repatriation. Before departure you’ll also sign a waiver
- Water: on the mountain, always treated or boiled
- Physical preparation: you don’t need to be an athlete, but arriving prepared means you’ll enjoy the trip much more. If you need it, we can help with a training and nutrition plan tailored to you. See how it works
Questions?
Got a question?
If you’re thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro and have questions about the trip, write to us and we’ll reply by email.
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