Booking Guide
What to Sort Before
You Book
The pre-booking checklist for a Kilimanjaro + safari combo — from visas and vaccinations to fitness training and gear. Sort these first.
Most of the stress around a Kilimanjaro + safari trip comes from feeling unprepared. This checklist sorts that. Work through it in order — the items at the top are the most important and the hardest to fix if you leave them too late. Start as early as possible. Most of this takes 6-8 weeks minimum to arrange properly.
Passport & Visa
Passport validity
Must be valid for 6+ months beyond your Tanzania entry date. Check now — some countries' passport renewal times are 8-12 weeks.
Tanzania tourist visa
$50 for most nationalities. Available on arrival at JRO or DAR airport. Have USD cash ready. Requires return ticket proof and yellow fever certificate if arriving from an endemic country.
Vaccinations
Yellow fever required if arriving from endemic country. Recommended for all travellers: Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Tetanus. Start vaccination consultations 6-8 weeks before departure.
Fitness & Health
Cardiovascular training
Start 4-6 months out. 3-4 sessions per week of running, cycling, swimming, or hiking. Your fitness directly determines summit probability.
Altitude preparation
No way to fully simulate altitude at sea level. Flying directly to Arusha (1,400m) and beginning the climb 2-3 days later gives some natural acclimatisation. The climb itself is the best preparation.
Travel health insurance
Standard travel insurance often excludes activities above 4,000m. You need a policy that covers high-altitude trekking to 6,000m and emergency medical evacuation by helicopter. Budget $80-200 for appropriate cover. This is not optional.
Malaria prophylaxis
Safari parks are in malaria areas. Start prophylaxis before entering safari regions. Consult your travel clinic 6-8 weeks before departure.
Gear & Equipment
Hiking boots
Must be well broken in before departure. 2-3 months of wearing them on hikes is ideal. Blisters at altitude are miserable and can end your summit attempt.
Technical layers
Temperatures range from +30C at base to -20C at summit. You need a down jacket rated to -20C, thermal base layers, and a waterproof outer shell.
Sleeping bag
Rated to at least -15C. Many climbers rent rather than buy — we offer rental at $30-50 for the climb.
Gear rental
Sleeping bag, trekking poles, down suit, and other technical gear available to rent through us at approximately 30% of purchase cost.
Flights & Logistics
Arrive in Arusha
Fly into Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO). We meet every flight — provide your flight number and we track arrivals. Most flights arrive late evening or early morning.
Pre-nights in Arusha
We include one pre-night in Arusha before the climb. This is essential for altitude adjustment and gear check. Additional nights are available.
Climb start timing
Our climbs start on specific dates to align with route logistics. Provide your preferred start date and we will find the next available departure.
Combined booking
Book your international flights AFTER we confirm your climb dates. Route availability (especially Lemosho and Northern Circuit) can affect the exact departure date.
Financial
Deposit and payment
We require a 30% deposit to confirm and a final balance 60 days before departure. Payment by bank transfer or card. We accept all major currencies.
Park fees
Included in our quoted price. Park fees are paid directly to Tanzania National Parks — not to us. Budget $70-90 per day for the mountain portion.
Tips
Plan $250-350 tip pool per climber for the mountain crew. Safari guide tip: $15-20 per day. These are customary and expected.
Budget buffer
Budget an additional 10-15% beyond the quoted price for personal expenses, tips, and incidentals.
Mental Preparation
Altitude mindset
Kilimanjaro is 95% mental. The climb is not technically difficult but altitude makes every step harder. Your ability to manage frustration, fatigue, and discomfort determines summit probability.
Expectation management
Summit success is never guaranteed. Our rate is 85-90% versus the industry average of 65%. But that still means 10-15% of well-prepared climbers do not summit. We will be honest with you about your odds before you commit.
Flexible itinerary
The mountain sets the pace. If altitude symptoms are serious, we descend immediately. Your safety is never negotiable. A partial summit (Gilmans Point at 5,685m) is still an extraordinary achievement.
Sort your insurance before anything else
High-altitude travel insurance covering emergency evacuation by helicopter is non-negotiable. A medical evacuation from Kilimanjaro costs $15,000-30,000. Standard travel insurance policies almost always exclude altitudes above 4,000m. You need specific high-altitude trekking cover. Providers we recommend: Battleface, World Nomads, True Traveller. Sort this before you book anything else.
Pre-Booking Questions
How far in advance should I book a Kilimanjaro + safari combo?
For the climb: 3-6 months minimum for peak season (June-October). Lemosho and Northern Circuit routes require more logistical planning and fill earlier. For the safari portion alone: once the climb is booked, we can usually arrange the safari logistics within 4-6 weeks. But longer lead time always means better camp availability and pricing.
Can I book my international flights before confirming the climb?
Only after we confirm your climb dates. Route permit availability — particularly for Lemosho and Northern Circuit — determines the exact start date. Do not book non-refundable flights until we have confirmed the specific departure date. We will advise you on realistic timeframes once we know your plans.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
Our standard policy: deposit is refundable (minus a small admin fee) if cancelled 60+ days before departure. 30-60 days: 50% refund. Under 30 days: no refund. However, we always try to reschedule rather than cancel — the mountain is very forgiving of date changes if permits are available. We have never turned away a climber who needed to move their date.
Do I need special vaccinations for Tanzania?
Yellow fever is the only legally required vaccination for most visitors. For your own health, we strongly recommend Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Tetanus, and Cholera. Dengue fever exists in coastal areas — use insect repellent. Rabies is recommended if you will be near animals. Consult a travel clinic 6-8 weeks before departure.
What is the single most important thing to sort before booking?
Your travel insurance policy. Not after booking — before. You need a policy that specifically covers high-altitude trekking to 6,000m and emergency medical evacuation by helicopter. Without this, a medical evacuation from the mountain costs $15,000-30,000 and you are liable. This is not an exaggeration. Sort this first.
Ready to start the process?
Tell us your target dates and group size. We will send you a confirmed itinerary and clear pricing — no surprises, no pressure.