Kilimanjaro Made Simple: Everything You Need to Know
Beginner's Blueprint to Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
Climber's Guide 2025
Kilimanjaro: The Roof of Africa
Standing tall at 5,895 m (19,340 ft) above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the world and a true icon of Africa.
This majestic peak is one of the continent’s most sought-after travel destinations, attracting over 40,000 adventurers annually. The journey to its summit is an awe-inspiring experience, and the best part? No technical climbing skills are required—just a healthy level of fitness and determination.
At Joanne Adventures, we are passionate about helping travelers achieve their dream of conquering Kilimanjaro. With over a decade of experience, we’ve guided thousands of climbers on this unforgettable journey. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you have a safe, enjoyable, and life-changing adventure.
This guide is packed with expert tips and recommendations to help you prepare for your Kilimanjaro expedition. Trust our expertise as we bring you the insights from organizing Kilimanjaro treks for over 20,000 climbers.
Your Kilimanjaro adventure starts here with Joanne Adventures!
Route Planning for Kilimanjaro: Your Guide to the Best Trails
Climbing Cost Includes
All transfers
At Joanne Adventures, we ensure seamless transportation for your Kilimanjaro journey, with all transfers included in our packages. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our professional drivers will greet you and take you to your hotel in a spacious, well-maintained Toyota Alphard, equipped with large luggage space, complimentary bottled water, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wet wipes for your comfort. For the trailhead transfer, we use rugged Toyota Hiace or Coaster vehicles, designed to navigate the wilderness terrain safely. Our experienced, English-speaking drivers ensure a smooth ride throughout your adventure, and at the end of your climb, we’ll provide a stress-free return transfer to the airport. With Joanne Adventures, you can focus on conquering Kilimanjaro while we handle your transportation needs with care and reliability.
Hotel before and after the hike
The night before your Kilimanjaro climb and the night after your descent, you’ll stay in a comfortable 3-star hotel in Moshi Town, with shared double occupancy as the default (single rooms available for an additional fee). The hotel offers everything you need for a relaxing stay, including professional service, cozy rooms with mosquito nets, complimentary Wi-Fi, a restaurant, a swimming pool, and laundry service. Located in a peaceful area, it provides an ideal environment to unwind before and after your adventure. If you require climbing gear, our team will ensure it’s delivered directly to your hotel. Packages include bed and breakfast, with options to upgrade to half-board or full-board at an additional cost. An orientation briefing will be held at your hotel the day before your climb, and we’ll handle all transfers to the trailhead for a smooth and stress-free start to your Kilimanjaro journey.
Camping equipment
Joanne Adventures provides a Kilimanjaro adventure equipped with all the necessary amenities for a safe and comfortable camping experience. Our durable, all-weather tents are designed to withstand strong winds and heavy rains, ensuring a cozy and secure environment for a restful night’s sleep, regardless of Kilimanjaro’s unpredictable equatorial weather. Each tent, though spacious enough for three people, is allocated to only two hikers for maximum comfort, with shared tent arrangements as the default (single supplements available upon request). Whether you’re traveling with a companion or solo, our setup ensures a smooth and enjoyable camping experience throughout your climb.
Meals on the hike
At Joanne Adventures, our mountain chefs and waiters ensure you enjoy nutritious, energy-packed, and delicious meals throughout your Kilimanjaro adventure, with menus designed by a dietitian to meet the physical demands of the climb. We accommodate all dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options, at no extra cost—just let us know in advance. Meals feature a variety of soups, stews, salads, and main dishes made with organic, locally sourced ingredients, accompanied by fresh fruits like mangoes and pineapples for a vitamin boost. Despite challenging camp conditions, our chefs deliver satisfying dishes prepared with care to keep you energized. From the first packed lunch to the final meal, we ensure a culinary experience that supports your journey while contributing to the local economy.
Professional guides and porters
At Joanne Adventures, your Kilimanjaro journey will be guided by experienced, certified professionals dedicated to your safety and enjoyment. Each guide has over seven years of expertise, exceptional knowledge of Kilimanjaro’s terrain, flora, and fauna, and has led remarkable expeditions, including high-profile adventures like Wings of Kilimanjaro and Nimsdai’s record-breaking ascent featured in 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible. All guides hold Wilderness First Responder certifications, ensuring they are fully trained to handle emergencies in the wilderness. Beyond their expertise, our guides are excellent storytellers, sharing fascinating legends, cultural insights, and details about the mountain’s unique ecosystem while respecting your need for solitude when desired. Supported by a skilled team of porters, camp managers, and chefs, they ensure every aspect of your expedition runs smoothly, from setting up camp to preparing nutritious meals. Committed to ethical practices, we pay the highest industry salaries, provide transparent banking for crew members, and are proud members of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), ensuring fair treatment and safe working conditions for our team. This dedication to both clients and crew is why Joanne Adventures consistently earns glowing reviews and trust from adventurers worldwide.
Medical check-ups, fully-loaded medical kits, and in-company doctor
Joanne Adventures prioritizes the health and safety of every hiker, ensuring that each climbing crew is equipped with multiple comprehensive medical kits. These kits include a large “camp” medical kit with 49 types of medications and supplies for mountain-related illnesses, making it one of the most complete emergency kits in Tanzania. Each guide also carries a tactical medical kit stocked with essential items like hemostatic plasters, tourniquets, and painkillers to handle emergencies during the climb. Our guides are trained to treat injuries such as twisted ankles, muscle strains, and other common ailments on the mountain. Although we have been operating in Tanzania for nearly a decade without fully using any medical kit, we believe in being prepared for any situation, which contributes to our reputation as one of the safest companies for Kilimanjaro climbs. Additionally, we have a VIP ward reserved at KCMC hospital for clients who experience high-altitude sickness, ensuring priority care, personal nurse attention, and no waiting in emergency units. In the rare event that hospitalization is required, we provide regular food and drink deliveries from our company restaurant in Moshi and offer personal assistance from a dedicated manager. The ward is equipped with free Wi-Fi for our clients’ comfort.
All park fees and taxes
Joanne Adventures offers fully inclusive Kilimanjaro trips that cover all necessary park fees, including camping and conservation fees, rescue fees, crew fees, forest fees (for certain routes), and other required payments. These fees make up a significant portion of the total cost, contributing to the higher price of Kilimanjaro hikes compared to other destinations. As a responsible and transparent company, Joanne Adventures ensures compliance with all Tanzanian tax regulations, including VAT (18%), corporate income taxes (30%), labor-related levies, licensing fees, and social security deductions for our employees, all of whom are officially employed by us. We are committed to supporting local communities, and in 2022 alone, our company contributed over $500,000 in taxes and levies to help improve the lives of those in the region.
Dedicated support team
When you book with Joanne Adventures, you’ll be in the capable hands of our dedicated team of over 200 professionals, all committed to ensuring your tour is an unforgettable experience. Our team includes experts in reservations, transfer planning, expeditions, customer service, logistics, and more, each playing a crucial role in making your journey seamless. We also have specialized teams for hotel management, store-keeping, and transfers, whose contributions are vital and always available. Our teams work in harmony to ensure every detail of your tour is meticulously planned and executed to the highest standards. Our travel consultants are available 24/7 to assist you, and you can easily reach your manager through various channels like messengers, email, or phone. We’re always ready to answer your questions and resolve any concerns, no matter your time zone.
Climbing Cost Excludes
International flights
Hotel before and after the hike
Tipping your climbing crew is an important way to show appreciation for their hard work, and while it’s never mandatory at Joanne Adventures, we encourage our clients to tip if the crew’s performance meets your expectations. The recommended tipping amount is USD 250-1,000 per participant, with the tips typically divided among the crew as follows:
- Porters: USD 50-75 per participant. Porters carry the gear and supplies, ensuring that your trek runs smoothly. They earn less compared to other crew members but play a crucial role in the journey.
- Cooks: USD 75-100 per participant. Our cooks prepare nutritious meals to keep you energized, and their hard work in the kitchen is vital to the success of the trek.
- Guides: USD 125-175 per participant. Guides have the most responsibility, leading the group, ensuring safety, and sharing their knowledge of the mountain. As such, they typically receive the highest tips.
These amounts are just suggestions, and you can adjust based on your satisfaction with the service provided.
Visa Fees
Most nationals are required to pay USD 50 for a one-time, single-entry 90-day visa to Tanzania. However, USA nationals must pay USD 100 for a multi-entry visa. For more detailed information on Tanzania’s visa rules and requirements, feel free to reach out to our travel advisors who can assist you with the latest updates and help guide you through the process.