How to Find The Best Kilimanjaro Tours

Mt.Kilimanjaro, aptly called ‘the roof of Africa’, attracts tens of thousands of mountain climbers every year. Located in Northern Tanzania, this dormant volcano with its three peaks rises to an imposing 5895 metres, making it the highest mountain in the continent.

For amateurs and experienced mountaineers alike, climbing to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highlight of their wildlife safari package. There are six fixed routes for climbers to reach the summit and the entire climb to the top can take 7 to 9 days, which means that without an expert tour operator, it would be difficult to achieve.

A search for tour operators for the Kilimanjaro climb would yield hundreds of results. Which criteria should you look for before selecting the best tour operator?

Price

If you look at the prices of various tour operators, you will find a huge gap between the lowest and highest tariffs, varying from $1000 to $4000 for a 5-8 days package.

Most people would be tempted by the budget tours at the lower end of the price range, but a more detailed understanding of the price structure would indicate that a package costing, say $1000, is unrealistic. Most of the Kilimanjaro Tour Operators factor in the entrance fees for the Kilimanjaro National Park, camping fees, wages for the guides, porters and cooks and the cost equipment, provisions, and transport. Add government taxes to this number, and it reaches upwards of $200 per day per climber.

A budget tour operator charging $1000 may not be entirely trustworthy; either there are hidden costs that you might have to shell out later, or the quality of services is sub-par, or it is at the cost of unfair wages to staff. Any tour operator charging around $2000+ can be considered to be realistic.

Safety Record and Success Rate

But, price isn’t the only consideration. It is important to verify the track record of a Kilimanjaro tour operator, in terms of safety and success rate. The best tour operators have the highest success rates and the best safety records.

Quality of Assistance

A week long climb means spending nights at different heights in campsites. Having an experienced guide is crucial for the climbers’ safety and success in reaching the summit. Mt. Kilimanjaro is unique in its climatic diversity, with temperatures ranging from equatorial at the base to arctic at the peak.

For carrying the equipment and provisions, setting up the tent villages, dismantling, and disposing of the waste materials, adequate number of porters must accompany the climbers along with a cook for taking care of meals.The training and efficiency of this support staff provided by the tour operator plays a major role in an enjoyable climb.

Choose Competence over Self-Promotion

Many of the Kilimanjaro tour operators are known to make tall claims about their packages and services at the cheapest rates. But, the best tour operators can prove their competence through their safety records and success rates and make your Kilimanjaro climb a memorable one.

Sophia William a freelance writer, with years of experience, creating content for varied online portals. Her content is published on many national and international publications.She has expertise in writing about travelling