Climbing Kilimanjaro: Everything a Beginner Needs to Know
Conquer Africa's highest peak with our expertly guided expeditions
About This Climb
Kilimanjaro towers at 5,895 m/19,341 ft above sea level. It is the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the "Roof of Africa".
Mt Kilimanjaro is one of the most popular travel attractions on the continent. Over 40,000 people visit it every year. It's an incredibly beautiful trek where climbers don't require technical climbing skills. To reach the summit, one needs only a healthy average fitness level.
We wrote this guide to help travelers prepare for their once-in-a-lifetime Kilimanjaro adventure. All the recommendations below are the results of our 11 years of Kilimanjaro experience. Over this time, we have organized climbing Kilimanjaro tours for over 20,000 people.
How Hard Is It to Climb Kilimanjaro?
Can a beginner climb it?
Yes, Kilimanjaro is accessible to beginners with no trekking experience. The key factor isn’t hiking skills but proper acclimatization, which is best achieved on a 7–8-day route. To improve your chances of reaching the summit, choose a reliable outfitter and follow your guides’ safety instructions.
For insights on what to expect on your Kilimanjaro climb, read “What I wish I knew before climbing Kilimanjaro” by Georgia Fowkes, one of our past climbers.
If you're wondering how to physically prepare, check out our detailed Kilimanjaro training guide.
What You Need to Know Before You Go
When is the best time to climb it?
Late December to early March and mid-June to late October are the best times for a Kilimanjaro climb. This is when the Kilimanjaro weather is nearly ideal. Although other months have rain, it doesn't mean there are constant heavy showers. Typically, rains begin in the latter half of the day. This allows trekkers a significant window of clear weather every day during the rainy season. There are also days without any rain. You may read more about the seasons of Kilimanjaro.
How much does it cost to climb Kilimanjaro?
As of 2025, a comfortable and safe 7-day group climb costs about $2900. A shorter 5-6-day adventure or a season-discounted trip comes at $2300-2500. This amount includes the park entrance fees, which make up about 35% of the total trip cost. Any trekking companies offering below this amount should warrant caution.
Low prices always correlate with the mistreatment of porters. The crews of budget operators are often underpaid and poorly fed, putting their and hikers' safety at risk. Read more about how much does it cost to climb Kilimanjaro in our detailed blog post.
Tony Carlos
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Routes and Maps
Multiple paths to the summit, each with unique experiences and challenges
Kilimanjaro Group Climbs: 2025–2029 Departures
Everything You Need to Know About Kilimanjaro Climbing
Get answers to the most common questions about climbing Africa's highest peak
Serengeti Nexus recommends Global Rescue, known for reliable reimbursements. Your coverage should include three important things. These are high-altitude hiking up to 6000 meters, helicopter evacuation, and medical services.
The easiest way to reach Mt Kilimanjaro is by flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Tanzania. From there, it's a 50-minute drive to Moshi where most climbs begin. Major airlines such as Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, KLM, Ethiopian Airlines, and Air France offer flights to JRO.
Alternatively, you can fly into Dar es Salaam and take a local flight to Kilimanjaro, though this may come with extra costs for domestic flights and baggage fees. Another budget-friendly option is to fly into Nairobi, Kenya, and take a bus to Moshi, but keep in mind the additional costs of a Kenyan transit visa ($21) and the bus transfer ($45), with a total journey time of about seven hours
Tanzania has two rainy seasons and two dry seasons. The short rainy season begins in early November and lasts until late December. It is followed by the dry season, which lasts until mid-March. Then the season of long rains begins, ending in mid-June.
You should consider the northern slopes to climb Kilimanjaro during the rainy season. According to the data we received from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority, this part of the mountain receives five times less rainfall. Good Kilimanjaro routes to choose from are Rongai, Northern Circuit, and Marangu.
Climbing Kilimanjaro takes at least 5 days, but most expeditions last between 6 and 8 days, as a longer itinerary significantly improves acclimatization and increases the chances of reaching the summit. Extended routes, including options with an overnight stay in the crater, can last 10 days or more.