[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]When you come to the mountain and you are looking at it, it is one of those places that you must stand and catch yourself in awe and just take in the beauty. When you are visiting the park, it is not about the animals that are surrounding you but is instead about the beauty of the mountain itself.
What About Heading Up the Mountain?
You can go up the mountain at almost any time in the year. The only issue with this is that the patterns in the weather change all the time and they are very hard to predict. The best time for climbing is in the dry season and that is from June until October. The other best time to climb is in December to about March after the rains. It always happens that in November you are going to find that the paths are going to be a bit more slippery. The thing to know is that many days are gorgeous in this time of year,
Many people say that the mountain is not a serious thing to do. It is important not to be fooled by this crowd. The mountain is very large and there are many paths to get you to the top. While many people reach it with no difficulty, many others have altitude sickness and who do not reach the peak because they are not in the shape to do so. Every year there are also people that die on the mountain because they have not taken the time to prepare for the climb, That means that you need to have the right clothing and ensure that you are re going to have the time that us required, You need to think about allowing yourself the luxury of time and that means adding another day to the time that most people will tell you. In addition to that, there is a small cost of another 150 or 250 USD by doing this but it is important to make sure that you can reach the top of the mountain and do so with success. You should ensure as well that you do not feel bad about adding another day to the walk at the top of the mountain as many things make it more important to consider such as if you have a medical device.
It also is not important that you reach the peak, in the event that you have limited time or money, there are many other ways that you can take that will allow you to see a lot without feeling as though you have to make an epic climb, Other options include checking out the Kili Climb or also going up to another area like the Saddle, or the top of the Barranco Wall or even looking at the top of the Shira Plateau to see the beauty of the area.
Park Scams and Bad Guides
Paying for Your Park Fees: When you are going to pay at the gate, you want to make sure that you are paying with a credit card and your card must have a PIN. Without this, many other issues have included scams in the past. One of these scams has involved an officer billing you for 100 USD. When you exit the park, they will ask you to pay the 100 USD. The cash, of course, is then put into the pocket of whoever asked you to pay the fee. One thing that must happen is that you are going to make sure that you check the amount as well as make sure that you check all your receipts when you leave the park.
Bad Guides: It is important to make sure that you have guides that are dedicated as well as professional before you are heading up the mountain. Many guides are going to leave late on some days before you get to the top. Some do not want to go to the top and will not tell you this. You need to ensure that you are going to go with a company that has guides that take people full time. This is one way to ensure that you are going to avoid a bad experience. You are going to want to ensure that you meet the guide and that you are going to know all the aspects of the route before you head to the top. You need to know that you are familiar with the path and that you know what it is that you need to expect every day. That means that you should talk to all your other climbers and that you should expect briefings about what is going to happen in the next day before you go up the mountain. You need to ensure that if you have any issues that you are ready to be polite and you are ready to be firm.
What About Climbing Conditions and Equipment?
You need to make sure that you are not underestimating the conditions that you are going to encounter on the mountain. Many areas are often wet and cold and you reg going to need to ensure that you have a good quality sleeping bag and that you can waterproof everything. You also want to make sure if you are climbing the Marangu route, that you have rented gear from the Kilimanjaro Guides Cooperative Society which is inside the gate. It is very affordable and can ensure that you can have what you need. You need to book way in advance of there is a very good chance that you will not be able to get your hands on what you need for sure.
Inside the small shop where you can also buy many items that are in tins such as candy bars and food that is prepared. That will allow you to pick up any last-minute items you may have forgotten easily.
What About Other Costs?
When you are going to climb the mountain, you can only go up it with a guide who has a license. You need to ensure that you have worked it all out in advance and done your homework. Working with a company that is going to give you the budget trip is going to cost you about 1500 and that will include the fees as well as all the taxes. If you are going to head out in the Machame route, the cost is going to start at about 1900 USD and if you are heading the Rongai route it is 2500 and 2000 for the trip along the Shira Plateau route. There are many other routes and there are many other points from which you can start. You need to know how much they can vary as well as know if they are included in the total price when you are planning your trip.
Most of the companies out there will provide you with tents, decent meals, and other things to ensure that you are going to get to the top. You need to ensure that you are prepared for a rough experience if you choose a completely budget route. That means that you need to make sure that you are remembering that you are working with a guide who knows their way and is preserving the environment in your trip.
Whatever you decide to pay for the trip some fees must be paid and here is the breakdown.
- Park Entry Fee is 83.00 USD per person per day.
- Camping Fee: 71.00 USD per person per day.
- Rescue Fee: 24.00 USD per person.
There may be other costs as well that are associated with the company and thee are the costs that are associated with food and carrying items.
Guides and Porters
Guides, as well as porters, are a part of any trip and that is because they are going to help you with your gear as well as help you to get your supplies to the top of the mountain. All guides are registered with the park authorities, if you are not sure about your guide, find out if their permit is current. On Kili, it is the job of the guide to show you their permit. Many guides will tell you about all the features up the mountain. Porters carry bags that weigh up to 15k and their supplies. Bags are weighed at the beginning of the trip.
Tipping for a Guide
Guides get only small wages when they are trekking, and tips may be the major part of their income. As a guideline, you want to ensure that you are tipping about 10% of the total cost that you have paid for the trip. Common tips are about 10.00 to 15.00 USD per day for the guide.
Read More: Best Cities to Visit in East Africa[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
