Accommodation during Tanzania Safari

If you are reading this article from Nature Horizons, you are probably planning a Tanzania Safari and you are not sure of Where to stay during your Tanzania Safari holiday. Nature Horizons tours can help you plan the best accommodation during your Tanzania holiday according to your budget and preferences. With plenty to explore from diverse national parks to things to do and what to eat, you will be spoiled for choices in the new soul of Africa. So where do you begin?

Read More “Where to Stay on a Tanzania Safari”

Tanzania Safari Cost

Tanzania Safari Cost will depend very much on the type of  Safari you will choose. The price of your Tanzania Safari holiday is the first thing to consider when planning for an amazing Tanzania holiday.

Tanzania is an ultimate adventure destination for many travelers across the globe. For many reasons including wildlife that is beyond compare to any other country in the world, more and more tourists have been drawn to Tanzania. What sets other travelers back is the price. Yes, Tanzania safaris are generally pricey compared to other holiday destinations. The question is, why? To give you a clearer understanding of why Tanzania safari holidays are not cheap, here is a quick rundown: Read More “Why Tanzania Safari Holidays are not cheap”

Tanzania is fantastic for family safaris! As the country is situated within Africa’s malaria belt, we don’t recommend traveling here with children under 6 years UNLESS we recommend activities for children of these ages so that, the supposed Tanzania Family tour won’t be boring. However, it’s a great destination for wildlife-loving youngsters aged 6 years and over.

For the sheer concentration of animals, Tanzania is hard to beat! Game drives are action-packed out here, for example in the areas making up the country’s famous Northern Circuit. These areas are among the most affordable destinations in Africa for family safari vacations. And the larger your group is, the more economical the trip becomes, as the cost of using a vehicle is split among the family. The Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania’s south region is worth considering too, and there’s the exciting option of combining your safari with a beach break in Zanzibar!

Read More “Family Safari Vacations in Tanzania”

Tipping is always a popular subject with Tanzania safaris, Kilimanjaro hiking, and the overall Tanzania Holiday. Travelers often ask themselves, “How much should I tip?” or “Why should I tip?” After paying for your safari it is only logical asking yourself these questions given the sums already paid for the safari.

Tipping culture & its origin in Tanzania

Tanzania is not a wealthy country, and Westerners might see the local customary wages as unjust. So it has always been a tradition to tip your safari crew or mountain crew and others who serve you while traveling in Tanzania. In fact, it is fair to say tips are expected when traveling through Tanzania and the crew or servers will feel unappreciated when not tipped.

Why is tipping so important & why should you tip?
The reasons are:

• Guides, cooks, and other staff derive much of their income from tips. On the other hand, it subsidizes the wages they receive. As a company, we try our best to make sure our crew and staff get fair wages, which we pride in ourselves as we pay better than the average market rate. However, this is not quite enough as most of our crew is hired on a temporary basis and there can be time lags between being on a job and being out of a job. (There might be a huge interval between one safari and the other, so the tips which they receive is a very important additional income.)
• Tip to show gratitude and appreciation, as most of the crew will work tirelessly to ensure clients get the best out of their experience, thus going further than things which are required. For example, while on a hike, some porters carry small backpacks which are to be with clients, some go as far as carrying the client so as to increase his/her chances to summit. On safaris, guides are known to risk getting fined but ensure clients get more on evening game drives which by park regulations are to end by 6:00 pm, some go off-trail to ensure clients get closer to animals (however, none of this is required of them and is heavily discouraged by “companies”).
• Tips encourage and motivates your crew, as employers in this industry we understand that the best guides, chefs will leave better-paying companies for less pay if they will derive more in tips in the later company, after letting you in on this we believe you understand how tips are crucial to the overall performance of the crew.

How to make sure your tip gets where you intend it to?

You should make an effort to hand your tip directly to the person it is for. In this way, you can help ensure that your wishes are being respected. It is fine if you wish to put your tip into an envelope or give a group tip to be divided evenly but you should make an effort to let the crew know so each can receive it as you planned.

When to tip?

Most clients tip at the end of the safari, which makes sense as it should be based upon the overall satisfaction of your crew.

Note: Why don’t safari soles add a surcharge to the trip’s price to cover tips?

Tipping in Tanzania is tax-free, and adding it onto the price will be subjected to 18% increase on the price and as the tips will then be considered as official income to the crew it will then be subjected to income tax. Hence lowering the value, the crew receives or increases the tip amount to the client.

Transparency, we do believe our team has full trust in us but to ensure we don’t ever have to explain we encourage our clients to tip directly and recommend that those who feel the need to be discreet should use envelopes.

Who to tip?

• Guides
• Cook
• Servers

Factors to consider when tipping

• Number of days on tour
• Private or group tour
• Performance of crew
• Tipping currency

Tipping can be done via foreign or local currency. For foreign currency, we recommend you use US dollars, euros, or pound sterling, as this can be easily converted to Tanzanian shillings.

Tipping guideline on a Tanzania safari

Tipping is slightly different on the tour you are taking, so here is a guideline that will help you sort and plan thoroughly.

Tanzania Safari tipping guideline

We recommend that travelers tip between the below guideline. However, tipping is not mandatory or enforced but highly recommended. As it is a safari tradition and the crew will be expecting some tips. you can tip more or less depending on the performance of the crew.

US$ 8 -10 per guest per day for a group guide

US$ 20 – 30 per guest per day for a private guide

US$ 8 -10 per guest per day for a group safari chef

US$ 15 – 25 per guest per day for a private safari chef

US$ 1-5 for general staff

Note: The minimum tip to a private guide is assuming you are two and the maximum is assuming you are one; if you are on a private group of more than three, we recommend you use group guide guideline.

Tipping guideline on a Kilimanjaro hike.

Unlike tipping on a safari, tipping in Kilimanjaro is not much of a bonus or reward particularly attentive service, but a mandatory payment to subsidize wages porters or guides receive.

First will have to keep you informed on wages.

The minimum wage set is 10 USD a day per porter, 20 USD per guide, and 15 USD per assistant guide and mountain cook. Again, we emphasize that there may be a time lag between one job to the other, however, many companies don’t even pay this figure. If you pay anything less than 1,800 USD for five days and 1,900 USD for six days it is highly likely the wage demands were not met correctly. It is fair to say even when the minimum wage requirement is met, these wages are still not fair and that’s why we recommend each client to tip.

Each group will have

• Head guide
• Assistant guide
• Cook
• Porters

Toilet porters & assistant cook (occasionally depends on package purchased or group size).

Tanzania Tipping guidelines per Group per day:

Head Guide: 20 – 25 USD.

Assistance Guide: 12 – 20 USD.

Cook: 12 – 20 USD.

Assistant cook: 10- 15 USD.

Porter: 7 – 10 USD

Note: joining a group will reduce your tip figure as a tipping obligation will be shared among the group.

Example:

Tipping guideline on Kilimanjaro

For a 6-day trek, the total tipping value per group and climber would look as follows.

No. of trekkers (US$)	1 Climber	2 Climbers	3 Climbers	4 Climbers
Guide	$120-150	$120-150	$150-175	$150-175
Assistant Guide	___	$90-105	$90-105	$180-210
Cooks	$72-105	$72-105	$105-120	$105-120
Porters	$168- 240	$294-490	$378- 540	$462-660
Total for group	$360-495	$576-850	$723-940	$897-1165
Per climber	$360-495	$288-425	$241-313	$224-291

Kilimanjaro tipping guideline

Note: 1 Climber 4 porter, 2 Climbers 7 porters, 3 Climbers 9 Porters, 4 Climbers 11 Porters and 2 Assistant Guide.

Climbers choosing treks with more or less should consider an average increase or decrease of $60 in their tipping budget.

Note: Climbers who find tipping well above their budget could consider donating hiking gear directly to the crew if they don’t plan on using them again.

Donation of Clothing & Equipment.

You might consider donating your clothing and equipment to the climbing team in addition to tipping them after your climb. Remember that the staff climbs Kilimanjaro many times a year and can go through their clothes and gear rather quickly.

You can be straightforward to ask if something is needed and then donate it individually. Your donation is of great assistance to these individuals, many of whom are unwilling to spend their money on material goods they consider a luxury rather than a necessity.

They will appreciate your generosity tremendously as this will make their hard job even easier. Avoid giving items to your guide for distribution to porters.

Donations should be given directly to the individuals they are intended for, perhaps those with the greatest need or who were of particularly good service.

Tipping Ceremony on Kilimanjaro on the last day (after the summit).

Tipping will be done on the last day of the trek in what is known as the tipping ceremony.

The head guide will assemble the entire staff to say a word of thanks. Tips can be made in US dollars (USD) or Tanzanian Shillings (TSH). It is very important that US bills are not older than 2010, as they are not accepted in the country or will derive a lower value in Tanzania. 

It is very helpful to organize a well-estimated amount of USD before arrival, as exchange rates may vary a lot.

MEALS ON MOUNT KILIMANJARO 

Food on Mount Kilimanjaro is very important part of you Kilimanjaro hiking Adventure! During your hike on Mount Kilimanjaro by Nature Horizons, you will be provided with breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. The food, specifically selected to help your climb, are high-energy carbohydrate foods that are easily digestible. The primary carbohydrates of the meals are rice, potatoes, and pasta. Fresh fruit and vegetables accompany every meal. Meat is served on the mountain but not in large quantities because it is not easily digestible at higher altitudes, nor does it keep well on the mountain. We resupply the team with fresh food throughout the climb.

Read More “Food and Water on Mount Kilimanjaro”

TANZANIA SAFARI PACKING LIST

If this is your first time in Tanzania or your first time on a safari, the packing list below will help you be well-prepared and comfortable during your adventure. If you do forget a few things, don’t worry, you can pick up most everyday items in town before you leave.

Travel Documents

• Valid passport
• Yellow fever vaccination records
• Tanzania visa, available at airport upon arrival, USD $100 payable in cash only for US citizens or USD $50 for residents of UK/European Union and most other countries
• Copy of flight itinerary
• Copy of travel and/or medical evacuation insurance
• Personal medical/dental insurance cards
• Credit card (Visa and MasterCard are most widely accepted)
• Cash in U.S. dollars (bills MUST have been issued in 2004 or later) 

Clothing

Remember, it’s not a fashion show out there, so be a bit more practical when choosing your safari wardrobe. Try to stay away from bright colors – khaki and other neutral colors tend to work well. It is probably best if you dress in layers since it can get cold, but also very hot depending on the time of day.

• Sweater or fleece pullover to keep warm
• Sturdy boots or sandals 
• Sun hat
• Sun glasses
• T-shirts or polo shirts (2-5 depending on how often you want to change)
• Long sleeve shirts (light weight)
• Shorts
• Long trousers
• Underwear
• Socks
• Sleepwear
• Travel towel
• Thermal underwear, gloves, and warm hat (during May – Sept)
• Raincoat and rain trousers (During rainy season Mar – May and Oct – Dec)

Highly recommended

• Camera and memory cards
• Binoculars
• Sunscreen
• Hand sanitizer and wet wipes
• Insect Repellent
• Personal toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, eye drops etc)
• Malaria tablets
• Basic first aid kit and prescription medicines
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Chargers and extra batteries for your camera, phone etc
• Power adapter to fit the UK-style electrical socket

Others tips

• Bring soft luggage, such as a duffel bag, hiking pack, or sports bag. These are ideal for packing into a safari vehicle. Hard suitcases can often be difficult to fit into the vehicles.
• Bring a backpack to carry all of your important items including travel documents, money, camera, medication, etc. You should keep this backpack with you at all times.
• Keep luxury items such as hair dryers/straighteners, expensive jewelry, makeup, and bulky toiletries to an absolute minimum. If in doubt, leave them out.
• If you plan to bring cash, divide it into different areas of your carry-on luggage, wallet, and money belt just in case something happens to one of those carry items.
• Leave some space in your luggage for the all-important souvenirs that you will probably buy. There are places where you can send packages home via DHL etc, however this can sometimes be an expensive option.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CLIMB MOUNT KILIMANJARO?

Travelers planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro frequently ask how long does it take to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? It takes about five to nine days on the longer routes to reach Mount Kilimanjaro Summit Uhuru peak and descend to the finishing point. The more days you spend on the mountain acclimatizing, the better your chances of reaching the top. Trekkers who spend only five days have the lowest summit success rate.

Trekkers who spend eight or nine days have a much better chance of summiting. Factors affecting how long it takes to climb Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro is a “walk-up” mountain, meaning there is no technical climbing involved. How long it takes to reach the summit is largely dictated by how well you are able to acclimate to the lack of oxygen at high altitudes.

Acclimatization

The main reason why climbers fail to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro is simply that they have not acclimatized to the altitude.

How badly do you want to get to the summit? If you’re serious about completing the climb, the main factor standing in your way is acclimatization.

The good news is that going slow and taking your time allows your body to gradually adapt to the reduced oxygen.

The more days you spend on the mountain acclimatizing, the better your chances of reaching the top. Trekkers who spend only five days on Kilimanjaro have the lowest success rate, while those who spend 8 or 9 days have a much better chance of standing on the Roof of Africa.

The Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for the Prevention of Acute Altitude Illness says that controlling the rate of ascent, in terms of the number of meters gained each day is a “highly effective means of preventing altitude illness.”

A slow and steady ascent gives your body time to adjust to the altitude, and while physical fitness does not seem to have an effect on how well you acclimatize, you’ll build in enough time for rest and recovery after the day’s hiking.

It’s difficult to get up-to-date data from the Kilimanjaro National Park, but in 2006 estimates of the success rate based on the number of days spent on the mountain were clear. At that time:

• 27% of those who opted for the five-day trek made it to the summit.
• 85% of trekkers who spent eight days on their climb were successful.

Those numbers have no doubt improved since then thanks to better guides, improved gear, and a better understanding of how to successfully hike the trail. But they give you an indication of the importance of taking your time on the mountain.

Being very fit does not correlate with an increased ability to acclimatize. Being physically fit will make the hiking easier, as well as reduce fatigue and stress, but it won’t help you acclimate.

According to Dr. Hackett from the Institute for Altitude Medicine, says physical fitness will give you no protection from altitude sickness. Sometimes, many young, fit people will push through the discomfort, ignoring important symptoms.

How long does it take to climb Mount Kilimanjaro on each route?

There are a total of six different routes you can use to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

The shortest possible way to the summit is by the Marangu or the Umbwe Route. These routes can be completed in 5 days (but we don’t recommend it for most hikers).

The longer treks, Lemosho, Machame, Rongai, or the Northern Circuit route take 6-10 days.

The main reason you’d want to take a longer route is to give your body time to acclimatize to the altitude, but there are other considerations as well.

Unless you are very fit, covering the same amount of ground in a shorter time frame can increase your chances of fatigue and injury – and compromise your enjoyment of the environment.

Climbing Kilimanjaro recommends Trekkers who have a flexible schedule to consider a longer route or build in one or two acclimatization days and have an easier time reaching the summit.

Each route is varied in the duration of the mountain, the types of accommodation, the level of difficulty, the type of scenery, and other factors.

The table below lists each route, sorted by the number of days usually taken on each route.

Route	Number of Days	Route Length
Marangu Route	5	64 kilometers (40 mi)
Umbwe Route	6	37 kilometers (23 mi)
Rongai Route	6 or 7	65 kilometers (23 mi)
Machame Route	6 or 7	49 kilometers (30 mi)
Lemosho Route	7,8 or 9	66 kilometers (35 mi)
Northern Circuit	8 or 9	66 kilometers (35 mi)

You can climb Kilimanjaro in five or six days, but is it worth the risk?

You can definitely climb Kilimanjaro in five or six days. Most clients we’ve spoken to are attracted to the shorter routes for these reasons:

• Cost savings
• Lack of vacation time
• Don’t want to hike for so many days

In all of Climbing Kilimanjaro’s combined years of experience as mountain guides and trek organizers, we encourage a longer, steadier climb as it is safer, and increases our clients’ summit success rate dramatically.

Additionally, giving yourself time to enjoy the unique mountain environment with adequate rest and recovery will make for a much more enjoyable experience.

These are the questions we ask and encourage you to ask yourself:

• How would you feel if you scheduled a route with the minimum days only to have to turn back on day three because the rate of ascent was too quick and you did not have time to acclimate?
• Wouldn’t you rather add a couple of days to your trip to give yourself a better chance of summiting and to make it easier on your body?
• Were the “savings” you got for not taking additional days worth the cost of cutting your climb short, not making it to the summit, or worse still, putting your health at risk?

When is it a good idea to opt for a shorter Kilimanjaro climb?

• If you’ve recently been to a high altitude. If you’ve climbed Mt. Meru or Mt. Kenya successfully, for example, you will have an element of pre-acclimatization and can get away with a shorter route.
• If you’re a very experienced climber and have been to extreme altitudes before (>18,000ft) and are confident of your ability to acclimatize.

It’s an undeniable fact that longer routes increase summit success rates.

How long does it take to descend Kilimanjaro?

It takes around two days to descend Kilimanjaro from the Uhuru Peak Summit to the Finish point. The descent can take up to five hours to reach the camp for overnight, and four to six hours the following day depending on the route and trekker’s experience.

Quick Facts: Fastest times to the Summit of Mount Kilimanjaro by elite athletes

Current record holder:
Karl Egloff, a Swiss climber, made it in 4 hours, 56 minutes. He’s gone on to break records on Aconcagua, Cotopaxi, and others. You can read more about his intense training and pre-acclimatization program here.

Other notable times:

• Fastest woman Kristina Schoo Madsen (from Denmark): 6 hours and 52 minutes via the Mweka route
• Simon Mtuy from Tanzania holds the record for the fastest unaided attempt. He carried all his own gear, including food and water, in 9 hours and 19 minutes on the Umbwe route.
• Kilian Jornet, the previous record-holder, made it in 7 hours, 14 minutes.

How long will it take YOU?

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a once-in-a-lifetime experience: you’ve trained for it and paid for it, so don’t compromise your safety or chance of success.

Got questions? Send us an email or hit the live chat button.

Kilimanjaro Guides & Porters

Kilimanjaro guides, porters, and other crew make up an essential part of a true Kilimanjaro experience. One of the most renowned mountaineers of the 20th century, Peter Boardman gave an apt description of guiding brethren:

“Their lives are linked by a love and profession to the mountains, and their company will enhance the experience of all those who wish to approach the mountains and learn.”

This is very true here in Kilimanjaro – the guides’ job is not just to make it possible for you to reach the mountain peak safely and sound, but also to make sure that the days that you’ll spend on these slopes are amusing and memorable. And it’s not simply a job – it is a lifestyle and, in some ways, an outlook. It makes the Kilimanjaro guides quite different from those found on the slopes of other popular mountaineering destinations.

We have many clients who climbed Mt Kilimanjaro years ago. Most of them don’t remember the names of routes, camps, or how the landscape looked, but all of them remember the names of their guides. Our Kilimanjaro team leaders always leave a special imprint on climbers, and their skills largely determine if the climb will be successful or not.

Therefore, when selecting your Kilimanjaro adventure, choosing your guide is the first and foremost decision to make.

Must-have Skills of  our Kilimanjaro Local Guides

Each and every Kilimanjaro Local guides possess deep knowledge of a number of things. Briefly, their competencies may be put into two distinct groups. The first type, so-called “soft” skills, are needed to make the experience enjoyable, amusing, and memorable for you and for the crew. The second, “hard” skills – are needed to handle the practical needs of the expedition, such as camp management, crew composition, pathfinding, emergency response, and others.

“Soft” skills

• Rapport and communication – often overlooked, these skills are one of the most essential to make your Kilimanjaro experience a lifetime memory. Kilimanjaro trekkers arrive from various countries and have different social backgrounds. While some are talkative and sociable, others may be more reticent and introverted. The first minutes together are enough for our guides to understand what type of a person they are taking to the peak of Kilimanjaro, and they will adapt their behavior accordingly. You will never find them obtrusive or boring.
• Leadership and encouragement – a head guide of a Kilimanjaro expedition is not just showing the way to the summit, he actually leads the expedition. In practice, that means he is making sure that the hikers do not lose their motivation while moving closer to their goal. Summit night is often a challenge, and the guide’s task is to reinvigorate climbers, encourage them, and boost their stamina.
• Teamwork and crew management – though most of the time you will be in contact with the guide, one should always remember that the safety and success on a Kilimanjaro adventure are a result of a collaborative effort of many people: the guide’s assistants, camp masters, cooks, and porters. A professional experienced Kilimanjaro local guide is responsible to make sure that there is cohesion and cooperation in his team at all times.
• Good English-speaking skills – while any tourism professional working with international clients is expected to be proficient in English, in practicality finding a mountain guide with proficient English is quite a task. All of our guides are fluent in English and able to communicate easily with clients.

“Hard” skills

• Medical training and first-aid in the high altitudes. A guide’s first priority and utmost responsibility is the safety of every client. All of our guides are trained in both basic first-aid, but also have wilderness first-responder certificates, and have training in high altitude safety.

• Preserve life – a guide should do everything which is required to make sure an injured person survives until full medical aid is available.
• Relieve pain – a competent mountain professional should be capable of minimizing pain (both physical and emotional) of a sick client.
• Prevent harm – everything should be done skilfully to ensure that the condition of an injured person does not get worse and the possibility of full recovery is preserved.

Major accidents are relatively rare on Kilimanjaro – only recorded once in a decade on certain parts of the mountain. A more important and common concern is acute altitude sickness or AMS. This is a concern for climbers on any mountain of significant altitude and Kilimanjaro is no exception. A skilled guide should be capable of diagnosing this sickness at the very earliest stages, treating it to minimize long-lasting impacts, and organizing evacuation if necessary.

• Rescue & Evacuation operations: In case an emergency happens, a Kilimanjaro guide should be able to organize a safe and fast evacuation of a sick person to a medical facility. In practice, it means that a guide should be able to: (a) get in contact with a helicopter rescue service; (b) comprehensively explain the location to the pilot and the concerns to a ground medical team; (c) prepare a sick person for transportation and prevent any further harm.

When helicopter evacuation is not necessary, the guide should be able to organize manual transportation on a special stretcher.

• Mountain topography knowledge: Professional Kilimanjaro guides should know every nook and cranny of the mountain. If for some reason the hiking team has to get off the established trail (e.g. in case of heavy rain), the guide should choose the shortest and safest way to the nearest camp or down to the exit. Some of our guides worked on the Mt Kilimanjaro rescue team and know how to get to certain destinations in a fast manner.
• Strong flora and fauna knowledge: We believe that your Kilimanjaro adventure should not be just safe and successful – it should also be insightful and entertaining. After all, Kilimanjaro has a unique ecosystem, with some plants to be found nowhere else on the globe. With some luck, you have a chance to spot some wildlife on the trail. A skilled guide should be capable of telling you more about the vegetation and the animals of Kilimanjaro in an easy-going, yet interesting manner.

So, you can expect the following from our Kilimanjaro local guides:

• High Safety Standards – Our highest priority is your Safety. When you trust and book with us we will not take that responsibility lightly. Our guides are certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR), which means they have the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions. They receive annual training in emergency first aid and can prevent, recognize and treat altitude-related illnesses. Additionally, they can identify and avoid potential hazards such as slippery trails and loose rocks. Your health will be monitored very closely day to day while trekking.
• Professionalism – At Nature Horizons Tours we believe that professionalism is the key to your successful Kilimanjaro climb. We are sure that you have many choices when it comes to the Kilimanjaro trek. We always go beyond our client’s expectations.

Nature Horizons Tours takes pride in the hard work of our staff and we strive to maintain and grow our reputation of excellence. Our guides uphold a high level of professionalism while still keeping the experience fun for the clients.

• Climbing Knowledge – Kilimanjaro trails are clearly marked, so following a trail should not pose a problem. But there are more intricate things that your guide will take into consideration when deciding when, where, and how to move the party. These things include weather conditions, trail density, rest stops, pace, etc.
• Mountain Facts – Your guide is knowledgeable about general mountain facts. He can tell you about the climate zones, the altitudes of and distances to campsites, and information about the geology, flora, and fauna. These types of facts increase the enjoyment during the trek by giving you an idea of what you are seeing and feeling.

Our Kilimanjaro local guides understand and are aware that customer satisfaction, a safe and successful climb is one of our company’s core values.

Kilimanjaro Porters

Kilimanjaro porters are the backbone of every expedition and a very special breed of mountaineers, whose physical fitness and stamina always draw the surprising looks of Kilimanjaro trekkers. Trudging uphill, the exhausted hikers are often astonished to see the galloping team of porters, heavily loaded with camping equipment, seeming to have no difficulties whatsoever.

The porter crews have many important responsibilities, such as:

• Carrying the camping equipment and supplies: While climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, you will notice that the tent, which you leave in the morning by some magical force, re-appears in the next one, pitched, cleaned, and ready for you. The magic is easily explainable; the team of porters, coordinated by the camp master, disassemble your tents in the morning immediately after your departure, pack them, then outpace the trekkers to make sure the tents are cleaned and pitched again in the next camp.
• Apart from carrying the tents you sleep in, the porters are also tasked with carrying other camp essentials – dining (mess) tent, chairs, tables, food, and water supplies. Here at Nature Horizons Tours, we rigorously control that each porter’s load does not exceed 15 kg.
• Carrying your gear: Each climber has 10-14 kg of personal gear which he or she will use on a certain day of the trip. All this is packed in a special duffel bag (you may read more about the gear here) and one of the porters will be carrying it up to the summit camp.
• Fetching water: There is no plumbing in the high-altitude camps of Mount Kilimanjaro. The porters fetch water for drinking, hygiene, and cooking from the nearby mountain springs. Though most of the camps are near the sources of water, once the group arrives at the summit camps the task becomes much more challenging. Porters have to walk with cans about 5 km down to the spring, collect water, and then hike back to the camp. Rainy or windy conditions are never an excuse – the camp and the kitchen cannot stay without water.
• Serving meals in the dining (mess) tent: Some of the porters will work as “waiters” – they will be bringing the meals and drinks from the kitchen tent and serving them. After the hikers finish and go resting (or hiking), these porters will wash the dishes and prepare the kitchenware for the next meal.
• Collecting trash: The beauty of Mt Kilimanjaro should be preserved for future generations, and whatever trash, garbage, and the expedition members produce waste, the special “cleaners” always take it away from the Mountain.
• The work of our cleaning teams is not just restricted to the waste of our expeditions – because we deeply care about the environment of Kilimanjaro, we try to clean even what was left by the irresponsible trekkers led by the other tour operators.
• Assisting the guides on the summit night. Normally, the porters do not summit. Yet, there is a special breed of them – the so-called “summit porters” – who reinforce the climbing crew for the final leg of the trip. These people help the guides to make sure that every hiker is safe and comfortable. Together with your guides, the summit porters will be carrying hot tea, biscuits, and oxygen to make sure that you are warmed and energized to keep trekking to the summit.
• As you can see, the porters on Kilimanjaro have many responsibilities, and we cannot imagine a safe and successful expedition without their support.

Our porters receive three nutritious meals every day, and apart from ugali and beans, their diet includes meat (goat and beef), eggs, potatoes, rice, spinach vegetables, tea, and bread. A simple menu, yet rich in calories and carbohydrates. At Nature Horizons Tours we can proudly say that our porters never go asleep with an empty stomach.

Shoddy tents: Many budget companies are using inferior tents. As a result, their porters often suffer from hypothermia when the weather becomes bad. Every year some of them die, but the climbers are seldom aware of that. We take good care of our porters, so they take good care of you.

Can You Climb Kilimanjaro without a Guide?

No, you cannot: Under the National Parks Mountain Climbing Regulations of Tanzania, each trekking group should be accompanied by a licensed climbing guide.

Under the law, the porters are not a requirement – their participation in the expedition is mostly a result of the evolution of the climbing industry. Some of the Kilimanjaro outfitters are offering “light” packages, where you will be accompanied by the guide only. Yet, this option is suitable for the experienced climbers only, who have taken part in other high-altitude trips and know how to set up a camp, cook meals at altitude and otherwise survive in the wilderness. These climbers should be also physically fit and capable of carrying up to 20 kg of expedition supplies and gear.

WHICH ROUTE TO CHOOSE FOR HIKING MOUNT KILIMANJARO?

Selecting a Kilimanjaro climb route is one of the most important decisions you have to make. There are seven established routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro:

• Marangu route
• Machame route
• Lemosho route
• Shira route
• Rongai route
• Northern Circuit route
• Umbwe route

The Marangu, Machame, and Umbwe route all approach from the south of the mountain (Mweka is used only for descent). The Lemosho, Shira, and Northern Circuit routes approach from the west. The Rongai route approaches from the north. The illustrations below depict a dimensional view of Kilimanjaro’s climbing routes and a close-up of the approaches to the summit.

Selecting a route is a hard choice for most climbers.  To find the best Kilimanjaro route for you, the following considerations should be taken:

• The route’s scenery
• Difficulties
• Foot traffic
• High success rates
• Its altitude acclimatization characteristics

MARANGU (“COCA COLA”) ROUTE

Known as the “Coca-Cola” route, the Marangu route is a classic trek on Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the oldest, most well-established route. The Marangu route is also the only climbing route that uses the same path up AND down, which contributes to it being the most crowded climbing route on Kilimanjaro.

Many favor the Marangu route because it is considered the easiest path on the mountain, given its gradual slope. It is also the only route, which offers sleeping huts in dormitory-style accommodations.

The minimum number of days required for this route is five, although the probability of successfully reaching the top in that time is quite low. Spending an extra acclimatization day on the mountain is highly recommended when climbing Kilimanjaro using the Marangu route.

Marangu is favored only during the rainy season, where the hut accommodations are preferred over wet ground, or for those who only have five days to climb Kilimanjaro (which we do not recommend anyhow).

MACHAME (“WHISKEY”) ROUTE 

Known as the “Whiskey” route, the Machame route is now the most popular route on the mountain. Compared with Marangu, the days on Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. The Machame route is considered a difficult route and is better suited for more adventurous folks and those with some hiking or backpacking experience.

Machame is indeed a more difficult climb in some respects, but it does have much higher success rates than Marangu, especially if you choose the seven-day version. (According to estimates about 60% of the climbers on Machame make it to the summit, and over three quarters reach the crater rim.)

The route begins from the south, then heads east, traversing underneath Kilimanjaro’s southern ice field before summiting. The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although seven days is recommended.

The Machame route is scenically beautiful and varied.

LEMOSHO ROUTE

Featuring captivating scenic vistas, pristine wildlife, excellent acclimatization opportunities and low traffic of climbers, Lemosho is our personal first favorite for reaching the roof of Africa. The first two days on the Lemosho route take you through beautiful and very remote rainforest, with good chances of seeing wildlife. The start of the trail is also known as the Lemosho Glades.

The route begins in the west and rather than simply intersecting Shira Plateau (like Machame), Lemosho crosses it from Shira Ridge to Shira Camp. Climbers encounter low traffic until the route joins the Machame route. Afterward, Lemosho follows the same route through Lava Tower, Barranco, and Barafu, known as the southern circuit.

The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although eight days is ideal.

Lemosho is considered the most beautiful route on Kilimanjaro and grants panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. It is our favorite route because it offers a great balance of low traffic, scenic views, and a high summit success rate. Thus, Lemosho comes highly recommended. Most of our clients use Lemosho.

SHIRA ROUTE

The Shira route approaches Kilimanjaro from the west and then joins the Machame route. Hence everything that has been said about the Machame climb route also applies to the Shira route. In fact, Shira was the original route and Lemosho is the improved variation. While Lemosho starts at Londorossi Gate and treks through the rain forest to Shira 1 Camp, the Shira route bypasses this walk by using a vehicle to transport climbers to Shira Gate, located near the Shira Ridge.

On the first day on the mountain, climbers begin their hike from 11,800 feet (3,600 m) and spend their first night at the same elevation at Simba Camp. Then, the route merges with Lemosho and follows the southern circuit route.

Although Shira is a varied and beautiful route, Lemosho is recommended over Shira due to the relatively high altitude of Shira’s starting point, which is accessed quickly by vehicle. It is possible that climbers will experience some altitude-related symptoms on the first day while camping at 11,800 feet.

Overall, Shira has excellent success rates if the schedule involves a night at Karanga Valley (making for a short and easy day before the summit day). However, the good success rate is partly due to the operators on this route being higher level than on the more crowded routes

NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE

The Northern Circuit route is the newest, most exciting route on Kilimanjaro. The trek follows the Lemosho trail in the beginning, approaching Kilimanjaro from the west. However, instead of following the southern traverse like all the other west-approaching routes, the Northern Circuit traverses the mountain around the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes.

The Northern Circuit route is a nine day climb, which is the longest route in terms of time and distance traveled. The days spent at around 13,000 feet are great for acclimatization, resulting in the highest success rates for all routes on Mount Kilimanjaro.

With a high success rate, incredibly varied scenery, and a very low number of visitors, the Northern Circuit route is certainly one of the best routes on Kilimanjaro.

RONGAI ROUTE

The six-day version of the Rongai route (via Mawenzi Tarn) is the route of choice for those looking for an easy climb with excellent success rates that is still away from the crowds with great scenery and a wilderness feel to it. Rongai has low traffic, and it is the preferred route for those looking for an alternative to the crowded Marangu route, for those who would like a more remote hike, and for those who are climbing during the rainy season (the north side receives less precipitation).

The Rongai route has a reputation of being less scenic, but even if there is not quite as much variety as on Machame, it is still a spectacular route, especially in the later days. The camp beneath Mawenzi Peak is one of the most scenic places on the mountain.

Rongai is also one of the routes where seeing wildlife on Kilimanjaro is still possible. The Rongai climb has the same easy, gradual climb profile as the Marangu route. It rises very steadily, there aren’t any steep climbs involved, no major ups and downs.

The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, but seven days are recommended.

With Nature Horizons tours you have an 80 – 90% chance to make it to the crater rim, and 70 – 80% will make it to Uhuru Peak.

(If you have some trekking experience your chances to make it to the summit could be as good as 90%. (The remaining 10% comes down to the weather, individual preparation, individual altitude tolerance, and unforeseen mishaps.)

The Rongai route has another important advantage: the northern side of Kilimanjaro is a lot drier than the other side. Your chances NOT to get soaked on the first days are excellent. Especially if you climb Kilimanjaro during one of the wetter periods of the year, using Rongai makes a lot of sense.

UMBWE ROUTE

The Umbwe route is not a technical route, but it is a very direct, very steep, very tough, and in parts a very exposed route. It is considered very difficult and is the most challenging way up Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to the quick ascent, Umbwe does not provide the necessary stages for altitude acclimatization. Although the traffic on this route is very low, the chances of success are also low.

The route is offered at a minimum of six days, although seven days is recommended when attempting this route.

The Umbwe route should only be attempted by those who are very strong hikers and are confident in their ability to acclimatize. However, overall, the Umbwe route is not recommended and we discourage its usage for our clients.

HOW MANY DAYS SHOULD I SPEND ON A TANZANIA SAFARI?

Traveling to Tanzania for a safari holiday? Planning for how many days you will spend for a private multi-day Tanzania Safari? It depends on your budget, whether you are traveling with kids or solo, and the type of safari and national park you want to visit!

This is what a day on a Tanzania safari might look like; You wake up with the sunrise, eat a hot breakfast chased by strong coffee or tea, then head out with your Nature Horizons safari guide in a fully equipped safari vehicle. For hours you drift across the endless savannah or drop into large calderas teeming with wildlife. You stop and you observe, swimming in awe at the sheer amount of wildlife surrounding you.

After lunch at a sweeping overlook, you weave your way across rivers, snapping photos of two-ton hippos and sunbaked crocodiles. For the afternoon game drive, you spend hours tracking thirty elephants as they return from their favorite watering hole. By nightfall, you are back at your accommodations for a beverage, a hearty meal, some story sharing, stargazing, and finally, sleep.

So, what’s the ideal amount of time to spend in a wildlife paradise?

It’s an unusual question to ask, especially when safaris are so superlative, so huge, and utterly life-changing. Is more better? How do I know the optimal amount of days that will afford me time to witness the Big Five and everything in between?

What’s unique about a Tanzanian safari is how much you’re able to pack into a week. Along the Northern Circuit, for example, there is such a variety of experiences and landscapes that after a full week, you’ll have a bunch to process.

Here are just four of these highlights:

Tarangire National Park: Staff favorite; the best place to see African elephants.

Serengeti National Park: Ground zero for the best wildlife viewing on the planet.

Ngorongoro Crater: Largest intact caldera in the world, a beautiful condensed arena of wildlife.

Lake Manyara: Host to millions of pink flamingos, located in the heart of the Great Rift Valley.

The Serengeti is 5,700 square miles, about the size of the state of Connecticut. The last thing you want to feel when you’re out there and searching for those wild animals is rushed. To have at least four full days on the game drives will give you enough time to see an incredible amount of wildlife. Tack on arrival and departure days, travel to and from the national parks and reserves, and we think the optimal time for your safari experience is 6-7 days. This truly gives you the space to experience the essence of a safari while having time to prepare, decompress, and process.