What if I change my climbing dates after
I have already booked for Kilimanjaro?

Most companies will be flexible but you have to check for the cancelation policy of the company you are booking with. Also, a route like Marangu where the accommodation is in the huts therefore limited space you have to check with the company to know exactly what their cancelation or postponement policy is in such scenarios. With the selection of travel dates and a climbing route, and the payment of the trip deposit, it suddenly becomes very real. You are climbing Kilimanjaro. First there is excitement. Then fear. You wonder if you will be ready for the physical exertion, the high altitude, and the many days of camping. “What have I gotten myself into?” people ask themselves. Relax. This is a very common and perfectly normal sequence of thoughts after booking a Kilimanjaro trek.

Tanzania has an international airport known as Kilimanjaro International Airport. The airport is located near the towns of Arusha and Moshi. These two cities serve as the gateways to Kilimanjaro expeditions. Nearly all climb and safari operators are stationed in one of these places and will use accommodations here for their guests before and after their trips. Arusha, which is closer to Tanzania’s northern wildlife parks, is used for those only going on a safari. Arriving at Kilimanjaro airport, one can transfer to either Moshi or Arusha in about 40 minutes by vehicle. Taxis are readily available, perhaps too available, as you will be hounded by taxi drivers as soon as you exit the airport.

But most operators offer pick up and drop off services for your convenience. If you have arranged for a transfer, just ignore the crowd and look for the driver holding up a sign with you name.
You can request to meet your guide in advance
For those who have already made the decision to climb with a budget Kilimanjaro operator and are concerned about the obvious fact that the best guides are generally unwilling to receive the lowest wages and therefore not likely to work for budget companies, this fact is quite reassuring and is perhaps attractive to students with a lot of time on their hands, who are willing to enjoy the hospitality of several operators in their Arusha offices over a period of two or three days while they wait for the right people to become available to meet with. An obvious drawback, however, is the fact that many local Arusha are very courteous and charming when meeting prospective clients, but that a positive meeting or about someone really offers no logical endorsement of their competence, or ability to cope with challenging circumstances should matters take an unwelcome turn at high altitude.

Get a very cheap price for your climb.
As we know in every business clients want cheap price and quality unlikely in tour operator clients need cheap price. For those who simply want to visit the mountain and are not overly concerned about whether or not their guide can be persuaded to go with them all the way to the summit, the fact of this being the cheapest method of climbing Kilimanjaro makes this an attractive option. There are several young guides who have essentially started their own operations, and who pay other local companies to use their stationery in order to pass registration at the gate. These guides can often be persuaded to climb for just a few hundred dollars more than the USD 977 cost of the park fees for a seven day climb, particularly if led to believe that a very large tip will compensate their brothers and cousins who will accompany as porters for not receiving a salary. Using this method, if the traveler has a rugged constitution and irrepressible appetite, it is possible heavily to bias the diet towards local foods such as maize flower mixed with water, to use local buses, and to borrow or hire old tents and equipment from friends or failing companies.

Benefits of booking in advance

The most obvious benefits of booking in advance are as follows:
1. Climbers may obtain valuable advice on training and preparation from their operator
While some fortunate people summit with no training, it is certainly an advantage, and we appreciate the opportunity to offer advice on training specificity. Additionally, substantial cost savings may be made by hiring some of the equipment that you do not necessarily need to own. It is helpful to discuss with your operator what to obtain and what to hire and how to test and prepare your equipment to ensure that it serves you well on your climb.

2. Making paying for your climb as straightforward as possible
Perhaps a majority of travelers are surprised when arriving into Arusha they discover how primitive and uncompetitive local banking services still are. Indeed, in several respects service has actually declined over the past 15 years. Many imagine they will be able to obtain US Dollars without impediment. This is sadly far from the case, and if planning to draw local funds from an ATM and content to pay two Forex conversion fees you should be aware that the best machines in Arusha will only release the equivalent of around USD 250 per transaction (if they’re not empty, as they often are). Booking ahead and paying for your climb by wire transfer or credit / debit card is generally therefore the preferred option.

3. Ensuring you get the best guide for your climb
If turning up and booking an operator at short notice, you’re unlikely to be allocated a very good guide. This is because unless the company has just the day before been notified of a cancellation, or you’re climbing in April or November if the guide is any good, he will almost certainly already be engaged on another climb. The best guides get recruited by the best company, and climbers generally engage these services in advance. The mountain is open every day of the year. There are two rainy seasons, April May and November mid December and few people climb at this time. So the main trekking seasons coincide with the mountain’s two ‘dry’ seasons: January to mid-March and June to October. Note that it will still probably rain on your trek during these months too it’s rare to climb without getting rained on at least once.