Can I climb Kilimanjaro without porters or guides?

Shockingly, it isn't conceivable to climb Kilimanjaro without a direct. For this reason, the standard Kilimanjaro journey incorporates not as it were an enlisted direct, but watchmen to carry tents, gas, nourishment and a trekkers gear. Unfortunately, it isn't conceivable to climb Kilimanjaro without a guide.

In 1991 the Tanzanian government and Kilimanjaro National Park Authority changed its policy towards unsupported treks on Mount Kilimanjaro. In short the regulations require that all trekkers are accompanied by a registered and licensed guide. Trekkers need to register with the Parks Authority before beginning their hike, and need to sign in at each camp along their chosen route.

Trekkers need to stay on official routes and are prohibited from using bivouacs or caves for shelter. Wood fires are also prohibited. The final two directions require appropriate camping with satisfactory camping and cooking adapt. For this reason, the standard Kilimanjaro journey incorporates not as it were an enrolled direct, but watchmen to carry tents, gas, nourishment and a trekkers gear. Hence, without appropriate arranging and authorization it isn't conceivable to climb Kilimanjaro without potters as well.

The average ratio of trekkers to support crew are: 1:4, 2:8, 3:12, 4:16. Some tour operators offer lite versions where support crews are smaller and trekkers are required to carry more of their own gear (up to 12kg). Trekkers also need to pay pretty hefty park entrance fees to climb Kilimanjaro. Depending on which route you choose and the number of days on the mountain, the fees range from $800-$1200 (including 18% VAT tax).

The combination of having to require a direct with a full bolster crew (incl. a cook), beside having to pay a stop entrance expense implies that the normal 7-day Kilimanjaro journey costs between US$2,000-US$3,000 (incl. exchanges). Visit administrators who offer treks beneath US$1,500 are most likely cutting corners and not paying their staff a reasonable wage. Legally, this is often conceivable. Controls as it were talk to being went with by an authorized direct. It does not specify doormen or other bolster staff. Be that as it may, there are a few tremendous challenges that make this endeavor unlikely for nearly anyone.

First, the guide himself will want to have a porter or two to carry his belongings at a minimum. He does not want to carry tents, gear, gas and food for many days up the mountain if he doesn’t have to. Though it might be your dream to climb unassisted, he does not share those views. It would be similar to someone insisting that you to make your job exponentially harder on purpose, and you complying. So, expect that your guide would require you to pay the wages for him and at least another one or two porters, for his own wellbeing.

Secondly, there is a big issue with access to water. On our supported treks, a team of porters leave from camp to fetch water in five-gallon buckets and bring them back to camp, over and over, so that our clients have an adequate water supply for drinking, cooking, washing, and for the portable toilets.

Getting water in this way is sensible at the lower heights when the water source is near. Be that as it may, at higher rises, it’s a gigantic challenge. There's no dependable source of water over 13,000 feet. Tall camps Barafu, School Cabin and Kibo Cottage are found at around 15,400 feet. So, to climb unsupported, you would need to carry enough water to last you until you return to 13,000 feet, in addition to all of your other gear. In other words, you could have a pack weight in excess of 70 lbs. for the most difficult parts of the climb. So, while in theory it may still be possible to climb Kilimanjaro without porters, in reality it’s impractical.

Is it conceivable to fair turn up at the foot of Kilimanjaro with a rucksack full of camping adapt, nourishment and warm dress, and head up the inclines to the top? The individuals who inquire this tend to drop into two camps: the primary are those tough, adventurous types who don’t just like the thought of being whined over by an expansive group of doormen, cooks and guides.

The second people who ask this sort of question are those who are looking to save money, and think that climbing without a crew would be a good way of doing so. After all, if you subtract the wages of the porters and guides, and their park fees, and the extra food and transport required to transport the crew to the mountain and feed them while they’re there, well that’s got to save a few hundred dollars at least, right?

And yes, you’re right, you'd spare very a bit of cash if you didn’t need to pay for a huge group of doormen, cooks and guides. So, what’s to halt you climbing without them? Well, for one thing, there’s the rules. In 1991 the stop specialists made it obligatory for all trekkers to orchestrate their walk through a authorized organization or visit administrator. Besides, they demand that all trekkers must be accompanied throughout their walk by a direct provided by the administrator. The administrator is additionally the as it were body that has the offices to pay the stop expenses. Gone are the days once you used to turn up at Marangu or Machame entryways and pay the stop expenses in cash or travellers’ cheques. That’s basically now not allowed.

So, legally, you can’t climb Kilimanjaro without signing up with an agency; and you can’t set foot on Kilimanjaro without being accompanied by a guide. And he in turn will insist on having at least one porter with him – and probably several – to carry all the food, as well as cooking and camping equipment.

The Rules Against Climbing Kilimanjaro Without a Guide

Unfortunately, it is not permitted to climb Kilimanjaro without a licensed guide. This rule was established in 1991, when the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority created regulations surrounding what are known as unsupported treks on the mountain. Those same laws are still in effect today. Therefore, it is against the park rules to climb Kilimanjaro unaccompanied by a licensed guide.

Furthermore, the guide must be employed by or otherwise attached to a licensed tour operator. The tour operator is the entity that has the ability to purchase park permits. That means a freelancing guide who does not have a documented affiliation with a registered company does not qualify for he cannot legally obtain permits.

The local guides and rangers are very familiar with one another and know when someone does not belong. The mountain is a busy place, with many eyeballs. Get caught climbing without a licensed guide and you can be fined, thrown in the local jails, or deported. And you almost certainly will get caught. Do not take that chance!