Kilimanjaro questions, answered

The trek to Barafu Hut is only moderately difficult, on a good trail; the only really steep section is the Barranco Wall. The final push to the summit ridge takes about 6 hours and is very steep and cold. This last section is mostly switchbacks, with some easy rock scrambling near the top. Your guide will set a very slow pace. Most reasonably fit people can make it, as long as they are not having difficulty acclimatising.

The official minimum age set by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority for climbing to Uhuru Peak is 10 years. We usually recommend a minimum age of 13. If anyone in your group is under 16, please tell us in advance so that we can make arrangements.

Guides are a requirement on Kilimanjaro, set by the Tanzania National Park Service.

It isn't a formal requirement, but it is a good idea. Kilimanjaro is not the easiest trek, and it helps to have some previous experience so that you know what trekking involves.

March and April are the rainy months on Kilimanjaro, so we recommend avoiding them.

From Nairobi you can take a shuttle to Arusha, which costs $30 to $35 per person. Flights from Nairobi to Arusha are also available and generally cost $200 one way.

Your park entrance fee includes the cost of rescue off the mountain, which is organised by the Tanzania National Park Service together with our team. We also strongly recommend adequate travel insurance. The park service provides rescue, while your travel insurance covers costs such as cancellation charges, unexpected curtailment of your holiday, medical and repatriation expenses (including air ambulance), personal accident, and delay, loss of or damage to your personal belongings. If you don't already have a policy, we recommend either Cover More or World Nomads.

A typical day involves about 5 to 6 hours of walking. On summit day you will trek for 12 to 16 hours, but you are given a few hours' rest at Barafu, so the long day is broken into two parts. We make the summit push and the descent in one day to avoid acclimatisation problems.

We offer tented camping on the Lemosho Route. Your camp crew sets up the tents before you arrive. Tents are twin-share, and single tents may be available for people travelling alone. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag.

Your mobile service may work at one or two points on the mountain, but don't count on it. We have tested mobile internet cards from both Vodacom (Tanzania) and Safaricom (Kenya) and could not get online. If you need to make a phone call during the trek, speak to your guide, who may be able to arrange something.

There are no charging points on the Lemosho Route, so bring spare batteries.

Drinking water is collected on the mountain and boiled before it is given to you. Disposable plastic water bottles are not allowed on the mountain.

Your guide can provide a bucket of hot water for washing in the evening and in the morning.

Lunch is packed and eaten on the trail during the day. You will have lunch and dinner in the dining tents that are set up for you.

You should be fit enough to walk continuously throughout the day. Good overall fitness, flexibility and health will help you trek safely and comfortably. People with acute or chronic health conditions that affect their stamina, range of movement, coordination or balance may find the trek difficult to complete. If you are unsure about your physical readiness, consult a doctor well before you book. General hiking experience, and being comfortable with the idea of several days of hiking, will also help you feel fully ready.

The best approach is to acclimatise slowly. Common symptoms of mountain sickness include headaches and a cough. See our page on altitude sickness for more.

It may seem surprising, but your skin is in more danger of sun damage on the mountain than on the beach. The sun's intensity increases sharply as you gain altitude, and fresh snow reflects far more UV rays than sand does. Protect your skin with clothing and sunblock; a sunblock made specifically for mountain conditions is recommended. If you wear prescription glasses, we recommend having prescription sunglasses made.

We take every possible precaution to keep our trekkers safe and well, and our guides are trained and experienced in dealing with emergencies. Every guide is trained in first aid. In the case of altitude sickness, you will immediately be taken to a lower altitude. If necessary, your guide will call on the park rescue services for immediate evacuation.

Yes. We look after the safety of all our trekking guests, male and female. We have long-standing relationships with the lodges we use and know them to be safe and reliable. Our guides always keep track of where every guest is while trekking, and we travel in small groups, which makes it easy to stay in contact.

We will send you a complete packing list once your trek is booked. You can rent gear once you reach Arusha, but it tends to be expensive and the quality is not great. If you need specific equipment beforehand, we may be able to help with some supplies free of charge. See our Kilimanjaro packing list.

A good pair of hiking boots is important for the final climb, because they keep your feet warm and give proper ankle support. Tennis shoes are fine on the other days of the trek.

Porters on Kilimanjaro are allowed to carry 20 kg plus their own personal belongings.

Bring enough to cover tips at the end of the trek. Apart from that, our treks are all-inclusive: we cover accommodation, food, park fees, permits and many other costs, to make your climb as simple and convenient as possible. It used to be possible to buy snacks and other items on the trek, but the park service has removed all vendors, so once you are on the mountain there is nothing to spend money on.

Your guide should be able to arrange a phone call or relay a message in an emergency. Otherwise, don't expect to be able to communicate, although you may find a mobile signal in some places.

Some climbers finish ahead of schedule and return to Arusha early. Others have problems with the altitude or decide to come down early for other reasons. If you return to Arusha early, you are responsible for the cost of your extra hotel nights ($50 per night) and meals. This is because our costs stay the same whenever you end the climb: even if you climb for fewer days than planned, we have already paid the staff, bought the food and rented the gear for every day of the scheduled climb.