How do I choose a Kilimanjaro operator?

Start with the number of days and how the crew is treated, then compare prices. Every climber on Kilimanjaro must go with a licensed operator, and hundreds sell the same routes, so the differences are in what they do not tell you: how long the itinerary is, how many guides and what safety gear come with it, and what the porters are paid.

What a fair price looks like

Park fees alone come to about $960 a climber for a week, every extra day (strongly recommended) costs extra in fees as well. A reputable Tanzanian operator booked directly typically charges $2,000 to $3,500 for seven or eight days; international agents charge more, often for a local operator's climb with their own name on it. Treat anything under about $1,800 with real caution: with the park fees fixed, the money has to come from somewhere, usually the porters' wages, food and safety.

Questions to ask

How many days on the mountain, and can I add one? What is the ratio of guides to climbers? Do the guides carry emergency oxygen and a pulse oximeter, and check us twice a day? Is the company a partner of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), which checks wages, loads and tipping on its partners' climbs? Is this your own climb, or are you selling someone else's?

Where to compare

Our Kilimanjaro operators page lists the companies that run climbs, with what each offers. How a fair crew works and what to tip are in Guides, porters and your crew and Tipping on Kilimanjaro, and why prices differ so much in Why do Kilimanjaro prices vary so much?