You may have been thinking about climbing Kilimanjaro and are wondering if you can save costs by climbing without a guide. I am planning to do a climb to Kilimanjaro myself and so I did some research.
It is NOT possible to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro without a guide. This is because the Tanzanian Government requires that all climbers be accompanied by a registered guide when climbing the mountain. The 30,000ft peak has low oxygen levels and is considered an extreme altitude which is dangerous even for experienced mountain climbers. Let’s look at the work that the guides to understand why you should not even consider climbing Kilimanjaro without a certified and experienced guide company.
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Learn MoreIs it possible to climb Mt Kilimanjaro without a guide?
Well, it is almost impossible to make it alone without a guide simply because of the risk of getting lost or injured on your climb. Also, you might not know what to do in case of an emergency such as an encounter with a wild animal.
There is also the risk of getting a Mountain Climbing Sickness(MSC) which is said to affect almost 77% of the people who go hiking on Mt Kilimanjaro. If this happens when you are alone without a guide, well the eventuality isn’t pleasing at all.
And finally, it is illegal to go without a guide to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, which is according to the Tanzanian government which made it a policy for any person going on a hike to be accompanied by a guide.
Why you need a guide to climb Mt Kilimanjaro?
Having a guide does not only assure you of your safety but it also makes your hike much easier and adventurous.
Being familiar with the route you’ll use to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, the guide will definitely be in a better position to guide you on the paths to take, the dangerous places to avoid along the route and also show you some beautiful sceneries which you wouldn’t want to miss out.
In case of an injury or something of the sort, the guides will be able to take care of you and perform first aid on you.
Porters are also useful guides in your climb to Mt Kilimanjaro, this is because they usually carry all your luggage which includes the food you’ll eat for approximately 9 days or so and basically any gear you had carried. By doing this they do reduce a great deal of load you would have had to carry making your climb a very tiresome one.
What kind of guide do I need to climb Mt Kilimanjaro?
Well, you’ll definitely need a tour guide, porter and a cook on your hike to Mt Kilimanjaro A tour guide does take you through the course of your climb on Mt Kilimanjaro telling you the do’s and dont’s as well as being a sort of a personal assistant. He is also well informed so any question you may have based on the hike, will be best answered by the tour guide.
Then there are the porters who usually carry for you all your luggage throughout the hike.
The only thing which you are supposed to carry is your one-day supplies ie water, food and clothing you will wear like scarfs and gloves.
Finally, there are cooks who you’ll really need since you wouldn’t want to be freezing somewhere around nineteen thousand feet above sea level, hungry and you have nothing to eat. So for this case, they do come in handy.
What to expect on your Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb?
Being a mountain that covers a large ground area, it has many different routes but they all lead to the top. The main difference with those routes is the distance they cover such that some routes will be shorter than others. At the base, you’ll first go through the rainforest where trees are green, tall and they do form a canopy but as you climb higher the vegetation changes and the trees now become shorter and the green environment does reduce. Then you’ll go through the rocky surface and finally the snow-capped mountain.
Through each of those series of vegetation there will be camping sites depending on the route you take where the porter puts up your tent and the cooks make you a cup of tea so as to keep you warm for a start as they make for you a meal.
Who are the best guides for a Mt Kilimanjaro climb?
Well, the guides are usually gotten from the various touring companies which are found in the area or from the locals in the area. The best guides are mostly the ones from the touring companies since they are trained and they are definitely more organized in their work. Also, the higher a touring company charges for a guide, the better the services. So, it is best if you go for the slightly expensive ones since the services you get will definitely be worth it.
How to get a guide for a Mt Kilimanjaro climb?
To get a guide, you have to check out the various hiking companies which are available around Mt Kilimanjaro region. Being one of the main tourist attraction sites, there are many touring companies that offer their services to climbers. From there, you’ll book for guides as a group since they don’t offer services to single persons. After that, you are assigned guides who you’ll meet up with them on the day in which you’ll be starting your climb at the foot of the Mountain.
What is the work that the guides do?
Well, for every group of hikers there is usually a head guide then the assistant guides. The head guide is usually in command of the group. Some of their work and responsibility is such as;
- To ensure there is enough food for the climb
- To make sure all the guides have the proper gear
- To be within sight of all members of the members of their party at all times
- Also, they are supposed to register every guide, porter and climber in their party at the trailhead.
All guides need to have the proper training, be honest, disciplined, reliable and trustworthy.
All guides need to be registered with the Guides Association and hold a valid guiding card issued by the Park.
Finally, guides are only allowed to guide their own group.
Who is a porter?
A porter is a person who carries for you your luggage as you climb uphill. They should carry a card that shows they are registered with porters association. It is the work of the porters association to ensure that they are fit to climb. They are also required to submit the porter’s medical records every (twelve)12 months.
The porter is only allowed to carry a maximum of 15 kilograms on the Mountain.
How long does it take to get a guide for a Mt Kilimanjaro climb
After deciding which touring company you will use, get their contacts, contact them so that they can prepare to accommodate you in advance, pay the fee and immediately you arrive at the pick-up point at the foot of the mountain on the day you had planned to start your hike, they will be ready waiting for you.
What is the price for getting a tour guide for a Mt Kilimanjaro climb?
The price of getting a tour guide depends on the route you take as you climb the mountain. The longer the route, the longer the days you’ll spend hiking thus the higher the prices for a guide. Though for most of the hiking companies, they do give everything as a package, that is the guides, accessories such as torches, tents, porters, and food. So for the whole packages prices vary depending on the route you use.
The long route will take more days to reach the top thus there will be a need for more supplies for food and staff which causes the prices to be higher than the shorter routes
- The prices are as roughly follows;
- Per the main guide – US$20-25 per day
- Per the assistant guide – US$15-20 per day
- Per cook – US$15 per day
- Per porter – US$10 per day
Please note that these charges apply to a group and not per a climber.
How many guides do you get in a Mt Kilimanjaro climb?
Most people usually pay for guides as a group. But the average ratio for support staff is 3 porters for every climber, 2 guides for every 4 climber and the cooks and assistant guides vary depending on numbers. That is just an overview.
The breakdown is something like this;
- 1 climber – 1 guide / 2-3 porters / 1 cook
- 2 climbers – 1 guide / 5-6 porters / 1 cook / 1 assistant guide
- 3 climbers – 2 guides / 8-9 porters / 2 cook / 1 assistant guide
- 4 climbers – 2 guides / 11-12 porters / 2 cook / 2 assistant guides
- 5 climbers – 3 guides / 14-15 porters / 2-3 cook / 2-3 assistant guides
- 6 climbers – 3-4 guides / 17-18 porters / 2-3 cook / 2-3 assistant guides
As you plan on climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, check out the different routes it has and also look for the requirements you’ll need so as to prepare for your hike in advance.
