Climb Kilimanjaro (5895m) via The Machame Route & Go to Zanzibar

Much Better Adventures offers three routes on Kilimanjaro. Depending on your preferences you can choose a route that is best suited to you; whether that's escaping the crowds on the quieter sides of the mountain, spending more time in Kilimanjaro's forest and moorland environments for best wildlife spotting, and of course finding a trip that suits the time and budget you have available.

Rongai Route (7 days on the mountain): A much quieter and more remote trek away from the crowds. Approaching from the north, your climb starts on Kilimanjaro's second peak, Mawenzi, before crossing a high saddle onto the main peak, Kibo, where you reach the same high point of the other routes, Uhuru Peak. The days are generally considered more moderate, with gradual climbs and avoiding the Baranco Wall scramble. However, the challenges of altitude and a long summit day remain. To reach the start of the Rongai Route involves a 3-4 hour drive.

Lemosho Route (8 days on the mountain): Our longest route with the highest success rate, if you have the extra day available this is probably the best all-around route for most. The Lemosho Route starts to the west of Kilimanjaro and enjoys three days of relatively quiet trails before joining the Machame Route at Lava Tower. These first days are through temperate forest, with good potential for wildlife spotting, before climbing up and across the Shira Plateau. With the extra day on the mountain, it is a more complete experience, seeing all sides and zones of the mountain, as well as allowing more time to adjust to the altitude – it is the route with the highest success rate and growing in popularity because of this.

Machame Route (7 days on the mountain): Considered to be very scenic, the Machame Route strikes a good balance between a safe acclimatization profile and an efficient itinerary – the Machame Park Gate is only a 45-minute drive from Moshi, so it's the quickest to get to. As with Rongai and Lemosho, you have a different descent route for your way down the mountain.

See our guide to the Best Routes on Kilimanjaro for the full lowdown.

Your host does everything they can to give you the best chance of reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro successfully and safely. From the routes chosen to the care and food provided on the mountain, our local host is very well positioned to get you to the top with an average summit success rate of around 95% for all routes.

Your time in Zanzibar is left free for you to do as you wish. We have made suggestions of the most popular day trips that people do; however, you are welcome to just relax on the beach, of course! While you will not have a main tour guide while in Zanzibar, you will have the support of a local representative should you need any assistance during your stay or have any questions regarding your time there.

The guides have been extensively trained at the Mweka Wildlife Center and are familiar with the routes, terrain, and conditions. With over 10 years' experience, they have also been to the summit more than 100 times. Additionally, all of the guides are certified First Aid Responders and CPR trained.

For every customer, you'll be accompanied by approximately four supporting crew members. For example, a group of eight is likely to be accompanied by 33 support crew. This is broken down as one lead guide, three assistant guides, one cook/chef, one waiter, one pilot (toilet porter), one tent crew, four summit porters (to carry day packs on summit day) and 21 regular porters who carry any additional equipment.

Yes, your host is one of the pioneers of ethical tourism in Tanzania. They are also part of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project which works to raise public awareness regarding the proper treatment of porters on Kilimanjaro and assists climbing companies to implement procedures that ensure fair and ethical treatment of their staff.

There is a limit to the weight that the porters can carry, and your main kitbag must be no heavier than 33 lbs. Your sleeping bag can be packed separately, so this doesn’t need to be included in this weight limit. We ask that you only bring essential items on the mountain to minimize the loads that the porters carry.

You will also need to have a daypack to hold your basic gear for each day of walking. We recommend that this is not over 13 lbs, and the lighter the better. Please bear in mind that you will need to carry a significant amount of water, so this will add to the weight of your daypack.

Extra items not required on the mountain can be left in Moshi.

You can securely leave any excess luggage at your host's base before setting off on the trek.

If you have any hiking gear that’s in good condition but you don’t need after your trek, donations to your team of porters will be gratefully received. Talk to your host if you’d like to donate any of your gear.

Your team of porters will provide you with boiled and filtered water throughout the trek.

If you need to be taken down to a lower altitude urgently, there are two options available.

In most cases, steel-framed, mobile stretchers can be pushed by porters to descend quickly. Most people feel immediate relief at lower altitudes where you will be evaluated and if the guides determine you are well enough, you will wait for your group at a lower camp or be taken to the gate for transfer to Moshi for medical treatment (if necessary).

For more serious concerns, through a partnership with Kilimanjaro SAR, emergency helicopters can be deployed within 5 minutes for evacuation, complete with in-flight medical treatment. However, they’re not guaranteed – they depend on weather, daylight, and suitable landing spots. Upon landing, if you require further medical attention, you will be taken to their modern, private High Altitude Medical Clinic, designed to tackle Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). A note on safety - local rescue helicopters may be operated by Tanzanian carriers that appear on the EU Air Safety List. This relates to national oversight rather than the specific rescue service, and helicopters are used only when medically necessary. Ground evacuation remains the primary and most reliable method.

Please ensure that you have appropriate insurance coverage for trekking with evacuation coverage for up to 19,685 feet above sea level, including helicopter rescue in Tanzania.

Yes! Oxygen tanks are carried on all of the climbs for emergency use only. In addition to this, your guides will perform daily health and pulse oximeter checks, which measure both your heart rate and the percentage of oxygen in your blood. Ensuring and monitoring your health and safety at all altitudes is your host's top priority, and all guides are well-trained to identify the signs of AMS and act accordingly.

Yes! Just mention this in the inquiry form when you make a reservation or message your host after you have reserved, and they can help you arrange this. Prices are shown above in the Optional Extras section.

A plastic bag ban went into effect across Tanzania on June 1, 2019, and the use, manufacture, or importation of plastic bags, including trash bags and shopping bags, is now illegal. Convicted offenders, including tourists, can face heavy fines, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. Visitors are advised to avoid packing any plastic bags in their suitcases or carry-on luggage before flying to Tanzania. Items purchased at the airport before boarding the aircraft should also be removed from plastic bags. Please check your carry-on luggage before disembarking at entry points, and any plastic bags should be left on the plane. Similarly, the transparent zip-lock plastic bags that some airlines require passengers to use for keeping liquids, cosmetics, toiletries, etc., are also not permitted and should be removed and left on the plane before disembarking.

This trip includes a return domestic flight to Zanzibar. While internal flights are a common and efficient way to travel in Tanzania, it’s important to be aware that the European Union and the UK Government currently list all Tanzanian carriers on their Air Safety List. This means that Tanzanian airlines do not meet the international safety standards required to operate within EU or UK airspace, although these airlines do not currently fly routes into Europe. Flying with Tanzanian domestic carriers is considered a higher risk compared to airlines operating under more robust international oversight; so please consider this carefully before booking. For more information, see the EU/UK Air Safety List, the Aviation Safety Network entry for Tanzania, and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office travel advice for Tanzania.

What does Much Better Adventures do about this?

For this trip, we use either Air Tanzania or Precision Air, the two largest and most established domestic carriers operating in the region. While both are subject to the same national regulatory oversight, they have longer track records, operate modern fleets, and have better safety records than many smaller local airlines.

We closely monitor any developments regarding aviation safety in Tanzania and review our arrangements if concerns arise. If we believe there is a heightened or unacceptable risk at any point, we will re-evaluate our use of domestic flights accordingly.

At Much Better Adventures, we work hard to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies so your trip is safe, inclusive and enjoyable. That said, options can vary by country, location and accommodation, and in some places options may be limited or unavailable. The information below has been provided by your host so you’re fully informed about what will be possible on your trip depending on your individual requirements. This information should be read carefully prior to your trip to ensure that you are adequately prepared for the situation ‘on the ground’.

Once you have booked on your trip, please fill out your passenger information form asap with any dietary requirements. Once you complete your passenger information, your dietary needs and any allergies are automatically shared with your host and, in turn, your guide. Please submit this as early as possible so they can plan accordingly and deliver the best experience. Please also remind your guide about your dietary requirements upon arrival, as mentioning these in person allows your guide to comprehend individual preferences and limitations as soon as you arrive.

BACKGROUND

Food on Kilimanjaro reflects East African farming traditions and the practical demands of altitude, with meals built around filling staples such as rice, potatoes, vegetables and pulses to provide steady energy. On the mountain, your local host and chef team have a good level of control and are used to international groups, so vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free diets and allergies are well accommodated, although fresh produce can become more limited higher up. Off the mountain, options for those with dietary requirements are generally good in hotels and private restaurants especially in the tourist areas and larger towns like Moshi.

SPECIAL DIETS

Vegetarian -Vegetarian diets can easily be catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Vegan -Vegan diets can be easily catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Kosher -Fully certified Kosher kitchens and supervision are rare and usually cannot be guaranteed unless expressly confirmed in advance by your host. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

Halal Certified Halal supply varies and may not always be possible. Vegetarian or vegan options can often be the most reliable alternative if this is acceptable to you. Please read the related sections above.

INTOLERANCES

Gluten Free (for Coeliac, please see Allergies section below) -Gluten-free diets can be easily catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

Lactose Free -Lactose-free diets can be easily catered for on this trip, provided that your host is made aware in advance.

ALLERGIES

Your host has confirmed that they are able to accommodate mild allergies to the 14 allergens identified by the UK Food Standards Agency, where these are disclosed in advance. However, if you have a severe or life-threatening food allergy, please get in touch with our CX team prior to booking to discuss whether your requirements can be accommodated safely on this trip. This will allow us to carefully consider the sensitivity and severity of your allergy, the available provision on the trip and the accessibility of medical care should a reaction occur. Your safety is always our top priority. Please note that when travelling overseas, local ingredients, food preparation methods and labelling standards may vary, particularly in remote areas. It is also worth noting that any allergies may result in more limited options and repetitive provision in some areas. Whilst your guide will help communicate dietary requirements where possible, customers remain responsible for managing their own allergies during the trip.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).

If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.

For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates daily, so prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

It's possible to climb Mount Kilimanjaro all year round; however, the months outside of the rainy seasons are more desirable. The best climbing months are from December to March and July to October. The best weather is usually at the beginning of the year from January to March, which are also typically the warmest and driest months.

Thanks to Tanzania’s proximity to the equator, the region doesn’t typically experience the extremes of winter and summer weather you might expect and instead has dry and wet seasons. The local weather conditions on Kilimanjaro can be somewhat unpredictable (to say the least) and rainfall varies from 83 inches per year in the rainforest belt to less than 5 inches per year in the summit zone. Daily temperature changes are also unpredictable when compared to normal weather cycles, and are largely dependent on the altitude.

In contrast, Zanzibar has a stable tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round. Situated near the equator, the island experiences two distinct seasons: a wet season from March to May plus the month of November, featuring occasional heavy rains, and a dry season from June to October. These sun-drenched days are ideal for beach activities, with temperatures typically ranging between 77-86ºF.