Climb Kilimanjaro without a guide
CLIMBING KILIMANJARO WITHOUT A GUIDE: IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is on the bucket list of many adventure lovers. However, to make sure that it all goes smoothly, preparation is key. And one of the things you might be asking yourself when getting ready to tackle Africa’s highest mountain: can you hike Kilimanjaro without a guide? Should you even consider doing it? Well, grab a nice cup of coffee and let’s talk about it.
CAN YOU CLIMB KILIMANJARO WITHOUT A GUIDE?
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), it is not possible to climb Kilimanjaro without a guide. It’s actually prohibited by law – and has been since the 1990s by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. Because of this legal prevention, every trip needs to be arranged via a tour operator. Only then can you get the necessary permit. Or to put it simply: no guide, no permit for climbing the mountain.
Generally, those who want to climb Kilimanjaro without guides fall into two categories: true adventure enthusiasts who wish to explore on their own and travelers who want to cut overall costs. Well, climbing Kilimanjaro on your own would be both adventurous and a cheaper option, but it is not a wise decision.
Firstly, it’s illegal to climb Mount Kilimanjaro without a guide and his trained team. Further, Mount Kilimanjaro is not an easy climb, so climbing it with experienced guides is a must not only from a legal point of view but also for your safety.
Kilimanjaro is a challenging climb on its own. The climb will be near too impossible if you have to carry heavy camping gear, cooking utensils, food items, and navigate yourself. So, you need to have a team of guides and porters to ensure a successful Kilimanjaro climb. Further, having an experienced guide by your side is a plus point for your safety.
Is it possible to go Kilimanjaro climb solo?
There are many reasons why travelers might want to explore Kilimanjaro on their own. For some, it may be longing for solitude, while for others, it might be strong zeal for adventure, and all those intentions are understandable. A solo climb in Kilimanjaro is not exactly impossible; tour operators organize a private trip even with a single traveler.
But even if you fly to Tanzania on your own, you must be accompanied by guides and porters assigned by the tour operators, as it’s not legally possible to climb Kilimanjaro] without a guide. So, in all technicality, the solo climb in Mount Kilimanjaro is not precisely a solo trip in the truest sense. However, private trips will not be much different than solo trips.
Permit for Mount Kilimanjaro climb
Every climber must get a permit from the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The permit can be easily arranged through tour operators with whom you plan the trip. In 1991, Tanzanian park authorities made a legal provision that required all travelers to arrange their trip through tour operators for climbers.
So, to get a permit for climbing Kilimanjaro, you must arrange the trip through tour operators. The provision was made to make climbing more systematic in the Kilimanjaro region. Moreover, the provision also requires climbers to be accompanied by a guide assigned by their operator. When the rule was first introduced in 1991, many hikers used to sneak in and explore Kilimanjaro independently via different routes without permits.
But in recent years, the security around the region is tighter, and the rules are strict. So, if you want to avoid paying hefty fines and end up in legal complications in a foreign land, then abiding by the rules is a wise decision.
Why should I hire a guide for the Kilimanjaro climb?
Firstly, hiring a guide is a legal requirement to get a permit to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Keeping that aside, climbing Kilimanjaro without a guide and their help is near to impossible. Unlike many other trekking routes, the route to Mount Kilimanjaro is a camping trek where you cannot get accommodation and food on the way. You have to take them along with you.
Cost for Mount Kilimanjaro Climb
The overall cost for Mount Kilimanjaro includes all the expenses including guide cost, porters cost, food, and accommodation expenses throughout the trip. It depends on numerous factors like the number of days, routes, trip package as per the standard, and service provided by different operators.
The average cost for Kilimanjaro Climb ranges from $2000-$6000.
The packages range from low-priced to very costly luxury climb packages. However, the price varies wildly, ranging from US$ 1650 to US$ 7000 depending on the packages offered by various operators. You may even find operators offering packages for as low as $ 1500. But in such cases, you need to remember that you will be paying for the service you get, so if you are paying less, the service might not be at par.
1. Guide Cost for Kilimanjaro Climb
It is legally impossible to climb Kilimanjaro without guides. So, guide cost is a significant aspect of the overall Kilimanjaro climb cost. The average guide cost for Kilimanjaro ranges from US$30-35 per day.
2. Porters Cost Kilimanjaro Climb
Kilimanjaro Climb is primarily a camping trip where you need to take all camping gear, food, and cooking utensils along with you, So, it is almost impossible to attempt the climb without porters. When you arrange your climb through the operator, they assign guides and porters with you as per your group size. The average porter cost for Kilimanjaro ranges from US$20-25 per day.
In some cases where operators offer packages at way less price, you need to remember that the operators are reducing the cost by cutting expenses on guides and porters. So, you need to make a wise decision while choosing operators.
Kilimanjaro Climb Itineraries
One of the major specialty of Kilimanjaro is the fact that it has several routes that lead up the mountain. Climbers can choose the best route to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro as per their physical ability, time, and convenience. The most popular itineraries via a different route to climb Kilimanjaro are listed below:
The Marangu route to Kilimanjaro is also known as the Coca-Cola route, and the Machame route is widely known as the Whisky route.
Among the various routes, the Kilimanjaro Marangu route is the only one with accommodation in huts, whereas climbers will have to carry their tents along with them for the other routes. Apart from that, each route has its own uniqueness and is equally popular.
