FAQs
The frequently asked questions are:
What does the cost include?
What does the cost exclude?
Give a brief description of what to expect from the trek
What health challenges are tourist most likely to face ?
What are the health and travel requirements for coming to the safari?
What is the menu like during the tour?
What does the cost include?
Cost includes:
·Accommodation before and after the trek at Leopard Hotel (B&B)
·All transport by private vehicle to and from the mountain
·Free storage of excess baggage not required on the mountain hike
·Professional guide, Assistant guide, cook and porters
·First Aid Kit
·National Park fees, camping fees.
·Rescue Fees
·Camping equipment – tent, mattresses, dinner tent & eating/cooking utensils
·Treated water on trek
·3 meals per day while trekking – Vegetarian/Non-Vegetarian
·Pick up at airport or bus stop and transfer to hotel.
What does the cost exclude?
Cost excludes:
·Personal Mountain equipments i.e clothing (available for hire)
·Items of personal nature e.g alcohol, phone calls at hotel and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary.
·Optional excursions not detailed in the itinerary.
·Additional optional accommodation added at the base hotel or extra days on the mountain.
·Visa, passport, vaccinations, medicines
·Tips
EXTRA DAY: Extra days on the mountain can be accommodated at Horombo on the Marangu route, or Shira on the Machame route, this helps the trekker with better acclimatization.
TIPS & GRATUITIES: We are often asked about the rate of tipping and how it should be done. First of all you should be happy with the service in order to tip! Please let us know if your guide or his porters press you for tips as they have all been forbidden to do this.
The recommended rate of tipping around 15% of the total amount of payments done for the trek. This is to be divided, as you wish, among the crew. It can be handed over to the head guide, with instructions on how to divide the tips to the other members.
Give a brief description of what to expect from the tour on arrival
ON CONFIRMATION OF TOUR:
We will make the necessary bookings and preparations for guides and assistant guides, porters, Park fees, huts or camping fees, transportation, accommodation and nutritious “energy full” food necessary for your climb.
ON ARRIVAL:
Whether you arrive by flight or bus, you will find a Scenery Safaris Representative, with a sign board, who will arrange your transfer to the hotel or our offices.
You will then have a full briefing of your tour, and you will meet the head guide/assistant guides who will conduct an equipment check to make sure that you have all the necessary equipment for a successful Kilimanjaro Summit.
As you climb you will experience different climatic/vegetation zones, hence the different type of clothing that you will require to pack.
Mt. Kilimanjaro has 3 peaks. These are Shira, Mawenzi and Kibo.
Zone I – Arable Land (800-1800m)
In this zone, you will meet villagers farming different types of crops including bananas and coffee (out of the park perimeter). On the park boundaries, you will meet villagers collecting firewood. This is where you will find a Tropical Forest. There is a lot of wildlife/birds in this zone.
Zone II – Lush forest (1800-2800m)
The tropical Forest continues in this zone and deteriorates from 2000m upwards and changes to Savanna. You will still meet different kind of animals in this zone which includes colobus and blue monkey, baboons, civets buffaloes and even lions, depending on the route of ascent.
Zone III – Heather and Moorland (2800-4000m)
The savanna vegetation is taken over by Moorland. There is still sign of life below 4000m, as wildlife such as antelopes, eland and buffaloes have been seen before in these areas. Moorland Vegetation becomes dominant.
Zone IV – Alpine Desert (4000-5000m)
As you trek further, the Moorland changes to Alpine Moorland, then surprisingly Desert which gradually becomes alpine desert. From this point onwards, there is no more wildlife. The only sign of life, might be in the form of fungus.
Zone V – Arctic (Above 5000m)
This is where you get to touch the snow as its spread in different areas. Glaciers are also found in this zone. From the summit, you will get an opportunity of a sunrise of a lifetime!!
What health challenges are tourist most likely to face ?
1. A respiratory infection
2. A sore throat
3. A cold
4. A cough
5. A high temperature
6. A nose bleed
Altitude sickness occurs at times during the trek. If you have decided to take any medication for altitude, we do recommend you start taking it 3 days before reaching high altitude and continue taking it until you complete your trek. There are also many trekkers who have trekked successfully without using medication for altitude sickness.
PLEASE NOTIFY your HEAD GUIDE immediately if you have any of the symptoms listed above during the trek
What are the health and travel requirements for coming to the safari?
TANZANIA HEALTH & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
Yellow Fever Inoculation is necessary and must be done no later than 10 days prior to departure, At entry points, they might ask for your International Vaccination Card/Certificate, so please do keep it close to your passport.
Anti-Malaria tablets: are also necessary. If you have any other health fears, please do consult your physician.
Visas: are required for all passport holders. Your passport should be valid for minimum 6 months after return date from Tanzania. You can either obtain your visa from Tanzanian High Commissions located in country of origin but most people can also get it on arrival, ask for a tourist visa.
Travel Insurance: is strongly recommend that you take out Travel Insurance. This must cover you for Medical Costs while doing the Kilimanjaro Climb.
What is the menu like during the tour?
KILIMANJARO TREKKING SAMPLE MENU:
BREAKFAST: Fruit, Porridge/Oats, Eggs bread / French-toast / Plain-toast / Pancakes, Sausages, Margarine, Jam / Honey, Tea / Coffee / Drinking chocolate.
SNACKS: Peanuts / Crisps / Popcorn / Cookies with juices and a lot of water other fluids.
LUNCH: Sliced Carrot and Cucumber stripes, Avocado slices, Boiled egg, Vegetable / Meat cutlets, Sandwiches (Egg / Cheese / Tomato/ Tuna / Meat / Peanut butter), Fruit.
DINNER: Soup ( Mushroom /Asparagus / Chicken / Tomato / Vegetable), Bread, Salad, Rice / Pasta / Potatoes, Chicken / Meat, Mixed Vegetables ( Zucchini / Carrot / French -Beans / Cabbage), Lentils, Fruit Salad, Fruit with custard, Tea / Coffee / Milo / Drinking chocolate.
BREAKFAST Toast (with honey, jam and/or butter); French toast; pancakes; sausage; bacon; eggs (scrambled, fried, omelet); cooked vegetables; fruits (oranges, mangos, bananas), cereals; hot cereal; tea; coffee; cocoa; juice
LUNCH: Cold meat sandwiches; tuna or chicken salad sandwiches; grilled cheese sandwiches; fruits (oranges, mangos, bananas); eggs; French fries, otherwise known as chips; tea; coffee; cocoa; juice.
DINNER: Beef, chicken (roasted, stewed, curried); pasta; rice; vegetables (stewed, boiled, steamed, curried); potatoes (mashed, boiled, fried); corned beef + cabbage; Ugali (Local dish); fruits (oranges, mangos, bananas); tea; coffee; cocoa, juice.