What medications and vaccinations do I need?

vaccinationThere are various recommended vaccinations for travel into Tanzania. However, there are no required vaccinations.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) recommends the following vaccinations and medications: Malaria, Yellow Fever (required if entering Tanzania from an ‘infected area’), Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Rabies. Additionally, the CDCP recommends routine vaccinations for measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT), and polio, if you are not up-to-date.

You may also want to bring Diamox, an FDA-approved prescription medication used to prevent and treat altitude sickness. Consult with your health care professional. Keep in mind you may be more susceptible to sunburn if you take Diamox.

Though not required, we do recommend having a COVID vaccination.

It is prudent for every client to have a medical check-up to see if they have any medical conditions that put them at increased risk when trekking at a high altitude. The minimum age of participants on our climbs is 16 years old. All clients 65 years of age or older are required to bring a doctor’s certificate stating they are fit to climb Kilimanjaro.

What are the entry requirements for Tanzania?

passportTo gain entry into Tanzania, US citizens, and most other nationalities will need a passport and visa. The passport must be valid for 6 months after the intended length of stay.

Visas can be obtained prior to departure from the USA (recommended due to long wait times at JRO) or at your point of entry into Tanzania. The visa cost for US citizens is $100. More information can be found here: http://tanzaniaembassy-us.org/?page_id=76#visaForms

To obtain the visa upon arrival at the airport, you will need your passport, flight card (given to you on the plane), and US dollars. The visa cost for US citizens is $100 and $50 for most other nationalities.

Additionally, you will need a negative COVID test that is still within the 96-hour window of when you took the test. They will check this before you board the plane for Tanzania.

 

How does the tipping process work?

TIPPING GUIDELINES

At the trip briefing, you will be given instructions on how the tipping process works. The tips will be for the guides, cooks, and porters. Most groups discuss their tipping amounts collectively. The tips will be distributed to the crew. The table below shows the amount per person.

GROUP SIZE 6 DAYS 7 DAYS 8 DAYS 9 DAYS
1 570 665 760 855
2 495 578 660 743
3 390 455 520 585
4 338 394 450 506
5 354 413 472 531
6+ 325 379 433 488

This tipping procedure conforms to the guidelines set forth by the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project. We have found this to be the most practical and transparent method for tipping.

  • Guide / Assistant Guide: $25 per day / per group
  • Cook: $15 per day / per group
  • Summit Porter $15 per day / per group
  • Porter: $10 per day / per group

Please note: The number of guides, cooks, and porters varies depending on the number of people in your group, whether or not you rented private toilets, and if you bring too much gear and the Park dictates that you need additional porters.

TIPPING ON SAFARI

The general guideline for tipping during the safari is $25-$30 per day for the guide. For example, on a 5-day safari, a good tip for the guide is $125-$150 regardless of the number of passengers.

MOUNTAIN STAFF

Furthermore, our mountain staff-to-client ratio is one of the best on Kilimanjaro. For instance, you’ll have your own porter alongside you as well as all the guide and assistant guides on summit night. The graph below gives you an idea of how many guides and porters will be on your climb.

CLIENTS GUIDE ASSISTANT GUIDE(S) COOK(S) PORTERS SUMMIT PORTERS
1 1 0 1 4 1
2 1 1 1 7 2
3 1 1 1 2 2
4 1 1 1 13 2
5 1 2 1 16 3
6 1 2 1 19 3
7 1 2 1 21 4
8 1 3 1 24 4
9 1 3 1 27 4
10 1 3 2 30 4

TIPPING IN TANZANIA

Likewise, people will carry your bags at various times throughout the trip. For example, a person will carry your bag at the lodge from the taxi to the lobby or your room. You can tip each person $1 USD if you like.

What are the lodge accommodations like before and after the climb, or on the safari?

We have chosen small, quiet, clean, and comfortable lodges to serve as a relaxing complement to your climb. We will let you know which ones you’ll be staying in once you have made your deposit and we have booked them for you. The locations shown on the itineraries are fixed and part of the trip. We do offer two levels of accommodations. Included in the climb rice is the basic lodging. We also offer an upgraded lodge/hotel. The upgraded lodging costs extra.

On safari, we have our own tented camps. We recommend booking safaris at least six months in advance to make sure they are available. If they are not, we will find comparable lodging and let you know if there is any pricing difference.

Why are other companies’ prices higher/lower?

There are three tiers of climbing operators—Luxury, Mid-range, and Budget.

We are a mid-range company. We provide a high standard of service for a reasonable price.

Luxury operators charge prices much higher than ours for things you do not need, such as matching uniforms and larger advertising budgets.

Budget operators charge prices lower than ours and leave out things you do need. These items or services include waterproof tents, comfortable sleeping pads, hot meals that are nutrient-rich, and Wilderness First Responder certified expert guides. They may also have only one guide for six people. We offer a 2 to 1 client-to-guide ratio.

See more here: Choose An Experienced & Safe Operator

What kind of bags should I bring, duffle bag or backpacks?

When climbing Kilimanjaro, you will need to bring at least two bags. One should be a daypack that you will carry during your hike. The second bag can be a duffle bag or a backpack. This bag should be 75 liters up to 90 liters. We do rent 90-liter duffel bags.

Think of your first bag, your daypack as your carry-on luggage. You will have access to this bag during the entire day as you hike. This daypack will weigh about 15 lbs. It will contain your water, your lunch, snacks, rain gear, camera, and maybe an extra layer of clothing.

Your second bag is like a check-in bag. You will give this bag to a porter and he will carry it from campsite to campsite. You will not have access to this bag during the day. It will be waiting for you inside your tent when you arrive at your campsite. This bag will contain all your other clothing and toiletries.

The second bag should not weigh more than 33 lbs. If it is a duffle bag, it does not need to be waterproof as the porters will put it inside another larger waterproof bag. However, we do recommend waterproofing everything inside of it in case the outer bag leaks. See here: https://youtu.be/0fhfp8J4UE4

If it is a backpack, it should have a rain cover because the porter will most likely wear it as a backpack as he carries it.

Do I need any vaccinations to get into Tanzania?

There are no specific vaccine requirements needed to enter Tanzania from the United States.  However, be aware that the government of Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination. This is due upon arrival if you are traveling from a country with a risk of yellow fever. If you fly directly from the United States to Tanzania (including layovers in which you do not exit the airport) you will not need the yellow fever vaccine. However, if you are arriving from a country listed here, you will need the yellow fever vaccine.

Do I need a Passport and/or Visa to get into Tanzania?

To gain entry into Tanzania, US citizens, and most other nationalities will need a passport and visa. The passport must be valid for 6 months after the intended length of stay.

Visas can be obtained prior to departure from the USA (recommended due to long wait times at JRO) or at your point of entry into Tanzania. The visa cost for US citizens is $100. More information can be found here: http://tanzaniaembassy-us.org/?page_id=76#visaForms
?page_id=76#visaForms

Visa at JRO

JRO Visa Windows

Obtaining a Visa at JRO airport for citizens of most countries is a relatively simple process. When you arrive at JRO, there will be two lines. The line on the right is for people purchasing a visa. The line straight ahead is for people who have a visa.

To get your visa you fill out the required form and get in line for the first window. Give them the form and show them your passport. Go to the line for window two. Pay for the visa and get your photo taken. Go to the line for the third window and receive your visa.

How many days ahead of time should I arrive?

Our climbs have an arrival and departure day built in. We recommend arriving at least one day early. This will give your body time to adjust to the time change and also recuperate from the long flight. It also gives you a cushion in case your flight is canceled or delayed, or if your bags are lost or delayed.