Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro On A Budget
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro On A Budget, Standing at 5895 meters above sea level, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest free-standing mountain therefore making it to most of the hiker’s bucket lists. Despite the desire by most hikers to engage in hiking and summiting the Kilimanjaro Mountain, it’s a bit too costly for a number of them hence they forgo this once-in- a lifetime adventure. What if I tell you that you don’t need to forgo this magnificent adventure?
Climbing mountain Kilimanjaro can be done through the following routes. The Lemosho route, Machame route, Rongai route, and Marangu route and these take a period between 5 to 9 days. This Kilimanjaro hike can cost as low as 1650 USD per person and this cost varies depending on a number of factors such as the choice of hiking route, length of the hike, number of people in the group, that is; a solo traveler or a large group, and so on……. Despite the possibility of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro on a budget, it could be really dangerous to a certain extent if the cost is overly constrained therefore it’s not recommended.
Here is a guide on hiking Mount Kilimanjaro as a budget travelers.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro On A Budget , Climbing mountain Kilimanjaro can be done through the following routes. The Lemosho route, Machame route, Rongai route, and Marangu route and these take a period between 5 to 9 days. This Kilimanjaro hike can cost as low as 1650 USD per person and this cost varies depending on a number of factors such as the choice of hiking route, length of the hike, number of people in the group, that is; a solo traveler or a large group, and so on……. Despite the possibility of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro on a budget, it could be really dangerous to a certain extent if the cost is overly constrained therefore it’s not recommended.
In order to obtain a lower cost on your Kilimanjaro Hiking Experience;
Choose the Budget friendly routes( the Marangu or Machame route)
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro On A Budget, Hiking Kilimanjaro on a budget means climbing this mountain using the route that takes 5 to 6 days preferably 5 days though it’s more hectic.
The Marangu and Machame route are a great choice for a budget traveler since they take hikers between 5 to 6 days to summit the Uhuru peak. However, the Marangu route is the only Kilimanjaro hiking route with pre-built huts for accommodation therefore less camping gears and porters are required. The Marangu route is also more preferable since it’s less difficult to maneuver than the other routes. However being very popular, this route is more congested compared to other routes.
Opt for a day hiking expedition
In case the 5 days experience is still a lot more than your budget, day time experiences can be arranged at a much cheaper cost since you will not require to incur costs of hiring porters to assist with your luggage, or hiring camping gears. These day hikes take between 6 to 7 hours.
Book directly with the local tour operators
When traveling on a tight budget, book your hiking experience with a local tour operator. This allows you incur the trekking cost directly and therefore save the extra charges that arise from the commission charged by international tour operators.
Join a group
When traveling as a group, the entire cost of the Kilimanjaro hike expenses such as porters’ fees is split amongst the entire group members therefore each individual incurs a less cost for the hike. However if your preference is a more personalized hiking experience, then you will be required to pay at least more. Personally, a group hike gives you an opportunity to interact and meet with new people.
Rent camping gears other than buying them
Purchasing all the camping gears for the hike while visiting the Kilimanjaro Mountain can be a lot more costly for a budget traveler therefore it’s wiser to rent the camping gears since this will cost you less. If possible, you can also carry with you some of your personal camping equipment as this will enable you partly save the money that you would have spent on renting hiking gears.
Avoid hiking Kilimanjaro during the peak season
When traveling on a budget, the low season is the most favorable time for this safari. This is because during this time of year the crowds visiting mountain Kilimanjaro are less compared to the peak season therefore one can easily get discounts on accommodation and the hiking fee might be relatively less. Unfortunately this season is as well the rainy season therefore the Kilimanjaro mountain area experiences heavy rains and terrible weather conditions therefore this hike is a lot difficult and could be dangerous.
Properly prepare for the Hike for easy summiting
The Kilimanjaro Hike is not a beginner’s hike more so if your interest is summiting it in 5 or 6 days. Therefore adequate training and preparation is required so as to avoid any medical emergencies that would arise from altitude sickness which would bring about medical bills expenses.
If possible, also ensure to get yourself a comprehensive travel insurance to cater for foreseen circumstances such as medical emergencies.
Choice of accommodation prior to and after the hike
Before the Kilimanjaro hike begins or after the hike, you will require accommodation for these night. There are a variety of accommodation choices to choose from within and around Kilimanjaro national park and these range from budget, mid-range, and luxury. Being a budget traveler, choose a less expensive accommodation as this will enable you save on the expenses.
With the help of these guidelines and a few more, hikers can be able to explore their dream destination fully at a pocket friendly cost.
However If you opt for a different route that requires more days, or a solo hiking experience, or would like to book with an international agent maybe due to trust issues, or would like to purchase personal camping gears on the safari, be prepared for a more costly Mountain Kilimanjaro hiking experience.