Climb Mount Meru, Tanzania
Ultimate Guide to Climbing Mount Meru, Tanzania 2024-2025
Mount Meru is a volcano towering at 4566 m/14,980 ft over the vast African savannahs and rainforests. It ranks as one of the highest peaks in Africa and Tanzania's second-highest, just behind the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro, which lies only 40km away. While Kilimanjaro often steals the spotlight, Mt Meru is an impressive mountain with its own unique charm.
Climbing Mount Meru is an epic adventure that combines hiking with exploration of African nature and wildlife. Situated within a national park, it is home to a variety of rare animals and plants. The slopes of Meru are covered in lush tropical forests that give way to heather and high-altitude flora as you trek higher.
And, of course, you will be treated to breathtaking views of the surrounding savannahs, beautiful lakes, and Mount Kilimanjaro. Upon reaching the summit, travelers will marvel at the awe-striking sight of sunrise over Africa – a truly memorable moment that will stay with you forever.
An expedition to Mount Meru does not require any special skills and can be considered a moderately difficult trek. Additionally, if you're considering climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, trekking to the Meru summit first is an excellent way to prepare and acclimatize to the high altitude, which will be of great help on the “Roof of Africa”.
Take a glimpse into Altezza Travel expeditions
Mount Meru Climb Programs
Prices for Mount Meru Climb
Our classic adventures are what the majority of climbers are looking for. The combination of great comfort and high safety standards makes our classic Kilimanjaro hikes enjoyable and memorable. This is the most popular option among our clients.
This climbing package includes everything that a climber may need for the hike - our experienced mountain crews, high-quality group equipment, nutritionist-designed meals. Our safety protocols, though, are the same for all our hiking adventures - only the guides with Wilderness First Responder certification are assigned to lead a party. Other safety measures include a supply of oxygen cylinders, complete medical kits and compulsory medical check-ups (two per day).
The progress of each trekking party is tracked with GPS device. You may share the link with your family and friends, who will be able to monitor your progress in a real-time mode.
Before and after the adventure you will stay in a good hotel with caring staff, hot water, reliable Wi-Fi, restaurant and swimming pool.
Climbing Cost Includes
Our Kilimanjaro packages cover all transfers outlined in the program. When you arrive at Kilimanjaro, one of our drivers will pick you up in a spacious and comfortable Toyota Alphard and take you to your hotel. Our cars have large trunks that can accommodate plenty of luggage. Inside you'll find complimentary bottled water (custom-ordered by Altezza Travel), a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wet wipes for your convenience. All our cars undergo regular examination and maintenance by our in-house team of technicians.
Our driving team consists of experienced and knowledgeable drivers, all of whom speak fluent English.
For the transfer to the trailhead of your climbing adventure, we will use Toyota Hiace or Coaster, which are better suited for navigating the wilderness terrain en route to Mt. Kilimanjaro. These cars are built to handle rough trails and ensure your safety.
At the end of your journey, we'll also provide you with a return transfer to the Kilimanjaro International Airport. With our comprehensive package, you can rest easy and enjoy the journey without concerns about your transportation.
The night before the climb and the night following the descent, you will be accommodated in a 3* hotel in the area of Moshi Town. By default - shared double occupancy room unless you order a single supplement. We always offer Aishi Machame Hotel and Brubru Lodge as the first option, as both hotels are owned and run by Altezza Travel. Should both of them be unavailable, you will be offered an alternative property with the matching comfort and service level. In your hotel, you will find everything a traveler needs: professional staff, a restaurant, a swimming pool, comfortable rooms with mosquito nets, laundry service, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Aishi Machame is situated in a tranquil, green rural neighborhood, just 23 km (14.3 mi) from Moshi, and is often visited by monkeys, mongooses, and other wildlife, which you can observe from the restaurant terrace during breakfast. This location is perfect for those seeking peace and quiet. Our office and rental gear store are also located here.
Brubru Lodge is situated in the quietest area of Moshi, known as Shanty Town, and we recommend it to those who want to be closer to city life and explore local cafes, shops, and nightlife. If you need any gear for your climb from our gear store at Aishi Machame - don’t worry - our managers will deliver it right to Brubru Lodge for your orientation briefing.
By default, our packages include bed and breakfast accommodation. We also offer half-board and full-board upgrades at an additional cost.
Note:You will be sharing a room with your travel companion, or, if traveling solo, with a same-sex traveler. If you prefer to have a single room, please order a single supplement as soon as you can, as our hotels often have many guests, and the rooms may be fully booked by the time of your arrival. Also, should you decide to descend earlier than planned, a charge for all extra nights spent in our hotels will apply. Contact your travel consultant to book a single room.
On the day before the climb, our managers will meet you in your hotel for an orientation briefing, and our car will pick you up for the start of your Kilimanjaro adventure.
Altezza Travel offers a Kilimanjaro adventure with all the necessary amenities for a safe and comfortable camping experience.
Developed to withstand strong winds and heavy rains, these 4-season tents provide a cozy atmosphere inside. Tent entrances are easy to open and close and provide a comfortable buffer zone. Rest assured that the ever-changing equatorial weather on Kilimanjaro will not disturb your much-needed sleep.
As of today, these tents are without question the best choice for the Kilimanjaro adventure, and Altezza Travel is the only company to have them.
Please note: by default, you'll be sharing a tent with your travel companion or other same-sex co-hiker (unless you've ordered a private hike). Though designed for three people, each Altezza tent sleeps only two hikers on our adventures. Single supplements are available at an extra charge. Contact your manager for more details.
Our hikes include 3-inch sleeping mats produced by our company’s tailor shop, which is located right at our Machame climbing base.
Camping tables with stainless steel cutlery and ceramics crockery
They are served and cleaned by a dedicated kitchen crew at each meal. At Altezza Travel, we are committed to reducing plastic waste and never use disposable tableware.
Produced for Altezza by RedFox, a reputable brand and manufacturer of outdoor equipment, our dining tents are strong, wind- and rainproof, allowing for a comfortable dining and socializing experience, even in bad weather.
Durable and comfortable chairs that provide excellent back and arm support, they’ll make evening get-togethers in the mess tents a pleasant pastime with your teammates. Grab one and enjoy an epic sunset from the edge of the camp!
Our camp crew regularly fill it with hot water so that you can keep your hands and face clean.
The camp managers arrive at the camping grounds hours ahead of your group to pick the most picturesque location at a distance from other hiking groups. They also keep a close eye on the tents and other camping equipment to ensure everything runs smoothly. Each camp manager carries a repair kit in case a quick maintenance is needed, although our expedition managers inspect each tent before the expedition starts, making such situations unlikely.
Our mountain chefs and waiters will take care of preparing and serving your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners throughout the adventure. The menu has been designed in consultation with a professional dietitian to ensure that our meals are both delicious and energy-rich, providing hikers with the necessary nutrition.
At Altezza Travel, we understand that everyone has unique dietary needs. That's why we offer delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, and other types of meal plans for our mountain adventures. Just let your manager know, and our mountain chef will be ready to prepare a meal that meets your requirements. Best of all, switching to a special meal plan won't cost you a thing.
For example, for breakfast, you can expect to enjoy porridge, vegetables, eggs, sausages, sweet potato, spinach cooked in a local fashion ("mchicha"), and coffee or tea. For lunch, we usually serve various soups (butternut, tomato, leek, vegetable, beef); spaghetti; stews; avocado salads; mashed potato; fried chicken with coconut, tomato, garlic and other sauces; minced meat in tomato sauce, and other popular international and local meals.
Similarly, for dinner, you can expect a soup; vegetable salad (locally styled "Kachumbari"); Mexican salad with tomatoes, corn, and onion, avocado; a juicy stew (such as bamia stew); fried vegetables; various main dishes with chicken, beef or fish. All meals are served with tasty sauces, and extra seasonings are always available on the table. After each meal, our waiters serve fresh local fruits, such as mangoes, oranges, pineapple, and bananas, to give hikers a vitamin boost.
We use organic, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and meat from neighboring farms to supply our trips. Our team rigorously checks each provider to ensure that it has a certification from the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA). Altezza Travel also prefers to choose small local farms instead of large agricultural companies. This way, we ensure that all produce is always fresh and organic and that our expeditions provide a meaningful impact on the local economy.
Our mountain chefs will prepare all meals during the expedition, except for lunch on the first day of your trip, which you will have after entering the park and before reaching the first camp where we will set up our kitchen. Our restaurant chefs at Aishi Machame Hotel will prepare this first lunch, and we will pack it for your adventure in sturdy compostable packaging from Vegware, our UK-based supplier of eco-friendly food packaging.
When evaluating the quality of our meals on Kilimanjaro, please keep in mind that our teams prepare them in very challenging conditions. Our mountain chef prepares meals in a camp kitchen, using a camping gas oven with an electric torch for lighting. At times, weather conditions can be harsh, with wind and rain, and during certain months, it can be quite cold. While our mountain chef strives to create delicious and visually appealing meals, the unpredictable weather and challenging camping conditions may occasionally impact the quality and appearance of our dishes. We work tirelessly to maintain a high level of performance in such a demanding environment.
On your adventure you will be led by our outstanding Kilimanjaro mountain guides.
Each guide has at least seven years of experience and boasts excellent knowledge of the Mt Kilimanjaro terrain, flora, and fauna. They have been chosen to lead some of the most incredible expeditions and adventures on the mountain, such as Wings of Kilimanjaro or Red Bull’s Kilimanjaro wingsuit BASE jump, which are yet to be repeated by anyone else. They also took part in the high-speed Kilimanjaro ascent of Nimsdai (aka Nirmal Purja) whose story is told in the Netflix Documentary "14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible".
You are in safe hands: all our mountain guides are certified Wilderness First Responders. This certification is administered by the independent USA-based organization ("Wilderness Medical Associates") and confirms that the certificate holders are well-trained to respond to any emergencies, which may happen in the wilderness. This WFR badge, together with excellent knowledge of the routes and locations, is a pre-condition for taking a mountain leader position in our company.
Altezza guides are good story-tellers, and will always be happy to entertain you with Kilimanjaro legends and tales. You will also learn a lot about the plants, animals, and history of the highest free-standing mountain in the world. For those interested, our mountain team will be a rich source of information about the local culture, lifestyle, and customs.
In the meantime, the guides are considerate and know when to take a step back to let you enjoy some peace and quiet alone. Whenever you want to enjoy some solitude with nature, our guides will quietly retreat to the background.
The guides will be supported by our hard-working porters, camp managers, and other members of the crew. They will pitch up the camp ahead of your arrival, bring water from the mountain streams, and carry all of the expedition's supplies and gear. The mountain chefs will attend to the camp kitchen to provide you with nutritious and tasty meals.
Altezza Travel is proud to pay the highest salaries to our mountain crews in the Tanzanian tourism industry. Also, we open individual bank accounts for each member of the expedition team to ensure transparency and accountability of salary payouts. Taking good care of our mountain crews is the foundation of our work.
Due to that, our guiding team receives positive reviews daily. They are undoubtedly the key reason we are ranked as the #1 Kilimanjaro trekking company on TripAdvisor.
Altezza Travel is a member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) - an independent organization that advocates for the fair treatment of porters working on Kilimanjaro. KPAP certification is proof that our company treats its porters ethically and provides them with a safe and comfortable working environment.
We carry bottled oxygen supplies for each Altezza Travel expedition. The guiding team uses it to make the high-altitude acclimatization process easier and prevent acute mountain sickness (AMS). Our guides administer bottled oxygen as soon as a climber develops the first signs of AMS, and that typically stabilizes the oxygen saturation, allowing them to continue the adventure.
At Altezza Travel, we never run short on oxygen supplies. In the unlikely event of a crisis requiring larger amounts of oxygen for one of our teams, other Altezza crews from the same camp will always come to help and share their supplies. As the largest operator on Kilimanjaro operating 15% of all on Kilimanjaro, we have multiple Altezza teams located in different camps at the same time. Besides, we can organize a fast (less than six hours) delivery from our climbing base.
Many of the companies operating on Kilimanjaro say that they have oxygen bottles on their expeditions as well. However, the devil is in the details, and the key thing to look at is how the guides use it.
Most of them provide oxygen to their clients at the late stages of AMS, when evacuation is the only remedy. Altezza is the only company here that uses bottled oxygen as an AMS prevention technique. This approach translates into less stressful acclimatization, significantly fewer AMS cases, and a successful Kilimanjaro experience.
Nowadays, Altezza Travel is the most oxygen-conscious trek outfitter on Kilimanjaro. We have a staff member whose sole responsibility is to oversee our oxygen storage and ensure that our bottles are always filled, the valves are functioning properly, and each crew receives the right amount of oxygen. As of today, we have 350 portable expedition oxygen systems.
Each expedition is equipped with a reliable GPS tracking device, allowing us to track our Kilimanjaro teams in real-time. While primarily a safety protocol, the GPS links also provide peace of mind for your loved ones who can track the hikers’ progress from home.
The morning your Kilimanjaro expedition begins, our adventure consultant will give you a QR code that can be scanned to generate a GPS link. In addition, this link will also be accessible through your personal account at Altezza Personal Trip Board.
Every morning and evening on the hike, our WFR-certified guides perform medical check-ups to ensure that both hikers and crew members (including porters, camp managers, and chefs) are properly acclimating to the altitude. During these check-ups, our guides will ask general questions about your health and measure your oxygen saturation level. In some cases, they may also need to check your blood pressure or listen to your lungs with a stethoscope to assess your breathing.
It's mandatory for all hikers to attend those medical check-ups, even for those who feel great and don't have any altitude-related symptoms. They allow our guiding team to diagnose the early stages of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) and take preventive measures to ensure that everyone is acclimating properly and that the hike is a pleasant and safe adventure.
At Altezza Travel, we are experienced in accommodating climbers with various health conditions, such as diabetes, and asthma, among others. We have developed special protocols to ensure that those climbers receive the support and care they need during their climb. We understand that climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro can be challenging, especially for those with underlying health conditions. That's why we work closely with our climbers to understand their individual needs and develop a plan that ensures their safety and well-being throughout the climb.
If our guides have any concerns about a hiker's health, they use the Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness scoring system and additionally consult with our company doctor before deciding whether a hiker is safe to continue the ascent. With our comprehensive medical kits and experienced guides, we prioritize the safety and well-being of our climbers during their Kilimanjaro adventure.
Our in-company doctor carefully previews all pre-departure health forms, completed by the hikers on the Altezza Personal Trip Board. He ensures that each participant is indeed ready for the adventure, and provides health-related recommendations if needed.
At all times our central goal is for your Kilimanjaro climb to be a safe and memorable experience. For that to happen we will be strictly following our protocols and doing as much as we can to never compromise your safety on Kilimanjaro.
At Altezza Travel, we take every precaution to ensure the safety and well-being of our climbers. To this end, we maintain a special medical record book for each participant that documents all relevant medical information throughout the trip. This is a critically important resource that will be available to doctors in the unlikely event of hospitalization during the expedition.
Your personal information will remain strictly confidential and not disclosed, unless necessary for the medical personnel.
Altezza Travel sets high standards for ensuring hikers' health and safety, which is why each climbing crew carries multiple medical kits. These include large "camp" medical kits that contain medication for various mountain-related illnesses. There are 49 different types of medications and items in a kit, making it one of the most complete emergency kits in Tanzania.
In addition to the group medical kit, each guide also carries a tactical medical kit with hemostatic plasters, tourniquets, painkillers, and anything else that may be needed during emergencies and while moving from one camp to another. Our guides are always prepared to treat twisted ankles and arms, strained muscles or tendons, and other injuries.
We have been operating in Tanzania for almost ten years, and during this time, not a single medical kit has ever been used to its fullest extent. However, we firmly believe that being prepared for any situation is one of the reasons why Altezza Travel is the safest company to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with.
In addition, Altezza Travel has a VIP ward reserved for our clients on a stand-by basis in the KCMC hospital where our clients who experience high-altitude sickness receive priority examination and treatment. In the unlikely event of evacuation, our clients will not have to wait in line in the emergency unit and will receive the attention of a personal nurse instead. Moreover, in the very rare event that an Altezza hiker requires hospitalization, they receive regular tasty food and drink deliveries from our company restaurant in Moshi. A personal company manager is always available to assist with anything they may need. The ward has reliable free Wi-Fi connectivity.
Altezza Kilimanjaro trips are fully inclusive of all park fees that every Kilimanjaro hiker is liable to pay. This includes camping and conservation fees, rescue fee, crew fee, forest fee (on certain routes), and other payments. These payments make up about half of the total price and are one of the reasons why Mt Kilimanjaro hiking tours are more expensive compared to the other popular destinations.
As a law-abiding and transparent company, Altezza Travel pays all taxes in Tanzania such as VAT (18%), corporate income taxes (30%) and labor-related levies and duties, licensing fees and social security deductions for our employees, all of whom are officially employed by Altezza Travel. We are proud to be one of the few travel companies in Tanzania doing that.
The taxes we pay are later spent for the betterment of the lives of the local communities here. In 2022, our company paid over $500,000/- in taxes and other levies.
When you book with Altezza Travel, your tour will be in the good hands of 200 dedicated professionals who are committed to ensuring that your tour is an amazing experience. Our team includes experts in reservation, transfer planning, expeditions, customer experience, logistics, and other areas, each responsible for their specific role in the process. We also have large hotel, store-keeping, transfer and other teams, whose contribution is essential and always available. They work together seamlessly to ensure that every aspect of your tour is carefully planned and executed to the highest standard.
The travel consultants team is available to assist you 24/7. You can easily reach out to your manager through various channels such as messengers, email, phone, or any other convenient method. We are always here to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have, and our support team works across different time zones.
Altezza Travel is the first adventure operator in Tanzania to develop its own travel planning software. With our new system, you no longer need to provide long lists of information via email. Instead, you can simply fill out the Personal Trip Board in the Altezza Family travel portal.
This user-friendly platform allows you to provide us with details about the gear you'd like to hire for your climb (if any), arrival and departure information, dietary plan, insurance and passport information for the necessary permits and for the summit certificate. You can also use the form to inform us about any allergies or important medical information that we should be aware of before you start your climb.
The security of your personal information is of utmost importance to our team. Our system is fully secure and uses SSL encryption provided by Cloudflare Inc, a leading provider of cloud security services worldwide. This means that all data transmitted through our system is fully encrypted and secure. Rest assured that only authorized personnel at Altezza Travel will have access to your data.
Unlike other companies where a sales manager acts as an intermediary between you and the local operations team in Tanzania, our system transmits your information directly to the dashboard of the person in charge. This direct communication line vastly minimizes the chance of human error.
For example, let's say you've indicated your arrival time in our system. In the past, your manager would have had to manually add it to our calendar, and our transfer manager would have had to assign a driver. With so many people arriving in Tanzania, there was always a risk of human error.
But with the new communication system, your arrival time information is instantly transmitted to the dashboard of our transfer manager. The system automatically assigns an available driver to your trip, and activates GPS tracking to monitor their progress. If the driver misses any check-points on the way, the system will alert the transfer manager to take corrective action and ensure that you're picked up on time.
We use similar streamlined communication flows for all our travel operations. For instance, your medical information is sent directly to our in-house doctor on the expeditions team, and your dietary requirements are shared with our camp kitchen team. With this system, you can be confident that every detail of your trip is taken care of and that there's zero risk of losing any critical information along the way.
What's more, our user-friendly system is designed to make travel planning fun and engaging. In addition to the intuitive interface, we've added a special feature that turns filling in the required information into a game. As you provide the necessary details for the organization of your trip, you'll receive pop-ups with interesting information about African animals. This way, you can learn more about the wildlife you'll be seeing during your adventure while completing the travel-related paperwork.
At Altezza Travel, we believe that travel planning should be easy, enjoyable, and informative. Our innovative system is just one of the many ways we strive to provide exceptional service to our clients.
We understand that some things that you bring with you to Tanzania won't be necessary for your Kilimanjaro climb, such as suitcases, clothes for safari or other parts of your trip, laptops, gadgets, and documents. We recommend that you take only what's truly essential for your expedition to the mountain, and leave fragile or easily stainable items at our storage facilities or a safe room.
The use of a storage room and a safe room is completely free of charge.
To give you peace of mind while you enjoy the wonders of Kilimanjaro, we have built a secure storage facility where you can safely leave all your suitcases and handbags. The facility is dry, well-ventilated, and only accessible to Altezza Travel staff.
For items that require special handling, such as cash, jewelry, passports, gadgets, and other valuables, Altezza offers space in our safe room. This room is under 24/7 video surveillance and protected by armed guards. It features a fire-proof door with a 120-minute fire resistance rating, 10-inch brick walls, and a highly sensitive alarm system
You won't need any cash on Kilimanjaro as there are no shops, vending machines, or other places where one can spend money. The Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Development Plan strictly prohibits the construction of any commercial facilities on the park's premises.
The small souvenir shop at Mweka Gate, which is the exit point for most of the trails, is the only place to buy souvenirs in the vicinity of Kilimanjaro. Local artisans sell their wares there, and it may be interesting for some of the hikers. However, we recommend bringing no more than $100 as the larger and more interesting souvenir shops are located in Arusha. If you're planning to spend more, we suggest visiting those shops instead, as they offer a better selection and prices.
If you want to deposit your valuables in our care, you will need to itemize them and fill in a special form. If you leave cash with us, we will use a cash counter machine to help you count the money. You’ll get a receipt, listing the cash left in our care. You will sign it, and we will have it sealed together in your presence.
To ensure transparency, we record the process with a high-resolution camera, and all records are deleted 30 days after you leave Tanzania.
Our safe room is insured for $600,000 for emergencies but in the almost ten years of our operation in Tanzania, we have not had a single insurance case.
At Altezza Travel, we take pride in offering environmentally friendly treks. Our goal is to leave Kilimanjaro cleaner after every expedition. To achieve this goal, we assign a special team to ensure that our climbing crew and customers leave no waste on the mountain. This team also collects any waste left by litterbugs from other groups on the trek, so we can keep Kilimanjaro looking as pristine as it did during the times of Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller, who are credited with being the first Europeans to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
We are committed to minimizing the use of plastic in our expeditions whenever possible. For instance, the packaging for the lunchboxes on the first day of your trip (hot lunch is provided on all other days) is compostable. We source our packaging from Vegware, a leading UK-based provider of food packaging with a strong environmental focus.
When you choose Altezza Travel for your trip, you're making a meaningful contribution to the development of local communities in Kilimanjaro. We're committed to sustainability, and as part of our pledge, we allocate a part of our profits to various social responsibility initiatives. Here are some examples:
- Our guides regularly participate in firefighting efforts on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. Climate change is affecting even relatively remote countries like Tanzania, and unfortunately, we've seen a significant increase in bushfires in recent years. When two large fires erupted on Kilimanjaro in 2020 and 2022, our expeditions team was among the first to respond. It was later discovered that our strong team of 150 porters was larger and more productive than all other crews sent by all the other operators combined.
- We're proud to be one of the first donors to the Serengeti De-snaring Project, a conservation initiative of the Frankfurt Zoological Society. The project is working to remove snares, traps, and other poaching devices from Tanzania's national parks.
- Altezza Travel is a member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), which promotes fair porter treatment practices and provides certification to tour operators that meet its standards. Our certification means that we pay fair wages, provide nutritious hot meals to our team members, and offer them proper care and protection. You can learn more about KPAP's work on their website.
- In response to the growing crisis of deforestation, we have undertaken several large-scale tree-planting efforts on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and in the surrounding areas. We are currently planning additional reforestation activities to further combat the issue.
- Altezza Travel is on a mission to improve the lives of students in the remote Materuni area. Over 50 local students have been attending a school with dilapidated classrooms, a leaking roof, and a lack of essential educational materials. The teachers have been doing their best to maintain a positive learning environment, but they are struggling with limited resources. That's where Altezza Travel stepped in. We began funding the renovation of the school, providing building materials, and supplying educational materials as well as sports equipment. Our goal is to create a brighter future for these children by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
- In 2023, we partnered with Nature Tanzania and invested over $12,000 to save the population of the Long-billed Forest Warbler. A special conservation site has been established in the Amani Forest, where our team conducts extensive research and conservation operations. With fewer than 250 birds remaining, this species is considered 'critically endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and urgent action is needed to prevent their extinction.
- Finally, we're committed to using local suppliers for all our operations and have made a deliberate decision to avoid large agricultural companies in favor of small farmers from the surrounding communities.
At Altezza Travel, we support only meaningful and impactful projects that bring real change to local communities. Each application we receive from local NGOs or eco-activists is carefully scrutinized by our board before we allocate funding.
By participating in our climbs, you're directly supporting positive change in the communities around Mount Kilimanjaro. You may read more about the social responsibility efforts you are going to support on this page of our website.
Climbing Cost Excludes
Our Kilimanjaro packages don’t include international flights. You’ll be responsible for covering those costs separately. Feel free to contact your manager to get recommendations about the airlines operating flights to Tanzania.
Tipping your climbing crew is a well-established practice in mountain hiking all over the world. Though never mandatory at Altezza Travel, our clients are encouraged to tip their mountain crews if their performance is up to your expectations. A recommended amount is USD 250-350 per participant.
You may read more about tipping in our article here.
Most nationals are required to pay USD 50 for a one-time, single-entry 90-day visa. USA nationals, however, are required to pay $100 for a multi-entry visa. Contact our travel advisors to learn more about Tanzania visa rules and requirements.
When climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, you will need personal gear such as hiking boots, sleeping bags, trekking pants, thermals, and trekking poles. See the full list here.
As of today, Altezza Travel’s gear rental shop is the only gear rental shop on Kilimanjaro where climbers can rent everything they need for their adventure. All of our gear comes from top brands such as The North Face, Black Diamond, RedFox, Columbia, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, and others.
If you intend to rent gear from us, you can provide us with a list of everything you will need to hire in your Altezza Family portal account, and we will have everything prepared for you before you arrive in Tanzania.
Our group expeditions include shared accommodation, which means you'll be sharing a hotel room and a tent with either your travel companion or a same-sex member of your travel group. If you prefer a private room and/or tent, please let us know. Single supplements are available for an additional charge. Single supplement is not available on the Marangu route where you stay overnight in huts that can accommodate up to 20 hikers.
Travel insurance is not included in our climbing packages. For our Kilimanjaro and Meru hiking adventures, all participants are required to have travel insurance that covers trekking to altitudes of up to 6000 meters and a helicopter evacuation. Since the requirements and costs of insurance vary across different countries, please contact your insurance provider to make sure that those requirements are covered, and find out about the exact costs.
Currently, the cost of portable toilets is not included in the tour package to reduce trip expenses. Public restrooms are available in camps along the way. However, for those who prioritize comfort, renting a portable toilet is highly recommended. You can contact our travel consultants to learn more about this option. Portable toilet is not available on the Marangu route due to the Kilimanjaro National Park regulations.
Included accommodation in the hotel is on a bed & breakfast basis. It means that you will need to pay for the lunch and dinner either at our hotel restaurant or if you decide to dine out - at any other place in Moshi.
Our premium Kilimanjaro adventures include certain extra features, such as spacious walk-in tents, advanced meal plan on the hike, portable shower and toilet, camp cots, insurance package, satellite phone for staying in touch with family and friends and some other upgrades on Kilimanjaro. It is the highest quality service a luxury-focused climber can get here.
Safety protocols for the premium adventures include mandatory Wilderness First Responder Certification of all our guides, oxygen cylinders, medical kits and compulsory medical check-ups (two per day). Helicopter evacuation insurance package is also included in the cost price.
Before and after your trip you will be staying in a 5* hotel in Arusha (all-inclusive basis), where a special celebration dinner will be served at the end of your trip.
Climbing Cost Includes
Our Kilimanjaro packages cover all transfers outlined in the program. When you arrive at Kilimanjaro, one of our drivers will pick you up in a spacious and comfortable Toyota Alphard and take you to your hotel. Our cars have large trunks that can accommodate plenty of luggage. Inside you'll find complimentary bottled water (custom-ordered by Altezza Travel), a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wet wipes for your convenience. All our cars undergo regular examination and maintenance by our in-house team of technicians.
Our driving team consists of experienced and knowledgeable drivers, all of whom speak fluent English.
For the transfer to the trailhead of your climbing adventure, we will use Toyota Hiace or Coaster, which are better suited for navigating the wilderness terrain en route to Mt. Kilimanjaro. These cars are built to handle rough trails and ensure your safety.
At the end of your journey, we'll also provide you with a return transfer to the Kilimanjaro International Airport. With our comprehensive package, you can rest easy and enjoy the journey without concerns about your transportation.
- Accommodation at 5* Legendary Lodge (Arusha) one night before and one night after the expedition. Legendary Lodge is the ultimate premium retreat with the highest service standards to be found in northern Tanzania;
- Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro (spacious, custom-designed, 4-season walk-in tents).
Please note: by default, you will share a room and a tent with your travel companion. Single occupancy is available upon request.
Altezza Travel offers a Kilimanjaro adventure with all the necessary amenities for a safe and comfortable camping experience.
Developed to withstand strong winds and heavy rains, these 4-season tents provide a cozy atmosphere inside. Tent entrances are easy to open and close and provide a comfortable buffer zone. Rest assured that the ever-changing equatorial weather on Kilimanjaro will not disturb your much-needed sleep.
As of today, these tents are without question the best choice for the Kilimanjaro adventure, and Altezza Travel is the only company to have them.
Please note: by default, you'll be sharing a tent with your travel companion or other same-sex co-hiker (unless you've ordered a private hike). Though designed for three people, each Altezza tent sleeps only two hikers on our adventures. Single supplements are available at an extra charge. Contact your manager for more details.
Our hikes include 3-inch sleeping mats produced by our company’s tailor shop, which is located right at our Machame climbing base.
Camping tables with stainless steel cutlery and ceramics crockery
They are served and cleaned by a dedicated kitchen crew at each meal. At Altezza Travel, we are committed to reducing plastic waste and never use disposable tableware.
Produced for Altezza by RedFox, a reputable brand and manufacturer of outdoor equipment, our dining tents are strong, wind- and rainproof, allowing for a comfortable dining and socializing experience, even in bad weather.
Durable and comfortable chairs that provide excellent back and arm support, they’ll make evening get-togethers in the mess tents a pleasant pastime with your teammates. Grab one and enjoy an epic sunset from the edge of the camp!
Our camp crew regularly fill it with hot water so that you can keep your hands and face clean.
The camp managers arrive at the camping grounds hours ahead of your group to pick the most picturesque location at a distance from other hiking groups. They also keep a close eye on the tents and other camping equipment to ensure everything runs smoothly. Each camp manager carries a repair kit in case a quick maintenance is needed, although our expedition managers inspect each tent before the expedition starts, making such situations unlikely.
Our mountain chefs and waiters will take care of preparing and serving your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners throughout the adventure. The menu has been designed in consultation with a professional dietitian to ensure that our meals are both delicious and energy-rich, providing hikers with the necessary nutrition.
At Altezza Travel, we understand that everyone has unique dietary needs. That's why we offer delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, and other types of meal plans for our mountain adventures. Just let your manager know, and our mountain chef will be ready to prepare a meal that meets your requirements. Best of all, switching to a special meal plan won't cost you a thing.
For example, for breakfast, you can expect to enjoy porridge, vegetables, eggs, sausages, sweet potato, spinach cooked in a local fashion ("mchicha"), and coffee or tea. For lunch, we usually serve various soups (butternut, tomato, leek, vegetable, beef); spaghetti; stews; avocado salads; mashed potato; fried chicken with coconut, tomato, garlic and other sauces; minced meat in tomato sauce, and other popular international and local meals.
Similarly, for dinner, you can expect a soup; vegetable salad (locally styled "Kachumbari"); Mexican salad with tomatoes, corn, and onion, avocado; a juicy stew (such as bamia stew); fried vegetables; various main dishes with chicken, beef or fish. All meals are served with tasty sauces, and extra seasonings are always available on the table. After each meal, our waiters serve fresh local fruits, such as mangoes, oranges, pineapple, and bananas, to give hikers a vitamin boost.
We use organic, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and meat from neighboring farms to supply our trips. Our team rigorously checks each provider to ensure that it has a certification from the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA). Altezza Travel also prefers to choose small local farms instead of large agricultural companies. This way, we ensure that all produce is always fresh and organic and that our expeditions provide a meaningful impact on the local economy.
Our mountain chefs will prepare all meals during the expedition, except for lunch on the first day of your trip, which you will have after entering the park and before reaching the first camp where we will set up our kitchen. Our restaurant chefs at Aishi Machame Hotel will prepare this first lunch, and we will pack it for your adventure in sturdy compostable packaging from Vegware, our UK-based supplier of eco-friendly food packaging.
When evaluating the quality of our meals on Kilimanjaro, please keep in mind that our teams prepare them in very challenging conditions. Our mountain chef prepares meals in a camp kitchen, using a camping gas oven with an electric torch for lighting. At times, weather conditions can be harsh, with wind and rain, and during certain months, it can be quite cold. While our mountain chef strives to create delicious and visually appealing meals, the unpredictable weather and challenging camping conditions may occasionally impact the quality and appearance of our dishes. We work tirelessly to maintain a high level of performance in such a demanding environment.
- Portable toilet.
- 4-inch (10-cm) thick and comfortable sleeping mats;
- Camping cots;
- Sleeping bag Mountain Hardwear Lamina (Comfort -12°C/10°F);
- Satellite phone (20 min credit included, 3 USD per every extra min).
On your adventure you will be led by our outstanding Kilimanjaro mountain guides.
Each guide has at least seven years of experience and boasts excellent knowledge of the Mt Kilimanjaro terrain, flora, and fauna. They have been chosen to lead some of the most incredible expeditions and adventures on the mountain, such as Wings of Kilimanjaro or Red Bull’s Kilimanjaro wingsuit BASE jump, which are yet to be repeated by anyone else. They also took part in the high-speed Kilimanjaro ascent of Nimsdai (aka Nirmal Purja) whose story is told in the Netflix Documentary "14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible".
You are in safe hands: all our mountain guides are certified Wilderness First Responders. This certification is administered by the independent USA-based organization ("Wilderness Medical Associates") and confirms that the certificate holders are well-trained to respond to any emergencies, which may happen in the wilderness. This WFR badge, together with excellent knowledge of the routes and locations, is a pre-condition for taking a mountain leader position in our company.
Altezza guides are good story-tellers, and will always be happy to entertain you with Kilimanjaro legends and tales. You will also learn a lot about the plants, animals, and history of the highest free-standing mountain in the world. For those interested, our mountain team will be a rich source of information about the local culture, lifestyle, and customs.
In the meantime, the guides are considerate and know when to take a step back to let you enjoy some peace and quiet alone. Whenever you want to enjoy some solitude with nature, our guides will quietly retreat to the background.
The guides will be supported by our hard-working porters, camp managers, and other members of the crew. They will pitch up the camp ahead of your arrival, bring water from the mountain streams, and carry all of the expedition's supplies and gear. The mountain chefs will attend to the camp kitchen to provide you with nutritious and tasty meals.
Altezza Travel is proud to pay the highest salaries to our mountain crews in the Tanzanian tourism industry. Also, we open individual bank accounts for each member of the expedition team to ensure transparency and accountability of salary payouts. Taking good care of our mountain crews is the foundation of our work.
Due to that, our guiding team receives positive reviews daily. They are undoubtedly the key reason we are ranked as the #1 Kilimanjaro trekking company on TripAdvisor.
Altezza Travel is a member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) - an independent organization that advocates for the fair treatment of porters working on Kilimanjaro. KPAP certification is proof that our company treats its porters ethically and provides them with a safe and comfortable working environment.
We carry bottled oxygen supplies for each Altezza Travel expedition. The guiding team uses it to make the high-altitude acclimatization process easier and prevent acute mountain sickness (AMS). Our guides administer bottled oxygen as soon as a climber develops the first signs of AMS, and that typically stabilizes the oxygen saturation, allowing them to continue the adventure.
At Altezza Travel, we never run short on oxygen supplies. In the unlikely event of a crisis requiring larger amounts of oxygen for one of our teams, other Altezza crews from the same camp will always come to help and share their supplies. As the largest operator on Kilimanjaro operating 15% of all on Kilimanjaro, we have multiple Altezza teams located in different camps at the same time. Besides, we can organize a fast (less than six hours) delivery from our climbing base.
Many of the companies operating on Kilimanjaro say that they have oxygen bottles on their expeditions as well. However, the devil is in the details, and the key thing to look at is how the guides use it.
Most of them provide oxygen to their clients at the late stages of AMS, when evacuation is the only remedy. Altezza is the only company here that uses bottled oxygen as an AMS prevention technique. This approach translates into less stressful acclimatization, significantly fewer AMS cases, and a successful Kilimanjaro experience.
Nowadays, Altezza Travel is the most oxygen-conscious trek outfitter on Kilimanjaro. We have a staff member whose sole responsibility is to oversee our oxygen storage and ensure that our bottles are always filled, the valves are functioning properly, and each crew receives the right amount of oxygen. As of today, we have 350 portable expedition oxygen systems.
Each expedition is equipped with a reliable GPS tracking device, allowing us to track our Kilimanjaro teams in real-time. While primarily a safety protocol, the GPS links also provide peace of mind for your loved ones who can track the hikers’ progress from home.
The morning your Kilimanjaro expedition begins, our adventure consultant will give you a QR code that can be scanned to generate a GPS link. In addition, this link will also be accessible through your personal account at Altezza Personal Trip Board.
Every morning and evening on the hike, our WFR-certified guides perform medical check-ups to ensure that both hikers and crew members (including porters, camp managers, and chefs) are properly acclimating to the altitude. During these check-ups, our guides will ask general questions about your health and measure your oxygen saturation level. In some cases, they may also need to check your blood pressure or listen to your lungs with a stethoscope to assess your breathing.
It's mandatory for all hikers to attend those medical check-ups, even for those who feel great and don't have any altitude-related symptoms. They allow our guiding team to diagnose the early stages of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) and take preventive measures to ensure that everyone is acclimating properly and that the hike is a pleasant and safe adventure.
At Altezza Travel, we are experienced in accommodating climbers with various health conditions, such as diabetes, and asthma, among others. We have developed special protocols to ensure that those climbers receive the support and care they need during their climb. We understand that climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro can be challenging, especially for those with underlying health conditions. That's why we work closely with our climbers to understand their individual needs and develop a plan that ensures their safety and well-being throughout the climb.
If our guides have any concerns about a hiker's health, they use the Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness scoring system and additionally consult with our company doctor before deciding whether a hiker is safe to continue the ascent. With our comprehensive medical kits and experienced guides, we prioritize the safety and well-being of our climbers during their Kilimanjaro adventure.
Our in-company doctor carefully previews all pre-departure health forms, completed by the hikers on the Altezza Personal Trip Board. He ensures that each participant is indeed ready for the adventure, and provides health-related recommendations if needed.
At all times our central goal is for your Kilimanjaro climb to be a safe and memorable experience. For that to happen we will be strictly following our protocols and doing as much as we can to never compromise your safety on Kilimanjaro.
At Altezza Travel, we take every precaution to ensure the safety and well-being of our climbers. To this end, we maintain a special medical record book for each participant that documents all relevant medical information throughout the trip. This is a critically important resource that will be available to doctors in the unlikely event of hospitalization during the expedition.
Your personal information will remain strictly confidential and not disclosed, unless necessary for the medical personnel.
Altezza Travel sets high standards for ensuring hikers' health and safety, which is why each climbing crew carries multiple medical kits. These include large "camp" medical kits that contain medication for various mountain-related illnesses. There are 49 different types of medications and items in a kit, making it one of the most complete emergency kits in Tanzania.
In addition to the group medical kit, each guide also carries a tactical medical kit with hemostatic plasters, tourniquets, painkillers, and anything else that may be needed during emergencies and while moving from one camp to another. Our guides are always prepared to treat twisted ankles and arms, strained muscles or tendons, and other injuries.
We have been operating in Tanzania for almost ten years, and during this time, not a single medical kit has ever been used to its fullest extent. However, we firmly believe that being prepared for any situation is one of the reasons why Altezza Travel is the safest company to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with.
In addition, Altezza Travel has a VIP ward reserved for our clients on a stand-by basis in the KCMC hospital where our clients who experience high-altitude sickness receive priority examination and treatment. In the unlikely event of evacuation, our clients will not have to wait in line in the emergency unit and will receive the attention of a personal nurse instead. Moreover, in the very rare event that an Altezza hiker requires hospitalization, they receive regular tasty food and drink deliveries from our company restaurant in Moshi. A personal company manager is always available to assist with anything they may need. The ward has reliable free Wi-Fi connectivity.
Altezza Kilimanjaro trips are fully inclusive of all park fees that every Kilimanjaro hiker is liable to pay. This includes camping and conservation fees, rescue fee, crew fee, forest fee (on certain routes), and other payments. These payments make up about half of the total price and are one of the reasons why Mt Kilimanjaro hiking tours are more expensive compared to the other popular destinations.
As a law-abiding and transparent company, Altezza Travel pays all taxes in Tanzania such as VAT (18%), corporate income taxes (30%) and labor-related levies and duties, licensing fees and social security deductions for our employees, all of whom are officially employed by Altezza Travel. We are proud to be one of the few travel companies in Tanzania doing that.
The taxes we pay are later spent for the betterment of the lives of the local communities here. In 2022, our company paid over $500,000/- in taxes and other levies.
When you book with Altezza Travel, your tour will be in the good hands of 200 dedicated professionals who are committed to ensuring that your tour is an amazing experience. Our team includes experts in reservation, transfer planning, expeditions, customer experience, logistics, and other areas, each responsible for their specific role in the process. We also have large hotel, store-keeping, transfer and other teams, whose contribution is essential and always available. They work together seamlessly to ensure that every aspect of your tour is carefully planned and executed to the highest standard.
The travel consultants team is available to assist you 24/7. You can easily reach out to your manager through various channels such as messengers, email, phone, or any other convenient method. We are always here to answer your questions and address any concerns you may have, and our support team works across different time zones.
Altezza Travel is the first adventure operator in Tanzania to develop its own travel planning software. With our new system, you no longer need to provide long lists of information via email. Instead, you can simply fill out the Personal Trip Board in the Altezza Family travel portal.
This user-friendly platform allows you to provide us with details about the gear you'd like to hire for your climb (if any), arrival and departure information, dietary plan, insurance and passport information for the necessary permits and for the summit certificate. You can also use the form to inform us about any allergies or important medical information that we should be aware of before you start your climb.
The security of your personal information is of utmost importance to our team. Our system is fully secure and uses SSL encryption provided by Cloudflare Inc, a leading provider of cloud security services worldwide. This means that all data transmitted through our system is fully encrypted and secure. Rest assured that only authorized personnel at Altezza Travel will have access to your data.
Unlike other companies where a sales manager acts as an intermediary between you and the local operations team in Tanzania, our system transmits your information directly to the dashboard of the person in charge. This direct communication line vastly minimizes the chance of human error.
For example, let's say you've indicated your arrival time in our system. In the past, your manager would have had to manually add it to our calendar, and our transfer manager would have had to assign a driver. With so many people arriving in Tanzania, there was always a risk of human error.
But with the new communication system, your arrival time information is instantly transmitted to the dashboard of our transfer manager. The system automatically assigns an available driver to your trip, and activates GPS tracking to monitor their progress. If the driver misses any check-points on the way, the system will alert the transfer manager to take corrective action and ensure that you're picked up on time.
We use similar streamlined communication flows for all our travel operations. For instance, your medical information is sent directly to our in-house doctor on the expeditions team, and your dietary requirements are shared with our camp kitchen team. With this system, you can be confident that every detail of your trip is taken care of and that there's zero risk of losing any critical information along the way.
What's more, our user-friendly system is designed to make travel planning fun and engaging. In addition to the intuitive interface, we've added a special feature that turns filling in the required information into a game. As you provide the necessary details for the organization of your trip, you'll receive pop-ups with interesting information about African animals. This way, you can learn more about the wildlife you'll be seeing during your adventure while completing the travel-related paperwork.
At Altezza Travel, we believe that travel planning should be easy, enjoyable, and informative. Our innovative system is just one of the many ways we strive to provide exceptional service to our clients.
We understand that some things that you bring with you to Tanzania won't be necessary for your Kilimanjaro climb, such as suitcases, clothes for safari or other parts of your trip, laptops, gadgets, and documents. We recommend that you take only what's truly essential for your expedition to the mountain, and leave fragile or easily stainable items at our storage facilities or a safe room.
The use of a storage room and a safe room is completely free of charge.
To give you peace of mind while you enjoy the wonders of Kilimanjaro, we have built a secure storage facility where you can safely leave all your suitcases and handbags. The facility is dry, well-ventilated, and only accessible to Altezza Travel staff.
For items that require special handling, such as cash, jewelry, passports, gadgets, and other valuables, Altezza offers space in our safe room. This room is under 24/7 video surveillance and protected by armed guards. It features a fire-proof door with a 120-minute fire resistance rating, 10-inch brick walls, and a highly sensitive alarm system
You won't need any cash on Kilimanjaro as there are no shops, vending machines, or other places where one can spend money. The Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Development Plan strictly prohibits the construction of any commercial facilities on the park's premises.
The small souvenir shop at Mweka Gate, which is the exit point for most of the trails, is the only place to buy souvenirs in the vicinity of Kilimanjaro. Local artisans sell their wares there, and it may be interesting for some of the hikers. However, we recommend bringing no more than $100 as the larger and more interesting souvenir shops are located in Arusha. If you're planning to spend more, we suggest visiting those shops instead, as they offer a better selection and prices.
If you want to deposit your valuables in our care, you will need to itemize them and fill in a special form. If you leave cash with us, we will use a cash counter machine to help you count the money. You’ll get a receipt, listing the cash left in our care. You will sign it, and we will have it sealed together in your presence.
To ensure transparency, we record the process with a high-resolution camera, and all records are deleted 30 days after you leave Tanzania.
Our safe room is insured for $600,000 for emergencies but in the almost ten years of our operation in Tanzania, we have not had a single insurance case.
At Altezza Travel, we take pride in offering environmentally friendly treks. Our goal is to leave Kilimanjaro cleaner after every expedition. To achieve this goal, we assign a special team to ensure that our climbing crew and customers leave no waste on the mountain. This team also collects any waste left by litterbugs from other groups on the trek, so we can keep Kilimanjaro looking as pristine as it did during the times of Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller, who are credited with being the first Europeans to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
We are committed to minimizing the use of plastic in our expeditions whenever possible. For instance, the packaging for the lunchboxes on the first day of your trip (hot lunch is provided on all other days) is compostable. We source our packaging from Vegware, a leading UK-based provider of food packaging with a strong environmental focus.
When you choose Altezza Travel for your trip, you're making a meaningful contribution to the development of local communities in Kilimanjaro. We're committed to sustainability, and as part of our pledge, we allocate a part of our profits to various social responsibility initiatives. Here are some examples:
- Our guides regularly participate in firefighting efforts on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. Climate change is affecting even relatively remote countries like Tanzania, and unfortunately, we've seen a significant increase in bushfires in recent years. When two large fires erupted on Kilimanjaro in 2020 and 2022, our expeditions team was among the first to respond. It was later discovered that our strong team of 150 porters was larger and more productive than all other crews sent by all the other operators combined.
- We're proud to be one of the first donors to the Serengeti De-snaring Project, a conservation initiative of the Frankfurt Zoological Society. The project is working to remove snares, traps, and other poaching devices from Tanzania's national parks.
- Altezza Travel is a member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), which promotes fair porter treatment practices and provides certification to tour operators that meet its standards. Our certification means that we pay fair wages, provide nutritious hot meals to our team members, and offer them proper care and protection. You can learn more about KPAP's work on their website.
- In response to the growing crisis of deforestation, we have undertaken several large-scale tree-planting efforts on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and in the surrounding areas. We are currently planning additional reforestation activities to further combat the issue.
- Altezza Travel is on a mission to improve the lives of students in the remote Materuni area. Over 50 local students have been attending a school with dilapidated classrooms, a leaking roof, and a lack of essential educational materials. The teachers have been doing their best to maintain a positive learning environment, but they are struggling with limited resources. That's where Altezza Travel stepped in. We began funding the renovation of the school, providing building materials, and supplying educational materials as well as sports equipment. Our goal is to create a brighter future for these children by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed.
- In 2023, we partnered with Nature Tanzania and invested over $12,000 to save the population of the Long-billed Forest Warbler. A special conservation site has been established in the Amani Forest, where our team conducts extensive research and conservation operations. With fewer than 250 birds remaining, this species is considered 'critically endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and urgent action is needed to prevent their extinction.
- Finally, we're committed to using local suppliers for all our operations and have made a deliberate decision to avoid large agricultural companies in favor of small farmers from the surrounding communities.
At Altezza Travel, we support only meaningful and impactful projects that bring real change to local communities. Each application we receive from local NGOs or eco-activists is carefully scrutinized by our board before we allocate funding.
By participating in our climbs, you're directly supporting positive change in the communities around Mount Kilimanjaro. You may read more about the social responsibility efforts you are going to support on this page of our website.
Climbing Cost Excludes
Our Kilimanjaro packages don’t include international flights. You’ll be responsible for covering those costs separately. Feel free to contact your manager to get recommendations about the airlines operating flights to Tanzania.
Tipping your climbing crew is a well-established practice in mountain hiking all over the world. Though never mandatory at Altezza Travel, our clients are encouraged to tip their mountain crews if their performance is up to your expectations. A recommended amount is USD 450-600 per participant.
You may read more about tipping in our article here.
Most nationals are required to pay USD 50 for a one-time, single-entry 90-day visa. USA nationals, however, are required to pay $100 for a multi-entry visa. Contact our travel advisors to learn more about Tanzania visa rules and requirements.
When climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, you will need personal gear such as hiking boots, sleeping bags, trekking pants, thermals, and trekking poles. See the full list here.
As of today, Altezza Travel’s gear rental shop is the only gear rental shop on Kilimanjaro where climbers can rent everything they need for their adventure. All of our gear comes from top brands such as The North Face, Black Diamond, RedFox, Columbia, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, and others.
If you intend to rent gear from us, you can provide us with a list of everything you will need to hire in your Altezza Family portal account, and we will have everything prepared for you before you arrive in Tanzania.
Our group expeditions include shared accommodation, which means you'll be sharing a hotel room and a tent with either your travel companion or a same-sex member of your travel group. If you prefer a private room and/or tent, please let us know. Single supplements are available for an additional charge. Single supplement is not available on the Marangu route where you stay overnight in huts that can accommodate up to 20 hikers.
Travel insurance is not included in our climbing packages. For our Kilimanjaro and Meru hiking adventures, all participants are required to have travel insurance that covers trekking to altitudes of up to 6000 meters and a helicopter evacuation. Since the requirements and costs of insurance vary across different countries, please contact your insurance provider to make sure that those requirements are covered, and find out about the exact costs.
Mount Meru Climb Itinerary
5-day Program (3 days on the mountain)
This is the shortest program. It is suitable for experienced climbers and athletes, as well as those who simply don't have much time. As soon as you reach the Meru summit, the descent begins. And on the same day, you will leave the national park and head to your hotel.
The 3-day program allows you to ascend Mount Meru and descend at a moderate pace. During the light hiking on the first day, you'll have the opportunity to observe wildlife from a safe distance. This type of expedition includes two nights in huts on the mountain slopes. On the first night, you'll stay at Miriakamba Hut, and on the second, at Saddle Hut. On the third day of the expedition, you'll begin your ascent early in the morning, witnessing the sunrise at an altitude of 4,565 meters. On the same day, you'll return to the base of the mountain and exit the boundaries of the Arusha National Park. Two additional days before and after the expedition are allocated for rest at the hotel and getting acquainted with Tanzania.
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where our representative will meet you and transfer to the hotel.The hotel provides all the essentials for a comfortable stay, such as: cozy rooms, Internet access, hot water, a swimming pool, and a helpful staff. In the evening, an orientation session with our tour coordinators will ensure that you are ready to begin the spectacular Meru climb.
Private tour packages include shared airport transfers for your group. Extra charges will apply for additional individual transfers. To avoid extra costs, sync your group's arrival and departure times.
PLEASE NOTE:Check-in starts at 2:00 PM.
Early in the morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the Momella Gate in Arusha National Park. At this time, the porters will organize and pack the belongings for the hike while you and your guide register with the Tanzania National Park (TANAPA). The first day of hiking is similar to a walking safari; you should expect to see giraffes, zebras, antelope, buffalo, and potentially elephants near the trail. Due to the high possibility of spotting wildlife, an armed ranger, hired through the National Park, is required to hike with our team for the duration of the hike. As you continue hiking, you will pass the Ngarenanyuki River and a beautiful waterfall at the base of Mt. Meru. Upon arriving to Miriakamba Hut (2,500 m), your chef will prepare a hot dinner and warm water for you.
PLEASE NOTE: This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:
- Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently);
- To help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness, consider using a preventive measure like a high-altitude aid medicine. Many mountain climbers take such pills in the morning, before they begin their ascent, to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. Our managers will provide more specific details together with your travel itinerary. We recommend consulting your doctor prior to the trip to discuss any potential allergies or health concerns.
At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your breathing pattern at night, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and experience a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.
Mount Meru climb is a truly unforgettable one-of-a-kind adventure. To enjoy it to the full, please be prepared for the possibility of the arrangements described above. This applies only to Meru climbs, but not to Kilimanjaro.
After breakfast, you will start ascending up the steep trail along the ridge of the saddle. You may see various wildlife along the way! The trail has amazing views of Meru Crater and the Ash Cone. When you arrive at camp, you have the option of hiking Little Meru (3,820 m) with your guide to further acclimate. You will be served an early dinner, so you can receive ample rest before your midnight summit attempt.
Summiting has an early start at around 00:00. There is a 1-hour steep climb to Rhino Point (3,800 m), then the path continues along a ridge of ash and rock to reach Cobra Point (4,350 m). The summit of Meru Peak (4,562 m) is an hour further on a steep path with magnificent views of Kilimanjaro. Depending on your speed, you can enjoy sunrise at Cobra Point or the summit. The views are stunning: the cliffs of the Crater rim, the Ash Cone rising from the crater floor, Kilimanjaro floating on the morning clouds, and the Rift Valley. The route back to Rhino Point in the morning light along a narrow ridge between the sloping outer wall of the crater and the cliffs of the inner wall is one of the most dramatic and exhilarating walks in Africa. Brunch and a brief rest is taken at Saddle Hut before continuing the descent to Momella Gate. After your descent the whole group will gather to congratulate you, and then you will be transferred to Moshi or Arusha town.
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
PLEASE NOTE:Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.
6-day Program (4 days on the mountain)
This is an easier Mount Meru trek program designed for those who see climbing as a hobby rather than a sport. We strongly recommend it to anyone looking to climb Meru. After the descent, you will spend an additional night at the base camp to rest and recover.
This program is the optimal way to climb Mount Meru. You'll enjoy three nights in comfortable mountain huts nestled on the volcano's slopes. Your first night will be at Miriakamba Hut, followed by the second at Saddle Hut. As you trek from the park's entrance to the initial camp with an armed ranger by your side, keep an eye out for wildlife. The highlight comes on the expedition's third day—reaching the summit at sunrise, and marveling at the sun's majestic rise over Africa's vast landscapes. Afterward, you'll hike down to the base camp for your third night on Mount Meru's slopes. Then, your journey concludes with a return to the national park gate. You'll also have two days — before and after the expedition—to unwind at the hotel or embark on brief excursions, time permitting.
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where our representative will meet you and transfer to the hotel.The hotel provides all the essentials for a comfortable stay, such as: cozy rooms, Internet access, hot water, a swimming pool, and a helpful staff. In the evening, an orientation session with our tour coordinators will ensure that you are ready to begin the spectacular Meru climb.
Private tour packages include shared airport transfers for your group. Extra charges will apply for additional individual transfers. To avoid extra costs, sync your group's arrival and departure times.
PLEASE NOTE:Check-in starts at 2:00 PM.
In the morning you will go to Arusha National Park, and then straight to the trailhead. The ride takes approximately 2.5-3 hours.
At Momella Gate the guides will arrange the entry permit formalities, and you will start trekking to Miriakamba Hut. Wild animals (warthogs, zebras, monkeys, antelopes and, sometimes, elephants) are likely to be seen on the way.
Hot lunch will be served upon arrival to Miriakamba Hut. There you may rest or explore the surroundings.
PLEASE NOTE: This will be your first day at this altitude, so it is strongly recommended you heed the following instructions from this point on:
- Drink over 4 liters of bottled water daily (little by little, frequently);
- To help alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness, consider using a preventive measure like a high-altitude aid medicine. Many mountain climbers take such pills in the morning, before they begin their ascent, to reduce discomfort associated with altitude sickness. Our managers will provide more specific details together with your travel itinerary. We recommend consulting your doctor prior to the trip to discuss any potential allergies or health concerns.
At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your breathing pattern at night, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and experience a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.
After the breakfast, the group will start trekking to Saddle Hut. The rainforest zone will end soon, giving place to heath and moorland with large trees. The trail will open amazing panoramic vistas.
Upon reaching the Saddle Hut, those who are willing and energetic enough may reach the Little Meru Peak, further boosting your acclimatization transition.
Our team will serve hot lunch and dinner in the camp.
Midnight wake-up and the group starts trekking to the Meru Peak. The hikers should be prepared for a tough and strenuous hike - the legs to Rhino Point and Cobra points are especially precipitous. Be careful!
The group will reach Meru Peak (4,565 m/14,977 m) by sunrise, where you’ll have true visual euphoria - thrilling panoramic sceneries around and mesmerizing sunrise.
After the summit time, the group will descend to Miriakamba Hut for a hot lunch, dinner and overnight stay.
Morning, breakfast and hike down to Momella Gate. Our car will be waiting there for your party for transfer to the hotel (see description below).
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
PLEASE NOTE:Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.
Key Facts about Mount Meru
Little Meru Peak
Mount Meru has two peaks: the main one is named Socialist Peak, and the lower one is simply called Little Meru. The main summit is of course the goal of the expedition, and the Little Meru is a bonus for active travelers.
On the second day of the ascent, there's a half-day remaining after reaching the upper camp, Saddle Hut. Those interested can, accompanied by a guide, hike through the saddle to the summit of Little Meru. The route there is relatively straightforward, and on a clear day, the views are breathtaking. Little Meru offers a direct view of Mount Kilimanjaro, allowing climbers to admire its "big brother" from the peak.
The height of Little Meru is 3,820 meters (12,533 feet) above sea level. We recommend summiting it for two reasons. Apart from the stunning landscapes, you'll also gain additional acclimatization before the early morning start to the main summit. It's a "golden rule" of mountain expeditions: climb high, sleep low.
Visiting the summit of Little Meru is possible on both 3-day and 4-day programs.
Popular questions about Mount Meru, Tanzania
Mount Meru is situated in East Africa, in northern Tanzania, not far from Mount Kilimanjaro. It forms a part of the Arusha National Park in the region of the same name. The distance from the nearest international airport, Kilimanjaro, is approximately 50 kilometers, with a travel time of around an hour.
The Mount Meru we're familiar with is located in the Arusha region of Tanzania, near Mount Kilimanjaro.
In the Himalayas, there is a mountain with a height of 6,660 meters named Meru Peak. It is located in India and is a popular climbing destination. The renowned documentary "Meru" was filmed on its slopes. It's also known that Mount Meru, also called Sumeru, is considered sacred by followers of Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism. Ancient Sanskrit texts describe it as a mythical mountain from the cosmological theories of these religions.
A marker installed at the summit of Mount Meru’s Socialist Peak indicates a height of 4,566 meters.
Measurements in 2019 recorded a height of 4,567 meters, while subsequent measurements in 2022 noted a height of 4,566 meters above sea level. It's also worth noting that ongoing volcanic processes continue to reshape the mountain's form.
Some have suggested that the summit push is a bit more challenging on Meru in terms of terrain. However, the lower altitude of Meru makes it less taxing compared to Kilimanjaro. Overall, while not a walk in the park, the Mount Meru climb expedition is not as challenging as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
The Mount Meru hike is a moderately difficult expedition that does not require any technician skills and will be doable even for an averagely fit person without trekking experience.
This name was given to the peak in 1961 when present-day Tanzania gained independence from Britain. At that time, the country leaned towards the socialist camp, adopting ideas from the USSR. Nowadays, Tanzania has moved away from its socialist past, but the official name for the peak remains.
Mount Meru is located within the Arusha National Park, one of Tanzania's 22 national parks where one can observe Africa's amazing nature and wildlife. Most park visits involve safari trips by car, but Arusha offers walking safaris — trails through the savannahs escorted by an armed ranger. The park is teeming with wildlife: giraffes, zebras, dik-diks, antelopes, jackals, buffaloes, and even elephants. If you're fortunate, you might even spot a leopard. All this diverse wildlife will be close at hand during your hike.
Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzania, after Mt Kilimanjaro. The higher you ascend, the more expansive African vistas unfold before you. The most magnificent sight is reaching the summit at sunrise.
With a height of slightly over 4.5 kilometers above sea level, this mountain is excellent for those planning to climb Kilimanjaro. In that case, Meru serves as an excellent acclimatization preparation.
No, according to the rules of the Arusha National Park, tent camps are not allowed on Meru. On the mountain, there are two camps, both consisting of wooden huts.
The park rules also prohibit the use of portable shower cabins and toilets. There are stationary toilets along the route for your convenience.
The huts are constructed from wood, with bunk beds inside. Depending on specific circumstances, your group may share a hut with other travelers. For instance, if another group is trekking at the same time as you, you might be grouped together. This is done by the park management to reduce the rangers' workload.
Inside the camp, there are sleeping huts and dining huts. Both camps have separate kitchens where our chefs prepare meals. You will be served hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the dining hut. Separate toilet facilities are also available in the camps.
Northern Tanzania experiences two rainy seasons and two dry seasons. The heavy rains typically occur from mid-March to the end of May. A shorter rainy season falls in November-December. Thus, the best times to climb Meru are from January to mid-March and from mid-June to October.
Expeditions follow the same trail known as the Momella route, beginning at Momella Gate. An expedition can last either 3 or 4 days, depending on your preference.
The 3-day expedition involves returning to the hotel in the evening on the same day after reaching the summit and descending. The 4-day expedition allows for a more relaxed pace, with an overnight stay in the base camp after the descent from the summit. Climbing Meru is not the easiest, which is why we strongly recommend opting for the 4-day trek.
In 2024, a group climb to Meru over 4 days can be done for approximately 1450 USD per person for a group of 3 people. For a larger group of 8+ people, the price per person can be below $1000. This cost includes park fees, crew wages, meals, oxygen tanks, all transfers, as well as hotel accommodation before and after the expedition.
Park fees are a mandatory fee for climbing Mount Meru, as it is located within the Arusha National Park. The fees include a conservation fee, camping service fee, walking safari fee, ranger-guide fee, hut usage fee, and rescue fee.
The minimum fee for the 2023–2024 season for a 4-day climb to Meru is 350 USD per adult. All mentioned fees are included in the expedition cost.
Tips are not mandatory. Rather, it's a tradition on mountain expeditions worldwide. If you wish to tip your hard-working mountain team, we recommend around 120–150 USD per person. These funds will be divided among all team members: the guide, the cook, and the porters. The final decision on whether to tip and the amount remains up to you.
No, when climbing Meru, having a guide is mandatory. A ranger provided by the national park will also be part of the group. This is a professional who knows the area well, can interact with wild animals if necessary, and carries a weapon as a precautionary measure. The primary purpose of that is to deter potential threats and ensure safety. No cases of animals attacking hikers were recorded on Meru. In addition, the expedition team includes porters carrying all the necessary equipment and supplies, as well as a mountain cook.
If multiple groups start on the same day, they are combined with one ranger from the national park. We cannot know in advance about other groups or influence them. This becomes known only upon arrival at the park gates. It's worth noting that the likelihood of this happening is low.
If groups are combined, the ranger will choose the optimal speed based on the slowest participant. This should be considered when planning the expedition.
No special skills or mountaineering gear are required to climb to Mt Meru summit. The ascent can be considered high-altitude trekking. All you need is good physical fitness. The best training would be to climb smaller mountains near your place of residence. If that's not possible, we recommend going to a gym or following this program:
Go to the countryside in your area, find uneven terrain, preferably with an ascent, and take walks of 10-15 kilometers. Jog at a moderate pace, aiming for a distance of 5-6 kilometers. If you have access to water, swim for 15-30 minutes. Such a set of exercises will train all the necessary muscles and help protect your joints on the expedition.
Meru isn't as high as Kilimanjaro, so you're less likely to experience altitude sickness. However, at 4000 meters above sea level, each breath contains only 60% of the oxygen molecules compared to the air at sea level. Altitude acclimatization is something you can't prepare for in advance, so focus on endurance training. Our guides will do everything necessary to help you with acclimatization. For example, they may use supplementary oxygen to assist acclimatization and address any symptoms of altitude sickness. We have more oxygen tanks than all other operators in the region put together, and extensive medical kits on each expedition.
On the Meru expedition, you will have a professional mountain cook with you. We select the best ingredients to ensure climbers have not only tasty but also nutritious food.
For breakfast, we serve porridge, fruits, eggs, sausages, and toast with jam. Lunch and dinner include salads, soups, meat, and vegetable dishes. If you have specific food preferences, you can discuss them with our manager in advance, and we will coordinate a special menu with you. We prepare not only vegetarian dishes but also various dietary menus suitable for those who avoid gluten or other ingredients for religious or other reasons.
The first part of the climb is a trek from the park gates to the first Miriakamba Hut camp. It goes through a lush forest where animals such as antelopes, colobuses, and buffaloes live.
A mandatory condition for climbing Meru is to be accompanied by an armed ranger. They not only know the habits of all animals but can also use their weapons to deter them.
In our 10 years of work in Tanzania, there hasn't been a single case of a wild animal attack during expeditions.
It's worth remembering that Meru is a dormant volcano. The last recorded eruption was over a century ago, in 1910. It was moderate, ejecting stones and ash several kilometers high. Since then, there have been no signs of activity. Major eruptions occurred tens of thousands of years ago. In 2015, there were reports of ash ejection, but it turned out to be false – the smoke cloud above Meru was due to forest fires on the mountain.
Currently, scientists do not record any signs of possible volcanic activity. Upon reaching the crater rim, you'll be able to see the ash cone in Mt Meru's giant caldera.
If you have time, we recommend visiting both of Tanzania's highest mountains. It's better to climb them in increasing order: first Meru and then Kilimanjaro, which is more than a kilometer higher. With this arrangement, the Meru expedition serves as a great warm-up and acclimatization before tackling the "roof of Africa".
Yes, Altezza Travel organizes not only mountain expeditions in Tanzania but also safari trips to the country’s stunning wildlife areas. We offer exciting tours to Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Ruaha, and other national parks.
Altezza Travel recommends Global Rescue, known for its unparalleled reliability. Your insurance should cover three essential things: high-altitude expeditions up to 5000 meters, helicopter evacuation, and medical services. Note that if you want to climb Kilimanjaro as well, the insurance should cover mountain expeditions up to 6000 meters.
What to take on the expedition?
We provide every expedition with everything necessary for food preparation. You will be served delicious meals by our mountain chef. We also have first aid kits and oxygen systems that may be needed if symptoms of altitude sickness occur.
You will need to bring mountain clothing, as well as trekking poles, a sleeping bag, and other personal items necessary for a comfortable mountain expedition. You can bring all of this with you or rent it from our warehouse in Tanzania.
The temperature at the summit at night fluctuates around 0°C (32°F), often dropping below freezing. Additionally, there is a high chance of rain. So when choosing clothing, one should consider both the air temperature, precipitation, and cold wind.
Go through the clothing and equipment checklist to know exactly what you'll need
Mt Meru Guides
50+ expert mountain guides work for Altezza Travel
Our guides have a lot of experience leading expeditions on Mt Meru and Mt Kilimanjaro. All are certified as Wilderness First Responders. They are a great company to climb Meru with.