Tour Length
Rates in USD $ – Change Currency
Per person, excl. international flightsOperator Rating
Other Tour Features
Filter by Operator
Filter by Accommodation
Mt Kilimanjaro Budget Climbing Tours
Africa's tallest mountain, Mt Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano whose snowcapped Uhuru Peak towers to 5,895m/19,340ft above the low-lying plains of northeast Tanzania. A magnet for peak-baggers from all corners of the globe, it is also the highest mountain anywhere that can be summited by non-technical hikers without specialist equipment. Despite this, a Kilimanjaro mountain climbing tour is a major commitment that shouldn’t be undertaken lightly. It will require a minimum of 5 days, it exposes you to challenging altitudes and temperatures, and if you are at all budget conscious it’s bound to dent your wallet. The reward of a successful climb, however, is priceless: the profound satisfaction of standing tall on the iconic Roof of Africa.
-
11-Day Serengeti, Kilimanjaro Hike & Chimpanzee Trek
$4,298 to $4,353 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut & Camping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Mt Kilimanjaro, Mahale Mountains NP, Kigoma (Town), Dar Es Salaam (End)
See Endless Adventures Tanzania
5.0/5 – 36 Reviews
-
Best Seller
12-Day Combine Tour Kilimanjaro Trek's & Serengeti Park
$3,399 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro Airport (End)
Dancing Simba Safaris
4.8/5 – 47 Reviews
-
6-Day Best Offer 2024 Kilimanjaro Trekking
$1,430 to $1,529 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per group)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Africa Magic Holidays and Tours
5.0/5 – 54 Reviews
-
Best Seller
8-Day Kilimanjaro Trekking Lemosho Route
$2,200 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 10 people per group)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
Almighty Kilimanjaro
4.9/5 – 186 Reviews
-
7-Day Lemosho Climbing Route
$1,595 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 10 people per group)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
Kilimanjaro Vikings
4.8/5 – 31 Reviews
-
8-Day Mt Kilimanjaro Machame Trek
$5,049 to $5,555 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.9/5 – 162 Reviews
-
7-Day Kilimanjaro Trek- Machame Route
$1,405 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 10 people per group)BudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Machame Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro), Mt Kilimanjaro, Mweka Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro), Arusha (End)
Swahili Paradise Tours & Safaris
4.1/5 – 87 Reviews
-
Top Rated Operator
8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route Trek
$2,816 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
African Big Cats Safaris
5.0/5 – 408 Reviews
-
7-Day Kilimanjaro Climb via Machame Route
$2,035 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per group)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Machame Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro), Mt Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak (Mt Kilimanjaro), Mweka Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro), Moshi (End)
Kilimanjaro Heroes Adventures
5.0/5 – 42 Reviews
-
6-Day Marangu Route Adventure Climb
$1,550 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
kiliclimb Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 59 Reviews
-
9-Day Kilimanjaro Climbing via Machane Route
$1,397 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro Airport (End)
Golden Trips Tanzania
4.8/5 – 52 Reviews
-
7-Day Budget Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route
$1,577 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 60 people per group)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Zanzi Trekking and Safaris
5.0/5 – 29 Reviews
-
5-Day Adventure Kilimanjaro Trekking via Marangu Route
$1,474 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Marangu Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Colours Africa Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 171 Reviews
-
6-Day Coca Cola Marangu Route
$1,485 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 7 people per group)BudgetMountain Hut & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Good One Tours
4.7/5 – 15 Reviews
-
7-Day Machame Route Mt Kilimanjaro Budget Tour
$2,255 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Gifted African Adventures
5.0/5 – 9 Reviews
-
8-Day Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route
$1,858 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
Kisaza Tours
5.0/5 – 13 Reviews
-
Top Rated Operator
3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Kilimanjaro Hike
$715 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Go Serengeti African Tours
4.9/5 – 199 Reviews
-
7-Day Kilimanjaro Trek by Machame Route
$1,975 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Machame Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro), Mt Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak (Mt Kilimanjaro), Moshi (End)
Kitonga Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 25 Reviews
-
7-Day Machame Route Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking Summit
$1,910 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
Alpine Chat Adventure
5.0/5 – 28 Reviews
-
6-Day Budget Kilimanjaro Climb Machame Route
$1,350 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Kilimanjaro Airport, Machame Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro), Mt Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak (Mt Kilimanjaro), Moshi (End)
Leken Adventure
5.0/5 – 33 Reviews
5 Questions About Mt Kilimanjaro Budget Tours
![Philip Briggs](https://cloudfront.safaribookings.com/assets/experts/84x84/Philip_Briggs.jpg)
Answered by
Philip Briggs
Philip is an Africa-specialized travel writer who first visited Tanzania in 1986. He has returned on numerous occasions to research his Bradt Guide to Tanzania, which was first published in 1992 and will go into a 9th edition in 2023.› More about Philip
5 Questions About Mt Kilimanjaro Budget Tours
![](https://cloudfront.safaribookings.com/assets/experts/42x42/Philip_Briggs.jpg)
Are affordable Mount Kilimanjaro climbing tours available?
“That depends on what you mean by affordable. The fixed costs associated with a 5-day Kilimanjaro climb add up to around US$800 per person and increase by US$170 to US$200 for every additional day on the mountain. This covers national park fees, plus guide, porter and cook wages. Because this baseline figure applies to all Kilimanjaro climbs, it means that the price variation between budget or upmarket tours is quite narrow. And while several budget companies do offer relatively cheap Kilimanjaro climbing tours, this tends to involve compromising the quality of equipment, food, guiding or other services. In other words, focusing too much on price when you look at a Kilimanjaro package can be a false economy because it might reduce your enjoyment of the holiday and lower the odds of summiting successfully.”
1What is the best route for a budget Kilimanjaro safari?
“If, by best, you mean the least expensive, then that would be the Marangu Route. This is the only Kilimanjaro ascent route that is regularly completed in 5 days, which saves on the additional park fees associated with a longer hike. Marangu is also the only route where mountain huts are available, so the operator can budget less on gear and porters. Having said that, while Marangu is the cheapest Kilimanjaro ascent route, it is also the most crowded. Furthermore, those who attempt to climb Kilimanjaro over 5 days have a lower success rate than those who allow 6 days or more. So, even if you are on a tight budget, there’s a strong case for booking a longer and slightly more expensive tour using another route. In that case, a 6-day hike on the Machame Route is generally the most affordable option, but the Lemosho Route, which usually takes 7 days, is quieter and more beautiful. If you climb during the rainy periods (November to December and March to May), the best option overall is the Rongai Route, which uses the relatively dry northern slopes.”
2How much does a budget Kilimanjaro climbing trip cost?
“The cheapest 5-day hikes on the Marangu Route start at around US$1,100 to US$1,300 per person, depending to some extent on group size. This should include all national park fees, guide and porter costs, camping gear and food, but it will exclude tips for the porters, cooks and guides. For a 6-day Kilimanjaro budget safari on the Marangu or Machame Route, you’ll be looking at around US$1,300 to US$1,500 per person. Expect to pay more for hikes that take 7 days or longer, or that follow quieter and more remote routes such as Rongai and Lemosho.”
3Where should I stay before and after climbing Kilimanjaro on a budget tour?
“The most popular places to stay before or after a budget Kilimanjaro climb are the towns of Moshi and Arusha. Both have a very good range of simple guesthouses, backpacker hostels and other budget-friendly accommodation options. Of the two, Moshi is closer to the base of Kilimanjaro. Staying here means you're more likely to get a view of the snowcapped peak and you have less distance to cover on the first day of your climbing tour. Arusha is about 2 hours’ drive farther from most of the Kilimanjaro trailheads, but it’s more convenient than Moshi if you will be heading off on safari after your climb. If you prefer a more rustic setting, accommodation is also available at Marangu and Machame (the starting point is for the ascent routes of the same name). But it tends to be pricier than the cheaper options in Moshi and Arusha.”
4Are there day hikes or other day trips available at the base of Kilimanjaro?
“Plenty of day hikes are available at the base of Kilimanjaro. If you don't plan on doing a full Kilimanjaro climb, an undemanding and recommended alternative is the Shira Plateau Trail System. This hike takes place at an altitude of 3,500m/11,480ft on the eastern slopes and often provides close-up views of the snowcapped peak. If you're looking for a warm-up prior to Kilimanjaro mountain climbing, a popular option is the short guided hike to the 80m/262ft Materuni Falls on the forested southern foothills. A more demanding goal for a day hike is Meru Crater in Arusha National Park. This crater forms part of Mt Meru, Africa’s fifth-highest massif, and the day hike climbs as high as 2,600m/8,530ft, providing good acclimatization for Kilimanjaro. (Even better for acclimatization is the full 2- to 4-day hike to Meru’s 4,566m/14,980ft peak.) Another popular day trip near the base of Kilimanjaro is a short safari to look for elephants, buffalos, giraffes and a wide variety of antelopes, monkeys and birds in Arusha National Park. Alternatively, you could swim in the crystal-clear Kikuletwa Hot Springs or book a cultural village visit in and around Machame or Marangu.”
5