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If conquering Africa’s highest peak has always been on your bucket list, this trip is for you! Embark on an exhilarating Mount Kilimanjaro climbing expedition, where you will push your limits and experience the incredible beauty of the surrounding landscapes.
Now, getting to the top of the world’s highest single free-standing mountain above sea level is NOT easy! Reaching the summit (5,895m/19,341 ft) entails several days of uphill hiking at high altitude. Summit day is a seemingly never-ending slog up in the dark and cold early morning, and while reaching the top is a huge emotional moment, it’s quickly followed by a long arduous, knee-bashing walk back down.
If the above excites you more than it scares you, then this trip is definitely for you!
We’re going to put every chance on our side by trekking the 8 day Lenosho route, which allows for a slower climb up and a much better altitude acclimatization schedule. The main reason for failure is going up too fast, and we’re definitely not going to take any chances! Our itinerary is about 2 days more than most other companies provide, meaning we’ll benefit from more time to acclimatize.
Our head guide has a 98%+ summit success rate — and 100% with travelers we’ve sent his way! — and our local team of guides, porters and tent crew will ensure that our camp is always set up by the time we arrive and welcome us with a nice hot cup of coffee or tea! We’ll be bunking up in the most comfortable tents and mattresses possible. We’ll even have our own portable toilets so we’re not using the horrible ones at each camps! All you need to do is carry your water and a small backpack with essentials.
But the best thing of all will be the cook & kitchen team, who will ensure we’re well fed with the best cuisine on the mountain, and all 100% plant-based to boot! No need to climb the mountain on rice and beans. We’ll be having delicious, creative and nutritious meals all the way up and down!
Upon our return to civilization, we’ve included a much needed laundry day (of course!) and a final dinner feast party to celebrate our adventure together.
And as an incredible bonus, we’ve also included an amazing fun safari day in Tarangire National Park before we start trekking, the perfect activity to both help settle any jet lag and start bonding as the group of intrepid adventurers we all are 🙂 We’ll hope to see elephants, zebras, lions, giraffes and more! This is the ultimate African adventure!
So start breaking in those hiking boots, do some practice hikes and come join us on the expedition of a lifetime: Mount Kilimanjaro, here we come!
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, at 5895m/19341ft. While summiting requires no special mountaineering skills or technical gear, and the trail isn’t usually steep (except summit day), the effect of altitude will make it much more difficult than your typical uphill hike. The descent is also a long knee-bashing affair.
It’s also important to note that the pace of this hike may be slower than you’re used to, in order to help adjust our bodies to the altitude (see below).
The climb enters the zone where you will definitely feel the altitude (more difficult to breathe and sleep, etc.) and it’s important to note that most people do get some form of accute mountain sickness (AMS). At its mildest, this means a headache and it usually will go away after a few minutes or hours of pausing any ascent and resting a bit.
The only way to try and prevent any form of altitude sickness is to climb slowly. As such, we’ve chosen a longer route (8 days instead of the often-trekked 6 days) in order to help adjust our bodies to the altitude.
We will have a team of mountain doctors who will monitor us at all times, but it’s important to know that anyone can suddenly suffer from more severe altitude sickness symptoms at any time and at this stage the only solution is to descend immediately and possibly forget about summiting.
Because of the support of our amazing mountain team — porters (you just need to carry your daypack!), camp staff (who will set up/take down your tent and bed) and kitchen staff (who will welcome you with a hot drink and re-calorize you!) — this may be a higher level of “camping” that you are used to. Still, you should be prepared for 8 days without showering, using portable non-flush toilets and night-time temperatures that can get very cold (especially above 3500m/ 11480ft). You should also be prepared for rain and dusty conditions.
It should not be underestimated. Trekking at altitude in a remote location can be dangerous, and every year it’s estimated over 1,000 people are evacuated from the mountain and sadly, some never return to their families.
Key factors affecting your safety on Kilimanjaro:
In order to put your safety first, and give you every chance possible at a successful summit, we’ve focues on the following points:
PROFESSIONAL MOUNTAIN GUIDES: our lead guide is amazing. He has around 98% summit success — and 100% with the guests we’ve sent him through several years! This is not by chance. Daniel is an absolute pro who puts safety and health over profits. Him and his team have summited Kilimanjaro more times than they can remember and know the mountain inside out. They will be able to adapt our pace, climb speed and rest periods on the fly, and ensure that we are always properly hydrated, fed and rested.
MOUNTAIN DOCTORS: with 1 mountain doctor for every 5 guests, we will be constantly monitored for any altitude symptoms, as well as hydration, physical fitness, etc. They all have their Wilderness First Responders certificate: this is highest standard of guide training on Kilimanjaro and an internationally recognized gold standard in outdoor emergency medical care. It is awarded by the Sentinel Outdoor Institute following an 80-hour course and passage of written and practical exams. It requires renewal every two years This means we’re trekking up Kilimanjaro with the best of the best!
EMERGENCY OXYGEN & MEDICAL SUPPLIES: our team will carry supplemental oxygen for emergency use only, as well as fully kitted first aid medical kit.
TBC: ~7995$/person in a shared double/twin room
Yes. Cost TBD.
Summer 2026
Arusha, Tanzania
10-20 trekkers
Pre-Registration. This trip is scheduled for summer 2026.
The itinerary below is there to serve as an example only, based on our previous trips to Tanzania. An updated itinerary will be posted once our dates have been confirmed and the trip goes live for bookings.
We will be meeting at our hotel in Arusha in the afternoon, where we’ll introduce each other and have a briefing from our head trekking guide.
After a toast to our upcoming adventures, we’ll head off to our first group dinner. Time to get those calories in!
Accommodation:
TBC
Included:
airport pickup
welcome meeting & drinks
dinner
non-premium drinks during dinner
all transportation once the trip begins
Excluded:
breakfast & lunch
premium drinks
After a full vegan breakfast, we’ll board our jeeps for the 2 hours drive to Tarangire National Park, the 6th largest National Park in Tanzania. The park is most popular for its large elephant herds and mini-wildlife migration that takes place during the dry season which sees about 250,000 animals enter the park!
Apart from being home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa with several herds of up to 300 members per herd, there are large numbers of impalas, elands, buffaloes, giraffes, wildebeests and zebras, Bohor reedbuck, Coke’s hartebeest, Thompson’s gazelle, the greater and lesser kudu and on rare occasions, the unusual gerenuk and fringe –eared Oryx are also seen. wildebeests and zebras.
Predator sightings are also possible, including leopards, lion and cheetah that seem to be popular within the southern open areas.
The birds within the Tarangire are also quite many, there are over 545 species that have been identified here. The stunning yellow collared lovebirds and the shy starlings are in plenty here in addition to other species.
We will spend about 4-5 hours on safari — including lunch — before returning (2hrs) to our Arusha hotel for a rest and early dinner. Trekking starts tomorrow, so enjoy the last comfy bed for the next week!
Accommodation:
TBC
Included:
safari day in Tarangire National Park
breakfast, lunch & dinner
non-premium drinks during meals
all transportation
Excluded:
premium drinks
Elevation: 2389m/7838ft to 2785m/9137ft
Altitude gained: 396m
Departing from Arusha, a 2hr drive will take you through welcoming mountainside villages to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.
Elevation: 2785m/9137ft to 3504m/11,496ft
Altitude gained: 719m
After a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, we leave the forest behind now, the trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. Temperatures begin to drop.
Elevation: 3504m/11,496ft to 3895m/12,779ft
Altitude gained: 391m
We explore the Shira plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. Then we continue to Moir Hut, a little-used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth.
Elevation: 3895m/12,779ft to 3986m/13,077ft
Altitude gained: 91m
Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization. From Shira Plateau we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the Kibo peak before we then continue, South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev. 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower, we come to a second junction, which leads to the Arrow Glacier. We then continue to descend to overnight at Barranco Camp.
Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft
Altitude gained: 48m
After breakfast, we continue on a steep ridge up to the adventurous Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction, which connects, with the Mweka Trail. This is one of the most impressive days to see the power, agility, and strength of your crew zip over this wall with what appears such ease. Overnight at Karanga Camp.
Elevation: 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft
Altitude gained: 628m
We continue up toward Barafu Camp, and once reached you have now completed the South Circuit, which offers a variety of breathtaking views of the summit from many different angles. An early dinner and rest as we prepare for summit night. Overnight at Barafu Camp.
Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude gained: 1233m
Descent to 3106m/10,190ft
Altitude lost: 2789m
Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
We continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here on your remaining 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way.
Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!
After photos, celebrations and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight Mweka Camp.
Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft
Altitude lost: 1473m
After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles.
From the gate, a vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha. Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!
Accommodation:
TBC
Included:
breakfast, lunch & dinner
non-premium drinks during meals
all transportation
Excluded:
premium drinks
Today is a free day to rest up and perhaps go for a swim at the hotel’s pool or — better yet — a massage!
We also have a much needed free laundry day today.
Then in the late afternoon, it’s time to assemble once again — all showered up and freshen up! Will we recognize each other? — and enjoy a celebratory dinner feast!
Accommodation:
TBC
Included:
breakfast, lunch & dinner
non-premium drinks during meals
all transportation
Excluded:
premium drinks
Today is sadly our departure day. We will be including a transfer to Arusha or Kilimanjaro airport on this day only. If you are staying in Arusha longer, your hotel will be able to help you with transportation to the hotel once you are ready to leave.
Whatever your plans, here at World Vegan Travel thank you so very much for entrusting us with your precious holiday time, and hope we’ll get to see each other somewhere in the world again soon!
Included:
breakfast
transfer to the airport or another hotel
Excluded:
lunch & dinner
Solo Travelers can choose to:
SHARING ROOM & TENT WITH ANOTHER SOLO TRAVELER: let us know if you are interested in sharing and we will put you in touch with another traveler of the same gender who is also interested. You can then decide if you want to share or not. Please note that this is not guaranteed!
We expect this trip to sell out quickly so ensure your spot on the trip and sign up early by paying the sign-up deposit (2000$/person).
The sign-up deposit is non-refundable as this trip is 100% confirmed.
In order to sign up, fill in the form on this page. Any problems or questions? Email us!
If you are signing up as a single, please read our single travelers section for more information and the single supplement cost.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Following the sign-up deposit (PAYMENT #1), the remaining balance will be due in 2 installments:
We can work with you on a payment plan: pay your trip in the usual 2 installments, or opt for several. Contact us to discuss what works best for you!
PAYMENT METHODS
We currently accept US DOMESTIC BANK TRANSFERS and CREDIT CARDS PAYMENTS.
EXTRA PAYMENT FEES
Online Bank Payment – US only: also called eCheck or ACH, we do not charge a fee for this, although your bank may do so. Please inquire with them directly.
Credit card payment: the following fees will be added to the total:
Since our trips are highly catered and made of activities that need a lot of planning and organization, all payments (the initial 1500$ sign-up deposit, 50% deposit and final payment) are all non-refundable. This is because we must forward payments for accommodation, transportation, suppliers, etc. very early on, in order to privatize our accommodation, activities and our meals.
To see our booking terms and conditions you can click here. You will find the cancellation policy in section 9 and 10.
TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE – MANDATORY
This is a requirement to join a World Vegan Travel trip. We need to know you are covered for any medical situation, including evacuation, in case of emergency. You will need to provide a policy and emergency contact number in order to join the trip. This can be done just prior to the trip’s date.
Trip Insurance (ie. covering your flight tickets, luggage, etc.) is definitely recommended as well, but not mandatory.
ITINERARY
The itinerary is therefore subject to change, especially if we find an experience that we believe would make the trip even better.
DIET RESTRICTION & ALLERGIES
We do try to accommodate everyone’s food restrictions, especially allergies. We can only do so if you let us know of any requirements when you sign up. We begin working with all our hotels and restaurants a long time in advance, and meals are usually locked several months before the trip. At this point, it is often no longer possible to change menus.
In other words: it is your responsibility to alert us of any dietary requirements, restrictions, allergies and needs, when you sign up.
We do realize our prices seem high. However, when compared to many other tours to the region, we are actually comparatively priced when you take into account that our trips include all meals (and vegan to boot!) and drinks, all the tips for drivers and local guides, and many other extras like a amenities/essentials bag, a free laundry day, and more.
It’s also worth noting that there aren’t many 100% fully vegan tours to Tanzania. As such, our trip cost does factor in the lengthy and hard work done with all our hotels, restaurants and local partners in educating and preparing them for our visit (meals, advocacy, toiletries, etc), which is far beyond any tasks that other tour companies are faced with. This work begins several months before the trip, and approaches full-time hours around 2-3 months prior to the trip’s start date.
We also realize that for many, these types of trips are something they’ve dreamed about for many years. As such, we’ve constructed an itinerary that will make this trip truly memorable in regards to our accommodation, meals, and choice of activities.
Absolutely! We have many people on our trip that sign up as singles, although do note that this incurs a single supplement. Please see our COST & SIGN-UP section for more information.
FLIGHTS
You are in charge of your own transportation — whether it be flights, train, bus, car, etc. — to our starting city, and your return transportation from our departure city.
For your arrival, we ask that you try and arrive early on the first day, as our first meeting tends to be in the afternoon. This exact time and place will be confirmed at a later date, but do plan ahead adequately to leave you enough time to get to our meeting place by that time. Even better is arriving one or more days before. This would provide you with a chance to take care of jet-lag and visit the town.
Please note that your transportation to our first meeting point is not included.
VISAS
Most foreign passport holders need a tourist or business visa to enter Tanzania. Tanzania has introduced an ‘e-visas’ system through which applications can be submitted and approved online in advance of travel. We will send you all the necessary information upon your booking.
Your passport should be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive.
TRAVEL/MEDICAL INSURANCE
Medical travel insurance is mandatory on our trip. We need to have assurances that you are fully covered in the event of a medical emergency, including repatriation. You will need to send us your policy detail and emergency contact number before the trip’s start date.
Trip Insurance (trip cancellation, lost baggage, etc.), on the other hand, is entirely up to you, though we highly recommend purchasing it. It often comes packaged along with medical travel insurance, or you may get coverage simply by paying for the trip using a credit card (inquire with your card supplier).
As we are not a travel agency or booking agents, we can’t book any flights or ongoing travel (ie hotels, transportation, etc) for you. However we can surely help with recommendations, suggestions and tips as you look into flights, or extending your holiday. It never hurts to ask, so don’t hesitate to contact us with any queries whatsoever!
Mount Kilimanjaro experiences significant temperature fluctuations throughout the day, ranging from scorching heat to extremely cold conditions. However, these temperature changes are not influenced by seasonal shifts but rather by the altitude and time of day.
At the mountain’s base, the average temperature hovers around 21 to 27 °C, (69-80 Farenheit) while at the summit, Uhuru Peak, nighttime temperatures can drop between -7 to -29 degress Celcius (20 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit). Kilimanjaro, like other large mountains, generates its own weather patterns, leading to highly unpredictable and variable conditions for hikers. They must be prepared to encounter warm, sunny weather, as well as rain, wind, cold, and even snow.
Although we’ve decided to climb Kilimanjaro during the ideal “dry” season, rain and snow can occur at any time throughout the year. As one ascends, temperatures can change drastically, shifting from blazing sunshine to bitterly cold winds in a matter of moments.
Kilimanjaro’s immense height of 5895m / 19,341 ft above sea level allows it to create its own unique weather systems. Situated on the equator, the mountain disrupts the trade winds (also known as ‘monsoons’) that carry moisture from the ocean, causing them to rise towards the summit and cool down, resulting in precipitation in the form of rain and snow.
We will send you a list of things to pack upon booking, but it’s important to note that sleeping bag and trekking poles are not included. You can choose to bring your own, or rent on-site, although finding a synthetic bag (as opposed to down) is difficult in Tanzania. If this bothers you, then it’s best to bring your own sleeping bag. We recommend a 4-season or -20 Deg C sleeping bag and compression sack.
For your main gear, we recommend using a 80-90L duffle bag. Large rucksacks (>65L) can also work. This will be carried by your porter so the size is important as to not overwhelm him!
You should also bring a water bottle or water bladder, neck gaiter/scarf (it can get dusty on the mountain), warm beanie, sun hat, headlamp, sunglasses, and warm clothing (mittens/gloves, etc).
You will need sturdy hiking boots as well. We recommend mid-weight boots with good angle support.
Training shoes to walk around the camp after a day’s trek is recommended. So much more comfortable to take off those hiking boots after all that walking!
In terms of clothing: layers, layers, layers!
Again, a full list will be sent to you after booking.
Altitude sickness remains the primary concern for Kilimanjaro trekkers. As you ascend, the decreasing air pressure makes breathing more difficult due to reduced oxygen intake. Insufficient oxygen can be harmful to vital organs, especially the brain, leading to malfunctions and potentially fatal consequences.
Acute mountain sickness (AMS), also known as altitude sickness, occurs when the body fails to adapt to the altitude’s lower air pressure. There are three levels of AMS: mild, moderate, and severe.
Most Kilimanjaro climbers experience mild to moderate symptoms of AMS, which can often improve with rest and halting further ascent. It’s highly likely you might get a couple of headaches — often more of a nuisance than actual pain — when we start getting around the 3200m-4000m zone. Hopefully this subsides after some hot tea and a bit of rest.
However, for those with moderate AMS, closer monitoring is necessary as symptoms can worsen and progress to severe AMS. In severe cases, immediate descent is crucial for the individual’s safety, even if it means descending in the dark.
It’s important to note that we will have mountain doctors with us on the trek who will be monitoring us and making sure that we don’t put ourselves in jeopardy. We’ll have to agree to listen — and obey! — to their advice, even if it means going down.
Your phone should work in Tanzania, provided that you’ve purchased an international plan from your provider. An alternative is to purchase a local SIM card (make sure your phone is unlocked).
As you might expect, cellular service is neither consistent nor reliable on the mountain. However, there are a handful of locations where you might be able to get a signal. Though these areas are limited usually to one or two chances per day. Of course you’ll need to be careful with using your battery!
Our hotels will have WIFI, but there is no such service on the mountain.
We provide all accommodation, transportation and meals. All expenses during our included activities are taken care of, including tips for guides and drivers. You should not need to carry any cash on the mountain.
You will then only need cash for extra purchases such as souvenirs, extra drinks outside of what’s included, extra snacks, etc. There are ATMs in Arusha credit cards are accepted in some restaurants and shops. This mostly means Visa and MasterCard, with American Express having quite a lower acceptance rate outside of hotels and higher-end restaurants.
Tipping hotel and restaurant staff is not necessary and entirely up to you.
Our trips offer a diverse array of delectable vegan and gourmet cuisine, including vegan versions of traditional meat dishes as well as plant-based meats and other processed options. However, our ability to accommodate specific food preferences or allergies is contingent upon the type of trip and the number of individuals with particular dietary requirements already booked on the trip.
If you have any specific dietary needs or food preferences, we kindly ask you to contact Brighde at [email protected] before finalizing your booking. Please provide her with detailed information about your dietary needs or preferences, and ensure you receive a written response from Brighde before finalizing your trip booking. Your cooperation and understanding in this matter are greatly appreciated.
Please note that any additional requests made after the booking has been completed might not be able to be accommodated.
Youth above 16 years young are welcome. We are currently not accepting any younger children.
There’s no upper age limit, though do note that there is a fair amount of walking on this trip.
World Vegan Travel aims to be a safe place for all LGBTQ travelers. We have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination of any sort.
Unfortunately, Tanzania doesn’t have the best reputation in regards to the LGBTQ community as we’d hope for. Homosexuality is actually illegal and carries a hefty jail sentence. In general, being gay is still largely a taboo subject, and many locals take the attitude that it’s a foreign, un-African practice.
Nevertheless, most locals in the tourism industry do accept that non-African visitors may be gay, so you’ll receive no discrimination. However, complete discretion is advised, whilst noting that even public displays of affection between a heterosexual couple are frowned upon.
If discreet, there should be no problem while on the mountain.