Transparent Pricing
What Is Included in the Combo
A complete breakdown of what the Kilimanjaro + Safari package price includes — and what it does not.
The quoted package price for a Kilimanjaro climb and Tanzania safari combination covers a defined set of services and fees. This page is a transparent breakdown of what is included and what you need to budget for separately.
Reputable operators are explicit about what is included. If a price looks significantly lower than competitors, verify what is actually included — some operators add park fees, transfer costs, or equipment rental as supplementary charges at the end.
Phase 1
The Climb — What Is Included
Guides & Staff
- — Professional Kilimanjaro guide (licensed, first-aid trained, English-speaking)
- — Assistant guides (ratio: 1 guide per 2-3 climbers on most routes)
- — Porters (your duffel bag is carried by porters — you only carry a daypack)
- — A cook who prepares hot meals at altitude
- — A server/waiter at camp
Not Included
Tipping for guides, porters, and cook — this is customary and separate from the package price
Accommodation
- — Camping accommodation on the mountain (tent, sleeping mat)
- — Hut accommodation on the Marangu route
- — All camp site fees and park camping fees
- — One night at an Arusha lodge before the climb (most packages)
- — One night at an Arusha lodge after the climb (most packages)
Not Included
Personal camping equipment (sleeping bag, sleeping mat) — rentable or purchasable separately
Meals on the Mountain
- — Three meals per day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- — Hot drinks: tea, coffee, hot chocolate at camp
- — Clean drinking water: boiled and filtered at camp
- — Supplementary snacks: biscuits, peanuts, fruit
Park Fees & Permits
- — Kilimanjaro National Park entry fee
- — Camping fees (if applicable)
- — Rescue fee (levied by Kilimanjaro National Park)
- — Conservation fees
- — All summit certificates (your name is registered with the park authority)
Logistics
- — Airport transfers (Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha and return)
- — Ground transport Arusha to the trailhead and return
- — All equipment: tents, cooking equipment, dining tent, camp chairs
- — Emergency evacuation coverage (standard in reputable packages)
Phase 2
The Safari — What Is Included
Guides & Staff
- — Professional safari guide (licensed, English-speaking, experienced in the parks visited)
- — Driver/guide for all game drives
- — A cook for camps (if staying at tented camps without kitchen)
Not Included
Tipping for guide — this is customary and separate from the package price
Accommodation
- — All accommodation during the safari (tented camps or lodges as specified)
- — All park accommodation fees
- — Single supplement if you request a private room (standard rooms are often shared/double)
Not Included
Personal expenses: minibar, laundry, premium drinks at lodges
Meals
- — Three meals per day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- — Bottled water during game drives
- — Tea, coffee, and cold drinks at camp/lodge
Not Included
Alcoholic beverages at lodges and camps — this is typically a significant additional cost
Park Fees & Activities
- — All national park entry fees (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, or as specified in your itinerary)
- — All game drive vehicle fees
- — Crater service fee (Ngorongoro)
- — All scheduled activities: game drives, boat safaris (Selous), walking safaris (where applicable)
- — All park camping fees or lodge accommodation fees as specified
Transport
- — 4x4 safari vehicle (usually Land Cruiser or similar) for all game drives
- — Ground transport between safari locations
- — Domestic flights: Arusha to the safari parks and return (if included in your package)
- — Airport transfers during safari (if applicable)
Typically Not Included
These items are separate from the package price and need to be budgeted individually.
International flights
Your flights to and from Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) are not included. Most travellers fly through Nairobi (NBO) or Doha (DOH) or Istanbul (IST).
Travel insurance
Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory — including medical evacuation coverage for both the climb and safari. Budget $104–$312 for a 2-week policy. Verify your policy covers high-altitude trekking (above 5,000m).
Visa fees
Tanzania tourist visa: $52 (US citizens pay $104). The visa is available on arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport or can be pre-applied for online. East African Tourist Visa (Kenya + Tanzania + Uganda): $104 — useful if you are combining with Kenya.
Vaccinations and medications
Yellow fever vaccination (required if arriving from a yellow fever country — check current requirements). Anti-malaria prophylaxis. Hepatitis A and Typhoid are recommended. Budget $52–$208 depending on your home country's requirements.
Climbing and personal gear
Sleeping bag (rated to -15°C for summit night), sleeping mat, hiking boots, technical clothing layers, down jacket for summit night. These can be rented locally (budget $52–$104 for a complete rental kit) or purchased in Arusha (budget $208–$624 for quality gear).
Personal expenses
Tips for guides and porters (budget $208–$416 per person for the combined climb and safari tip pool), alcohol, souvenirs, laundry, personal purchases. Most travellers spend $208–$520 on tips and personal expenses combined.
Meals in Arusha
Lunch and dinner in Arusha before or after the climb. Arusha has excellent restaurants and the cost of meals is reasonable. Budget $21–$52 per day depending on choice.
Phone calls and internet
SIM cards are available in Arusha (Tigo, Vodacom, Airtel). Data packages are cheap ($5–$21). There is no phone signal on the mountain above 3,000m.
Gear rental in Arusha
If you are not bringing your own climbing kit, you can rent in Arusha. A complete rental kit (sleeping bag, mat, down jacket, boots) costs approximately $52–$104 for the duration.
Tipping Guide
Tips are not included and are customary in Tanzania. Here is what to budget.
Climb
$$16–25 per climber per day for the guide tip pool (split among all climbing staff: guides, porters, cook)
per climber per day for the tip pool
Estimated total: $156–$260 per climber for a 7-9 day climb
The tip pool is divided among all support staff based on the number of days and role. The lead guide receives the largest share; porters receive the smallest.
Safari
$$16–25 per traveller per day for the guide
per traveller per day for the guide
Estimated total: $104–$182 per traveller for a 4-6 day safari
Safari tips are typically given directly to the guide at the end of the safari, in cash.
What's Included — Frequently Asked
Are park fees included in the package price?
In virtually all legitimate Kilimanjaro + safari combo packages, national park fees are included in the stated price. Verify this explicitly when comparing packages — some operators quote a low base price and add park fees as a supplementary charge. Reputable operators list park fees as included or clearly separate.
Is tipping included in the package price?
No — tipping is not included and is customary in Tanzania. The tip pool for a combined climb + safari (7-9 day climb, 4-6 day safari) typically comes to $312–$624 per traveller in total, paid at the end of each component. Your lead guide will facilitate the tip pool and distribute it to the support staff.
Can I rent climbing gear in Arusha?
Yes — Arusha has gear rental shops with complete kits available. A full kit (sleeping bag, sleeping mat, down jacket, boots, daypack) costs approximately $52–$104 for the duration. Verify quality before relying on rental gear — read recent reviews of the rental operator.
What should I budget for meals in Arusha?
Arusha has excellent restaurants. A good dinner with drinks costs $16–$42 per person. Lunch is typically lighter at $8–$21. Budget $52–$104 for all meals in Arusha over 2-3 days before and after the main trip.
Is the domestic flight between the climb and safari included?
This depends on your specific package. Some packages include the flight from the mountain area back to Arusha and then the flight or drive to the safari parks. Other packages price these separately. Confirm explicitly what is included before booking.
Should I bring USD or pay in local currency?
USD is widely accepted in Tanzania for park fees, tips, and optional extras. You will need Tanzanian shillings (TZS) for small purchases in Arusha, roadside stalls, and tips. ATMs in Arusha dispense TZS. Carry a small amount of USD cash for tips and emergencies.
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