If you’re planning a Kilimanjaro trek, it’s important to understand what these fees include and how they contribute to the overall cost. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
1. Conservation Fees
The conservation fee is the largest single component of the park fees. Every trekker is charged $70 per day, which helps fund the protection, maintenance, and management of the park. For instance, if you’re trekking for 7 days, the total conservation fee would be $490 (7 days x $70/day).
2. Camping Fees
For most routes, trekkers will camp overnight in designated campsites. The camping fee is $50 per night per person. For a typical 7-day trek, which involves 6 nights of camping, the total camping fee would be $300 (6 nights x $50/night).
3. Hut Fees (Marangu Route Only)
If you opt for the Marangu route, the only route where trekkers stay in huts instead of tents, the hut fee is $60 per night. For example, a 6-day Marangu trek involves 5 nights in huts, resulting in a total hut fee of $300 (5 nights x $60/night).
4. Rescue Fees
Even if you don’t need to be rescued, the National Park charges a mandatory rescue fee of $20 per trekker. This fee covers potential emergency services during your climb.
5. Crater Camping Fees
For those seeking a more unique experience by camping inside Kilimanjaro’s crater, an additional $100 per night per trekker is required. This fee only applies if you’re planning to camp inside the summit crater.
6. Guide and Porter Fees
Kilimanjaro National Park also requires entrance fees for guides and porters. This fee is $2 per guide or porter per trip, but it is usually negligible and divided among the group.
7. VAT (Value Added Tax)
Since 2016, the Tanzanian government has applied an 18% VAT to all park fees. This tax adds significantly to the total cost.
Breaking Down Kilimanjaro Climbing Costs by Route
To give you a better understanding of how these fees accumulate, let’s look at a common route: the 7-day Lemosho Route.
- Conservation fee: 7 days x $70/day = $490
- Camping fee: 6 nights x $50/night = $300
- Rescue fee: $20
Total park fee before VAT: $820
Total park fee after 18% VAT: $955.80 per trekker
Other Kilimanjaro Routes
- Machame 6 days: $814.20 per person
- Machame 7 days: $955.80 per person
- Lemosho 7 days: $955.80 per person
- Lemosho 8 days: $1097.40 per person
- Marangu 5 days: $719.80 per person
- Marangu 6 days: $873.20 per person
- Rongai 6 days: $814.20 per person
- Rongai 7 days: $955.80 per person
- Umbwe 6 days: $814.20 per person
- Umbwe 7 days: $955.80 per person
- Northern Circuit 8 days: $1097.40 per person
- Northern Circuit 9 days: $1239.00 per person