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The climb and a safari
A night near the mountain to rest and meet the team, eight days on the mountain, a night to recover, then four nights between Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.
Africa's highest summit
Kilimanjaro, then a safari or the sea
Standing on the roof of Africa is something people carry with them for the rest of their lives. Kilimanjaro's summit, Uhuru Peak, sits at 5,895 metres. You need no ropes or climbing experience, just good preparation, enough days and the right people beside you. A specialist mountain team from our partner network leads the climb, and we plan the journey around it, from your arrival to a safari or a beach afterwards.
How it works
What does it take to climb Kilimanjaro?
Kilimanjaro is a mountain of contrasts. You start in lush forest, climb through open moorland and volcanic country, and finish in the cold, bare alpine world below the summit. Each day feels different. The climb is a long trek rather than a technical ascent, and the real challenge is altitude, which can affect anyone, however fit. Before you book, our mountain partners talk you through the realities honestly. Afterwards, they guide your preparation around your own experience, abilities and worries.
On the mountain, an established Tanzanian team of guides, cooks and porters looks after the camps, the food and your wellbeing day by day. Every climber needs a park permit through a registered Tanzanian operator and a licensed guide, and the team arranges both. Climbers often say the people on the mountain become one of the best parts of the whole trip.
Planning it properly
The climb, and everything around it
Prepared before you arrive
Preparation is part of the experience. You get personal guidance on fitness, kit and what each day will really feel like, so you arrive informed and ready rather than anxious.
The right route and enough days
For most climbers, our mountain partners recommend an eight-day climb on the Umbwe route, which gives time to acclimatise and room to adjust. Other routes, such as Lemosho, Machame and Marangu, are talked through if they suit you better.
The right season
The drier windows, roughly January to early March and June to October, are the most popular. April, May and November bring the rains, with quieter trails and harder conditions.
Then a safari or the sea
Tanzania's northern parks, from Tarangire to the Serengeti, start from Arusha, close to the mountain. Zanzibar is a short flight away. After a week on the mountain, either feels well earned.
Sample journeys
Three ways to build the trip
Each one is a starting point. The route, the number of days on the mountain and the rest of the trip are all part of the planning conversation.
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The climb and Zanzibar
The climb, then a short flight to Zanzibar for five nights on the beach, with a morning in Stone Town before you fly home.
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Safari, summit and sea
A few days on safari to adjust, then the climb, then Zanzibar. A long trip, and the one we would choose if you have the time.
From a recent trip
★★★★★
When you make your exclusive customised travel booking with Marula Hill you can expect friendly, swift and professional service. Also expect honest, clear and continuous communication with regards to the arrangements.
EC RW, on their second booking with Marula Hill
The process
Safari planning, done properly
There is no algorithm picking your lodges. From the first message to the day you fly home, you deal with real people who care about this as deeply as you do.
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A real conversation first
We start with a call or a long message. No commitment, no quote forms. We want to understand the trip you are imagining, your travel history, your budget, and what you have always quietly wanted Africa to give you.
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A proposal that surprises you
We do not just suggest the obvious. We bring options you would not have found on your own: the newly reopened concession, the off-peak rate at the lodge that is usually full, the combination of regions that works for your dates.
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We refine until it is right
We iterate together. There is no pressure. Some clients take three conversations to land a trip, others take two weeks. We only confirm the booking when you are completely certain.
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We are with you the whole way
Pre-trip prep, packing notes, what to expect on the ground. A direct line to us while you are travelling. If anything changes on the trip, we handle it before you have to think about it.
Ready to start?
The safari you have quietly been thinking about
No commitment. No quote forms. Just a conversation with people who know the continent and know how to get you there in style.
Send a quick WhatsAppCommon questions
Kilimanjaro questions
How hard is it to climb Kilimanjaro?
You do not need ropes or climbing experience, but it is a long, demanding trek, and summit night is cold and slow. The real challenge is altitude, which can affect anyone, however fit. Good preparation, a slow pace and enough days make the biggest difference.
Is reaching the summit guaranteed?
No. Altitude affects people differently, and no honest mountain team can promise a summit. What good preparation, enough days and an experienced team give you is the best possible chance, and the judgement to turn round if that is the right call.
Who leads the climb?
A specialist mountain team from our partner network, with many years of guiding on Kilimanjaro and a local crew of guides, cooks and porters. We look after the rest of your journey, so you have one point of contact from first idea to flight home.
How many days do you need to climb Kilimanjaro?
Most routes take six to nine days on the mountain. Our mountain partners recommend eight days for most climbers, because longer climbs give your body more time to adjust to the altitude. Add a night before and after for arrival and recovery.
What is the minimum age to climb Kilimanjaro?
Park rules set 10 as the minimum age for climbing above 3,700 metres, and many mountain teams recommend older for a summit attempt. We check any family plans with the team before booking.
When is the best time to climb Kilimanjaro?
January to early March and June to October are the drier, more popular windows. The long rains in April and May, and the shorter rains in November, mean quieter trails but wetter, harder conditions.
Can I combine Kilimanjaro with a safari and a beach?
Yes, and that is the point of planning it with us. Tanzania's northern parks are close by and Zanzibar is a short flight away, so all three fit into one trip.
From the journal
Reading before the climb
Guides
BA's new Tanzania flights: how to build a safari and Zanzibar trip that flows
Fly into the safari, fly home from the beach. How to use BA's new Tanzania route without spending half your holiday in transit.
Read the guide
Guides
Tarangire: Tanzania's other great safari park
Huge elephant herds, ancient baobabs, and very few crowds. Here's why we include Tarangire in nearly every northern Tanzania itinerary.
Read the guide
Guides
Where the herds are: the Great Migration month by month
The migration moves all year. Here is where the herds tend to be in each season, and how we plan a trip around them.
Read the guide
Owner-led
A planner, not a call centre
On the ground
Based in Greater Kruger
Plan it properly
Tell us what you are imagining
Tell us roughly what you are thinking. Vikki or Sian will reply personally.
Plan it properly
Tell us what you are imagining
Three ways to begin. Pick whichever feels easiest.
By note
Start with a note
Tell us roughly what you are thinking. Vikki or Sian will reply personally.
Send a noteBy email
Send us an email
Write to Sian directly, with Vikki copied. No forms in between.
Email usBy WhatsApp
Send a WhatsApp
Quickest if you have a short question. We answer between game drives and meetings.
Open WhatsApp