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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.
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Best Seller
7-Day Hiking Kilimanjaro via Lemosho Route
$1,900 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per group)BudgetMountain Hut & Camping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Foothills of Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Kilimanjaro Summit, Arusha (End)
Gamedrive Travel Africa Safari Agency
5.0/5 – 209 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
10-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho Trek
$4,646 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.9/5 – 133 Reviews
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8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro - Machame Route
$2,161 to $2,398 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut & Camping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Kilimanjaro Airport (End)
Kojuu Safaris Africa
5.0/5 – 20 Reviews
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6-Day Kilimanjaro Joining Group Machame Route Trekking
$1,414 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 20 people per group)BudgetMountain Hut & Camping
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
Burigi Chato Safaris
5.0/5 – 9 Reviews
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7-Day Best Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route
$2,000 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per group)BudgetMountain Hut & Camping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Machame Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Signature Safari
5.0/5 – 1 Reviews
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7-Day Marangu Rout Kilimanjaro Trekking-the Hut Trekk
$2,649 to $2,799 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak (Mt Kilimanjaro), Arusha (End)
Kilimanjaro Adventure Safari Club
5.0/5 – 117 Reviews
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9-Day Northern Circuit Climb
$2,380 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
EATL Tour Company
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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Best Seller
5-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route Summit Special
$1,390 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 10 people per group)BudgetMountain Hut
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
Alpine Chat Adventure
5.0/5 – 15 Reviews
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10-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking- Lemosho Route
$1,950 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut & Camping
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
Taste of Kilimanjaro Adventures
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route Trek
$2,595 to $2,725 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
African Big Cats Safaris
5.0/5 – 276 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
7-Day Kilimanjaro Hiking Through Machame Route
$1,799 to $1,819 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut & Camping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Kilimanjaro Summit, Arusha (End)
Colours Africa Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 142 Reviews
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6-Day Kilimanjaro Trekking Marangu Best Route
$1,900 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per group)BudgetMountain Hut
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Machame Gate (Mt Kilimanjaro), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Going Green Safari Tours Company
5.0/5 – 123 Reviews
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5-Day Special Offer - Kilimanjaro Climb Marangu Route
$1,199 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
Leken Adventure
5.0/5 – 23 Reviews
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5-Day Top Tanzania Safari Parks & Kilimanjaro Hike
$1,399 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Psalms Adventures
4.7/5 – 12 Reviews
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6-Day Kilimanjaro Marangu Route
$1,750 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per group)BudgetMountain Hut & Lodge
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Mt Kilimanjaro Summit, Moshi (End)
L S and Trekking
5.0/5 – 1 Reviews
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5-Day Kilimanjaro Climbing-Marangu Route
$1,511 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
Safari Nuggets
4.5/5 – 2 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
8-Day Kilimanjaro "Whiskey Route" Machame Route
$2,200 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 12 people per group)BudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Safari Soles
5.0/5 – 187 Reviews
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5-Day Kilimanjaro Mountain Trekking - Marangu Route
$1,150 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetMountain Hut
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
RajaTours Tanzania
4.8/5 – 84 Reviews
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9-Day Tanzania Nature, Wildlife, and Cultural Experience
$3,284 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Kilimanjaro Airport, Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Nature in Spirit Travel
5.0/5 – 5 Reviews
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6-Day Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro Through Machame Route
$1,620 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 7 people per group)BudgetBush Camp
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Moshi (End)
Kitonga Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 20 Reviews
5 Questions About Mt Kilimanjaro Budget Tours

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.
5 Questions About Mt Kilimanjaro Budget Tours

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.”
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