SummitClimb Kilimanjaro - Top of Africa

Felix Berg, CEO of SummitClimb, is an experienced high-altitude climber and expedition leader with ascents of Everest and other 8,000-meter peaks. He is responsible for organizing our—and therefore your—Kilimanjaro tour. He is a true expert on East Africa: He lived in Nairobi from 2002 to 2003, speaks Kiswahili, and has been organizing our operations in the region ever since. In addition to leading numerous guided tours on Kilimanjaro’s standard routes, he has also completed difficult first ascents on the rock faces and mountains of Kenya and Tanzania. To date, Felix has climbed Kilimanjaro 14 times with guests (satus: 2025).

Our local head guide, Yitzhack Mmasi, has climbed Kilimanjaro over 100 times—first as a porter and, for the past 15 years, as a mountain guide. He is open-minded, speaks fluent English, enjoys cooking, and provides participants with individual, friendly support on the mountain. Freedy and Frank are two more of our top guides on Kilimanjaro. They are all well-trained in first aid, as well as in the local flora and fauna, and are registered as guides with the Kilimanjaro National Park (KiNePa).

Your team consists of additional trekking guides (assistant mountain guides), an experienced cook, kitchen helpers, and enough porters to carry group equipment, food, and personal luggage. On average, there are three to four staff members per participant. All staff members are well known to us, and we have never had any issues with security (theft) or service. Each participant is assigned a personal porter, who is allowed to carry up to 18 kg per person, as regulated by the national park. If needed, additional porters can be hired for a small extra fee to carry special equipment, such as photography or camera gear.

Both easy and more adventurous routes invite you to climb Kibo. At Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), you will reach the ultimate high point—where no step in Africa leads higher. Here, you’ll find general information about the mountain, its routes, and Tanzania. But first, here are a few great reasons to choose your Kilimanjaro adventure with us:

• A friendly atmosphere: Safe & together on the way to Kibo
• Highly experienced trekking leaders & guides: Your well-coordinated Summit-Kilimanjaro team
• A reputable operator with fair conditions, based in Switzerland, and partner company in Tansania
• Top-quality equipment and excellent cuisine on the mountain
• 100% guaranteed departures for our group tours (max. 14 participants) to ensure your trip runs as scheduled
• Rongai / Umbwe / Lemosho Routes: Exciting trails off the crowded tourist paths—three programs to choose from, plus custom tours on request

On behalf of our entire team in Africa—our mountain guides and office staff: "Karibu Kilimanjaro – Welcome to Kilimanjaro!"

We offer three different trekking tours with set group departures. You’ll find all details, including itineraries, dates, services, and booking options, in the overview below with links to the respective pages.

Information about Tanzania

Tanzania (officially Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, or the United Republic of Tanzania) is located on the Indian Ocean and bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, lies entirely within Tanzania.

People: Tanzania is home to around 50 million people. The official language and common lingua franca is Swahili, although over 100 different ethnic languages are spoken throughout the country. Most of these are Bantu languages, followed by Nilotic, Cushitic, and Indian languages, as well as Arabic.

Language: More than 100 tribal languages are spoken across Tanzania. According to official language policy, Swahili is used for societal and political communication. English is introduced only at the secondary school level and in universities, making it less common among the general population. Most porters on Mount Kilimanjaro will not speak English, but you will be able to communicate with your local guides in English.

Climate: The timing of Tanzania's two rainy seasons (roughly April–May and October–December) has become increasingly difficult to predict. The “short rains” usually occur from October to December. On the relatively dry northern slopes of the Rongai Route (our route), climbing is generally still very feasible during this period.

Entry into Tanzania

Visa: Entry is straightforward at all major ports of entry, including Dar Es Salaam (DAR), Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Mwanza, Zanzibar (ZNZ), and at land borders with Kenya and Uganda. A visa is required for most foreign nationals (with the exception of EAC nationals – East African Community). The visa should be applied for online in advance, and is issued on arrival. It can also be obtained at the border if necessary.
Link: E-Visa Tanzania

Vaccinations: No mandatory vaccinations are required for travelers coming directly from Europe. However, standard vaccinations and hepatitis protection are strongly recommended. Exception: A yellow fever vaccination is mandatory if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic (e.g., Kenya during a Mount Kenya, Safari & Kilimanjaro trip, or Uganda).

Health on Mount Kilimanjaro

General: Common tropical diseases such as malaria and yellow fever are not found above 2,000 meters. However, during your time in Moshi, or if you’re continuing with a safari or beach holiday, appropriate precautions are advised.

COVID-19: While a COVID-19 vaccination certificate is no longer required. It is recommended if you are at risk (same with flu), especially given the discomfort a COVID infection could cause at altitude. If a test is needed, our team in Tanzania can arrange a PCR test quickly, easily, and affordably.

Malaria: Malaria prophylaxis is not necessary on the mountain, but there is a risk of infection at lower altitudes, including Moshi and other areas visited before or after the trek. Mosquitoes do not exist above 2,000 meters.

Hygiene: On the mountain, we place great importance on clean food and a hygienic kitchen. We also ask all participants to be mindful of their personal hygiene.

Of course, each route to the summit comes with its own unique challenges. For our three Kilimanjaro expeditions, we recommend the following:

Tour I – The Easiest Route to climb Kilimanjaro: For those with little or no previous hiking experience, we recommend the Rongai–Mawenzi Route. This route follows a consistent and gradual elevation profile on well-maintained trekking paths. It is especially well-suited for larger, mixed-ability groups and those new to mountain hiking.

Tour II & III – Exciting routes for experienced hikers: The Western Breach requires confidence in off-trail terrain and involves a challenging summit stage. These tours are ideal for those with solid hiking experience, and especially for mountaineers, offering a more adventurous and unique ascent of Kilimanjaro.