Mount Kilimanjaro
Last update: September 2005
Cars hired in Kenya can normally not be taken into Tanzania. However public road transport is available, usually requiring a change at the border crossing at Namanga. There is at least one Akamba bus to Namanga per day (depot at Lagos Road) and several 'speed taxis', minibuses and 'matatus' from the Esso Petrol Station on the junction River Road/Ronald Ngala Street.
The Davanu Shuttle is by far the most popular transport between Nairobi, Arusha and Moshi. From Nairobi, it costs 1,000 KSh (Non residents US$30) each way to Arusha, and leaves daily from outside the Norfolk and New Stanley hotels (You can be picked up from anywhere within the city centre or from any Hotel in Nairobi). Both at Nairobi and Arusha, it leaves 0800 and 1400. For Moshi the shuttle costs K.Shs. 1500/= (Non residents US$35) and there is only departure daily at 0800. Contact in Nairobi is 222002 or 316929 (tel) and 216475 (fax). Contact in Arusha is 0744 400 318.
Riverside Shuttle offers the same time schedule and cost as Davanu Shuttle. Contact Nairobi 229618 or 241032. Contact Arusha 3916 or 2639.
Impala Shuttle is another company offering the same service. Contact Nairobi 2717373, 2725435. Contact Arusha 2507179, 2508448.
Easy Coach Ltd offers departures to Arusha at 0800 and 1400 hours - K.Shs. 1000. Contact in Nairobi is 210711/2 and in Arusha +272502058 (the Arusha Hotel).
From Namanga one can find similar transport to Arusha and less sophisticated public transport to Moshi and then Himo 12 km from Marangu gate.
Another option is Cat Bus which travels Nairobi to Dar-es-Salaam 3 days per week via Himo (office Accra Road).
Private Kenyan cars taken into Tanzania have to pay US $63 road tax at the border.
Officially, it is a requirement to climb Kilimanjaro through a licensed tour operator, who will look after all costs. A typical 5-6 day trip up the Marangu route usually cost in the range of US$600-800 (East African Citizens pay Tanzanian Citizen rates). It is also mandatory to have a guide, but there are no standardised guide fees. There is now a quota restricting the number of visitors per day up the Marangu route.
Tanzania National Park Rates
Visitors approaching from Loitokitok (Kenya)(Rongai Route), must have Tanzanian guides and must obtain permits from the Marangu gate.
With the recent reduction of glacial cover on all high mountain ranges of East Africa, there has been some considerable changes to the documented climbs. The Mountain Club of Kenya currently has no reliable reports of changes to the climbs on Kilimanjaro, but strongly advises climbers to proceed with caution.
For more information, please refer to some of the publications of MCK or to the Kilimanjaro Mountain Club.
Useful contacts
Marangu Hotel; PO Box 40, Moshi, Tel. (027) 2756561
Kibo Hotel; PO Box 102 Moshi, Tel. (027) 2751308
Kilimanjaro Mountain Club; PO Box 66, Moshi. Tel: (027) 2755602
Senior Park Warden; PO Box 96, Marangu, Tel. (027) 2756605
Park Warden Machame Route Tel: (027) 2756130
Useful Links
http://www.wwwalkers.com/kili.htm (Lot of info about Kilimanjaro)