Umbwe Route

Our Kilimanjaro packages include all transfers specified in the itinerary. Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a professional driver will meet you and take you to your hotel in a spacious and comfortable Toyota Alphard. These vehicles offer generous trunk space for all your luggage and come equipped with complimentary bottled water, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and refreshing wet wipes for your comfort. Every car is regularly inspected and maintained by our dedicated team of technicians.

Our drivers are experienced, highly skilled, and fluent in English, ensuring a smooth and pleasant travel experience.

For the journey to the trailhead of your Kilimanjaro climb, we use Toyota Hiace or Coaster models, which are better suited for the rugged roads leading to the mountain. These vehicles are specifically designed to manage off-road conditions and ensure a safe trip.

After your adventure, we will also arrange your return transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport. With our all-inclusive service, you can fully focus on your experience, knowing all transportation logistics are taken care of.

Accommodation at the 5-star Legendary Lodge in Arusha is included for one night before and one night after your expedition. Legendary Lodge offers an exceptional luxury experience, known for its top-tier service and hospitality, making it one of the finest retreats in northern Tanzania.

During the climb, you will stay in spacious, specially-designed, four-season walk-in tents on Mount Kilimanjaro, ensuring maximum comfort throughout your journey.
Please note: accommodation is based on double occupancy with your travel partner. If you prefer a private room or tent, single accommodation can be arranged upon request.

All services are provided by Velam Tours.

Velam Tours provides a Kilimanjaro adventure complete with all the essential amenities for a safe and comfortable camping experience.

Our durable Kilimanjaro tents are custom-designed by engineers from the United Kingdom.
Built to endure strong winds and heavy rainfall, these four-season tents create a warm and secure environment inside. The tent entrances are user-friendly, allowing for easy access and offering an additional buffer space. With this setup, the unpredictable equatorial weather on Kilimanjaro won’t interfere with your much-needed rest.

At present, these tents are considered the top option for a Kilimanjaro expedition, and Velam Tours is proud to be the exclusive provider of them.

Velam Tours offers a Kilimanjaro adventure designed with all the essential amenities to ensure a safe and comfortable camping experience.

Sturdy Kilimanjaro Tents, Custom-Designed by UK Engineers
Our four-season tents, engineered by specialists in the United Kingdom, are built to withstand heavy rain and strong winds. They create a warm and protected environment inside, with easy-to-use entrances that provide a convenient buffer zone. No matter how unpredictable the equatorial weather becomes, you’ll enjoy uninterrupted rest each night.

Currently, these tents are considered the finest available for Kilimanjaro expeditions, and Velam Tours is proud to be the exclusive operator offering them.

Tent Sharing Arrangements
By default, you will share your tent with your travel companion or another hiker of the same gender, unless you have booked a private trek. Although these tents are designed to accommodate three people, Velam Tours limits occupancy to two climbers for added comfort. Single tent options are available for an additional fee — please contact your trip coordinator for details.

Thick Sleeping Mats
Our adventures include high-quality 3-inch sleeping mats, custom-made at our tailor workshop located at our Machame climbing base.

Camping Tables with Stainless Steel Cutlery and Ceramic Dishes
Meals are served on proper camping tables, using durable stainless steel cutlery and ceramic crockery. Our dedicated kitchen team manages the serving and cleaning after each meal. At Velam Tours, we are deeply committed to minimizing plastic waste and never use disposable utensils or dishes.

Spacious Dining Tents
Manufactured by RedFox, a trusted brand in outdoor gear, our mess tents are durable, weather-resistant, and spacious. They provide a comfortable environment for dining and socializing, even when conditions outside are rough.

Comfortable Folding Camping Chairs
Our foldable chairs offer excellent back and arm support, making evening gatherings inside the dining tents cozy and relaxing. You’re also welcome to take a chair outside and enjoy the breathtaking sunsets from the camp!

Handwashing Station
Our camp crew ensures that the handwashing station is always filled with hot water, allowing you to freshen up easily after a day’s hike.

Camp Management and Equipment Maintenance
Our camp managers arrive at each site well ahead of the group to secure the most scenic and private spots away from other hikers. They carefully monitor all tents and camp facilities to ensure everything remains in perfect condition. Each manager is equipped with a repair kit for any quick fixes, although thorough inspections conducted by our expedition team before every trek make such issues rare.

• Portable toilet.

• 4-inch (10-cm) thick and comfortable sleeping mats;
• Camping cots;
• Sleeping bag Mountain Hardwear Lamina (Comfort -12°C/10°F);

For our premium climbing groups, Velam Tours provides a satellite phone for personal use. This service allows you to stay connected with your family and friends to share updates on your journey, or to manage urgent business communications if needed. Each expedition package includes 20 minutes of complimentary call time, and additional minutes can be purchased at a rate of $3 per minute. Topping up is simple — just inform your guide during the trek, and our support team at the Aishi Machame climbing base will promptly add more credit for you.

The satellite phone is also available at any time for emergency situations, and emergency calls will not be deducted from your included minutes. In areas where regular mobile networks are unavailable, our guides use the satellite phone to contact Velam Tours’ head office for immediate support from our 24/7 safety response team.

Your Kilimanjaro Adventure Leaders

When you climb Kilimanjaro with Velam Tours, you will be guided by some of the mountain’s finest experts.

Extensive Experience
Each of our guides brings a minimum of seven years of hands-on experience and has a deep understanding of Kilimanjaro’s landscapes, wildlife, and plant life. They have led extraordinary expeditions, including major projects like Wings of Kilimanjaro and Red Bull’s historic Kilimanjaro wingsuit BASE jump — feats that remain unmatched. Our guides also contributed to the record-breaking climb of Nimsdai (Nirmal Purja), featured in the Netflix documentary “14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible.”

Certified Wilderness First Responders
Your safety is our highest priority. Every Velam Tours guide holds a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, issued by the respected Wilderness Medical Associates in the USA. This internationally recognized training ensures they are fully prepared to handle any wilderness emergencies. WFR certification, combined with expert knowledge of Kilimanjaro’s routes and terrain, is a mandatory requirement for leading our expeditions.

Great Storytellers and Cultural Ambassadors
Our guides are natural storytellers, eager to share Kilimanjaro’s myths, history, and ecology. You’ll learn about the mountain’s plants, animals, and rich cultural background. If you’re interested, they can also offer insights into the local traditions, ways of life, and customs of the region.

At the same time, our guides are respectful of your space. If you wish to soak in the mountain’s silence and beauty on your own, they will gracefully step back, giving you time for personal reflection.

A Strong and Skilled Support Crew
Behind every successful climb is a hardworking support team. Our porters, camp managers, and chefs ensure everything runs smoothly — from setting up camps ahead of your arrival to fetching fresh water from mountain streams and preparing delicious, nourishing meals.

A Happy and Well-Supported Team
Velam Tours is proud to offer the highest wages in the Tanzanian tourism industry to our mountain crews. Each team member has a personal bank account to guarantee transparent, secure salary payments. We believe that taking excellent care of our staff is the cornerstone of exceptional service.

As a result, our guiding teams consistently receive glowing reviews and are a big reason why Velam Tours is ranked among the best Kilimanjaro trekking companies on TripAdvisor.

Velam Tours is also a proud partner of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), an independent organization advocating for fair porter treatment. Our KPAP certification stands as proof of our commitment to providing ethical, safe, and supportive working conditions for all our crew members.

We provide bottled oxygen supplies on every Velam Tours Kilimanjaro expedition. Our guides use oxygen to support climbers during the acclimatization process and to help prevent acute mountain sickness (AMS). If a climber shows early symptoms of AMS, bottled oxygen is administered immediately to stabilize oxygen saturation, often allowing them to safely continue the ascent.

At Velam Tours, we ensure that oxygen supplies are always sufficient. In the rare event that a larger amount of oxygen is needed, nearby Velam Tours teams stationed at the same camp will step in to assist and share their supplies. As one of the largest operators on Kilimanjaro, we run multiple expeditions simultaneously, giving us the unique ability to offer fast, coordinated support. Additionally, we can arrange emergency oxygen deliveries from our climbing base in less than six hours.

While many Kilimanjaro operators claim to carry oxygen, the critical difference lies in how it is used.
Most companies only administer oxygen in the later stages of AMS when evacuation is already necessary. In contrast, Velam Tours uses bottled oxygen proactively — as a preventive measure against AMS. This approach leads to smoother acclimatization, significantly fewer cases of altitude sickness, and a higher rate of successful climbs.

Today, Velam Tours stands out as the most oxygen-conscious trek outfitter on Kilimanjaro. We even employ a dedicated staff member solely responsible for managing our oxygen systems — ensuring all bottles are fully filled, valves are properly functioning, and every expedition team receives the correct amount of oxygen.
Currently, we maintain a stock of 350 portable expedition oxygen systems.

Real-Time GPS Tracking for Your Kilimanjaro Expedition

Each of our expeditions is equipped with a reliable GPS tracking device, ensuring we can monitor our Kilimanjaro teams in real-time. While this is a key safety measure, the GPS links also offer reassurance to your loved ones, who can follow your progress from home.

On the morning your Kilimanjaro adventure begins, our adventure consultant will provide you with a QR code that, when scanned, generates a live GPS link. Additionally, this link will be available through your personal account on the Velam Tours Personal Trip Board, allowing you to track your journey at any time.

Every morning and evening during the hike, our WFR-certified guides conduct medical check-ups to ensure that both hikers and crew members — including porters, camp managers, and chefs — are properly acclimating to the altitude. These check-ups involve asking general health-related questions, measuring oxygen saturation levels, and in some cases, checking blood pressure or listening to lung sounds with a stethoscope to assess breathing.

Attendance at these medical check-ups is mandatory for all climbers, even for those who feel perfectly fine and show no altitude-related symptoms. This proactive approach helps our team detect the early stages of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and take preventive actions to ensure that everyone is adjusting well and that the hike remains a safe and enjoyable experience.

At Velam Tours, we have extensive experience in accommodating climbers with various health conditions, such as diabetes and asthma. We follow established protocols to provide the necessary support and care throughout the journey. We understand the challenges that come with climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, particularly for individuals with underlying health issues, which is why we work closely with each climber to create a plan tailored to their specific needs.

If any concerns arise regarding a climber’s health, our guides use the Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness scoring system and consult with our in-house doctor to assess whether the climber is fit to continue the ascent. With comprehensive medical kits and experienced guides, we prioritize the safety and well-being of all participants.

Before the trip begins, our doctor carefully reviews all pre-departure health forms submitted via the Velam Tours Personal Trip Board. This ensures each participant is fully prepared for the climb, and our doctor provides any health-related recommendations if necessary.

Our main goal is to make your Kilimanjaro climb safe and memorable. To achieve this, we follow strict protocols to ensure that safety never takes a back seat throughout the adventure.

Additionally, we maintain a medical record for each climber, documenting all relevant health information during the trip. In the unlikely event of hospitalization, this record will be available to medical professionals to ensure the best possible care. Rest assured, your personal information will remain confidential and only be shared with medical personnel if absolutely necessary.

Health and Safety Standards with Velam Tours

At Velam Tours, we hold ourselves to the highest standards when it comes to ensuring the health and safety of our hikers. Each climbing crew carries multiple medical kits, including comprehensive “camp” kits stocked with medication for a variety of mountain-related illnesses. Our kits contain 49 different types of medications and supplies, making them among the most complete emergency kits in Tanzania.

In addition to the group medical kit, each guide is equipped with a tactical medical kit, containing essential items such as hemostatic plasters, tourniquets, painkillers, and other supplies to address emergencies during transit between camps. Our guides are always prepared to treat injuries such as sprained ankles or muscles, as well as other common ailments.

We’ve been operating in Tanzania for nearly ten years, and in that time, not a single medical kit has ever been used to its fullest extent. However, we strongly believe that being fully prepared for any situation is one of the key reasons why Velam Tours is regarded as the safest company to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro with.

Additionally, Velam Tours has a VIP ward reserved for our clients at the KCMC hospital, where those experiencing high-altitude sickness will receive priority care and treatment. In the unlikely event of an evacuation, our clients won’t need to wait in the emergency unit, as they’ll be attended to immediately by a personal nurse. Should hospitalization be necessary, our clients will continue to receive meals and refreshments from our company restaurant in Moshi. A dedicated company manager will always be available to assist with any needs, and the ward is equipped with reliable, free Wi-Fi for added comfort.

Inclusive Kilimanjaro Fees with Velam Tours

All Velam Tours Kilimanjaro expeditions are fully inclusive of all park fees required for every Kilimanjaro hiker. These fees cover camping, conservation, rescue, crew, forest (on certain routes), and other necessary payments. These fees make up approximately half of the total cost, which is one of the reasons why Mt. Kilimanjaro hiking tours tend to be more expensive compared to other popular destinations.

As a law-abiding and transparent company, Velam Tours ensures that we pay all required taxes in Tanzania, including VAT (18%), corporate income taxes (30%), labor-related levies, licensing fees, and social security contributions for our employees, all of whom are officially employed by Velam Tours. We take pride in being one of the few travel companies in Tanzania that follows these regulations.

The taxes we contribute are reinvested to improve the lives of local communities. In 2022, our company paid over $500,000/- in taxes and other levies, directly benefiting the region and its people.

When you book with Velam Tours, your journey will be managed by a team of 200 dedicated professionals, all committed to ensuring your tour is an exceptional experience. Our team includes specialists in reservation management, transfer planning, expeditions, customer service, logistics, and more. Each member is focused on their specific role, ensuring every detail is meticulously handled. In addition, we have specialized hotel, store-keeping, transfer, and support teams, whose contributions are crucial and always available. They work seamlessly together to guarantee that every aspect of your trip is planned and executed to the highest standard.

Our travel consultants are available 24/7 to assist you. Whether by messenger, email, phone, or another preferred communication method, you can always reach out to your manager. We are here to answer all your questions and address any concerns, with our support team operating across various time zones to provide timely assistance.

Velam Tours is proud to be the first adventure operator in Tanzania to develop its own custom travel planning software. With this innovative system, you no longer need to provide lengthy lists of information via email. Instead, you can conveniently fill out the Personal Trip Board on our exclusive Velam Tours Family travel portal.

This easy-to-use platform allows you to provide us with details about any gear you’d like to hire for your climb, your arrival and departure information, dietary preferences, insurance, and passport details for necessary permits and summit certificates. You can also update us on any allergies or important medical information that we should know before your climb begins.

The security of your personal data is a top priority for our team. Our system is fully secure, utilizing SSL encryption provided by Cloudflare Inc, a leading global cloud security service. This ensures that all your data is fully encrypted and protected. Only authorized personnel at Velam Tours will have access to your information.

Unlike other companies where a sales manager acts as a middleman between you and the local operations team, our system directly transmits your information to the relevant team members. This direct communication reduces the chance of human error and increases efficiency.

For instance, if you’ve entered your arrival time into the system, it is instantly transmitted to the transfer manager’s dashboard. The system will then automatically assign an available driver to your pick-up, with GPS tracking to monitor their progress. If the driver misses any checkpoints, the system will alert the transfer manager to take immediate action and ensure timely pick-up.

We use similar streamlined communication flows for all our operations. Your medical details go directly to our in-house doctor, and your dietary requirements are shared with our camp kitchen team. With this system, you can be confident that every aspect of your trip is handled with precision, and there’s no risk of losing critical information.

Additionally, our user-friendly system is designed to make the travel planning process fun and engaging. As you provide the required details, you’ll receive pop-ups with fascinating facts about African wildlife. This way, you can learn more about the animals you’ll encounter during your adventure while completing your travel preparations.

At Velam Tours, we believe that planning your trip should be easy, enjoyable, and educational. Our innovative system is just one of the many ways we deliver exceptional service to our clients.

At Velam Tours, we take pride in offering eco-friendly treks. Our mission is to leave Kilimanjaro cleaner after each expedition. To achieve this, we assign a dedicated team to ensure that both our climbing crew and clients leave no waste behind on the mountain. This team also collects any litter left by other groups, helping to preserve the mountain’s natural beauty. Our efforts aim to keep Kilimanjaro as pristine as it was during the times of Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtscheller, the first Europeans to summit the mountain.

We are committed to reducing plastic usage on all our expeditions. For example, the packaging for the lunchboxes on the first day of your trek is fully compostable. We source this packaging from Vegware, a leading UK-based supplier with a strong environmental commitment.

When you choose Velam Tours for your journey, you’re making a significant contribution to the development of local communities around Kilimanjaro. We are deeply committed to sustainability, and as part of our pledge, we allocate a portion of our profits to various social responsibility initiatives. Here are some examples of our efforts:

• Firefighting Initiatives: Our guides play an active role in firefighting efforts on the slopes of Kilimanjaro. Due to climate change, Tanzania has experienced an increase in bushfires, and in 2020 and 2022, when two major fires broke out, our expeditions team was among the first to respond. Our dedicated team of 150 porters proved to be larger and more effective than other groups, making a significant difference during these crises.

• Serengeti De-snaring Project: We proudly support the Serengeti De-snaring Project, a conservation initiative by the Frankfurt Zoological Society. The project works to remove poaching devices such as snares and traps from Tanzania’s national parks.

• Fair Treatment for Porters: Velam Tours is a certified member of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), which advocates for fair treatment of porters. Our certification ensures we provide fair wages, hot nutritious meals, and proper care for our team members. Learn more about KPAP’s work on their website.

• Reforestation and Deforestation Prevention: To tackle deforestation, we have initiated several large-scale tree-planting campaigns around the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. We’re planning more reforestation efforts to combat this critical issue.

• Support for Materuni School: We’re working to improve the educational facilities for students in the remote Materuni area. Over 50 students were attending a school with deteriorating classrooms, a leaking roof, and a lack of resources. Through our donations, we have funded renovations, provided educational materials, and supplied sports equipment to improve their learning environment.

• Conservation of the Long-billed Forest Warbler: In 2023, we partnered with Nature Tanzania, investing over $12,000 to support the critically endangered Long-billed Forest Warbler. With fewer than 250 birds left, this species is at risk of extinction, and we’re actively working in the Amani Forest to support its preservation.

• Local Supplier Support: We are committed to using local suppliers for all our operations, deliberately avoiding large agricultural companies in favor of small farmers from surrounding communities.

At Velam Tours, we focus on supporting impactful, meaningful projects that bring real change to the local communities. Each proposal we receive from NGOs and eco-activists is thoroughly reviewed by our board before funding is allocated.

By participating in our climbs, you’re directly supporting positive change in the communities around Mount Kilimanjaro. You can read more about the social responsibility efforts you’re supporting on our website.

We understand that during your trip to Tanzania, certain items may not be necessary for your Kilimanjaro climb, such as suitcases, safari clothes, laptops, gadgets, and documents. We recommend that you pack only the essentials for your expedition and leave fragile or easily stainable items at our secure storage facilities or in our safe room.

Both the storage room and the safe room are completely free of charge.

To give you peace of mind while you explore the wonders of Kilimanjaro, we’ve built a secure facility where you can safely leave all your suitcases and handbags. The facility is dry, well-ventilated, and accessible only to Velam Tours staff.

For items that require special handling, such as cash, jewelry, passports, gadgets, and other valuables, we offer space in our safe room. This room is under 24/7 video surveillance and is protected by armed guards. It features a fire-proof door with a 120-minute fire resistance rating, 10-inch brick walls, and a highly sensitive alarm system.

While on Kilimanjaro, you won’t need any cash, as there are no shops, vending machines, or other commercial establishments within the park. The Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Development Plan strictly prohibits the construction of commercial facilities inside the park.

The only souvenir shop near Kilimanjaro is located at Mweka Gate, the exit point for most trails, where local artisans sell their goods. While it might be interesting for some hikers, we recommend bringing no more than $100. For a wider selection and better prices, we suggest visiting the larger souvenir shops in Arusha instead.

If you’d like to deposit your valuables with us, you will need to itemize them and complete a special form. If you leave cash, we’ll count it with a cash counter machine and provide you with a receipt that lists the cash you’ve entrusted us with. This receipt will be sealed in your presence.

To ensure transparency, we record the entire process with a high-resolution camera, and all records are deleted 30 days after you leave Tanzania.

Our safe room is insured for $600,000 for emergencies, but in nearly a decade of operation in Tanzania, we’ve never had to use this insurance.

Our mountain chefs and waiters will take care of preparing and serving your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners throughout the adventure. The menu has been designed in consultation with a professional dietitian to ensure that our meals are both delicious and energy-rich, providing hikers with the necessary nutrition.

At Velam Tours, we understand that everyone has unique dietary needs. That’s why we offer delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, and other types of meal plans for our mountain adventures. Just let your manager know, and our mountain chef will be ready to prepare a meal that meets your requirements. Best of all, switching to a special meal plan won’t cost you a thing.

For example, for breakfast, you can expect to enjoy porridge, vegetables, eggs, sausages, sweet potato, spinach cooked in a local fashion (“mchicha”), and coffee or tea. For lunch, we usually serve various soups (butternut, tomato, leek, vegetable, beef); spaghetti; stews; avocado salads; mashed potato; fried chicken with coconut, tomato, garlic and other sauces; minced meat in tomato sauce, and other popular international and local meals.

Similarly, for dinner, you can expect a soup; vegetable salad (locally styled “Kachumbari”); Mexican salad with tomatoes, corn, and onion, avocado; a juicy stew (such as bamia stew); fried vegetables; various main dishes with chicken, beef or fish. All meals are served with tasty sauces, and extra seasonings are always available on the table. After each meal, our waiters serve fresh local fruits, such as mangoes, oranges, pineapple, and bananas, to give hikers a vitamin boost.

We use organic, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and meat from neighboring farms to supply our trips. Our team rigorously checks each provider to ensure that it has a certification from the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA). Velam Tours also prefers to choose small local farms instead of large agricultural companies. This way, we ensure that all produce is always fresh and organic and that our expeditions provide a meaningful impact on the local economy.

Our mountain chefs will prepare all meals during the expedition, except for lunch on the first day of your trip, which you will have after entering the park and before reaching the first camp where we will set up our kitchen. Our restaurant chefs at Aishi Machame Hotel will prepare this first lunch, and we will pack it for your adventure in sturdy compostable packaging from Vegware, our UK-based supplier of eco-friendly food packaging.

When evaluating the quality of our meals on Kilimanjaro, please keep in mind that our teams prepare them in very challenging conditions. Our mountain chef prepares meals in a camp kitchen, using a camping gas oven with an electric torch for lighting. At times, weather conditions can be harsh, with wind and rain, and during certain months, it can be quite cold. While our mountain chef strives to create delicious and visually appealing meals, the unpredictable weather and challenging camping conditions may occasionally impact the quality and appearance of our dishes. We work tirelessly to maintain a high level of performance in such a demanding environment.