She said that she paid $2895 for the tour and ~$2500 in flight/taxi/shuttle making a total of about $6350 with the hotels, food and other various expenses she had along the way.
Thank you for sharing. My 17-yr-old son and I summited Kili in 2018. It was the final chapter of 7 weeks in Tanzania. We did volunteer work for a month, visited the Indian Ocean, went on safari in 3 parks, then climbed that mountain. I was very impacted by the work of the porters.
Here you go - Flight from JFK to Moshi (via Nairobi) $760 --- Local Company Habari Adventures 8 Day Lemosho route $1,950 per person (2 of us and a third random stranger joined our group). This included a night in a hotel before and after the trip. They were BEYOND incredible. Amazing food, porters, and equipment. Private toilet etc. another $400 on tips after the trip. Please tip the porters! Also donated some equipment to them. Socks, thermals etc. If a local company is cheap to you it's because their overheads to run a company locally is much cheaper than the international companies who have corporate offices that you are paying for in your fee. Use local guides and tip them well.
Hi Dixie, I appreciate the information you provide on all your videos. I think a movie could be made about you and or a book written about you! You are generous with sharing your information and experiences. You are adventurous, funny, knowledgeable, genuine, and kind. I love watching your vlogs. Many thanks and Keep up the great work!!!
I summited Kilimanjaro in 2016 as part of the Rotary International Eradicate Polio charity group. We did the Rongai Route. Once back at base camp I developed high altitude sickness and had to be evacuated off the mountain. Six porters ran me down in a modified stokes basket. Those guys were amazing. Once I got back to Moshi it took a couple days to finally feel normal. The experience was okay but I much prefer my personal trifecta- bicycling across the country from Virginia to Astoria, OR, NOBO AT thru hike, and circumnavigating 1515 miles (thru-paddling) around the entire coastline of Florida by kayak
Reading this, and not knowing how my body will handle altitude, I'd love a top ten list of the safest places in the world to find out you have a problem - like, helicopter pads at easy intervals if you get into this boat, short ride to hospital with chamber, etc. ... I'm assuming that some people are more likely than others to develop altitude sickness, all other things being equal. Or if not that, than other major problems.
The Northern Circuit . early 90's. personal guide,as to feel the trip was my own vs the group feel 8). brought my own gear. and potty biz is easy when its just u n the guide . i didnt by any meals ..well one to celebrate when done, but no trinkets.... i'm just not that guy, unless its a synth shirt. but aside from saying i smmited the worlds tallest FREE STANDING mnt, i have had just as impressive views in THE BOBS, GLACIER PARK out backs, MNT WHITNEY and on n on.. so i agree there is sooo much to do RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACK YARD !!!!! 4 me it was the money really. i've been to Italy, Sicily and about whith spending AS MUCH on that trip ( had to tip my guide cuz he was a cool guy and we both had our own stuff but he did have a bigger share do to the " rules " ) but i DID REALLY ENJOY the experiance !!!. ATB 2 u on ur journey here at " home "
@@BowChickaHonkHonk1 The Wind River Range is a good place to start. The Cirque of the Towers gets you close to 12,000 feet if you go up Lizard Head Plateau. Otherwise you're mostly between 9000-11,000 feet.
At the end of the day, when you are looking back on your life, the paper dollars sitting dusty in your bank vault will pale in comparison to the experience of summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro. No regrets.
I was so fired up about hiking Kili, but now enthusiasm has decreased significantly. I thought you can do it on your own, which for me is always a part of the adventure. Plus all the money you have to pay for the guides. A year ago I was on Tenerife and I hiked Mount Teide, which is abot 3715m high. I did it on my own, and it was for free. I'm not saying that Kili is anything like Teide, it much higher, colder, harder, longer, etc. But Teide is no a walk in the park either. I was staying at the seaside, so basically in one day, or actually just couple of hours you get 3700m of altitude gain. To be on top of that volcano, on your own, all alone was the best experience of my life. And it was for free. So to realize how much money you have to spend on Kilimangaro, and that you can't go there on your own is heartbreaking for me. Well, I guess I have to update my bucket list..
I did Kilimanjaro about ten years back on Lemosho too, I got some altitude sickness but not too bad. A friend of mine took the shortest route and summited a few months later and one of their party died from an edema on the last day. My serious advice is pick the longest route you can afford, it gives you longer to adjust and reduces the risks. It’s not just success it’s your life. There had been talk of banning the shortest routes for safety but post COVID they may have binned that as tourism is on the floor. Stay safe everyone
I’m glad you have no regrets. As a person of your status of a hiker and your love for such I think it’s awesome you accomplished this. Although my hiking experience was short lived, you were my inspiration for getting on trail! Thank you for being such a great ambassador for hiking!
Hi Dixie , I love your videos and being 'taken' to all the wild places with you ! As a fifteen year old , many decades ago now , my father's work gave me the experience of six weeks in Kenya . From a Nairobi office block window you can see the mass of Kilimanjaro and its snowy tops , as well as Mount Kenya and the Aberdare mountains . On weekends we went for drives away from the Blue Posts hotel at Thika where we were staying ; that is about fortyish miles north of the capital (Nairobi is at 8000 feet by the way ! and the world seems pretty flat there , lol ) . The Rift valley is a must visit . The Rift is thousands of miles long , going through many countries and it offers different experiences along it's length ; I have seen the Grand Canyon and the Rift is just as awesome but not the same . A Sunday leisurely drive out of Nairobi offers a visit to Nairobi National Park . Here you will see most of the big game you can name all in their natural habitat ( i did not see Elephants there) . Herds of everything you can think of and you just need a normal car to go; not a Safari , but dang ! East Africa is a great area to experience , I would also recommend Ghana in West Africa . I am sure there are other African countries well worth seeing , but I have not been to those , but I had no bad experiences where I did go . If you ever watched the early Tarzan films you will remember him drumming his chest and bellowing at the start of the films , whilst in the back ground is an enormous waterfall . That waterfall is at the Blue Post hotel on the Thika river .....watch out for the Crocs and Baboons ! Oh its well worth going to Africa . Take me with you please ! ATB .
I would say that a longer trip (for acclimatisation), the quality of food, and proper pay for porters are the big things. Proper pay for porters both leaves me feeling better about it, and leads to better porters. The porters are also super nice people, although they get paid for carrying and doing their work, they are just also nice. I ended up only tipping the recommended amount because I lost my wallet before starting the trip up the mountain... A longer trip changes the success odds massively. The shortest routes have around 50% chance of summiting and a high chance of altitude sickness, while Lemosho or Norther circuit are around 90% summit rate. And the food... you use tens of thousand of kilocalories. If you get hungry or dehydrated your odds of summiting go down (it affects acclimatisation). A good cook is pure magic, and will change the food based on altitude. You will be burning around 6000- 8000kcal per day! So if you decide to go, and it is a trip worth doing, take a good operator and pay with a smile. Now, on to the other stuff: I had to buy a lot of the hiking stuff, as I am not a super hiker like Dixie. Even some of the stuff I had needed to be updated. Dixie said that many used the foam sleeping pads, but IMO using a good, well isolating inflatable mat makes a huge difference in comfort, and in temperature during the last couple of nights. An unreasonably overspecced sleeping bag was my ultra-comfort item. I highly recommend that. My tour company suggested something rated to -15°C (5°F) but mine was rated to -23°C (-9°F), and that meant that the last few days I slept in ridiculous comfort and was always well rested. Too hot down at low level, though... Regarding insurance, if you are a member of a climbing club in europe, you may have some of the insurance. My climbing club insurance covered this (up to 6000m altitude), nice to be able to save a little money :) Dixie's cost estimate is very close to my expenditure
I'm glad you went!! Watching big trips like these gets me planning my next big trip more and training harder. Also start planning my dream travel trips!!
"not a good business investment", that about sums up all of my best travel memories :) Thanks again for sharing all the info. And look into a Nepal trek next time. Manaslu circuit is great. You'll love it!
Wow! Prices really haven't changed much in 14 years. I visited Africa in 2009 where I visited an orphanage, stayed a night in a remote village (Kawaza), several days visiting National Parks on safari, a couple days on Zomba Plateau, a couple nights on Mt. Mulanje, and a couple nights at a local tea plantation and a couple nights in Malawi on either end of the trip. If I recall right I was there about 13 days. The cost of that trip was right around $5,500 I believe? Plus tips and souvenirs and added meal costs I think I probably spent another $1000. Memory is a bit foggy on the total cost. But I think I'm in the ball park when I say the grand total was right around $7,000. I booked with the "Responsible Safari Company" then and would highly recommend them. Husband and wife team at the helm who made a point to visit with me for a "sundowner" towards the end of my trip.
A good business investment. Being able to write it off on taxes. The revenue from the channel. Three or four videos. Good content. The appreciation from many fans. It was a good investment.
I highly recommend taking a safari in Tanzania- the Serengeti is the most amazing place on the planet. Perhaps if I get to go back I might try to hike Mt. Meru. Kili might be a little too much for me. Great videos of this adventure! Thanks so much for sharing.❤
A very good friend of mine who grew up in your part of the world had the best sayings. My favorite for this kind of situation is “Coffins don’t have pockets.”
I think, so long as a person is not shirking their fiscal responsibilities, the cost of a bucket list experience should not be the main deciding factor. A couple years back, I flew, alone, from Connecticut to California, to attend a private concert at the world famous Whisky a GoGo on the Sunset strip in Los Angeles. The whole trip cost me right about $1000. It was one of the coolest most adventurous things I've ever done, and I do not regret it one bit!
I would say Tanzania is absolutely one of the best places to do a safari, you don't need to travel to Zimbabwe! You're also in the right area, as Kilimanjaro is (relatively) close to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.
Wonderful experience! And I would not consider it a business investment. It’s a life investment. I’m glad you did! I did in 2004, the shira plateau route. Well done Dixie! You should go to Nepal! The Himalaya’s range is breathtaking!
When talking about insurance liked how you mentioned the altitude limit. Reminded me that on the CDT if I'd got into trouble above 10,000 I would have had to roll down the hill a bit before calling for help ;-) But there are other things the companies mention such as most of them specify hiking in a group so should always check the small print
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most awesome landscapes in the world and the animals within are constrained and so easier to find. Tanzania generally has far fewer tourists in game reserves, something that is important when your jeep stops for taking pictures of a pride of lions, rather than a lion being surrounded by a fleet of jeeps. Serengeti National Park during the Great Migration (approx 2 million wildebeest) is stunning.
@@bi1iruben Those are the two areas I looked into back over 10 years ago. I estimated my cost to run over $10,000 (didn't include tips or extras). I'm surprise that Dixie's trip was less expensive. Especially if you deduct the cost of high altitude hiking gear that you wouldn't need in the lower plains.
If you're thinking about doing a safari, I highly recommend doing a self-drive. There's countless companies that rent expedition ready 4wd trucks. It's really cool to do, lots of people are doing at any time, lots of cool campsites. It's a really great experience.
As someone who lived in West Africa for two years, Malaria medication is a necessity if you are an American. Malaria can be very deadly, and in the US we are fortunate enough to have eradicated it (out of sheer luck); this also means we have no resistance to it at all. There are several Malaria medication options, although I'm not sure which type of the parasite is in Tanzania since some medications work better than others on some types.
Only You Dixie, an aftermarket plethora of salient deals with wheels, and the relevant slippage mechanisms/pitfalls (graciously) that can drop out of your pocket, (without noticing). Magnificent as You-shoe-all........
Did u think the extra sleeping pad was worth bringing (not buying)? Booked with peak planet for July. I’m have bought most of the aconcagua gear for a solo with logistics expedition.
Did you get a yellow fever vaccine? We got one last year for our Kenya safari trip. We got the malaria and travelers diarrhea meds too. We didn’t need the diamox for altitude since we didn’t climb Kilimanjaro. That’s on my list now after watching your climb. Amazing trip! Stay awesome!
10:07 19,685 ft 😉- for the rest of the world this is 6,000 m. I paid about 70% of your amount, stripping some luxury, and with a cheaper flight because from Europe. You may also save on the flight when booking early and avoid the time around New Year. But overall agree with your calculation. One should perhaps mention that about 130$/day of what you pay, i. e. more than 1000$ in total, do not go to the tour company people but is entrance and camping fee collected by the state of Tanzania.
Can you give a listed expense chart, this seemed confusing to me? I have my own ultralight gear. All the other breakdowns per person, since I'll travel alone. Thanks Jessica
Howdy Dixie…on your safari please consider Botswana and Namibia in addition to Zim. Each has its own feel and different animals. Bots has the most Eles n Africa. Also consider Global Rescue or Ripcord for emergency evacuation insurance. You can be a long way from competent medical facilities and they will fly you anywhere you need to go. Thanks
The free Qatari visa is for Americans and several dozen other countries. Check to make sure your country has the free tourist visa before leaving. Nothing more awkward than praying you have enough cash to buy a visa you didn’t know you needed until you got to the customs desk.
Great video, question if you know, otherwise will have to do some additional research. Want to take daughter but not sure if will do MT Kilimanjaro as I have had on a prior backpacking trip a bad case of HACE. I was told by my doc, may not want to do that again... But I would love to take her on safari there. Thoughts? Fellow Alabama resident! :) Love your vids!
That nose ring at 12:15 really irks me! Not because it's a nose ring, I had one myself for 15 years, but because that is a frost bite accident waiting to happen! It has happened to me but with my ear, the metal goes cold a lot faster than the air around you or you do so you basically flash freeze your earlobe (or nose). It's not pleasant so remove all your piercings before going out in freezing weather people!
Sounds familiar to me - caught it too, on this hike, a few weeks before you around New Year. Luckily very mild, after triple vaccination, just coughing.
I forgot to ask about the Kilimanjaro ice field , glaciers whatever they are called , Dixie . You showed a bit of them at a distance . Were you not allowed to visit that area ? It has been said that the ice has been melting ? Cheers
You can explore the summit area, like the Furtwängler glacier, only if you have enough time, which would need to stay a night on the summit (crater camp). Not reasonably possible for most people if you hike 15k > 19k > 13k in one day. - Estimation is that the glacier will be gone in about 20 years. Edit: I should perhaps add that the crater (Kibo/Kilimanjaro is a sleeping volcano) has a circumference of about 4-5 miles - it is not just a peak. You walk a while there. The hike from Stella Point, where you hit the crater rim, to Uhuru Peak, the highest point of the crater rim, is 1 h, though less than 1 mile.
Am I correct in thinking that the title on the thumbnail ("How much $ to Summit") is inaccurate? I strongly suspect the fee is the same even if you fail to summit Kilimanjaro, and it could be even more if you need a helicopter evacuation.
Hi Bernie, is there a shuttle picking you up from the summit of Mt Whitney when you have finished the JMT? 😀 - the base camp is Barafu, at elevation of 15,000 ft. - In fact, your tour company brings you to Lemosho gate (6,900 ft) and picks you up from Mweka gate (5,400 ft) at the NP boundaries with a small bus (and more buses for the team, which is about 4x the number of tourists, and all the material). Such an organized tour is full service, you don't have to care for anything by yourself.
love you Dixie. and the money does not matter when you want to have fun and a once in a life time experience. this you will always be able to look back and tell your kids and grand kids you did this. and that is what matters most. stay safe. and keep hiking on.
Whatever amount is said, just know that there is a greatly different and more ecological price to go to Africa and negotiate with local companies. You pay doubly just for a western company to organize it, sometimes far more than twice what the local company gets.
@@flutingaround When I was there I only took a tour for the parks and took local matatus (vans) or buses otherwise, and stayed in local places. Good ol Lonely Planet guidebook and a lot of walking.
Wow, I am surprised the cost is that low. I was expecting over 10k. For an adventurer, well worth the cost. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing it all y'all
Dixie, I'm from South Africa, if you're interested in going back, AVOID Zimbabwe (my friend drove through recently, there's no animals left). Tanzania, South Africa, Kenia or even Zambia are better options.
My 11 year old son and I went 4 years ago using Climbkili. I agree picking a company was challenging. My head was spinning. I had lists comparing and did lots of research before I chose. They were amazing. I never thought I would get to go but it was a dream come true. I also did the Lemosho Route. It was nice to see all the different zones and take our time. I wanted to take our cook home. I felt spoiled. Glad you got to see such an amazing place.
It may be as bad as any restaurant in the US... - depends on the tour company. - Let's break it down a bit: of the 2900$ total a substantial part, 1100$, goes to the state of Tanzania for national park fees. 2 nights in the hotel, 4 shuttle bus drives (airport - hotel - NP gate and back) - 200$ ? - so we still have 1600$ left. Let's assume they pay 10$ per day to a porter, and 20$ per day to more skillfull people (certified or at least trained guides, waiters who speak English, cook). This would result in 50$ per day per hiker, or 400$ in total. Tents (write-down), road transport of the team and material, food, gas, other consumables for 5 people per hiker - another 50$ per day? - so another 400$. - Then there are 800$ left for the backoffice, marketing, and profit.
That is actually much cheaper than I thought it would be. When my wife and I did a 10 day trip to South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe which did include a couple flights within the continent it was around $28K for the two of us. We did however fly 1st class. I'm a bit of an aviation nut and always wanted to fly in the upper deck of a 747. I knew the 747 was near the end in commercial service, so we booked 1st class in the upper deck of a British Air 747. So we could have saved some on airfare, but YOLO.
I have spend 2500€ for all inclusive trip including flight from Europe, not counting the batiscafe aclimation treatment. The tour lasted 8 days and I had quite a trouble as the path was crowded and people were moving sooo slowly... mostly tourists never seen real mountains. It would be a 4 days if I would go alone with my equipment. I was ashamed that guides carried all the gear so I offered them to carry some (about 15 kg) by myself...at least some challange... a dog walk for us living in the Alps ;) Looking back I wouldn't go again as it was not a challange but just a trophy.
At least for today's standards, this sounds not very realistic to me. You/your company pay 1080 $/EUR entrance and camping fees for 8 days in the national park to the state of Tanzania. A cheap flight from Europe is 800-900 EUR. Not much left for 2 hotel stays, shuttle busses, food, and the team on the mountain ...
@@Henning_Rech I tried to reply but is seems was banned althought I provided the price list with the link. Try: lifetrek kilimanjaro . I am from Europe - Slovenia. My trip was couple years ago and then price was all inclusive (USD was about 75% of Euro at that time). I have checked the price after your concern about the price and the current price is a bit less than 2500€.
Thanks for that transparent cost analysis of your trip! If you ever consider doing a trek in Nepal (the Himalayas), such as to Mt. Everest Base Camp - which I highly recommend; a good in-country guide service to use is Mountain Monarch Adventure. My total cost (including air fare) back in 2015 was just a hair over $3,000! Mountain Monarch Adventure really treats their sherpas well and are an excellent service. There is no place on earth like the Himalayas!
The Everest Trek or the Three Passes Trek can be done without the help of a guide company. There are many lodges to stay at along the way and it is much more of an adventure doing it this way plus it is much less expensive.
@@lupus7194 Agreed... in Nov 2019 we went self guided to Everest Base Camp / Kala Patthar and over Cho La to Gokyo. My costs for nearly 3 weeks in Nepal were under $800. (I brought $1000 cash, changed it to Rupees in Thamel, and then when I departed I exchanged again and got over $220 back. And that was buying all the food I could eat, bakery treats, unlimited Everest Link and even some lodging with electric blankets! We were splurging... if you bought a Mars bar, Pringles, and an Orange Fanta at Gorak Shep, you know what I mean! 😆
In my VERY honest opinion that's too much money to walk up a cold ugly mountain with a bunch of strangers. I'm sure it was a great experience though. North America hiking is TOPS! Looking forward to your AZT videos 👊.
Had me until the "expecting" a tip. Tipping is not part of their culture... it is something that the West brings with them when they travel. Much of the world never "EXPECTS" a tip. Thanks for the cost analysis.
It isn't her. Those telegraph comments are scammers that hit up popular RUclips channels pretending to be the channel owner, but they really just want to scam you out of cash. I saw one video where the channel owner replied to them to see what they were up to.
I never told anyone “not too much,” so I’m not sure what you’re referring to. It’s expensive. Also, I don’t have a telegram and I’ve made posts about the scammers.
There is nothing special about kilimanjaro, if you have basic ability (aka dont need a kilo of dex to sustain altitude). For me with decently overgrown heart(college cycling) and much higher than average lung capacity it was quite a boring walk. Kazbek, elbrus, island peak, lenin peak, even winter kachkar dagi had been comparable cost but so much more fun. And that cost went towards real things, like equip and safety, not permits. Living in second world i have regrets paying for kilimangaro affair.
@@davidyendoll5903 if it's not your job, like youtubers, filming travels is a burden, and keeping very expensive gear safe from theft is quite sad experience. But i give you a hint, those places are mostly white.
She said that she paid $2895 for the tour and ~$2500 in flight/taxi/shuttle making a total of about $6350 with the hotels, food and other various expenses she had along the way.
Thanks because seems that she wouldn’t get to the point
Thank you for sharing. My 17-yr-old son and I summited Kili in 2018. It was the final chapter of 7 weeks in Tanzania. We did volunteer work for a month, visited the Indian Ocean, went on safari in 3 parks, then climbed that mountain. I was very impacted by the work of the porters.
Keep ticking off that bucket list...no one can experience those wonders for you! 🌞 Plus we like tagging along. 😉 Happy Trails! 🌈
So true!
Here you go - Flight from JFK to Moshi (via Nairobi) $760 --- Local Company Habari Adventures 8 Day Lemosho route $1,950 per person (2 of us and a third random stranger joined our group). This included a night in a hotel before and after the trip. They were BEYOND incredible. Amazing food, porters, and equipment. Private toilet etc. another $400 on tips after the trip. Please tip the porters! Also donated some equipment to them. Socks, thermals etc. If a local company is cheap to you it's because their overheads to run a company locally is much cheaper than the international companies who have corporate offices that you are paying for in your fee. Use local guides and tip them well.
Hi Dixie,
I appreciate the information you provide on all your videos. I think a movie could be made about you and or a book written about you!
You are generous with sharing your information and experiences. You are adventurous, funny, knowledgeable, genuine, and kind. I love watching your vlogs. Many thanks and Keep up the great work!!!
I summited Kilimanjaro in 2016 as part of the Rotary International Eradicate Polio charity group. We did the Rongai Route. Once back at base camp I developed high altitude sickness and had to be evacuated off the mountain. Six porters ran me down in a modified stokes basket. Those guys were amazing. Once I got back to Moshi it took a couple days to finally feel normal. The experience was okay but I much prefer my personal trifecta- bicycling across the country from Virginia to Astoria, OR, NOBO AT thru hike, and circumnavigating 1515 miles (thru-paddling) around the entire coastline of Florida by kayak
Reading this, and not knowing how my body will handle altitude, I'd love a top ten list of the safest places in the world to find out you have a problem - like, helicopter pads at easy intervals if you get into this boat, short ride to hospital with chamber, etc.
... I'm assuming that some people are more likely than others to develop altitude sickness, all other things being equal. Or if not that, than other major problems.
The Northern Circuit . early 90's. personal guide,as to feel the trip was my own vs the group feel 8). brought my own gear. and potty biz is easy when its just u n the guide . i didnt by any meals ..well one to celebrate when done, but no trinkets.... i'm just not that guy, unless its a synth shirt. but aside from saying i smmited the worlds tallest FREE STANDING mnt, i have had just as impressive views in THE BOBS, GLACIER PARK out backs, MNT WHITNEY and on n on..
so i agree there is sooo much to do RIGHT HERE IN OUR BACK YARD !!!!!
4 me it was the money really. i've been to Italy, Sicily and about whith spending AS MUCH on that trip ( had to tip my guide cuz he was a cool guy and we both had our own stuff but he did have a bigger share do to the " rules " ) but i DID REALLY ENJOY the experiance !!!.
ATB 2 u on ur journey here at " home "
@@BowChickaHonkHonk1 The Wind River Range is a good place to start. The Cirque of the Towers gets you close to 12,000 feet if you go up Lizard Head Plateau. Otherwise you're mostly between 9000-11,000 feet.
At the end of the day, when you are looking back on your life, the paper dollars sitting dusty in your bank vault will pale in comparison to the experience of summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro. No regrets.
I was so fired up about hiking Kili, but now enthusiasm has decreased significantly. I thought you can do it on your own, which for me is always a part of the adventure. Plus all the money you have to pay for the guides. A year ago I was on Tenerife and I hiked Mount Teide, which is abot 3715m high. I did it on my own, and it was for free. I'm not saying that Kili is anything like Teide, it much higher, colder, harder, longer, etc. But Teide is no a walk in the park either. I was staying at the seaside, so basically in one day, or actually just couple of hours you get 3700m of altitude gain. To be on top of that volcano, on your own, all alone was the best experience of my life. And it was for free. So to realize how much money you have to spend on Kilimangaro, and that you can't go there on your own is heartbreaking for me. Well, I guess I have to update my bucket list..
I did Kilimanjaro about ten years back on Lemosho too, I got some altitude sickness but not too bad. A friend of mine took the shortest route and summited a few months later and one of their party died from an edema on the last day. My serious advice is pick the longest route you can afford, it gives you longer to adjust and reduces the risks. It’s not just success it’s your life. There had been talk of banning the shortest routes for safety but post COVID they may have binned that as tourism is on the floor. Stay safe everyone
Bore off
I’m glad you have no regrets. As a person of your status of a hiker and your love for such I think it’s awesome you accomplished this. Although my hiking experience was short lived, you were my inspiration for getting on trail! Thank you for being such a great ambassador for hiking!
I just love those Lone Peaks walking by at 22 seconds ! Thanks for all your great videos Dixie.
Hi Dixie , I love your videos and being 'taken' to all the wild places with you !
As a fifteen year old , many decades ago now , my father's work gave me the experience of six weeks in Kenya . From a Nairobi office block window you can see the mass of Kilimanjaro and its snowy tops , as well as Mount Kenya and the Aberdare mountains . On weekends we went for drives away from the Blue Posts hotel at Thika where we were staying ; that is about fortyish miles north of the capital (Nairobi is at 8000 feet by the way ! and the world seems pretty flat there , lol ) . The Rift valley is a must visit . The Rift is thousands of miles long , going through many countries and it offers different experiences along it's length ; I have seen the Grand Canyon and the Rift is just as awesome but not the same . A Sunday leisurely drive out of Nairobi offers a visit to Nairobi National Park . Here you will see most of the big game you can name all in their natural habitat ( i did not see Elephants there) . Herds of everything you can think of and you just need a normal car to go; not a Safari , but dang ! East Africa is a great area to experience , I would also recommend Ghana in West Africa . I am sure there are other African countries well worth seeing , but I have not been to those , but I had no bad experiences where I did go . If you ever watched the early Tarzan films you will remember him drumming his chest and bellowing at the start of the films , whilst in the back ground is an enormous waterfall . That waterfall is at the Blue Post hotel on the Thika river .....watch out for the Crocs and Baboons ! Oh its well worth going to Africa . Take me with you please ! ATB .
I would say that a longer trip (for acclimatisation), the quality of food, and proper pay for porters are the big things. Proper pay for porters both leaves me feeling better about it, and leads to better porters. The porters are also super nice people, although they get paid for carrying and doing their work, they are just also nice. I ended up only tipping the recommended amount because I lost my wallet before starting the trip up the mountain...
A longer trip changes the success odds massively.
The shortest routes have around 50% chance of summiting and a high chance of altitude sickness, while Lemosho or Norther circuit are around 90% summit rate.
And the food... you use tens of thousand of kilocalories. If you get hungry or dehydrated your odds of summiting go down (it affects acclimatisation). A good cook is pure magic, and will change the food based on altitude. You will be burning around 6000- 8000kcal per day!
So if you decide to go, and it is a trip worth doing, take a good operator and pay with a smile.
Now, on to the other stuff:
I had to buy a lot of the hiking stuff, as I am not a super hiker like Dixie. Even some of the stuff I had needed to be updated. Dixie said that many used the foam sleeping pads, but IMO using a good, well isolating inflatable mat makes a huge difference in comfort, and in temperature during the last couple of nights.
An unreasonably overspecced sleeping bag was my ultra-comfort item. I highly recommend that. My tour company suggested something rated to -15°C (5°F) but mine was rated to -23°C (-9°F), and that meant that the last few days I slept in ridiculous comfort and was always well rested. Too hot down at low level, though...
Regarding insurance, if you are a member of a climbing club in europe, you may have some of the insurance. My climbing club insurance covered this (up to 6000m altitude), nice to be able to save a little money :)
Dixie's cost estimate is very close to my expenditure
I'm glad you went!! Watching big trips like these gets me planning my next big trip more and training harder. Also start planning my dream travel trips!!
"not a good business investment", that about sums up all of my best travel memories :) Thanks again for sharing all the info. And look into a Nepal trek next time. Manaslu circuit is great. You'll love it!
Wow! Prices really haven't changed much in 14 years. I visited Africa in 2009 where I visited an orphanage, stayed a night in a remote village (Kawaza), several days visiting National Parks on safari, a couple days on Zomba Plateau, a couple nights on Mt. Mulanje, and a couple nights at a local tea plantation and a couple nights in Malawi on either end of the trip. If I recall right I was there about 13 days. The cost of that trip was right around $5,500 I believe? Plus tips and souvenirs and added meal costs I think I probably spent another $1000. Memory is a bit foggy on the total cost. But I think I'm in the ball park when I say the grand total was right around $7,000. I booked with the "Responsible Safari Company" then and would highly recommend them. Husband and wife team at the helm who made a point to visit with me for a "sundowner" towards the end of my trip.
Getting to check off a bucket list item is always priceless. Loved your video!
Love your breakdown on all the costs and explanations of everything Dixie. Great content and love your channel! Can’t wait for your next adventure.
A good business investment. Being able to write it off on taxes. The revenue from the channel. Three or four videos. Good content. The appreciation from many fans. It was a good investment.
Congratulations!! This is a huge life achievement! So the big question, which of the seven summits is next on your bucket list?
That's a fair price for all that, really. And memories for a lifetime are priceless
I highly recommend taking a safari in Tanzania- the Serengeti is the most amazing place on the planet. Perhaps if I get to go back I might try to hike Mt. Meru. Kili might be a little too much for me. Great videos of this adventure! Thanks so much for sharing.❤
A very good friend of mine who grew up in your part of the world had the best sayings. My favorite for this kind of situation is “Coffins don’t have pockets.”
I think, so long as a person is not shirking their fiscal responsibilities, the cost of a bucket list experience should not be the main deciding factor.
A couple years back, I flew, alone, from Connecticut to California, to attend a private concert at the world famous Whisky a GoGo on the Sunset strip in Los Angeles. The whole trip cost me right about $1000. It was one of the coolest most adventurous things I've ever done, and I do not regret it one bit!
That is a pretty steep price that will not be on my radar. Thanks for sharing Dixie.
It was a wonderful life investment!! Thanks for sharing your info, your journey! 🥾🥾❤️🐾🐾
I've always wanted to summit Kilimanjaro... The logistics of it have always been the main deterrent. This helps a lot for planning!
There will be more informational videos :)
I would say Tanzania is absolutely one of the best places to do a safari, you don't need to travel to Zimbabwe! You're also in the right area, as Kilimanjaro is (relatively) close to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.
Wow. Not anywhere near to within my budget range. Happy for you that you could pull it off!
Great video, thank you for the information. A trip like this is a serious consideration.
Wonderful experience! And I would not consider it a business investment. It’s a life investment. I’m glad you did! I did in 2004, the shira plateau route. Well done Dixie! You should go to Nepal! The Himalaya’s range is breathtaking!
When talking about insurance liked how you mentioned the altitude limit. Reminded me that on the CDT if I'd got into trouble above 10,000 I would have had to roll down the hill a bit before calling for help ;-) But there are other things the companies mention such as most of them specify hiking in a group so should always check the small print
Very informative as always
Thank you very much for putting this out and all of your content
I did a Safari to Ngorangora crater in Tanzania and I would recommend it.
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most awesome landscapes in the world and the animals within are constrained and so easier to find. Tanzania generally has far fewer tourists in game reserves, something that is important when your jeep stops for taking pictures of a pride of lions, rather than a lion being surrounded by a fleet of jeeps. Serengeti National Park during the Great Migration (approx 2 million wildebeest) is stunning.
@@bi1iruben Those are the two areas I looked into back over 10 years ago. I estimated my cost to run over $10,000 (didn't include tips or extras). I'm surprise that Dixie's trip was less expensive. Especially if you deduct the cost of high altitude hiking gear that you wouldn't need in the lower plains.
If you're thinking about doing a safari, I highly recommend doing a self-drive. There's countless companies that rent expedition ready 4wd trucks. It's really cool to do, lots of people are doing at any time, lots of cool campsites. It's a really great experience.
As someone who lived in West Africa for two years, Malaria medication is a necessity if you are an American. Malaria can be very deadly, and in the US we are fortunate enough to have eradicated it (out of sheer luck); this also means we have no resistance to it at all. There are several Malaria medication options, although I'm not sure which type of the parasite is in Tanzania since some medications work better than others on some types.
Only You Dixie, an aftermarket plethora of salient deals with wheels, and the relevant slippage mechanisms/pitfalls (graciously) that can drop out of your pocket, (without noticing). Magnificent as You-shoe-all........
Thanks for all the info. Awesome hike !
Thanks Dixie! Stay safe on them trails!
I loved my trip to Kilimanjaro. Unlucky there was a lot of clouds and some rain, but it had the most amazing sunsets and sunrises.
Another great video, thanks for the info🇬🇧👍
Great video Dixie. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Did u think the extra sleeping pad was worth bringing (not buying)? Booked with peak planet for July. I’m have bought most of the aconcagua gear for a solo with logistics expedition.
Did you get a yellow fever vaccine? We got one last year for our Kenya safari trip. We got the malaria and travelers diarrhea meds too. We didn’t need the diamox for altitude since we didn’t climb Kilimanjaro. That’s on my list now after watching your climb. Amazing trip! Stay awesome!
gosh golly you are just so dang wonderful!!! peak it is!!! Thank you sooooooooooo much
10:07 19,685 ft 😉- for the rest of the world this is 6,000 m.
I paid about 70% of your amount, stripping some luxury, and with a cheaper flight because from Europe. You may also save on the flight when booking early and avoid the time around New Year. But overall agree with your calculation.
One should perhaps mention that about 130$/day of what you pay, i. e. more than 1000$ in total, do not go to the tour company people but is entrance and camping fee collected by the state of Tanzania.
Damn, that's expensive... think I'll stick to summiting tree tops. When you going to summit Denali dixie?
You learn a lot on this trip .a lot of people on the mountain.
Can you give a listed expense chart, this seemed confusing to me?
I have my own ultralight gear. All the other breakdowns per person, since I'll travel alone.
Thanks Jessica
Congratulations on your hike. I will never make that one but really enjoyed watching you.
Howdy Dixie…on your safari please consider Botswana and Namibia in addition to Zim. Each has its own feel and different animals. Bots has the most Eles n Africa. Also consider Global Rescue or Ripcord for emergency evacuation insurance. You can be a long way from competent medical facilities and they will fly you anywhere you need to go. Thanks
*_I am still faithfully waiting for the follow-up story of this beautiful mother's climb with other natural friends about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro_*
The free Qatari visa is for Americans and several dozen other countries. Check to make sure your country has the free tourist visa before leaving. Nothing more awkward than praying you have enough cash to buy a visa you didn’t know you needed until you got to the customs desk.
Congratulations. I just added something else to my Bucket list.
Great video, question if you know, otherwise will have to do some additional research. Want to take daughter but not sure if will do MT Kilimanjaro as I have had on a prior backpacking trip a bad case of HACE. I was told by my doc, may not want to do that again... But I would love to take her on safari there. Thoughts? Fellow Alabama resident! :) Love your vids!
do it!
That nose ring at 12:15 really irks me! Not because it's a nose ring, I had one myself for 15 years, but because that is a frost bite accident waiting to happen!
It has happened to me but with my ear, the metal goes cold a lot faster than the air around you or you do so you basically flash freeze your earlobe (or nose).
It's not pleasant so remove all your piercings before going out in freezing weather people!
Proud of you and although I don’t know your boyfriend, I approve!!! Blessings and keep up the work my friend.
🦋
Awesomeness!!!
I did Kili in February 2022. Caught COVID on the mountain & could not summit. 😢
Sounds familiar to me - caught it too, on this hike, a few weeks before you around New Year. Luckily very mild, after triple vaccination, just coughing.
Honest and to the point video as always. Did you have to go through any type of currency exchange or was all the cash stuff in USD?
You can pay everything in USD or EUR, no need for Tanzanian shillings.
At the pharmacy I had to have cash (Tanzanian shillings) and they did not accept card. Most places I went did accept card and/or US dollars.
thank you!
I forgot to ask about the Kilimanjaro ice field , glaciers whatever they are called , Dixie . You showed a bit of them at a distance . Were you not allowed to visit that area ? It has been said that the ice has been melting ? Cheers
You can explore the summit area, like the Furtwängler glacier, only if you have enough time, which would need to stay a night on the summit (crater camp). Not reasonably possible for most people if you hike 15k > 19k > 13k in one day. - Estimation is that the glacier will be gone in about 20 years.
Edit: I should perhaps add that the crater (Kibo/Kilimanjaro is a sleeping volcano) has a circumference of about 4-5 miles - it is not just a peak. You walk a while there. The hike from Stella Point, where you hit the crater rim, to Uhuru Peak, the highest point of the crater rim, is 1 h, though less than 1 mile.
Am I correct in thinking that the title on the thumbnail ("How much $ to Summit") is inaccurate? I strongly suspect the fee is the same even if you fail to summit Kilimanjaro, and it could be even more if you need a helicopter evacuation.
When are you coming to do the TA ????
Hey Dixie, qestion I have is how you got back from base camp? Did they have a shuttle of some kind back to the hotel?
Hi Bernie, is there a shuttle picking you up from the summit of Mt Whitney when you have finished the JMT? 😀 - the base camp is Barafu, at elevation of 15,000 ft. - In fact, your tour company brings you to Lemosho gate (6,900 ft) and picks you up from Mweka gate (5,400 ft) at the NP boundaries with a small bus (and more buses for the team, which is about 4x the number of tourists, and all the material). Such an organized tour is full service, you don't have to care for anything by yourself.
love you Dixie. and the money does not matter when you want to have fun and a once in a life time experience. this you will always be able to look back and tell your kids and grand kids you did this. and that is what matters most. stay safe. and keep hiking on.
Yes to safari in Zimbabwe, the best!
Whatever amount is said, just know that there is a greatly different and more ecological price to go to Africa and negotiate with local companies.
You pay doubly just for a western company to organize it, sometimes far more than twice what the local company gets.
@@flutingaround When I was there I only took a tour for the parks and took local matatus (vans) or buses otherwise, and stayed in local places. Good ol Lonely Planet guidebook and a lot of walking.
Ouch. Guess machu pichu is next, or the kiwi trail?
Climbing it is expensive. Falling down it is a lot cheaper. No guide necessary.
Wow, I am surprised the cost is that low. I was expecting over 10k. For an adventurer, well worth the cost. Congratulations, and thanks for sharing it all y'all
Dixie, I'm from South Africa, if you're interested in going back, AVOID Zimbabwe (my friend drove through recently, there's no animals left). Tanzania, South Africa, Kenia or even Zambia are better options.
Very economical.doesnt incl airfare i assume
I am guessing that is the next step conquering the world. Good luck
Good job
Where we goin next ☺️
Some adventures are worth the price paid and the investment of time and commitment.
LIKE this video ya'll! Help even out the business investment 😊
My 11 year old son and I went 4 years ago using Climbkili. I agree picking a company was challenging. My head was spinning. I had lists comparing and did lots of research before I chose. They were amazing. I never thought I would get to go but it was a dream come true. I also did the Lemosho Route. It was nice to see all the different zones and take our time. I wanted to take our cook home. I felt spoiled. Glad you got to see such an amazing place.
Zambia for safaris
How much profit is the company making that they can't pay their porters a fair wage, thus making them dependent on tips?
It may be as bad as any restaurant in the US... - depends on the tour company. - Let's break it down a bit: of the 2900$ total a substantial part, 1100$, goes to the state of Tanzania for national park fees. 2 nights in the hotel, 4 shuttle bus drives (airport - hotel - NP gate and back) - 200$ ? - so we still have 1600$ left. Let's assume they pay 10$ per day to a porter, and 20$ per day to more skillfull people (certified or at least trained guides, waiters who speak English, cook). This would result in 50$ per day per hiker, or 400$ in total. Tents (write-down), road transport of the team and material, food, gas, other consumables for 5 people per hiker - another 50$ per day? - so another 400$. - Then there are 800$ left for the backoffice, marketing, and profit.
Thanks for the calculation of potential budgeting of funds
Thanks for the info. Can you please let me know what is the best time of year to go on this trip?
You should try to stay away during the rainy season so rather go in the months of May to October
12:22 clown factory.... honestly would be embarrassed. sad times
That is actually much cheaper than I thought it would be.
When my wife and I did a 10 day trip to South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe which did include a couple flights within the continent it was around $28K for the two of us. We did however fly 1st class. I'm a bit of an aviation nut and always wanted to fly in the upper deck of a 747. I knew the 747 was near the end in commercial service, so we booked 1st class in the upper deck of a British Air 747. So we could have saved some on airfare, but YOLO.
What is a good business investment ? I dont know of one.
"Plastics!" -- The Graduate, 1967.
I have spend 2500€ for all inclusive trip including flight from Europe, not counting the batiscafe aclimation treatment. The tour lasted 8 days and I had quite a trouble as the path was crowded and people were moving sooo slowly... mostly tourists never seen real mountains. It would be a 4 days if I would go alone with my equipment. I was ashamed that guides carried all the gear so I offered them to carry some (about 15 kg) by myself...at least some challange... a dog walk for us living in the Alps ;)
Looking back I wouldn't go again as it was not a challange but just a trophy.
At least for today's standards, this sounds not very realistic to me. You/your company pay 1080 $/EUR entrance and camping fees for 8 days in the national park to the state of Tanzania. A cheap flight from Europe is 800-900 EUR. Not much left for 2 hotel stays, shuttle busses, food, and the team on the mountain ...
@@Henning_Rech I tried to reply but is seems was banned althought I provided the price list with the link. Try: lifetrek kilimanjaro . I am from Europe - Slovenia.
My trip was couple years ago and then price was all inclusive (USD was about 75% of Euro at that time). I have checked the price after your concern about the price and the current price is a bit less than 2500€.
Pole' Pole'
Thanks for that transparent cost analysis of your trip! If you ever consider doing a trek in Nepal (the Himalayas), such as to Mt. Everest Base Camp - which I highly recommend; a good in-country guide service to use is Mountain Monarch Adventure. My total cost (including air fare) back in 2015 was just a hair over $3,000! Mountain Monarch Adventure really treats their sherpas well and are an excellent service. There is no place on earth like the Himalayas!
The Everest Trek or the Three Passes Trek can be done without the help of a guide company. There are many lodges to stay at along the way and it is much more of an adventure doing it this way plus it is much less expensive.
@@lupus7194 Agreed... in Nov 2019 we went self guided to Everest Base Camp / Kala Patthar and over Cho La to Gokyo. My costs for nearly 3 weeks in Nepal were under $800. (I brought $1000 cash, changed it to Rupees in Thamel, and then when I departed I exchanged again and got over $220 back. And that was buying all the food I could eat, bakery treats, unlimited Everest Link and even some lodging with electric blankets! We were splurging... if you bought a Mars bar, Pringles, and an Orange Fanta at Gorak Shep, you know what I mean! 😆
Doesn’t appeal to me, but it looked like a lot of fun.
Is a guide actually required by law or is it just recommended? Having a guide would ruin tbe experience for me
It is required by law
Hey i was at the highest point of the Netherlands 🏆💪😎
One of them 'coffee cum smoking joints ' ? Lol
@S. M. Vaals
❤
$8-10K USD. Your welcome.
Actually, it was more like $6k-$10k and that really just depends on where you’re flying from.
In my VERY honest opinion that's too much money to walk up a cold ugly mountain with a bunch of strangers. I'm sure it was a great experience though. North America hiking is TOPS! Looking forward to your AZT videos 👊.
Had me until the "expecting" a tip. Tipping is not part of their culture... it is something that the West brings with them when they travel. Much of the world never "EXPECTS" a tip. Thanks for the cost analysis.
These guys are doing a great job. But that kind of tipping per person is just riduculous, quite frankly.
That tip was from me to 27 people including guides and porters for 8 days of serving me. I guess it’s all in how you look at it
@@HomemadeWanderlust That does change the perspective. Apologies.
"not too much" is what you told me. Believe me, that's too much for me. Speaking about scammers, what is up with your telegram?
It isn't her. Those telegraph comments are scammers that hit up popular RUclips channels pretending to be the channel owner, but they really just want to scam you out of cash. I saw one video where the channel owner replied to them to see what they were up to.
I never told anyone “not too much,” so I’m not sure what you’re referring to. It’s expensive. Also, I don’t have a telegram and I’ve made posts about the scammers.
There is nothing special about kilimanjaro, if you have basic ability (aka dont need a kilo of dex to sustain altitude).
For me with decently overgrown heart(college cycling) and much higher than average lung capacity it was quite a boring walk.
Kazbek, elbrus, island peak, lenin peak, even winter kachkar dagi had been comparable cost but so much more fun. And that cost went towards real things, like equip and safety, not permits.
Living in second world i have regrets paying for kilimangaro affair.
Made any videos of these places ? We would love to see 'new' adventures .
@@davidyendoll5903 if it's not your job, like youtubers, filming travels is a burden, and keeping very expensive gear safe from theft is quite sad experience. But i give you a hint, those places are mostly white.
@@davidyendoll5903
Kazbek: half Russia, half Georgia
Elbrus: Russia
Pik Lenin (since 2006 Pik Abuali ibni Sino): Tajikistan
Kind of adventure now, hmm? 😅
Kackar Dagi: Turkey
Island Peak: Nepal