Can I climb Kilimanjaro during the coronavirus pandemic? (25 March 2022 update)

Tourism in Tanzania is a go – and Kilimanjaro is open for business. At Follow Alice we resumed hosting Kilimanjaro climbs ever since Tanzania opened up again for tourism in July 2020.

As of March 2022, the Government of Tanzania has relaxed its coronavirus requirements for travellers visiting the country. This is good news for the traveller from an admin perspective!

* We regularly update the information in this blog post to reflect the latest coronavirus-related news and developments pertaining to travel to Tanzania. But please always check the more recent regulations as per Tanzania's latest travel advisory to ensure you're on top of every requirement relating to your travel plans.

Group shot by Lava Tower on one of our fun September 2021 climbs

Everyone intending to travel to Tanzania should please read the following regulations very carefully.

Nick and his mountain crew had Kilimanjaro almost to themselves on their July 2020 climb!

If you require a Covid-19 test while in Tanzania, no problem. You can have a test done for about $50 at Selian Hospital in Arusha or Mawenzi Regional Hospital in Moshi (the two towns closest to Kilimanjaro). 

The official turnaround time for tests results is 72 hours, but in our experience results come back within 24 to 48 hours. We'll happily advise you on how to plan your itinerary around this test.

Martina and Benji at the start of their eight-day Lemosho climb with us in September 2021

If you're travelling with Follow Alice, we're happy to assist you in arranging a Covid-19 test in line with your schedule. You would simply need to chat to your trip manager for more information or to arrange this test for you.

Please note, however, that the onus is on you to request a coronavirus test if one is needed. This means checking with your airline and home country to see if a test result is required prior to travel (as well as the timeframes involved).

Doing a safari after your Kili climb? PCR testing is now available at multiple locations on the Northern Circuit.

At Follow Alice we most commonly make use of the Seronera Village Dispensary in the Serengeti. This is a private clinic and as such you cannot pay cash – you must make payment via a local Tanzanian bank. You'll therefore need assistance from your tour operator to organise this. For those booking a trip with us, we send you the relevant info before your trip so that we can make arrangements on your behalf for this.

Both Arusha and Moshi have hospitals where you can get a coronavirus test if you decide you need one

The Government of Tanzania has put certain safety measures in place to help prevent the spread of coronavirus through the tourism sector:

If you'd like to know more, please read the Government of Tanzania's Travel Advisory No. 10 of 16th March, 2022.

Clients celebrating a successful August 2021 climb with Kilimanjaro lagers!

Please bring your own protective face masks for your time in Tanzania. You won't wear them on the mountain, as there's already limited oxygen. But it's a good idea to wear a face mask during your travels before and after the climb. Face masks aren't compulsory in Tanzania, but we do advise wearing them, in keeping with the recommendation set forth by the World Health Organisation.

While hand sanitiser is provided at most establishments and we provide it for you during our climbs, we still recommend having your own personal hand sanitiser that you carry with you at all times.

Claudia and Alex loved their August 2021 climb with us – and we loved hosting them!

If you test positive upon arrival in mainland Tanzania, you'll have to self-isolate at one of the designated establishments. In the Kilimanjaro region they are:

Our Tanzania local leaders Robert, Kazi and Chris holding up their coronavirus prevention training certificates

This year has been a real doozy! So much has been (and remains) up in the air, making travel somewhat difficult to plan. We want to enable you to book your adventure with confidence. With that in mind, these are our assurances in terms of all existing and new travel bookings …

For all bookings, we’ve reduced the number of days before your departure that you must give notice in order to make changes. Our notice period was initially six weeks, but now it’s just three weeks. This means you can change your trip, for any reason, up to three weeks before your scheduled departure date. No hassle, no questions asked, and no charge. If you choose to amend your booking, you can select any new departure date. We’re very flexible, and will work on a case-by-case basis to ensure the best solution is found for you!

The Follow Alice campsite on an October 2020 climb – the mountain is still relatively quiet at the moment

Your dedicated trip manager is always on hand to help with any questions you have prior to your trip. We want you to feel confident and safe before leaving for your trip. Your trip manager is always up to date on local travel regulations and restrictions, and so is equipped to guide you through your travel process as smoothly as possible.

To give you even further confidence to book, we’ve reduced our booking deposit amount by half. It was $500, and is now just $250.

Rest assured that your money is protected when you make a deposit with Follow Alice. We don’t sub-contract, which means that the money you spend with us, stays with us.

Our travel groups are always small. This offers security, access, camaraderie, and a better connection with your destination. For social distancing efforts its a real plus. If you want it to be just you and your mates, chat to us for more information about making your trip private!

If you’re joining one of our small group trips on your own, good on ya! Solo travelling is all the rage right now. It’s up to you if you want to have your own room or share with someone else. If you do opt to share a room, your roommate won’t change for the entire journey to support social distancing efforts.

As always, please feel free to chat to us at any time! We’d love to connect with you and talk adventure travel. 

We look forward to seeing you on the mountain!