Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world (5895m in altitude) and also the highest mountain in Africa.

Weather & Climate
It is important to understand that weather on Kilimanjaro is as changeable and unpredictable as mountain weather all over the world.The best climbing seasons is January to March and June to October. The only real recommendation to climbers is to avoid the long rainy season (April / May) as the mountain becomes slippery and treacherous. The average day temperature on the lower slopes is around 30°C, while temperatures can range from 5 to 15°C at 3000m in altitude during day time. Night time temperatures on the mountain can be well below freezing – even at you first campsite.

Health precautions
The only mandatory inoculation to enter Tanzania is the yellow fever. Other inoculations are recommended but not mandatory:

• Hepatitis A  - It causes leaver inflammations. The contamination occurs via water or food.
• Typhoid - which is also caught from water or food
• Malaria - Although Kilimanjaro is to high and cold for mosquito’s to survive, you still need take anti-malaria tablets, as Moshi and the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro are still a risk area.
• Tetanus
• Cholera

Food & Water
Food throughout most areas of East Africa is similar. Whenever a dish has a Swahili name, it invariably contains coconut and/or bananas. There is coconut milk in curry, soups, vegetables, egg dishes, fish, meat and poultry, as well as in dessert dishes. The bananas are used in meat stews as well as with fish and poultry. Ugali, the perennial cornmeal porridge, is the major staple. Rice is also frequently eaten. On Kilimanjaro you can expect for breakfast - porridge, eggs, toast and fruit. Lunches are usually eaten en-route to the next campsite, and therefore consist of sandwiches and fruit. Dinners include meat, carbohydrates and vegetables.
Tanzania national drinks:

• Beer – Safari or Kilimanjaro lager which is produced locally
• Konyagi is a popular gin
• A chocolate and coconut liqueur called Afrikoko
• A wine called Dodoma, which comes in red or rosé
  

Money
In Tanzania the currency is the Tanzanian shilling. Currently, the exchange rate is approximately 1 US Dollar to 1100 Tanzanian shillings. Major currencies such as US Dollars, Euro and travellers cheques can be converted at major hotels, banks and foreign bureaus in the main towns and tourist areas. There are banks in Moshi where you can exchange your traveller’s checks or your hotel will exchange money for you. If you want to use an ATM, you'll need to have a card that has the VISA symbol (there are 2 ATMs in Moshi). Credit cards are not widely used in Tanzania. It's probably best to assume that you won't be able to use your credit card in many places.

Communications
Telephone, fax, post and Internet services are available in Moshi. Country code for Tanzania is +255. Mobile telephonic operators include Celtel, Mobitel, Tritel and Vodacom. You can obtain a GSM card that will allow you to make international calls if you don’t have roaming. The summit of Kilimanjaro is covered by a GSM mobile phone network (Vodacom).

Electricity
The voltage is the same as in the UK and South Africa - 220/230 V. You will have to buy flat 3 pin plugs should you wish to use any electrical appliances.

Getting around
All the major towns in Tanzania are connected by tarmac all weather roads, but outside this network, quality deteriorates. But outside this network, quality deteriorates. You can enjoy bus connections between Arusha, Moshi and Dar es Salaam. Flights with Air Tanzania and Precision Air access the main internal routes. Flights and bus transfers is also available from Nairobi (Kenya).

Crime
The people of Tanzania are very friendly and helpful. However, Africa in general is pretty famous for pickpockets and thieves.We recommend you to carry limited amounts of cash - rather leave it with your travel documents in a save at your hotel.

People, Religion and Language
Tanzanians are proud that the vast cultural and ethnic diversity of their more then 120 tribes is unified under the national language, Swahili. English is the official second language of the country and is primary language of business and secondary education. Christianity and Islam are the predominant religions of Tanzania.

Economy
The economy of Tanzania is overwhelmingly agricultural.  Diamond, tanzanite and other gemstones mines are found in Tanzania. Tourism is also becoming one of the main sectors of the economy.

Wildlife
Tanzania is known for it wildlife, however on Kilimanjaro there is not much. On the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro you will often see troops of black-and-white colobus monkeys. A common face on Kilimanjaro is the crows (with a white collar around the neck) which you can see as high as base camps as well as little grey birds named stone-chat.

Photography
Be sure to take along plenty of film and buy it beforehand. Take along extra batteries and a waterproof pouch to protect your camera from moisture and dust. Ask permission first before taking photographs of people. No military installations may be photographed and there are normally signs indicating this.

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