The first step when booking a Kilimanjaro trek is obviously choosing the trekking package itself most importantly the route and number of days you want to spend on the mountain.
There are several ways to book and pay for your Kilimanjaro trek, some of them better than others. A number of companies, including us, allow you to book your trip directly online using your debit card or credit card as well as making an online payment with your bank. Taking this method to pay the deposit for your trek can have some advantages including getting a booking made quickly, avoiding cash deposits or even paying your balance in cash while showing up in Tanzania. It is even better because we get to secure your room reservations in time before they get fully booked by somebody else.
The vast majority of hikers schedule their trek up Kilimanjaro prior to their arrival in Tanzania. This approach is quite sensible since there will already be plenty to handle upon reaching Tanzania, such as conquering the summit of Africa’s tallest peak, without the added burden of organizing the entire trek in advance.
Booking your trek before you arrive in Tanzania
By booking your trek before you arrive in Tanzania, you can avoid the inconvenience. It is much more pleasant to arrive in Tanzania with your trek already booked rather than having to arrange everything upon arrival. This is especially true because only a few tour companies will sell you a climb up Kilimanjaro without any additional services. Almost all of them will provide airport pick-up and drop-off at the beginning and end of your trip. They will also include accommodations before and after your trek. They may even offer sightseeing trips, safaris, or excursions to Zanzibar. For an extra fee, they might even include flights, insurance, and assistance with visa arrangements. By not having to deal with these arrangements yourself, booking in advance will save you a significant amount of time. It will also ensure that you know exactly when your trek will take place. On the other hand, if you wait to book until you arrive in Tanzania, you may have to wait several days to find a suitable trek. Booking in advance of your arrival in Tanzania also allows you to plan your trek months ahead of time. You can also ask your agent any questions you have well before you fly into Tanzania.
Booking your trek in Tanzania
There are advantages to waiting until you arrive in Tanzania to book your trek. One benefit is that you may be able to negotiate and get a cheaper price in person. If you have cash in dollars, you can avoid the high credit card fees or bank transfer charges. Additionally, you have the opportunity to meet the guides, porters, and fellow trekkers before committing to the trek. This allows you to ensure a pleasant experience. You can also personally inspect the tents and camping equipment before making a booking. Moreover, booking a trek the day before gives you more flexibility to choose a suitable day. On the other hand, booking with an agency at home often requires months of advance notice and follows a tight schedule, making changes later on challenging or impossible. Finally, while the money spent on the trek may not directly benefit the neediest Tanzanians, it does support the local population instead of Western companies.
How to pay for your Kilimanjaro trek
Please select the payment method that is most convenient for you, and feel free to contact us if you have any questions or require further assistance. We are committed to ensuring a seamless payment process and look forward to welcoming you on your Kilimanjaro adventure. The money for your trip should be in our bank account at least 4 weeks before your trip if you are paying using credit cards, Wise money transfer and wired money through bank transfer. If you do this, you will receive the voucher necessary for travel, which we will send you as soon as we have received it. When you book within 4 weeks of your trip, the entire sum will be reflected in our bank account in time and it is helpful to plan your trip smoothly. Please note that the cost of any transaction must be covered by the sender, and in cases where a transfer is sent, it would be from intermediating banks if requested.
Booking confirmation.
Once you are happy with your final itinerary, we will send you a booking form that you will fill out, sign, scan and send it back to us.
Confidential Information provided in this communication is intended for the use of the addressee and may contain privileged, confidential, or legally protected information. Please be assured that we take every possible measure to protect both you and Tranquil Kilimanjaro in respect to online financial security, and no personal information will ever be disclosed to any third party without your explicit consent. All information given is used exclusively for internal purposes.
Once your trip has been confirmed, you can pay with whichever payment method you may choose. If you pay your balance by credit card, we will add 3.5% to the amount you need to pay, as this is the additional cost that the credit card charges and bank charges. All other amounts that should be paid by a bank transfer or check, we will gladly provide you with all the details that you need, just let us know.
The payment methods accepted by Tranquil Kilimanjaro
Paying for your Kilimanjaro trek involves several steps to ensure a smooth and secure transaction.
To ensure a convenient and secure payment process for your Kilimanjaro trek, we offer the following payment methods:
- Wise Money Transfer: Transfer funds directly to our designated Wise (formerly TransferWise) account using the Wise Money Transfer service. Wise offers competitive exchange rates and low transfer fees, making it an efficient option for international payments. Once you initiate the transfer, please provide us with the necessary transaction details for verification.
- Bank Wire Transfer: You can make a payment via wire transfer directly to our bank account. Simply request our banking details, including the recipient’s name, bank name, account number, SWIFT/BIC code, and any other relevant information required for the transfer. Once the funds are transferred, kindly provide us with the transaction reference or confirmation for processing. Call and speak with your bank if you need any assistance. Once you have made your deposit, please email a copy of the deposit slip and let us know the transfer number and the name under which the transfer was made. Payments go to: Mount Kili Routes and Safaris. Please remit your deposit or payment in one of the above-mentioned methods. Please scan and email the deposit slip to info@tranquilkilimanjaro.com or phone us through Charles (+255 787 738 048 or +255 753 396 210) or +254 718 118 808.
- Online Payment System by Pesapal: Our secure online payment system powered by Pesapal accepts all major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Additionally, Pesapal also supports MPESA, a popular mobile money transfer service in East Africa. Simply follow the prompts on our website to complete your payment securely using Pesapal.
- PayPal: You can also make payments via PayPal, a widely used online payment platform that offers convenience and security. Simply log in to your PayPal account and send the payment to our designated PayPal email address (info@tranquilkilimanjaro.com). Once the payment is received, we will promptly confirm your booking and send you a receipt for your records.
- Cash: For in-person payments or last-minute bookings, we accept cash payments in USD, British Pounds, EUR, or in special cases, Tanzanian Shilling (TZS), depending on your preference and availability. If you choose to pay in cash, please arrange the payment with our staff or guide upon arrival at our office or designated meeting point. Note: Tanzania does not accept USD notes printed before 2006. The print year information is printed on the front of the note, so please double-check it before paying.
Comparing prices and itineraries
Once you have all the details for each company, sort and compare. These details are the most important, so concentrate on these for now. You can browse the FAQ afterwards and ask for advice on the chat line at the bottom right-hand corner. At Tranquil Kilimanjaro, we expedite bookings for those who already know their data and plans.
The price of package tours to climb Kilimanjaro may change depending on the taxes and fees announced by the government.
Checking room availability and making a reservation
As soon as you have made a deposit, we will reserve all the required accommodation options for your trip for the duration specified and will send you a written confirmation with details of your trek and further information to your attention. We kindly request you to make your payments as early as possible. Please note: a failure to do so may result in the cancellation of your trip. If you are unable to pay in person in cash, an alternative method is a direct money transfer; please contact us concerning our bank details.
When we confirm availability, make the payment and send proof of payment to us. Then we will reserve your trip.
Understanding payment options
If you have an international credit card, online payment is the quickest and most efficient method of payment. Your minimal credit limit is, finally, the only thing limiting you. PayPal is another instant payment method. With various daily conversion limits, you can allow as much as you are comfortable with. Direct bank transfers are the most affordable payment method, with the lowest fees. In addition, it’s a secure and reliable payment option that’s widely available around the world. Countries with access to Wise money transfer, for example, can use any of their platforms to transfer funds to us.
Different people, depending on the country they are in, are entitled to different payment options. We have decided to make booking a Kilimanjaro trek as accessible as possible for everyone. That’s why we are offering a few payment options, designed with all types of travellers in mind. Not all travellers have direct access to online payments. Other people may just not be confident enough to make payments online or have the available funds locally to make payments through a bank transfer. The options we currently offer are: online payment through Wise International Transfers, PayPal, bank transfer, cash payment, or credit card payment through Pesapal.
Deposits and final payment
Upon receipt of the appropriate deposit, your point of contact, preferably our email, will address you a final invoice. The final invoice will show the balance and its scheduled payment weights together with the deposit receipt. These records will have all the data in detail necessary to ensure full transparency of your account balance for the tour. However, we may require further authorization of your deposit balance or other participants travelling with you, and when valid, we will send the details of balance payments with the date you want us to process the payment. All the money that is collected for the monies owed for our trips is agreed to be set before the departure check-in. Accepted methods of payment for the Tranquil Kilimanjaro (See Payment methods) with the exception of payments for trips booked while in the itinerary. All services that you cannot cancel (flights, balloon safari flights, hotel, etc) must be paid for 100% if you wish to book them.
Most of our visitors make advance deposits towards their Kilimanjaro climb during the period of about 6-12 months before departure. Therefore, we have outlined procedures that are accepted by us for payments. Be sure to understand our booking and payment policy. It is also important that you read these payment terms well as they apply for all bookings made with us, to all our tours in Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Zanzibar, including Tailor-Made Trekking/Kilimanjaro Machame, Machame Lemosho, Rongai, and Umbwe tours. Our charges include bank fees as well as credit card surcharges associated with the transaction. All associated bank fees and surcharges required to cover the cost of sending deposits (both international and local) are included in the cost of our treks. Some travel and trekking companies are seen hiding these costs in the small print in the information and bulletin letters.
3.4. Confirming your payment
Confirming your payment is very important to ensure the correct trip details are confirmed and we hold the spaces for the date you wish to trek. It is important to send a notification immediately that any payment has been made to us following payment of this agreement. Confirmation of receipt of this money will be provided, and confirmation of your trek date and itinerary will be sent to the email address provided on the booking form. If there is any issue with the payment, simply let us know. For bank transfer, the total in United States Dollars (USD) as stated on the booking form should be transferred net of all charges, i.e. only the money the trekker has available for the trip. The treks team will bear all other charges. Internet banking and wire payment charges are to be paid by the trekker at their end, or will be deducted from the final balance when the trekker arrives in Tanzania.
Once you’ve arranged the payment, we have set out specific guidelines below on how we like to manage any changes to booking details and a suggested timeline of the process from booking to arriving in Tanzania for your trek. At first, you decide to book with Tranquil Kilimanjaro. Then you have some questions and communications until you’re ready to book, and you become a client. There is then a process you need to follow to achieve trek excellence. We have set these out in this chapter with the intention of keeping both you and ourselves organized and on the same page with your trek. Where necessary, free courtesy services such as hotel pick-up/drop-off en-route to and from the start/end of your trek for people staying in Moshi/Kilimanjaro region or pre-positioned luggage storage for people spending a night in Arusha/Moshi remain the same irrespective of the payment method you choose, as may any promotions we have currently running.
Researching reputable tour operators
The following information is designed to give you an idea of what to look for when researching Kilimanjaro tour operators and planning for your Kilimanjaro climb. It’s not an exhaustive list, but it should help you get started. Trekking company employees like Tranquil Kilimanjaro are genuinely passionate about travelling in Tanzania and making the most of your time in Africa. Sometimes one or another of our busy team might not be able to respond right away. If it happens, we are very sorry and would ask you to please send us another message or call us. If you received an automatic response, please be assured that we have received your message and will respond as soon as possible.
Researching reputable tour operators is one of the most important steps in planning your Kilimanjaro climb. Not all companies are the same, and it is important that you do your due diligence, particularly on the operator’s safety record. Reviewing previous clients’ testimonials and trekking company reviews is a great way to learn more about what it’s like to climb with a certain tour operator. Credible companies should have a testimonial page on their website. Reviews can be full of extra details from a climber’s experience and can often be quite personal, making them a great resource. Many people who have climbed Kilimanjaro will write reviews for tour operators through Trip Advisor, YourAfricanSafari, and Google My Business (GMB).
Comments