Terms of Service

These are the terms that govern your Kilimanjaro climb with KiliPeak. We've written them in plain English because legal jargon helps nobody. If something's unclear, email us and we'll explain.

Booking Terms

When you book a climb with KiliPeak, here's what happens:

Deposit and Payment

• Deposit: To confirm your booking, we require a 30% deposit. This secures your climb dates, reserves your guides and crew, and allows us to apply for national park permits (which have limited availability).
• Full payment: The remaining 70% is due 60 days before your climb start date. If you book within 60 days of your climb, full payment is due immediately.
• Payment methods: We accept bank transfers, credit cards (via Stripe), and PayPal. Payment details provided after you confirm your booking.

What's Included

Your climb package includes:

• All national park fees, permits, and rescue fees
• Professional guides, assistant guides, cook, and porters
• Accommodation in mountain huts or tents (depending on route)
• Three meals per day on the mountain (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Drinking water on the mountain
• Emergency oxygen and first aid kit
• Portable toilet (on routes that require it)
• Fair wages for all crew members

What's NOT Included

• International flights to/from Tanzania
• Tanzania visa (available on arrival, ~$50-100 USD depending on nationality)
• Travel insurance (mandatory—see below)
• Tips for guides, cooks, and porters (suggested amounts provided in pre-climb briefing)
• Personal gear (sleeping bag, trekking poles, clothing—we can rent gear if needed)
• Accommodation before/after the climb (we can recommend hotels in Moshi/Arusha)
• Meals in town before/after the trek
• Personal expenses (souvenirs, drinks, etc.)

Cancellation Policy

Life happens. Plans change. We get it. Here's how cancellations work:

Flexible Cancellation Terms

• More than 60 days before your climb: Full refund minus a $200 USD administrative fee (covers permit processing and booking costs).
• 30-60 days before your climb: 50% refund. We've already paid for permits, reserved crew, and turned away other clients for your dates.
• Less than 30 days before your climb: No refund. At this point, permits are non-refundable, crew has been hired, and logistics are finalized.

Rescheduling

If you need to reschedule (rather than cancel), we'll work with you:

• More than 60 days before: Reschedule for free (subject to availability).
• 30-60 days before: $200 USD rescheduling fee (covers permit reapplication and rebooking).
• Less than 30 days before: Rescheduling treated as cancellation + new booking (subject to permit availability).

Force Majeure (Acts of God)

If your climb is canceled due to events beyond anyone's control—natural disasters, government closures, war, pandemics—we'll work with you to reschedule or provide a partial refund (minus non-recoverable costs like permits). We're not going to screw you over because a volcano erupted.

Cancellations by KiliPeak

If we cancel your climb (extremely rare—weather closures, safety concerns), you get a full refund or free rescheduling. No penalties, no questions asked.

Participant Requirements

Kilimanjaro is a serious high-altitude trek. To keep everyone safe, participants must:

• Be at least 10 years old (Tanzanian national park rule—not our policy, theirs).
• Be in good physical health. You don't need to be an athlete, but you should be able to hike 5-7 hours per day for multiple days. If you have medical conditions (heart problems, asthma, diabetes, etc.), consult your doctor before booking.
• Have travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking (up to 6,000m) and emergency evacuation. This is mandatory. Helicopter rescue costs $5,000-10,000 USD—insurance pays for it, you don't.
• Follow guide instructions. Our guides have decades of experience. If they say "we need to descend," we descend. No arguments. Your safety comes first.

Medical Disclosure

Before your climb, we'll ask about medical conditions, medications, and allergies. Be honest. We're not here to judge—we're here to keep you safe. If you have a condition that affects altitude tolerance (heart disease, lung conditions, etc.), tell us so we can plan accordingly.

Hiding medical conditions puts you and your team at risk. If we discover undisclosed conditions on the mountain that create safety issues, we reserve the right to end your climb without refund.

Liability and Assumption of Risk

Let's be blunt: climbing Kilimanjaro is inherently risky. You're hiking to 5,895 meters in a remote wilderness. Despite our best efforts—professional guides, safety protocols, emergency oxygen—things can go wrong.

Risks Include (But Aren't Limited To):

• Altitude sickness (AMS, HACE, HAPE)
• Falls, slips, injuries
• Extreme weather (cold, storms, wind)
• Wildlife encounters (rare but possible)
• Equipment failure
• Illness or infection
• Evacuation delays

By booking with us, you acknowledge these risks and accept responsibility for your decision to climb. We do everything possible to minimize risk, but we can't eliminate it.

What We're Responsible For

We're responsible for:

• Providing experienced, trained guides
• Supplying proper equipment (tents, food, safety gear)
• Following national park regulations
• Monitoring your health and making safety decisions
• Arranging rescue/evacuation if needed

If we fail in these responsibilities due to negligence, we're liable. But we're not liable for outcomes beyond our control—weather, your body's response to altitude, accidents despite safety precautions, etc.

What We're NOT Responsible For

• Your decision to ignore guide advice
• Injuries caused by your own negligence
• Altitude sickness (it's unpredictable and genetic—we can't prevent it, only manage it)
• Lost or damaged personal gear
• Delays or cancellations due to weather, government actions, or force majeure
• Costs incurred if you leave the climb early by choice

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, KiliPeak's liability is limited to the cost of your climb package. We're not liable for indirect damages (lost wages, emotional distress, etc.) resulting from your climb.

This sounds harsh, but it's standard in adventure tourism. Kilimanjaro is a wilderness, not an amusement park. We do our job professionally, but we can't control everything.

Travel Insurance (Mandatory)

You must have travel insurance that covers:

• High-altitude trekking (up to 6,000m)
• Emergency evacuation and repatriation
• Medical expenses abroad
• Trip cancellation/interruption

Recommended providers:

• World Nomads (select "mountaineering" coverage)
• IMG Global (Global Medical Insurance)
• Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance

We'll ask for proof of insurance before your climb. No insurance = no climb. We're not budging on this. Helicopter evacuations cost $5,000-10,000 USD, payable upfront. Insurance saves you from financial ruin.

Guide Authority and Safety Decisions

Our guides have final authority on safety decisions. If a guide says:

• "We need to descend due to weather"
• "You need to turn back due to altitude sickness"
• "We're delaying summit attempt due to conditions"

...that decision is final. No arguments, no second-guessing. Guides prioritize safety over summit success. If you refuse to follow safety instructions, you forfeit the remainder of your climb without refund.

Accuracy of Information

We strive to provide accurate information on this website—route descriptions, packing lists, pricing, weather data, success rates. But:

• Weather is unpredictable. Our weather guides are based on historical averages. Conditions vary year to year.
• Routes may change. National park authorities can alter trails, close camps, or change regulations. We adapt as needed.
• Pricing may change. Park fees, permits, and operational costs fluctuate. We lock your price when you book, but prices on the website reflect current rates and may change.

If critical information changes after you book (route closure, major price increase), we'll notify you immediately and offer alternatives.

Photography and Media

We may take photos and videos during your climb for marketing purposes (website, social media, promotional materials). If you don't want to appear in our media, tell us before the climb. We'll respect your preference.

By participating in the climb, you grant KiliPeak permission to use photos/videos featuring you for promotional purposes, unless you opt out.

Intellectual Property

All content on this website—text, images, logos, itineraries—is owned by KiliPeak or licensed for our use. You can't copy, reproduce, or distribute our content without permission. (If you want to share something, link to our site or ask us—we're usually cool with it.)

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of Tanzania (where the climb takes place) and Canada (where KiliPeak is registered). Any disputes will be resolved through arbitration in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, or Arusha, Tanzania, depending on the nature of the dispute.

We'd rather resolve issues through conversation than lawyers. If something goes wrong, talk to us first. We're reasonable people.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms occasionally—if regulations change, we add new services, or we refine policies. When we do, we'll update this page and note the change date.

If you've already booked, changes don't apply retroactively. You're bound by the terms in effect when you booked.

Contact Us

Questions about these terms? Concerns about a policy? Want to discuss something before booking?

Email: kilipeak.info@gmail.com

We'll respond within a few days (usually faster).

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That's it. We've tried to make this straightforward and fair. Kilimanjaro is a serious adventure, and these terms reflect that. Climb safely, listen to your guides, and we'll do everything we can to get you to the summit and back down in one piece.