Kilimanjaro Challenge

What you can expect from this 7 days Mount Kilimanjaro Climb:

A climb of Mount Kilimanjaro is a must taking you through the mists of equatorial jungle to reach the snows and breath-taking views from the summit. Gaze over Tanzania and Kenya from Africa’s highest point. Mount Kilimanjaro is a giant stratovolcano reaching an elevation of 19 335.6 ft. (5 895 metre).

Other names for this volcano are Kilima Dscharo, Oldoinyo Oibor (white mountain in Masai), Mount Kilimanjaro’s highest and youngest cone is named Kibo. Shira to the west and Mawenzi in the east are older cones that make up Kilimanjaro.

All our Kilimanjaro Climbs include a large staff including the chief guide, an assistant guide, cook, and porters. The camp is superbly outfitted, including sleeping mats for all the igloo tents, a toilet tent, tables and chairs, and high frequency two-way radios for communication with base. Your guides provide oxygen and a portable altitude chamber for safety purposes and are trained every year.

The Rongai route begins on the northern side of the mountain and is the least travelled route. It is a long drive to the starting point but you are rewarded by fantastic views and the likelihood that you will be the only climbers around. If you take this route up the mountain you are obliged by park rules to descend via the Marangu Route which is the most popular and well used route.

Day 01 Arriving ,Tanzania

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International airport, you will be met by our driver and assisted through customs and immigration formalities. Thereafter, drive to Arusha the nerve center of East Africa, and getaway to several national parks in the north of the country.

Day 02 Arusha/Kilimanjaro

After breakfast drive to Maranu for necessary registration formalities, we transfer by 4WD vehicles to Nale Moru (1,950 m.) to begin our climb on this unspoilt wilderness

route. The first day is only a half-day walk on a small path that winds through farmland and pine plantations. It is a consistent but gentle climb through attractive forest that shelters a variety of wildlife. We reach our first overnight stop by late afternoon at the edge of the moorland zone (2,600 m.).

Day 03 Kilimanjaro

The morning walk is a steady ascent up to the ‘Second Cave’ (3,450 m) with superb views of the Eastern icefields on the rim of Kibo, the youngest and highest of the three volcanoes that form the entire mountain. After lunch, we leave the main trail and strike out across the moorland on a smaller path towards the jagged peaks of Mawenzi, the second of Kilimanjaro’s volcanoes. Our campsite, which we reach in late afternoon, is in a sheltered valley near Kikelewa Caves (3,600m).

Day 04 Kilimanjaro

A steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by superb panoramas of the Kenyan plains to the north. We leave vegetation behind close to Mawenzi Tarn (4,330m), spectacularly situated in a cirque beneath the towering cliffs of Mawenzi. The afternoon will be free to rest or to explore the surrounding area as an aid to acclimatisation.

Day 05 Kilimanjaro

We leave our attractive campsite to cross the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo campsite (4,700 m) at the bottom of the Kibo Crater wall by early afternoon. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night!

Day 06 Kilimanjaro

We will start the final, and by far the steepest and most demanding, part of the climb by torchlight at around midnight. We plod very slowly in darkness and cold on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the Crater rim at Gillman’s Point (5,685 m). We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi.

Those who are still feeling strong can make the three hour round trip along the snow-covered rim to the true summit of Uhuru Peak (5,896 m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Kibo Hut (4,700 m) is surprisingly fast and, after some refreshments and rest, we continue descending to reach our final campsite at Horombo (3,720 m). This is an extremely long and hard day, with between 11 to 15 hours walking at high altitude.

Day 07 Kilimanjaro/Depart

A sustained descent with wide views across the moorland takes us into the lovely forest around Mandara (2,700 m), the first stopping place on the Marangu route. The trail continues through semi-tropical vegetation to the National Park gate at Marangu (1,830 m).

We leave the local staff to return to our hotel by mid-afternoon for a well-earned rest and a much needed shower and beer. A day room will be provided till late evening wen you will be taken to te airort to board your home bound flight.

Includes:

All park, camp and rescue fees,services of trained guides, porters, a cook and his assistant, portage of 2 bags (maximum 33 lbs) per person. Three meals a day and all camping gear will be provided, accommodation in tents, First Air Responder emergency evacuation insurance.

Excludes:

Does not include, International air fare ,entrance visa,communication charges or other personal items, meals or transfers other than those included on the cost of the climb, optional activities, beverages, laundry, personal gear or clothing for the climb is provide, evacuation transport for non emergency reasons and accommodation in Arusha.( if a client returns before the completion of the climb)

Qualifications:

This trip is rated Strenuous. Trip members should be strong, experienced hikers in excellent physical condition. Previous experience hiking at high altitude will be an asset to your chances of summiting on Kilimanjaro.

Your physical fitness is important to your success on the climb.

A serious physical conditioning program should be undertaken several months in advance to get into shape. Hiking hills for the legs, swimming to increase lung capacity and circulation, jogging and bicycling for overall fitness, these are excellent for building the strength necessary for the trek. The best training is extensive hiking up and down hills, putting in 10 mile hikes on weekends prior to the trip. Consult with your doctor

High Altitude:

The summit of Kilimanjaro is at 19,340 and even with a rest day, the climb has rapid rate of ascent. We attempt to minimize the effect of altitude through our program of acclimatization. Most climbers experience some symptoms of altitude illness during the climb.

These symptoms can include headache, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing and general weakness. More severe reactions can include both cerebral and pulmonary edema, which can result in permanent injury or death. The only cure is to descend.

Weather:

The weather on Kilimanjaro is quite diverse. The climb starts through a wide belt of wet tropical forest then goes through zones with generally decreasing temperatures and rainfall to the summit where there is permanent ice and sub-freezing temperatures. Our trips avoid the rainy season which runs from mid – March to May and the short rains in November.

Do you want to conquer Kilimanjaro ?

Then our Kilimanjaro Trekking information is a must read. There, you will find a full gear list and pre-departure information on how to summit Killimanjaro successfully. Most climbers fail to summit because they have not been prepared well by their travel agents/tour operators, increase your chances of summiting by reading our trekking information from the first paragraph to the last.