Ultimate Kilimanjaro Trek
Mount Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain on the African continent and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Challenge Africa is offering you the challenge of a lifetime to take on this trek with one of the best adventure companies in the world, African Environments, run by Richard Beatty OBE. The trek follows the Shira Plateau Route – Western Breach Ascent, over the course of 8 days.
Challenge Yourself, whilst raising money for our vital work with rural Kenyan communities.
We ask that you fund the trip yourself and raise a minimum of £300 for Challenge Africa’s projects in Abimbo village, Kenya. We will provide you with support and fundraising ideas to help you meet this target.
Itinerary
Day 01: MONTANE FOREST (9,000′)
Drive approximately one and a half hours to the National Park forest edge. From here we will walk about 3 hours through the undisturbed forest to our camp for the night. With luck you will be able to see Colobus monkeys and at least signs of elephant on your walk to camp.
Day 02: SHIRA PLATEAU WEST SIDE (11,300′)
Taking our time walking through the forest will help us spot some of the plentiful game and bird life. The day’s hike will take us through the Montane Forest and the Hagenia zone. We will point out the unique environmental differences that characterize these separate equatorial zones. The final section of our walk will bring the Kibo Massif into view ahead of us.
Day 03: MOIR HUT (13,900′)
Crossing the Shira Plateau World Heritage Site we will reach the base of the great valley that drains the high ice fields on this side of the mountain. Following this deep valley upstream we can watch as the giant heath gradually shrinks from the 20 foot high plants at the base of the valley to gnarled and twisted plants only 1 foot high near to camp. Our destination for the night is set on a flat plain below the cliffs near the head of the valley close to the ruins of Moir Hut. The days hike will take us about 6 hours.
Day 04: LAVA TOWER (14,300′)
Today we will hike approximately 4 hours to camp just under Lava Tower. This will be our first introduction to the alpine zone, the only plant life being the hardiest of grasses and lichens. We will also cross the plains of long dead rivers and passing the weird sculptures of exposed lava flows. Skirting the impressively named ‘sharks tooth’ we will drop down a little before reaching our camp near the ancient free standing lava plug called Lava Tower As the day progresses the spectacular Western Breach ascent route comes into view.
Day 05: ARROW GLACIER (16,000′)
With the Western Breach ascent route in full view we will spend 2 hours climbing a steep section to the base of the route where we will camp near Arrow Glacier. This is an exposed camp with a real high mountain feel – it offers spectacular views across the Shira plateau and to Mount Meru in the distance. An afternoon hike further up the route before relaxing in camp will help our acclimatization and improve our performance the following day.
Day 06: SUMMIT CRATER CAMP (18,500′)
With an early start we will wind our way up the Western Breach non-technical climbing route about six hours to the crater rim. For many this is the hardest day of the climb, the route is exposed and care is needed, but the guides are always on hand to offer support and encouragement. It is one of the most impressive classic mountaineering days in Africa and compares with many Alpine and Himalayan experiences. Those with the energy can explore the inner crater and hike to the crater ash pit – to peer into the depths of the mountain- before moving to our spectacular high camp on the crater floor next to the Furtwrangler Glacier.
Day 07: MWEKA CAMP (10,500′)
Summit day! After breakfast we will start our ascent to the summit (19,340′) early enough in the morning to be on the summit by 10:00am. Only a few hundred feet of climbing remain to the summit up a steep valley rather than the gruelling night long ascent on all other routes up Kilimanjaro. After taking in the view from Uhuru Peak we will begin the long descent to Barafu Hut and on down to our camp near Mweka Hut.
Day 08: DAY ROOM AND DEPART
It takes about 3 to 3 and a half hours to make the 4,500 foot descent to the roadhead. Here we will have our lunch and say goodbye to our mountain staff and drive to either Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha.
The trek will go ahead with a climbing team of 15 plus support staff.
COST: $3,877 This is a large sum due to taxes and park fees but it also means safety is our number one concern and no corners are cut for cost-saving, unlike some other companies.
Deposit of $1000 to book place then $2,877 due 6 weeks before climb.
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
- Tents and all group camping equipment during climb of Mt.Kilimanjaro
- Great Meals as per itinerary (in camps and while trekking)
- Head Guide with years of experience guiding Mt Kilimanjaro and trained
- on all aspects of hiking at high altitudes and how to prevent problems. He will also be a qualified Wilderness First Responder.
- Reliable portage staff
- Assistant guides and other staff as needed, like cooks and assistant cooks
- Safe drinking water
- Group medical kit
- Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certified guide
- Gamow Bag or Hyperbaric chamber – used for high altitude illness
- Bottled oxygen for emergencies
- Satphones for emergency communication
- Mount Kilimanjaro National Park fee & camping fees
- Park rescue fees (this is required to enter the park by the Tanzania government)
- Transportation to and from the Mountain to / from Arusha
- Experienced head guide to travel with group during entire trip.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
- International flights (London to Kilimanjaro airport)
- Tanzania visa ($50, purchased upon arrival)
- Immunizations for travel to Africa (see list)
- Travel insurance
- Medical & Evacuation insurance
- Accommodation before or after the climb
- Snacks, laundry, phone calls
- All personal items for trip – see packing list on website
- Personal medications – see list on website
- Tipping secondary staff (porters, cooks etc) after trek (guideline $100- $180 per climber)
- Tipping of safari driver & mountain guide (guideline $50 – $120 per climber)
African Environments have a rental store if you don’t want to buy the kit you need for high altitude
http://www.africanenvironments.com/killimanjaro-climbs/mountain-rental-gear/
Event Details
Date: August 2017
Location: Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Cost: $3,877
Deposit: $1000
Balance: $2,877 due 6 weeks before climb
Fundraising Target: £300
For more information visit: