Kilimanjaro National Park

Mt. Kilimanjaro. The roof of Africa. Glacial ice fields only a few degrees south of the equator. At 19,340 feet Kilimanjaro is home to the highest mountain in Africa. The base is nearly 50 miles long and 25 miles wide and contains three peaks. There is Shira on the west side, Mawenzi on the east and Kibo in the center. The youngest, Kibo, is the highest and is home to Uhuru Peak which is every Kili climber's destination. It is covered by several large glacial ice fields.


We offer 5 different climbs following the less traveled Shira and Machame trails that wind along the west side of the mountain up to the 19,340 foot summit. Our climbs all take 7 to 8 days and all have a very high success rate. Over 95% of our clients reach the summit at Uhuru Peak and we take great pride in this. Our average daily ascend rate is a little under 2000 feet per day. This makes the hike itself more doable for most people and gives our clients enough time to aclimate themselves to the change in elevation.


Unfortunately, there are many climbing outfits out there who cut corners by spending fewer days on the mountain. These companies typically ascend using the Marangu and Maura trails. These trails are shorter and more crowded. Fewer days climbing (some companies push their clients to reach the summit in 4 days!) means your body has to aclimate to increased elevation quicker. You also must push yourself up the mountain more than 3000 feet per day. For many people its too much to handle and they are forced to head down.


OUR GUIDES
Our head guide, Allan, has been leading expeditions up Mt. Kilimanjaro for over 15 years. We also employ four additional expert guides who are among the best there are. Each has been climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro since the early 90s. Besides being very skilled and experienced in real life mountaineering, all of our guides have received the following additional training and certification:

* NOLS climbing courses in Tanzania/Kenya.
* NOLS Medical Training courses.
* WFA (Wildlife First Aid) courses.
* WFR and CPR certificates from the American Heart Assoc.
* Ornithology, Mammalogy and Ecology


OUR CREW
Besides having first class climbing guides, our porters, cooks and assistant cooks climb with us on a regular basis and it certainly makes a better trip for everyone when we use a crew that has worked together in the past. Our cooks and porters are provided with their own tents, sleeping gear and better than average pay. Allan started out himself as a porter so he knows how difficult the job is.


We are proud to offer our clients the chance to reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the hands of skilled guides and a crew of strong and reliable cooks and porters.


FOOD
We provide three meals a day which are rich in carbohydrates served in a dining tent with a large table and stools. Lunches are served outside during lunch at the lower elevations. If you have any special menu requests, please let us know so that we may accommodate you! We recommend that you bring some of your favorite snacks, especially ones that do not have an excess of salt. The following are samples of the meals you can expect.
Breakfast: granola, oatmeal, eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, toast, jam, butter, powdered milk, tea and coffee.
Lunch: bread, cheese, fresh fruits, soup, tea and coffee.
Dinner: Fresh fish or chicken, pasta, soup, potatoes, vegetables, salad, fruits, tea and coffee.


OUR EQUIPMENT
We provide our clients with top quality three-person tents that are shared by just two people allowing plenty of room for your gear. The tents and the rest of our equipment will be carried by our porters; you are asked to only carry a day pack with water, snacks, sunscreen, camera, and extra clothing. Your personal equipment for the duration of the trip is carried by the porters.


We offer first class safety precautions and first aid on every Kili climb. We bring oxygen tanks, a portable altitude chamber (AKA Gamow hyperbaric bag), pulse oximeter and a substantial first aid kit. We are in constant contact with our Arusha office daily via radio in case of emergency.


But more important than having the gear necessary to deal with an emergency, is having the skill and training in detecting the conditions that can lead to one. Our guides are trained to detect the early symptoms of altitude sickness before an emergency arises. If someone gets sick or can’t make it we are prepared to take that person down and continue with the others. Another benefit to climbing from the west side of Kilimanjaro is that a vehicle can actually get to 10,000 on a ranger access road so it isn't too far down if a climber cannot continue. Our climbs always have at least two guides, one will bring down a climber if necessary and the other to continue on with the rest of the group.


We do recommend that you bring a small personal kit comprised of any medications that you think may need. What you bring depends on your preference and on the advice of your doctor. Feel free to contact us for any suggestions and recommendations.


WATER
Drinking and cooking water on Kili is collected from springs on the lower slopes and on the upper slopes we melt snow. We will provide boiled water for your water bottles, but do not forget your purifying tablets because the spring water contain organisms that most climbers are not used to. We suggest you bring some bottled water to supplement this if iodine treated water is unpalatable to you after several days.


FACILITIES
There are no permanent toilets on the Shira route so we practice an ecologically sound waste management system with self-contained portable johns with detachable holding tanks and a portable enclosure to ensure privacy