Crown of Africa: Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb
and Tanzania Safari
An AMC Major Excursion,
Dec 29, 2006-Jan 13, 2007
Trip #0621
OVERVIEW
The climb up Kilimanjaro is the focus for this amazing 2
week African adventure in Tanzania. You will climb Mount
Kilimanjaro (19,340'), a dormant volcano and largest mountain in Africa. It is also the
highest non-technical mountain climb in the world. We will experience Kilimanjaro via the
Shira Plateau route over 8 days and 7 nights. This complete Kilimanjaro itinerary is the
most successful trek on the mountain with 98% of the climbers reaching the summit. One
of the best features of the route is the longer, slower ascent which gives the body time to
acclimatize to the altitude gradually– this greatly increases the success rate. The route has
the added benefit of traveling across the Shira Plateau - a World Heritage Site and one of
the Kilimanjaro wilderness areas. It will also offers a high base camp at 18,500', which
leaves a summit day of only 800 feet. During the course of our 8 day climb we will hike
through every type of eco-system
Kilimanjaro at dusk.
Our outfitter will provide some of the best-trained guides in the business, as well as
porters. You will carry only your daypack! The sleeping tents are hi-tech dome tents,
which have proven totally waterproof in rainstorms and able to withstand the high winds
often encountered on Kilimanjaro. The storm proof mess tent is equipped with tables and
stools – this is where meals are served and it is also a nice place to "hang out" in. The
crew will break camp after the climbers have departed in the morning, then race on ahead
to have the camp set up by the time you arrive. The porters carry all the group gear
(kitchen, mess tent, food etc) as well as your personal gear that is not needed for the days
hike. The cooks undergo extensive training in food hygiene to help avoid stomach bugs.
In addition to the Kilimanjaro climb, you will experience an unforgettable 3-day, 2 night
visit to the Ngorongoro Crater camping safari, an area that harbors an astonishing wealth
of wildlife, and famous for its wildlife-viewing opportunities, with an incredible
concentration of animals (both predator and prey) within an inactive volcanic caldera.. We
may have an opportunity to interact with the local Maasai people, who live and herd their
cattle outside the Park.
This trip is for adventurous, outgoing, physically fit people who wish to experience and
learn about the diversity of Tanzania and its people. This trip is not just a Kilimanjaro
climb, it is an African experience.
ITINERARY (subject to change)
Dec 29, 2006 - Day 1: DEPART THE UNITED STATES – New York, Boston, (other departure
cities possible), probably in the late afternoon/early evening.
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Dec 30 - Day 2: ARRIVAL AT KILIMANJARO INT’L AIRPORT AND OVERNIGHT IN ARUSH
NATIONAL PARK –MERU LUXURY CAMP– after changing flights in Europe (probably
Amsterdam); arrive Kilimanjaro Airport in the late evening. Shuttle out to a private luxury
camp near Mt. Meru in Arusha National Park. The camps provide tents with cots, chemical
toilets, shower stalls, a mess tent with tablecloths and dishes.
Dec 31 – Day 3: ARUSHA This day is designed to give us plenty of time to relax, arrange
our gear for the Kilimanjaro climb and the safari, and recuperate from the long journey.
We may do a short acclimatization walk in Aursha National Park with possible game
viewing. We might have the opportunity to see cape buffalo, giraffe, gazelles and hornbills.
If the weather is clear, a hill near camp offers great views of Kilimanjaro in the distance,
and often wildlife viewing opportunities. An armed ranger will accompany any walking
activities in Arusha Nat’l Park (this is a park regulation-to protect against unexpected close
animal encounters). The head guide/leader will give us a climb briefing and answer any
questions. He will also do an equipment check with each person to be sure that we are
fully prepared. We will be able to leave a bag of our safari clothing with our outfitter for
our return. We will have a New Year’s celebration at camp.
KILIMANJARO TREKKING
8 days//7 nights
Jan 1 – Day 4: MONTANE FOREST (9,000')
(day 1 on the mountain) Drive to the
Kilimanjaro National Park forest edge.
From there we 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 signs of elephant and
other forest wildlife on your walk to camp.
Jan 2 – Day 5: SHIRA PLATEAU WEST SIDE
(11,300') (day 2 on the mountain) 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 up
through the Montane Forest and the Hagenia forest zone. You will see the unique
environmental differences that characterize these equatorial zones.
Jan 3 – Day 6: SHIRA PLATEAU EAST SIDE - FISCHER'S CAMP (12,950')(day 3 on the
mountain) Our hike today will be about 4 hours across the Shira Plateau, a World Heritage
Site, and one hour up the western slope of the Kibo Massif. Camp will be in the upper
heath zone in full view of the Western Breach.
Jan 4 – Day 7: LAVA TOWER (14,300') (day 4 on the mountain) Today we will hike
approximately 6 hours to camp just under Lava Tower, a 300 foot high volcanic lava plug
that juts out of the side of the mountain. This will be our first introduction to the alpine
zone, with the only plant life being the hardiest of grasses and lichens. We will have a
spectacular view of our final ascent route up the Western Breach.
Jan 5 – Day 8: ARROW GLACIER (16,000') (day 5 on the mountain) With the Western
Breach ascent route in full view we will spend 2 hours climbing to the base of the route
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where we will camp near Arrow Glacier. An afternoon hike further up the route before
relaxing in camp will help our acclimatization and improve our performance the following
day.
Jan 6 – Day 9: SUMMIT CRATER CAMP (18,500') (day 6 on the mountain) We will wind our
way up the Western Breach non-technical climbing route for about six hours to the crater
rim of the main Kilimanjaro summit massif. Those who still have the energy on top can
explore the inner crater and the ash pit before moving to our highest camp on the crater
floor. This spectacular high camp is next to the Furtwrangler Glacier with stunning views
westward toward Mount Meru and the setting African sun.
Jan 7 – Day 10: SUMMIT DAY and MWEKA CAMP (10,500') (day 7 on the mountain) We
will start our ascent to the summit (19,340') early enough in the morning to be on the
summit by 10:00am. This final ascent is only 800 feet and can be undertaken after sunrise
and a leisurely breakfast. This is quite a contrast to the 3,000 foot slog required to summit
via the other ascent routes. After taking in the view from Uhuru Peak we will begin the
long descent to Barafu Hut and down to our final camp near Mweka Hut.
Jan 8 – Day 11: ARUSHA (day 8 on the mountain & hike out) It takes about 3 to 5 hours
to make the 4,500 foot descent to the Park Gate and pick-up. We will have our lunch at
the gate and say goodbye to our mountain staff before heading to the hotel in or near
Arusha. We will be able to pick up our bag of safari clothing and leave our mountain
gear/clothing in Arusha before departing for our safari the next morning.
NGORONGORO CAMPING SAFARI
3 Days/2 nights
Jan 9 – Day 12: NGORONGORO SAFARI We will make the approximate 4-5 hour drive to
the Ngorongoro Crater to meet up with our safari guides and vehicles. We will stay at a
luxury safari tent camp at the Crater. The exact safari itinerary will be determined later and
depends on various factors including where the wildlife viewing is best at that particular
time. Inside the Park, we will need to stay in our vehicles during game drives. We will
spend most of the day enjoying a game drive through the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater.
Animals are easy to see in the plains of the crater. Hopefully we will see rhinoceros and
elephant. Numerous types of big and small game make the crater their year-round home,
while others migrate in and out seasonally. We also may have the opportunity to interact
with the local Maasai people outside the Park. The camp is designed to blend in with the
environment to encourage wildlife to come around camp. The tents are large tents with
attached shower and toilet rooms with beds and pillows. Toilet and shower tents are
provided for each two sleeping tents. Meals are served in a large "mess" tent complete
with tables, chairs and cold drinks.
Jan 10 – Day 13: NGORONGORO One day we will visit the boma (village) of a local Maasai
chief, Ole Dorup. He is an engaging host who will explain their traditional Maasai way of
life. Meeting the adults, and especially the children in their homes is a priceless experience
and provides a wonderful view into their traditional way of life. Some of the warriors will
prepare a traditional Maasai goat roast for us in our camp, and show us traditional Maasai
dancing and singing.
Jan 11 – Day 14: NGORONGORO
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Jan 12 – Day 15: We will return to Arusha by cars to check-in to a hotel with day rooms—
providing showers and a place to relax before we head to the airport for an evening flight
home. We will be able to make some stops to do some shopping on our trip to Arusha.
The hotel might also have some shopping and the airport has a number of gift shops with
reasonable pries.
Jan 13 – Day 16: Change flights in Europe (probably Amsterdam), return to the United
States (probably arriving in the afternoon).
WEATHER
Kilimanjaro is located just 3 degrees south of the equator, which gives it a constant feeling
of summer. Our first few days in Tanzania will be relatively warm during the day (70F)
with cool nights. As we climb higher on the mountain, it will continue to get cooler. The
final summit day we might have temperatures in the negative to 5 degrees (F).
Considering the final climb will be slow, participants should be prepared for this cold
weather including proper layers, warm boots and toe warmers. It will be imperative to
keep moving in order to stay warm.
ECOLOGICAL ZONES
Our climb up Kilimanjaro will take us through 5 different ecological/vegetation zones:
1) savanna bushland
2) montane forest
3) heath and sub-alpine moorland
4) alpine desert
5) ice capped alpine summit
TRIP LEADERSHIP
Andrea Deaton is an active biking and
backpacking leader for the AMC. She is a
graduate of and instructor for AMC’s Mountain
Leadership School, serves on the AMC’s Outdoor
Leadership Development Committee and instructs
for the
Delaware Valley (DV) Chapter leadership training
course. She has led backpacking workshops at
the
Mohican Outdoor Center and serves as the DV
Chapter Chair. Most recently she has led trips to
Moab,
Utah; the Monongahela National Forest, WV;
Tuscany, Italy; Yellowstone/Grand Teton Nat’l Parks; Belize; and recently backpacked in
California’s Sierras and completed the Wonderland Trail around Mt Rainier in 2002. She
will be leading a major excursion to Colorado in August. Andrea is currently certified as a
Wilderness First Responder. She lives in Philadelphia and is a fundraiser for a public radio
station.
The outfitter for this trip is African Environments www.africanenvironments.co.tz, which
was officially registered in Tanzania in 1987 by an American and two Tanzanians. Their
aim is to offer safe and reliable Kilimanjaro climbs, bush walks and safaris. They have an
outstanding reputation for safety and taking personal care and attention to each client
while on the mountain. They have now grown to a permanent staff of 40 people and 250
contract staff. They are a preferred AMC outfitter and have been used for similar AMC
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Major Excursions in December 2004 and January 2006, as well as AMC President’s Society
trips in December 2004 and 2005.
COST, REGISTRATION AND CANCELLATION
The approximate cost for the trip is $3,800-4,575 plus estimated airfare of $1,650 (BostonArusha; other departure cities possible). The base price range depends on the number of
people who register (minimum 8, maximum 13) and also allows for any unexpected price
increases. For example, the park entrance fees alone for this trip total close to $1,400 per
person. Your trip fees will cover the following items:
-
In-country transfers
All accommodations
Meals
Guides/leaders, porters and staff
Vehicles and drivers
Park permits/fees
All technical equipment (tents, kitchen gear, mess tent, etc.)
AMC Major Excursion fee
The trip fees DO NOT cover the costs of tips for the guides, porters, etc. You will be given
recommendations of what is appropriate tipping before the trip, but each participant should
be prepared to spend approximately $400 in tips for the crew. This is based on what the
average person spent on the trip last year. Alcoholic drinks and bottled water may not be
included, depending on the location.
The approximate cost for the excursion is based on quotes as of January 2006. Costs may
differ for different points of departure (e.g., Boston vs. Hartford vs. New York, etc.) and
with fluctuations in airfares. Any savings we achieve, as well as any cost increase, will be
passed on to the participants.
Please be aware that, in accordance with AMC policy, you are subsidizing some of the
leader’s costs, but not all of them. Beyond this, in accordance with AMC rules, the leader
may not realize a profit from this excursion. Any unspent trip funds must be refunded to
all the participants. The trip fee also includes an AMC overhead cost to cover the
administrative expenses of offering Major Excursions (publication in the Outdoors
magazine, liability insurance, etc.).
A registration deposit of $800 is due with the application. You must also submit the
Confidential Medical form and the signed Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risk and
Release form. The second installment of $1500 will be due by June 1, 2006 and the final
installment due by September 1, 2006. You may be asked to give your credit card
information to have airline tickets charged directly to your credit card, which has worked
well for other trips. Make checks payable to the Appalachian Mountain Club. Our
cancellation policy is based on the simple precept that your cancellation shall not raise the
cost to any of the other participants or the leader. Therefore, if you cancel we will refund
any fees that you have paid, less expenses already incurred, or unavoidable expenses that
will be incurred to the leader or other participants as a result of your registration and
subsequent cancellation. If you cancel after airline tickets have been purchased, then you
own the tickets and that part of the fee cannot be refunded. You are STRONGLY
encouraged to purchase the optional trip cancellation/evacuation insurance policy that we
will make available to you upon registration.
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This group size is strictly limited (minimum of 8 participants, maximum of 13). If you are
interested you should register as soon as possible. The deadline for registration is May 1,
2006.
When registration is complete, the trip leader will send all participants the names,
addresses and phone numbers of those going on the trip and will use email as our primary
source of communication. If you prefer snail mail and/or telephone communication, please
note that on your registration form.
EXPERIENCE AND RISKS
Most people look at climbing Kilimanjaro as an adventure of a lifetime. However, the very
term “adventure” suggests some inherent uncertainty, isolation and risk. The main health
concern for Tanzania is the relatively high risk of acquiring either traveler’s diarrhea, a
respiratory infection or a more exotic tropical infection. There are also risks associated
with altitude sickness and with accidents while trekking. The wildlife safari will include
exposure to wild animals and off-road vehicle travel. Fortunately, our outfitter has an
excellent safety and training program for their employees, which helps to minimize the
risks. The risks of becoming ill or endangered can also be significantly reduced by
obtaining the proper immunizations before the trip, following the advice of African
Environments about acclimatization periods, food preparation and general safety, and
speaking up immediately if you start to exhibit symptoms of any medical problem. You will
be given lots of information before the trip, including recommendations for when you
should consult a travel medicine clinic to start the recommended vaccinations (which may
include Hepatitis A & B, Typhoid, Yellow Fever, Rabies, etc.) and to discuss medications to
prevent malaria and prevent or treat altitude illness. Much more information on this
subject will follow after registration!
Trekking is just walking in the mountains, but due to the altitude, strenuous terrain and
isolation, it is a good idea to make sure you are as healthy as possible and in very good
physical condition. For this reason, you will be required to have significant and current
hiking experience and a clean bill of health. You will be asked for a hiking reference in case
there are concerns about your abilities. If you have chronic medical problems or a history
of something complicated that could flare up on a trip, you may be asked to produce a
document from your health care provider stating that he or she feels you will be able to
participate fully in the trip.
The route our group will take, the Shira Route, is considered one of the safest routes due to
ample time for acclimatization and minimal technical hiking. However, there are always
risks involved in climbing and occasionally an isolated emergency does occur. Such an
incident occurred in January 2006 on an AMC President’s Society trip taking the same
proposed itinerary as this trip. This accident, a rockslide, occurred very near the final
approach of the mountain at the Western Breach. This route continues to be used today
and there are likely hundreds of groups who are using it. Another AMC group used the
same outfitter the very next week after the rockslide and felt very comfortable with their
safety. Over the course of this year, the AMC and the trip leader will monitor this route
and assess whether we will continue with the original plan. If we perceive there is an
increased level of danger, then we will change our planned route.
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There is relatively little political unrest in Tanzania, unlike many of its African neighbors. If
the US State Department advises Americans not to travel there, the trip would likely be
cancelled for your own safety. If you would like to read about Tanzania, please visit the
State Department’s website at: http://www.state.gov/travel/.
When you participate in this activity you should be both physically and mentally prepared
and equipped with the appropriate gear. You should always be aware of the risks involved
and conduct yourself accordingly. We are not responsible for your safety: you are. Prior to
registering for this activity you are asked to discuss your capabilities with the leader.
Please do not be offended by any questions.
BEING A TEAM PLAYER
We will be more than just a group; we will be a team. If you cannot accept and enjoy
being part of a group, if you are not a team player who is willing to help your fellow hikers,
then please do not register for this excursion. You may be asked to help the group in some
way if the unexpected occurs, such as a member of our group being injured or ill. Although
all of us hope to summit Kilimanjaro, the group’s safe return is the ultimate goal.
To this end, we will try to arrange a couple of opportunities for pre-trip hikes before we
depart, so we can get to know each other. Because these opportunities are a good way to
get in shape as well as meet the others in the group, they are highly recommended. If you
are accepted on the trip, please hold the weekend of June 17-18 for a gathering in the
White Mountains. If you are a backpacker and interested in doing a pre-trip backpack,
please consider joining a group backpack trip to the Adirondack High Peaks over Memorial
Day Weekend.
EQUIPMENT LIST
A complete equipment/clothing list for the Kilimanjaro climb and safari will be provided to
you later but can be accessed on the African Environments website,
www.africanenvironments.co.tz (look under “Kilimanjaro climbs” and then
“equipment”; also look under “Walking Safaris” and then “equipment”. Some of the basic
equipment/clothing you will be required or suggested to bring is listed below:
Gear
 Waterproof hiking boots (full grain
leather)
 Gaiters
 Sneakers or lightweight shoes for
safari and for in camp on the mountain
 Sandals, Tevas, or flipflops for in safari
camp
 Zero degree rated sleeping bag
 Thermarest/sleeping pad
 Medium sized pack for 15-20 lbs of
gear
 pack cover
 Medium to large sized soft duffel for
safari gear (will be carried by the
porters)
 Large duffel for mountain gear
Clothing
 Wool or synthetic hiking socks and
liners
 Synthetic hiking clothes (layers)
 insulating layer for top and bottom
(fleece)
 Waterproof/windproof raingear (jacket
and pants)
 Gloves or mittens, and mitten shells
 Hat for warmth as well as one for
shade from the sun
Other
 Personal first aid and hygiene kit
 Sunglasses (max UV protection,
polarized and with side panels are
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recommended), sunscreen, lip balm,
bandanas, etc.
 camera, extra batteries, memory
cards, film
 binoculars
 2 water bottles (Platypus/Camelbak
bladders not recommended because they
will freeze)
 trail snacks
 flashlight/headlamp
 sunscreen
 ziplock bags
 hot drink mixes (esp if you want
decaf)
 flavoring packets for water (Gatorade,
lemonade, etc)
 camp towel
 oxygen activated toe warmers
 down booties for camp at the higher
camps
 pocket knife
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