Kilimanjaro at dusk.
An African Dream: Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb and Tanzania Safari
AMC Major Excursion #0734, December 28, 2007-January 14, 2008
Tanzania is the base for this amazing 2 1/2-week African adventure. 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 Kilimanjaro itinerary is a very
successful route on the mountain with a high summit success rate. While every trip and
every person is different, this is a repeat of the leader’s 2006 trip where 15 out of 16
AMCers summited. 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
which is a World Heritage Site and one of the Kilimanjaro wilderness areas. It offers a
high crater camp at 18,500', which leaves a summit day of only 800 feet elevation gain
starting around 6 AM, rather than the more typical 18-hour slog starting at 1:00 AM.
Our outfitter will provide some of the best-trained guides in the business, as well as
porters. You will carry only your daypack! 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 each day’s hike. The cooks undergo
extensive training in food hygiene to help prevent stomach bugs.
In addition to the Kilimanjaro climb, you will experience an unforgettable 5 day safari.
We will be in the Serengeti National Park, an area that harbors an astonishing wealth of
wildlife, and the largest animal migration on earth. We will also visit the Ngorongoro
Highlands and Ngorongoro Crater. The Crater is world-famous for its wildlife-viewing
opportunities, with an incredible concentration of animals (both predator and prey)
within an inactive volcanic caldera. We will have an opportunity to interact with local
Maasai people who live and herd their cattle outside the Crater.
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.
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SLIDESHOW
Contact Erika for a link to an online slideshow of her 2006 Kilimanjaro and safari trip.
ITINERARY (subject to change)
Friday, Dec 28, 2007 - Day 1: DEPART THE UNITED STATES – Boston (other
departure cities possible, cost may vary), in the early evening.
Sat Dec 29 - Day 2: ARRIVAL AT KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – after
changing flights in Amsterdam, arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport around 9:00 PM
local time. Drive to Arusha National Park, Mt. Meru arrival camp (approx. 1 1/2 hour
drive from airport).
Sun Dec 30 – Day 3: MOUNT MERU ARRIVAL CAMP 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 have time for a short hike. The guides will
give us a climb briefing and answer any questions. They will also do an equipment
check with each person to be sure that we are fully prepared. We will each send a bag
of our safari clothing and non-mountain items to the outfitter’s office to await our return
from the mountain.
KILIMANJARO TREKKING -8 days/7 nights (Note: route subject to change due to
conditions)
Mon Dec 31 – Day 4: MONTANE
FOREST (9,000') (day 1 on the
mountain) Drive to the
Kilimanjaro National Park forest
edge (several hours drive).
From there we walk about 3
hours through the undisturbed
forest to Forest camp for the
night. With luck you might be
able to see or hear monkeys and
signs other forest wildlife on your
hike to camp. Since this is New
Year’s Eve, we’ll have a small
celebration in camp.
Tues Jan 1 – Day 5: SHIRA I CAMP (11,300') (day 2 on the mountain) Today’s hike will
take us up through the Montane Forest and the Hagenia forest zone to Shira I camp.
You will see the unique environmental differences that characterize these equatorial
zones. Our guides will encourage us to go for a hike in the afternoon farther up the
mountain, returning to our camp. This strategy of “climb high, sleep low” helps our body
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acclimatize for the next day’s hike and altitude gain. If the weather is clear, you’ll have
beautiful view of the peak on New Year’s Day.
Weds Jan 2 – Day 6: SHIRA II - FISCHER 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 view of the Western Breach.
Thurs Jan 3 – Day 7: LAVA TOWER CAMP (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 ascent route up the Western Breach.
Fri Jan 4 – Day 8: ARROW GLACIER CAMP (16,000') (day 5 on the mountain) With
the Western Breach ascent route in view we will spend 2 hours climbing to the base of
the route 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.
Sat Jan 5 – Day 9: 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. This is a long day that will challenge
us greatly due to elevation gain and, while not technical, is very steep difficult hiking
with exposure. Those who still have the energy on top might 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.
Sun Jan 6 – Day 10: SUMMIT DAY and MWEKA CAMP (10,500') (day 7 on the
mountain) We will start our ascent to the summit (19,340') around 6:00 AM. This final
ascent is only 800 feet, quite a contrast to the almost 4,000 foot slog and 1:00 AM start
required to summit via other ascent routes. After taking in the view from Uhuru Peak we
will begin the long descent (9,000 vertical feet!) past Barafu Hut and down to our final
mountain camp near Mweka Hut.
Mon Jan 7 – Day 11: ARUSHA (day 8 on the mountain) 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 a hotel in or near
Arusha. We will be able to pick up our bag of safari clothing and leave our mountain
gear/clothing with the outfitter in Arusha before departing for our safari the next
morning. Laundry service will likely be available at the hotel, though it may not be
cheap!
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SERENGETI/NGORONGORO CAMPING SAFARI
Tues Jan 8 – Day 12: SERENGETI/NGORONGORO SAFARI Before departing on
safari, we may have a quick visit to a local school that has been adopted by our outfitter,
African Environments. Some previous participants (and your leader!) enjoyed bringing
school supplies or other donations to the school. Fly or drive to the Serengeti to meet
up with our safari guides and vehicles. The exact safari itinerary will be determined as
we get closer and depends on various factors including where the wildlife viewing is
best at that particular time. Probably we will start in the middle Serengeti and spend 3
nights there, then heading south to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Crater.
Inside the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, we will need to stay in our
vehicles during game drives except when at designated stops. If new rules allow us to
have a short hike in the Serengeti we’ll arrange that.
Weds Jan 9 – Day 13: SERENGETI
Thurs Jan 10 – Day 14: SERENGETI
Fri Jan 11 – Day 15: SERENGETI/NGORONGORO We will enjoy a game drive as we
drive to the southern gate of the Serengeti and exit the park. A stop at Olduvai Gorge
will allow us to learn about early human ancestors in this area. A long but scenic drive
will bring us to our camp on the outside of the Ngorongoro Crater. Our camp is
positioned to allow us both access to the Crater and also access to nearby Maasai
bomas (villages) for cultural exchange. If time allows, a short afternoon hike with the
local Maasai chairman may be arranged there as well.
Sat Jan 12 – Day 16: NGORONGORO Visit Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive. An
incredible experience! Afternoon cultural interaction with the Maasai.
Sun Jan 13 – Day 17: RETURN TO ARUSHA/ KILIMANJARO AIRPORT While driving
toward Arusha, we will stop to shop for T-shirts, artwork and souvenirs. We’ll have
access to our luggage and to hotel day rooms to shower and re-pack. One last dinner
together before we board the plane home! Flights typically depart Kilimanjaro Airport for
Amsterdam in the late evening.
Mon Jan 14 – Day 18: Change flights in Amsterdam, arrive in the US in the afternoon.
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ACCOMODATIONS
Luxury safari camp on left, mountain camp (Shira I) with open air lunch on right.
All accommodations are two people to a tent (single supplement available upon request
& extra fee, but usually we match up single travelers by gender). On the mountain, we
have dome mountaineering tents, which have proven waterproof in rainstorms and able
to withstand the high winds sometimes encountered on Kilimanjaro. The 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 bad weather. Separate toilet tents for women and men enclose
portable toilets in camp (while hiking we use the natural facilities!). Your crew will bring
you coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, and warm water to wash up, every morning in your
tent.
Arrival and safari camp accommodations will be in luxury safari tent camps. These offer
large tents that allow you to walk around easily with two beds each, and separate
zipped sections of the tent for the shower stall and toilet stalls. Showers are by request
so the crew can heat water to fill the overhead shower container. Toilets may be selfcontained (maintained by the crew, like a small boat toilet), or may be clean, pleasant
toilet seats on stilts over a hole in the ground. The latter is actually quite pleasant as it
is clean-smelling and newly dug. Warm water to wash up is provided every morning at
your tent. Meals are served in a large dining tent complete with tables, chairs, and cold
drinks (a charge may apply for beer & wine).
TRIP LEADERSHIP
Leader - Erika Bloom: I am vice chair of
the AMC Major Excursions Committee. My
previous major excursions include AMC
Kilimanjaro and safari in January 2006
(this trip is a repeat of that itinerary – I
loved it so much I couldn’t wait to go
back!), a Tanzania walking safari trip
January 2007, two major excursions to
Glacier National Park hiking and I co-led a
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Canadian Rockies hiking and backpacking trip. I have led numerous AMC day hikes
and backpacks in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Contact informatiom: Erika
Bloom, 9 Holiday Drive, Fairhaven MA 02719. 508-951-1001 (cell, preferred number);
508-996-3290 (home, before 9 PM). Email: Erika.bloom@comcast.net .
WHY TRAVEL WITH AMC?
Many people find that when traveling with AMC groups, they have a lot in common with
their traveling companions and that makes for a very enjoyable group. The volunteer
AMC leader will be in frequent contact with you, will send you tons of information, and is
always available for questions. If I can’t answer your question based on my previous
experience on Kili, I’ll find the answer for you! As with our past Kili trips, you will have
the opportunity to participate in 3 day hikes and an overnight (weekend) trip in New
Hampshire during the summer and fall of 2007. While optional, if your location and
schedule allows these are HIGHLY recommended. It’s a great way to ask the leader
questions, have a show and tell of gear and boots, meet your fellow travelers and get
ideas from them, condition for the trip, etc. You won’t have this level of personal
attention with a commercial trip. And, on a commercial trip you don’t have an AMC
leader along on the trip to check up on how you’re doing, or to troubleshoot any
concerns with the outfitter and guides while on the trip.
OUTFITTER
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
are a preferred AMC outfitter and this will be the 6th AMC trip using them. They have
proven that they have the training, infrastructure and experience to not only get you to
the summit, but also to evacuate you off the mountain if there are any problems (this is
always a serious concern on Kilimanjaro).
COST, REGISTRATION AND CANCELLATION
The approximate cost for the trip is $6,450 ground plus estimated airfare of $1,5501,800 (from the East Coast). This is based on filling the trip (13 participants). This trip
has significant interest even before publication, and we expect it to fill like the prior AMC
Kilimanjaro trips; however if the trip goes less than full the trip cost will be higher – up to
$7,900 ground cost worst case scenario if only 7 participants. Also, the park entrance
fees alone for this trip total around $1,500 per person (included in the $6,450 ground
cost). If Tanzanian national parks raise their fees before our trip, the outfitter has the
contractual right to pass that particular cost increase on to participants. If you are
concerned about any of these things, please talk to Erika for clarification.
Your trip fees are all inclusive except tips and will cover the following items:
-
In-country ground transportation
All accommodations (tented camps on the mountain and on safari; hotel for one
night after the mountain; hotel day rooms on departure day)
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-
Meals (alcohol will be extra and is not available on the mountain)
Guides/leaders, porters and crew
Vehicles and drivers
Park permits/fees
All technical equipment (tents, kitchen gear, mess tent, etc.)
AMC Major Excursion Program Expense fee on ground only (pays for expenses
for major excursions that are unique to our program such as staff support,
insurance, training).
The trip fees DO NOT cover the costs of tips for the guides, porters, etc. You will be
given guidelines for recommended tipping (though it is entirely at your discretion).
These guidelines total approximately $400 for the entire trip. Although everyone always
thinks that is extremely high before the trip, once in Tanzania trekkers realize that the
service the guides and crew provide is exceptional and last trip everyone chose to tip at
the recommended levels or above. Also, you may have some costs associated with
vaccines, medications, and travel clinic visit.
The approximate cost for the excursion is based on quotes at the time the trip was
submitted to the Major Excursions Committee (October 2006). Costs may differ for
different points of departure 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 the volunteer
AMC leader’s costs, but the leader will not realize any profit from this excursion. Any
unspent trip funds must be refunded to all the participants.
A registration deposit of $1,000 is due with the application form; contact the leader
for application forms at Erika.bloom@comcast.net (or by phone at 508-951-1001).
Please note the leader will be in Tanzania from January 26-February 10, 2007. During
that time you can still email her, and she will send the application forms on her return,
but please don’t call between those dates. You must also submit the Confidential
Medical form and the signed Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risk and
Release form. The rest of the fees will be due 120 days in advance of departure (you
may choose to send smaller payments at any time earlier). For trip fees, make checks
payable to the Appalachian Mountain Club. 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. 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 in the future as a result of your registration and subsequent cancellation.
Any refund based on the above principle will be less a $200 cancellation penalty (i.e. if
you cancel but your spot can be filled, you will be given a full refund less $200 and you
own your non-transferable airline ticket if it was already purchased). If you cancel after
airline tickets have been purchased, then you own the tickets and that part of the fee
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cannot be refunded. You are STRONGLY encouraged to purchase the optional trip
cancellation/evacuation insurance policy that we will send you after registration.
This group size is strictly limited (minimum of 7 participants, maximum of 13). If you are
interested you should register as soon as possible. The deadline for registration is June
30, 2007.
When registration is complete, I will send all participants the names, addresses and
phone numbers of those going on the trip. I will be using email as our primary source of
communication. If you prefer snail mail, please note that on your registration form. If
you have any questions, please call to discuss them.
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 most
common health concern in Tanzania is the relatively high risk of acquiring traveler’s
diarrhea. There are also risks associated with altitude sickness and with accidents on
the mountain while trekking. The safari will include exposure to wild animals and offroad 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 and medications before the trip, following the advice of your leader and
guides 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. 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 note from your health care provider
stating that he or she feels you will be able to participate fully in the trip.
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.
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:
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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 and takes precedence over making the summit.
EQUIPMENT LIST
A complete equipment/clothing list for the Kilimanjaro climb and safari will be provided
to you after registration 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 bring is listed below:
-Waterproof hiking boots (full leather, sturdy – very important!) and gaiters
-Sneakers in camp on the mountain; sandals/Tevas, or flip-flops for in safari camp
-Wool or synthetic hiking socks and liners
-Zero degree rated sleeping bag
-Thermarest/sleeping pad
- Daypack with capacity for 15-20 lbs of gear on the mountain (your layers, raingear,
camera, drinks, snacks, etc).
-Medium sized soft duffel for 22 pounds of mountain clothing/gear (porters carry 44#
max combined weight of bags of two tentmates)
-Small to medium sized soft duffel for additional 11 pounds of mountain gear (carried by
a different porter – this may be most convenient for your sleeping bag & sleeping pad).
-Large duffel for non-mountain (safari) clothing (safari duffel is left behind while on
mountain; mountain duffels are left behind while on safari).
-Synthetic hiking clothes
-Waterproof/windproof raingear (jacket and pants)
-Gloves or mittens, and mitten shells
-Hat for warmth as well as one for shade from the sun
-Personal first aid/medication kit, glacier sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, bandannas.
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