Kilimanjaro Challenge - July 2024

Kilimanjaro Challenge - July 2024

Proposed dates Saturday 6th - Sunday 13th July 2024

The expedition offers you the challenge of trekking the highest free standing mountain in the world and Africa’s highest peak – Mt Kilimanjaro. Standing 5,896m above the savannah of Tanzania the snow-capped mountain dominates the landscape for miles around.

Flights depart from Heathrow airport and arrive in Kilimanjaro International Airport where a private transfer will take you directly to Moshi – the village at the base of the mountain. To help with your acclimatization you will stay in the Springlands Hotel 4* for two nights enabling you to relax and prepare for the trip ahead. You then ascend Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route, which is the best route to view the stunning landscape and offers easier acclimatization. We offer both 6 day and 7 day Machame routes on the mountain for greater flexibility. The mountain route that we use maximises your chances of success and makes for very enjoyable trip. The mountain is spectacular with lush rainforests at the base and clear blue skies at the snow covered peak. At the end of the  expedition you spend another two nights in the hotel, before flying back to the U.K.

You do not need to be extremely fit to undertake the trip as you will be walking at a very slow pace on the mountain to acclimatise to the altitude. This is a porter assisted trek therefore you will only be asked to carry on a small lightweight day pack.

Each group is lead by a fully qualified Kilimanjaro National Park Mountain Guide assisted by porters and cooks.

During the hotel stay a representative of the trekking company is always on hand for advice, and they are incredibly accommodating, courteous and friendly.         

Outline Itinerary

Saturday 6th July Day 1 - Fly from London Heathrow Airport to Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania.

Sunday 7th July Day 2 - Arrive in the hotel, check-in and time to relax and enjoy the surroundings/swimming pool. Dinner and a night in the hotel included in trip cost. In the evening you will be fully briefed by our chief guide about the trek allowing the opportunity to ask any last minute questions before packing your bags ready for the start of trek.

Monday 8th July Day 3 - After another hearty breakfast at the hotel we’ll load up the coach and drive to the Machame Park Gate and the start of the trek! Today’s route is within the rainforest where you will hear and see the monkeys and birds in the trees and the splendour of the National Park Rainforest. Tonight’s camp is at 3000m. (Trek: 18Km - 6 hours)

Tuesday 9th July Day 4 - The route continues through the upper rain forest and on the Shira Plateau with amazing views of Kilimanjaro and Mt Meru in the distance. You’ll have a hot ‘sit down’ lunch en- route as our porters will provide the table and chairs and as this is a shorter distance day you will acclimatise well. Tonight’s camp at Shira Caves - 3,800m. (Trek 9km – 4-6hours)

Wednesday 10th July Day 5 - The trek moves from lush rain forest to mountain moorland today as you traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro. It’s a great day for acclimatisation as you will ascend Lava Tower 4,600m before walking down to our camp at Barranco. Today’s entire route has spectacular views of Kilimanjaro’s peak as well as the Garden of Senecio’s – an area just before camp where huge Senecio plants grown in abundance. Barranco camp is at 3900m (15km – 8hours)

Thursday 11th July Day 6 - Todays’ route heads over Great Barranco - a huge spur of rock created by Kilimanjaro’s last volcanic eruption The route is steep but great fun. At the top there are some of the best photos opportunities of the trek as Kilimanjaro peak is directly behind you. The trek then descends in to Karanga Valley and on to our camp at Barafu Camp (4,600m). The early evening is spent resting and relaxing before heading off to the peak at midnight! (16km - 8 hours)

Friday 12th July Day 7 -Todays the day when all your hard work pays off and you reach the peak of Africa! With a very early start (normally midnight) you ascend the crater at night. This avoids the hot day time sun and means that scree is frozen and easier to walk on. You’ll walk through the night and at sun rise will be standing at Stella Point (5739m) on the crater rim. The views are breathe taking with ice cliffs surrounding you and views of the jagged peak of Mawenzi...Kilimanjaro’s secondary peak. Another hours’ walk takes you to the true peak of Kilimanjaro – Uhuru – 5896m (meaning ‘Freedom’ in Swahili). You may spend as long as you wish at the peak taking photos and congratulating your fellow team mates and when you are ready you descend back down the route to Barafu Camp. After lunch you then carry on down the mountain to our final camp Mweka back in the lush rain forest. Mweka camp is a celebration camp and everyone has a lot to talk about over a well-earned dinner! (20km in total with a 7km climb – 12 hours)

Saturday 13th Day 8 - A gentle trek through the rainforest descending to Mweka Park gate and a drive back to Moshi. The Springlands Hotel will welcome you back for a good hot shower and a few cold drinks. Transfer to the airport and fly back to the U.K.

Sunday 14th July Day 9 - Flights land back in the UK.

Costs and payment structure

For a land only trip (excluding flights) we reduce the trip costs by £1,200 per person. A land only trip does include an airport transfer to/from the hotel and therefore if you choose this option please let us know the flight details in the Spring so the transfer can be arranged.

The cost of the all-inclusive trip is £2,995 per person. For a land only trip we reduce the trip costs by £1,200 taking the trip price down to £1,795. There is a £250 trip deposit (non-refundable) to book your place and the remaining balance is paid in instalments.

Trip deposit (at time of booking) £250
1st January/February and 2023 £1,200
1st February 2024 £600
1st April 2024 £595
1st June 2024 £350

Food
During the hotel stay breakfast and dinner are included. During the trek we provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food is excellent, plentiful and varied and prepared to a very high standard. We cater very well for vegetarians and for all special dietary requirements and the feedback from our clients is consistently excellent.

Clothing and Equipment
We provide all the group equipment like tents, tables, chairs, crockery and cutlery but you will need good pair of walking boots for ankle protection and a sleeping bag - plus normal walking clothing. We provide a detailed kit list at the time of booking and during the training weekend run through all the details and provide lots of advice. Sleeping bags can be rented from our hotel in Moshi ($40 for the whole trek) as can waterproof clothing.

Training Event – April 2024
A training event in the Forest of Dean is provided for all Kilimanjaro participants. The event provides an opportunity for the whole team to get to know each other prior to departure. It’s a fantastic weekend to test kit, ask questions and meet your group. The stunning Wye Valley provides an excellent training ground with steep forest sections and open countryside. We hold a Kilimanjaro group dinner and provide breakfast on the second day plus all the accommodation tents are provided.

What’s included
All our expeditions are ‘all inclusive’ this means that the cost covers all the accommodation, flights, flight tax, transfers, guides, porters and cooks + all food throughout your expedition. The price also covers the training weekend in the Forest of Dean. *The only costs not included are VISA’s (£40), travel insurance, tips, lunch and drinks in the hotel.

How to reserve your place on the trip

To book a place on the trip simply pay deposit online.

When your deposit is received a trip booklet is sent out detailing every element of the trip. This includes information on VISA’s, insurance, fundraising ideas and kit information.

On advancement of deposit for a booking on any of our trips or expeditions the deposit acknowledges that he/she has read and understands the below booking conditions and agrees to be bound by them.  The deposit is non-refundable and that the instalments are also 100% non-refundable or transferable.  The booking is confirmed once a reservation form (sent after booking online) has been completed and returned.