Kilimanjaro charity climb

country:	Tanzania
location:	Kilimanjaro
departures:	2008: 3 Dec 2009: 10 Jun, 2 Sep
price:	From £595 deposit + £3175 fundraised (55% to charity) (12 days) inc UK flights. Self funders - £595 deposit + £1529 (inc £100 to charity) 2009 prices: From £595 deposit + £3400 fundraised (55% to charity). Self funders - £595 deposit + £1630 (inc £100 to charity)

Charity challenges

Kilimanjaro holidays

Charity treks

the amazing things you'll be doing

Climb Mt Kilimanjaro and raise money for your favourite charity at the same time as taking part in an amazing adventure!

Highlights include:

Summit the world's highest freestanding mountain

Alternative uncrowded route to the peak

Bush trekking in unspoilt wilderness

Every eco-system known to mankind

Optional safari extension

At 5,895m, Mt. Kilimanjaro is one of the largest volcanoes ever to break through the Earth's crust. Your challenge is to reach its summit. Your trek starts in the rainforests of Lemosho Glades and heads upwards as you acclimatise on Shira Plateau. From here you will catch a glimpse of your goal Kibo, Kilimanjaro's main ice-capped peak. You continue via the beautiful Southern Flank, Barranco Wall and Barafu Route.

Temperatures drop at night, allowing you to enjoy the crisp cool air under the star-studded African skies. During the days you'll rise higher; often looking down on a sea of clouds. Our groups have excellent success rates (96%) for trekkers reaching the summit, but don't underestimate the challenge ahead. Most trekkers will never have experienced a day as tough as this, with 1,000m of ascent and over 2,000m of descent. It is however victory day!

what this trip includes

International flights to and from Nairobi, all meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary, entry into National Parks on the itinerary, all transfers in Tanzania, all accommodation whether in tents or hotel, group first aid supplies, an English speaking expedition leader, relevant back-up facilities, a T-Shirt, US$20 to the local community project, and discount from Nomad Travellers Stores for personal equipment. We also make a contribution through Climate Care to offset the equivalent CO2 emissions of your international flight.

Please note: This trip can also be booked without flights. Some of the dates are exclusive for specific charities, please contact us for details.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	International Departure. You will depart from London on a direct Kenya Airways or British Airways night flight to Nairobi, Kenya. Our representative will be there to assist you with the check-in and any last minute questions. The flight arrives in Nairobi the following morning.
Day 2:	To West Kilimanjaro. You will land at Jomo Kenyatta Airport and be met by a local agent, who will transfer you (4hrs by land) to Tanzania, you will stop along the way for lunch. After lunch you will visit an authentic Maasai Village before continuing cross country to Arusha where you will have your briefing and kit check. Overnight and dinner in a hotel in Arusha.
Day 3:	Rainforest Trek (2,800m). This morning you will register at the main gate before being driven to Lemosho Glades where you start the 3-5hr trek at 6,500ft through the rainforest to Big Tree Camp at around 9,186ft/2,800m. This is an unspoiled and exciting wilderness route, which takes the climb to true wilderness zones. Your trek today will be along a little used track known as Chamber’s Route. In places the vegetation is so undisturbed by humans that it grows right across the narrow track. Flora and fauna are richer here than on other more popular routes through the rain forest. Dinner and overnight at Big Tree Camp or nearby in the rain forest.
Day 4:	Acclimatisation Trek (3,500m). Today is a full days trek with a height gain of over 2,000ft/600m, taking you to a lunch stop at a beautiful valley just outside the Shira Crater at around 10,000ft/3,050m. After lunch you cross into the Shira Caldera, a high altitude desert plateau rarely visited by man. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. It is filled with the lava flow from Kibo and its rim is eroded and blasted away by weather and volcanic action. You will camp & have dinner at Shira One (11,480ft/3,500m). Today expect the first close views of Kibo - the dramatic summit cone of Kilimanjaro! Expect this trek to take 7-8 hours.
Day 5:	Shira Plateau (3,800m). Today consists of a 5-6 hour trek east across Shira Plateau to Shira Two via Shira Cathedral (12,730ft/3,880m). The views from the top of this ridge are very special. Those with vertigo should take care. Overnight dinner & camp at Shira Two which is located at around 12,470ft/3,800m.
Day 6:	Southern Flank (3,900m). Southern flank, passing down the Barranco Valley to the camp at Barranco Wall. Here you will camp & take dinner at 12,795ft/3,900m and only 330ft higher than your previous night’s camp at Shira Two, but the walk will have taken you to 14,565ft/4,440m over the ridge or to 14,930ft/4,550m over Lava Tower offering valuable altitude acclimatisation. The camp at Barranco is one of the most spectacular on Kilimanjaro. Today’s trek will take approximately 7-10 hours.
Day 7:	Barranco Wall & the Karanga Valley (3,900m). Early morning you will start with a climb up Barranco Wall (13,680ft/4,170m with an immediate height gain of 700ft) to admire the views of Mount Meru and the plains far below. You will continue across the ridges and valleys to Karanga Camp at 12,800ft/3900m, where you will have lunch. This day should take 4-6 hours. In the afternoon there will be an important optional trek up the scree slopes towards the southern ice fields. Again, this altitude-acclimatising walk is highly recommended, and will aid your chance of summit success.
Day 8:	Barafu Ridge (4,600m). After breakfast trek up to the Barafu Ridge Camp (15,090ft/4,600m). The 3-5 hr trek up to Barafu Ridge Camp is tough due to the altitude. You should reach camp well ahead of most other climbers on this route because they will mainly be starting from far back at Barranco. Depending on your condition: either take an afternoon rest or a short acclimatisation walk to a high point and then return. You will have an early dinner then rest again until midnight, when you commence your push for the summit.
Day 9:	Summit Day (5,895m). You will need to rise at around midnight (if you’ve managed to get to sleep!) to commence the trek up the scree slopes to Stella Point, continuing around the rim to the highest point Uhuru Point. Be sure to wear all your layers of thermal clothing. It can seem mild at first; but as you reach the exposed ridges, wind chill causes the temperature to plummet. It is worth preparing a flask of hot drink for summit night as it is much easier to take in liquid that is warm during the freezing conditions. First light is apparent around 0530hrs and this really gives you hope to push on upwards. You should reach Stella Point (18,865ft / 5,750m - on the crater rim) just after dawn; then after a short rest continue for another hour or so round to Uhuru Point. After reaching Kilimanjaro’s summit (19,340ft/5,895m) and having enjoyed the amazing views, you will then return via Stella Point and descend the scree slopes via Barafu Ridge Camp for a few hours rest and then on to Millenium Camp (12,305ft/3,750m). The walk-off can seem “endless” and will try your patience; but you should be mentally prepared for this. This is to be the toughest day that most trekkers have ever experienced, involving 4,248ft/1,295m of ascent, 7,038ft/2,145m of descent, and 12-15 hours walking. It is however VICTORY DAY! You will have a final camp meal and overnight at Millenium Camp. There is the possibility of a coke and a beer at this camp!
Day 10:	Descend to Mweka Gate. Today you will start early & walk down through the beautiful rainforest to Mweka Gate. This is a long walk-off on a pretty gently sloping track that takes you from the lower heath into the rainforest and finally down to the farms and plantations near Kidia. The path continues for 5-7hrs (7hrs in the rain, 5hrs in the dry) until you reach the gate for a picnic lunch, presentation of certificates and triumphant photos. After lunch you will be driven to your hotel (approx 2 hours) in Arusha for a well-appreciated shower and a large, celebratory dinner.
Day 11:	International Travel. This afternoon you will transfer to Nairobi airport for your KQ or BA flight to the UK, which arrives back in London Heathrow early the following morning.
Day 12:	Arrive Home. You will arrive back in London in the morning.

Additional optional extension available to go on a wilderness safari.

Highly Commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

Reaching the end of the Kilimanjaro charity climb

Our responsible commitment extends to helping the local communities we visit. We employ local guides, porters and other essential support staff, and use locally owned accommodation. We donate USD$500 per trek to various projects including The Angeninge Theatre Group and the EVPA Water Pipeline.

The Angeninge theatre group was formed about 10 years ago and write, produce and perform plays to the community to educate them about social issues especially HIV and AIDS prevention. “Angeninge” translates as “If we had known about these things we wouldn’t have done them”. Through the Kilimanjaro climb group, a water pipeline was funded and completed at Tinga Tinga after their expedition. The cost was in excess of USD40,000 and is still being funded by us.

Looking to the future, we are planning to support Mlima Mvinje, a community village to be built in the Monduli District overlooking the Rift Valley. Here we hope to help house families affected by AIDS, as well as providing a training centre to teach vocational skills, and land for crop production. The village will be built and run on eco-friendly principles.

As a company we have also drastically reduced the carbon footprint of our UK operations, and are making a huge effort to do so in their destination countries too. We are also investing to offset the emissions from the international flights required to take part in our challenges.

We also provide travellers with a responsible tourism policy detailing ways in which you can be an ethical traveller. From packing conscientiously to advice on local customs & environmental awareness overseas to maintaining contact with your new international friends upon your return – our policy is a comprehensive document providing all the info you need to trek, climb of cycle responsibly.

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