Kilimanjaro
General Information
Many travellers are attracted to the highest point in Africa
- Uhuru Peak on Kibo - which can be reached by several easy
walking or scrambling routes. The two main summits of Kilimanjaro:
craggy Mawenzi, 5149m, and 'flat-topped', Kibo, 5896m are
separated by The Saddle, a 5km wide, high-altitude, semi-desert.
From the summit glaciers, screes, cliffs, afro-alpine moorland
then forests lead down to the cultivated foothills below.
The
main routes to Kibo are:
The Marangu Route offers walking on gentle forest and moorland
paths up to 4700m. Above, scree leads to Gillman's Point
on the often snowy crater rim which is followed to Uhuru
Peak. Accommodation is in huts.
The Machame and Umbwe
Routes are tougher. Steep forest paths, easy scrambling
and airy ridges lead to the final screes and hence the crater.
Nights are spent in tents.
The Mweka Route
is generally used to descend after either of the last two
routes.
The Shira, Nanjara and Oloitokitok Routes are more remote
but can be organised by us. The remote Lemosho Glades Route
, is particularly beautiful and goes through one of the
few areas on Kilimanjaro that is rich in game.
We can organise trips at any
time of year for any size of group, We also offer several
scheduled trips which combine the ascent of Kilimanjaro
with that of Mount Kenya or Mount Meru and safari in Tanzania.
Information on Guides
and Porters for Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
The guides and porters are
the masters of the mountain. Once on the Mountain, your
well equipped guides and porters, will rank second, only
to your mental determination, in terms of important factors
contributing to a successful summit attempt.
For the duration of your Kilimanjaro
trek, your guide will be your advisor, he will lead you
to the summit, and he will bring down safely again. It will
be important that you work closely with him and take note
of his advice.
The guide recruits the porters and trains up a team which
he himself will lead. Just before moving off, he spreads
the loads between them not more than 15kgs. for each porter.
He accompanies the climbers during the entire trek and can
generally answer any questions about plans and wildlife.
On the camp group, guide and porters make the camping arrangements
and prepare meals. Their day's work begins before the climbers
wake up and ends late with lengthy conversations and card
games long into the night.
not to bring.
Good equipment is vital to
a safe and enjoyable climb. Sure, in superb weather conditions
you could climb the mountain in a pair of old trainers,
your oldest pair of long trousers and with a couple of sweaters
thrown in you will only suffer badly during the last night
of the ascent. However, let the weather change for the worse,
a couple of hours driving rain soon after setting off from
the Horombo area, and you could be dead from hypothermia
very rapidly.
Qualified and experienced
guides
All Roaming Africa Safaris treks up the mountain are lead
by highly trained and qualified guides, registered with
the Kilimanjaro National Parks Board. Each of our guides
have been selected over years, based on experience, safety
record and through feedback from previous clients.
Support staff ratios
The average ratio of our support staff to climbers is 2
porters per climber, a cook and one guide for a maximum
of 4 climbers. This excellent staff to clients ratio, bolstered
by our superior support equipment, will ensure your safety
and enjoyment on the mountain.
Porters and cook
The porters do not only transport your gear and the supplies
up and down the mountain. Arriving at every mountain hut
or camp site long before you, they will have already erected
your tent on your arraval. In the evening they will also
boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare
dinner of a quality that has surprised many previous clients.
Weight limits for porters
Remember that there is a weight limit of 15 kg (30 lbs)
per climber, on the gear of each climber to be portaged.
A soft duffel bag (barrel type) is preferred - a rucksack
is not necessary as they prefer to porter the loads balanced
on their heads and shoulders.
All climbs include a team
of mountain guides, cooks and porters, typically ...
2 climbers : 1 guide, 1 assistant
guide, 2 porters and 1 cook
3 climbers : 1 guide, 1 assistant guide, 4 porters and 1
cook
5 climbers : 1 guide, 2 assistant guide, 6 porters and 1
cook
The higher the specification,
the greater the staff to climber ratio.
Even with porters, it is recommended
that each member of the party carry a light weight day pack
containing at the very least a waterproof jacket, nibbles
to eat on the walk, a 1 liter bottle of water and a warm
pullover to put on at rest stops. Plus of course camera
and valuables.
Tipping
Rate of pay varies with the route you take to go up the
mountain, we would suggest that you evaluate the tipping
not only by how efficiently the porters carry your own equipment
but also for services rendered, such as getting you a better
place in the huts and how good the food was etc plus of
course whether or not your guide has been / is generally
informative about the mountain in all its aspects. For those
climbers on the non tourist routes, the tip is also assessed
on how much they assisted in the collection of firewood
and water, clearing up the campsites or huts etc.
The tip amounts indicated
below are given purely as a guideline, and it may be paid
as in a group :
Marangu Route :
Guide US$ 50
Assistant Guide US$ 30
Cook US$ 20
Porters US$ 15 - 20
Machame Route and others :
Guide US$ 60 - 70
Assistant Guide US$ 40
Cook US$ 30
Porters US$ 20 - 25
RENTAL EQUIPMENT
Prices are for the entire trek in U.S. dollars, payable
in cash in Moshi. It is best to come well-outfitted.
Rucksack/Daypack US$ 10
Balaclava US$ 5
Normal Sleeping Bag US$ 15
Mont bell Sleeping Bag US$ 30
The North Face Sleeping Bag US$ 30
Batteries US$ 2
Socks US$ 2
Duffel Bag US$ 5
Hiking Poles (2) US$ 10
Gaiters US$ 8
Torch/Flashlight US$ 8
Gloves US$5
Sweater US$ 5
Sunglasses US$ 10
Long Underwear US$ 5
Raincoat US$ 5
Rain Pants US$ 5
Hiking Boots US$ 8
Water Bottle US$ 5
Fleece Pants US$ 5
Warm Jacket US$ 8
Hat US$ 5
• We provide tents
and foam sleeping pads at no charge.
• Oxygen is available for $30/group.
• Hyperbaric Pressure Bags: $100/group
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