At 5,895m, Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and one of the largest volcanoes ever to break through the Earth’s crust. Great charity challenge.
Duration: 12 Days
Grading:CHALLENGINGMax Group Size: 25
Type:SMALL GROUPPrices from: £2574
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Tour Overview
Your trek starts in the rainforests of LemoshoGlades and heads upwards as you acclimatiseon Shira Plateau. From here you will catch aglimpse of your goal – Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s mainice-capped peak. You continue via the beautiful Southern Flank, Barranco Wall and BarafuRoute.
Temperatures drop at night, allowing you to enjoy the crisp cool air under the star-studdedAfrican skies. During the days you’ll risehigher; often looking down on a sea of clouds. The expedition has been carefully planned toensure that you acclimatise as much aspossible to the altitude and your chances of making it to the summit are maximised.
Our operations teams have one of the highest success rates (96%) of trekkers reaching thesummit, but don’t underestimate the challenge ahead. On the final night before the summit climb you shall need to rise at around midnight to commence the final trek in the moonlight up the scree slopes to Stella Point. Your aim is to reach this point by dawn and continue around the rim to the highest point - Uhuru Peak. This is likely to be the toughest day that most trekkers have ever experienced, involving 4248ft/1,295m of ascent, 7,038ft/2,145m of descent, and 12-15 hours walking.
All times below are fitness and weather dependant and are given for actual walking times and do not include lunch stops etc.
Charity Challenge - Payment Options
SELF FUNDER: With this option, you personally cover the full cost of the expedition (which includes a £100 donation to the charity). This means that the charity receives a £100 donation and every penny that you raise thereafter. The full cost is made up of the deposit due at the time of booking, and the balance due eight weeks before departure. The self funder option has no minimum sponsorship requirement, although you are still encouraged to raise as much as you can for the charity.
NB: In certain exceptional cases, the self funder payment option may differ slightly as requested by the charity. You may be asked to cover the cost of the challenge and also commit to raise a minimum amount of sponsorship, every penny of which will be retained by the charity. If this is the case, specific reference will be made to the minimum sponsorship amount on the web page for that event.
MINIMUM SPONSORSHIP: You pay the deposit when booking the challenge and pledge to raise a minimum amount of sponsorship for the charity. 45% of this minimum sponsorship is used to pay the balance of the challenge costs and the other 55% (plus any surplus raised) is retained by the charity. Participants will need to send any sponsorship money to the charity as they raise it. At least 80% of the minimum sponsorship must be sent to the charity 10 weeks before departure, with the remaining 20% being sent within 4 weeks of your return.
Summit the world's highest freestanding mountain - Alternative uncrowded route to the peak - Bush trekking in unspoilt wilderness - Every eco-system known to mankind - Fantastic African hospitality
Itinerary
Day 1 | International Departure
You will depart from London on a direct Kenya Airways or British Airways night flight to Nairobi, Kenya. Our Charity Challenge 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 Charity Challenge local agent, who will transfer you (4hrs by land) to Tanzania, for a welcome buffet lunch under the slopes of Mount Longido. 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 G&M2, 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.
Days 11 and 12 | 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.
Our Trusted Partner's Responsible and Sustainable Travel Policy
Welcome to the world's biggest industry. By the year 2010 it is forecast that more than one billion people will take an overseas holiday - and you may be one of them. The impact of tourism has already been immense and it will increase. The travel industry can bring many benefits to local communities, including an injection of cash and employment for local people, preservation of native habitats and indigenous wildlife, and cultural exchange. However, without care, tourism can also have a negative impact: destruction of natural habitats; diversion of scarce resources; disturbance of wildlife; and the violation of tribal peoples' rights.
At Charity Challenge we aim to set responsible tourism standards within the industry.
Charity Challenge has been officially recognised for our efforts in the developing world, making a positive contribution to communities in desperate need. Highly commended in the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2007, in the category of Best Tour Operator for Poverty Reduction, we were commended for our work helping to raise in excess of one million pounds for Habitat for Humanity Great Britain through our house building communitychallenges in Sri Lanka, South Africa, China and India. The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, now in its third year, aims to recognise individuals, companies and organisations in the travel industry that are making a significant commitment to the culture and the economies of local communities. Today, communitychallenge participants have helped to build more than 400 houses, in five countries across three continents, helping those often living without access to running water, electricity or proper sanitation facilities.
We were also commended for our work by Queens Award for Enterprise in the field of Sustainable Development, for our communitychallenge application with the following feedback:
“The company, which provides a series of inspiring team challenges that develop and motivate staff, aimed at providing assistance to the developing world and fundraising for charity, is to be commended on producing an application that shows evidence of a thorough and committed understanding of all aspects of sustainable development, both within the company itself and in its core business activities. It is clear that sustainable development is at the heart of the business. The examiners were thoroughly impressed with the company’s commitment to social sustainability; in this rapidly expanding market, it represents outstanding performance and is an example to others.”
"I would like to compliment Charity Challenge for the sensitive way that the local community benefit from the financial aspect of tourism such as the water supply and education system in Tanzania." room for improvement
We are supporters of Tourism Concern and are constantly looking for ways to improve our operations to further benefit the local communities in which we operate. As such, we welcome your thoughts on any ways you feel we can improve our responsible tourism.
support for local projects
As part of our commitment to the local communities we interact with during our challenges, we donate approx US$500 per group to a local community project. Examples of the projects we are funding include the following:
Vietnam: SOS Children’s Villages began nearly fourty years ago in Ho Chi Minh City. Some families are so poor that they cannot look after their children so they end up living on the streets, begging for money and food or are sent out to work. Government figures suggest there are over 21,000 children living on the streets in Vietnam. SOS Children’s Villages care for over 16,000 children in Vietnam and have twelve SOS children’s Villages and 31 related projects throughout Vietnam. Our support helps to fund the ongoing work of the charity.
Nepal: Many people in Nepal live in extreme poverty with nearly 40% of the population earning less than US$1 per day. One in thirteen children die before reaching the age of five, and over a quarter of children do not go to primary school. One of the projects we have helped to fund through Plan International is supporting girls who are forced into working as domestic servants by their family’s desperate poverty.
Plan is helping them to return to their families and continue their education. Nearly 1,000 girls have been rescued and are now receiving an education with help from Plan. local community support
We employ local guides, porters and other essential support staff and we try, where possible, to use locally owned accommodation. This way, local challenge costs can truly benefit the local community. We train our overseas support teams thoroughly in all aspects of our responsible tourism policy. sustainable development
A leading UK government body responsible for sustainable development recently commended Charity Challenge for its thorough and committed understanding of all aspects of sustainable development. It added: “It is clear that sustainable development is at the heart of the business. In this rapidly expanding market, it represents outstanding performance and is an example to others.”
what we do
We aim to set responsible tourism standards within the travel industry and to minimise the impact of our challenges on the environment within which we operate.
We ensure that every challenge we run benefits both the charity being supported, and also the local communities with whom we interact.
The social, economic and environmental impact of our challenges is considered at all stages of planning a challenge. Our responsible tourism policy covers our operations in the UK, whilst on the challenge and also advises travellers how they can minimise their impact on the environment and benefit the host communities as much as possible. in the UK office
In the office we also make are careful of carbon emissions through the power and electricity we use. We cut down our carbon by ; energy
• PC screens are on energy saver mode
• PC's, printers and copiers etc. are turned off at night
• Energy saver features on all printers and photocopier are made use of
• Digital photography is used where possible to reduce chemical use
• We offset the equivalent of the expected carbon emissions from our office operations through Future Forests waste
• Paper is always reused where possible before recycling
• Staff are actively encouraged to avoid wasteful printing
• Recyclable waste (white paper, cardboard, other paper, glass, plastic) is all separated for recycling
• Staff who do not have relevant recycling collections at home are encouraged to bring their materials to the office where they can be collected and recycled properly
• Files, folders and other such stationery are always reused to their full potential
• No polystyrene or plastic cups are used in the company, glasses and mugs are provided
• We actively focus on email and web based sales communication
• Printed company materials are now always printed on paper from fully sustainable forests transport
• Public transport is used for work travel wherever possible
• Staff are encouraged to walk or cycle to work
• We offset the carbon emissions for all staff air travel if on business
• Staff are encourage to offset their carbon emissions from flying, for private travel
About our Trusted Partner
Charity Challenge is the UK's leading adventure travel company specialising exclusively in the organisation, leadership and administration of inspirational fundraising expeditions. We operate more than 120 challenges each year for around 3,000 participants, and have so far helped to raise somewhere in the region of £15million for over 900 charities.
Our expeditions include treks, mountain bike rides, mountain climbs, white water rafting, sailing, horse riding & communitychallenges. They take place in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. They cover three different difficulty levels, ensuring there really is something for everyone.
Working very closely with many of the countries leading charities, Charity Challenge carries out all of the expedition administration meaning that even the smallest of charities can benefit from a dynamic and hugely popular fundraising tool.
At Charity Challenge we place great importance on responsible tourism. Our commitment extends to helping the local communities you will visit. We employ local guides, porters and other essential support staff and always try and use locally owned accommodation. We ensure that the experiences are positive for the local people & their community by making a donation from the profits of each expedition to a local community project within the country that the expedition takes place.
We are renowned for our professional conduct and concern for participants' safety at every step of the adventure. We offer comprehensive advice during the booking process and provide a full support package including notes on fitness training, travel tips, vaccinations needed, visa information, high altitude info, responsible travel guidance and fundraising ideas.
Mount Kilimanjaro : Kilamanjaro Summit Climb at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Mount Kilimanjaro
Rainforest : Kilamanjaro Summit Climb at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Rainforest
Camp site : Kilamanjaro Summit Climb at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Camp site
Summit : Kilamanjaro Summit Climb at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Summit
Stella Point : Kilamanjaro Summit Climb at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Stella Point
Lunch time : Kilamanjaro Summit Climb at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Lunch time
Wildlife in Africa : Kilamanjaro Summit Climb at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
Wildlife in Africa
Sunset : Kilamanjaro Summit Climb at www.NatureandKind.com (THE.NATURAL.CHOICE)
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