Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa is one of the world’s most popular climbs and the most highly visited of the Seven Summits for a good reason. This climb and mountain are absolutely classic and easily accessible to just about anyone willing to train for the experience and work hard on the climb.
Kilimanjaro should be on everyone’s bucket list as should be a safari in Tanzania- combine the two and you have a once in a lifetime experience that can’t be missed
Kilimanjaro Expedition and Safari Highlights:
- Stand on the “Roof of Africa” and check this classic experience off your bucket list
- Safari... Spot for the Big 5 in Tarangire National Park
- Watch the sun set over Ngorogoro crater
- Experience our porters sing their famous Kilimanjaro song in unison at the end of our expedition
- Experience a piece of Africa
The tallest mountain on the continent of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro sits 200 miles (322 km) south of the equator in Tanzania, a country located approximately half way up the eastern seaboard of Africa. Kilimanjaro’s summit, an incongruous island of rock and snow, rises more than 17,000 feet (5100 m) out of the arid plains below, just a short distance south of the border with Kenya. Viewed through the hazy heat waves of the equatorial plains below, the anomalous glaciated terrain of the mountain seems almost surreal. The mountain lies in Kilimanjaro National Park, which encompasses 756 square miles (1957 sq km) of terrain above the 9000-foot (2700 m) contour line. The lands below this delineation are inhabited by local Chagga tribespeople. The park was established in 1973 and officially opened in 1977. Tanzanians are uniquely positive and hospitable and make great hosts for our climbs. Many of our porters on the climb are extremely hard working Chagga tribespeople residing on the flanks of Kilimanjaro itself. Using porters allows you to trek with just a daypack, saving energy for the summit to come. The Machame route affords us the best climbing and chance of success. This is because it circumnavigates a the mountain gradually allowing climbers ample time to acclimatize. These extra days spent at altitude allow our clients to feel stronger and mitigates that chance of altitude illness. This makes the climb safer, increases our success rate, and gives us more time on this beautiful peak. Traversing so much of the mountain also lets us see more of the unique terrain and ecological zones which makes for excellent photo opportunities. You will see when you’re on the mountain that there’s no better way to climb the peak then the Machame route. On safari you will take in some of the most awe-inspiring vistas imaginable, straight out of a National Geographic episode. We offer the best game viewing experience- we take you into the heart of the Tarangire National Park during the peak game viewing part of the year where large game viewing is the strongest. We then spend a day in the famous Ngorogoro crater all the while staying in some of the finest game lodges Africa has to offer. We traverse the rugged landscape in converted Landcruisers in search of the “Big Five.” We may even get a chance to peak into the local Masai culture whilst stopping by one of their villages. In short, we do it all in an action packed couple of days. This expedition will be organized by Mike Hamill, Owner of Climbing the Seven Summits. Mike has personally guided nearly well over 100 high altitude expeditions, 10 Mt. Everest expeditions, 23 X 8,000m expeditions, has 6 Everest summits, currently holds the record for most non-Sherpa summits of Cho Oyu, and has written the guide book to “Climbing the Seven Summits,” making him one of the most experienced guides in the world. Mike has an impeccable safety record and an unmatched success rate due to his expertise and professionalism and holds all of the CTSS guides to the same high standards as he holds himself. He knows that his choice of guides is the most important decision factor to continued success so CTSS only employs world-class leaders known for their coal face experience, focus on client care and attention to safety. Kilimanjaro is a serious undertaking and climbers should be prepared with adequate fitness. Our guides will work with you throughout the expedition to provide logistics, guidance, and information to best ensure your summit success & safety.
The following is a sample daily schedule of our Machame route:
- Depart home for Tanzania
- Arrive in Tanzania at Kilimanjaro International Airport, transfer to hotel
- Gear checks, team meeting, and check out town
- Drive to Kilimanjaro Park gate(5,800ft) and climb through rainforest to Machame camp(10,000ft)
- Continue to the climb through Heather forests to the Shira Plateau camp(12,300ft)
- Continue the climb to Barranco Camp climbing over a pass at nearly 15,000ft underneath the precipitous Breach Wall before descending to 12,800ft
- Climb the Barranco Wall to about 14,500ft before again descending to Karanga camp at around 13,000ft
- Climb to our high camp at 15,500ft before turning in early for our summit climb early the next morning.
- Summit Day! We awake in the wee hours of the morning (night) working our way to the roof of Africa at 19,344ft. The day is cold and can be windy and snowy so make sure you have proper warm gear! After standing on top we descend back to high camp and take a brief respite before packing up and heading down to our final camp at 12,000ft
- Pack camp and descend to the trail head. Here we bid farewell to our porters and guides before driving back to town for lunch. Celebration Dinner
- Those not joining us for Safari transfer to the airport where they begin the journey home. Those joining us on Safari drive to Tarangire Park for an afternoon game drive. Stay in Tarangire at a game lodge.
- Continue our Safari by exploring the famous Ngorogoro Crater before returning to the crater rim to watch the sunset over Ngorogoro from our game lodge
- Drive to KIA airport for afternoon return flights.
- Arrive home
Superb experience from start to finish with CTSS and I can't speak highly enough of their team. I climbed with a great group, the organisation and logistics throughout the trip was first class, the people I met were awesome, and the food was unbelievable throughout! Definitely the trip of a lifetime and am already starting to think about my next CTSS adventure.
Summiting a peak has always been a bucket-list thing for me. When I first decided to do it and reached out to CTSS, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The team were quickly responsive, informative and supportive from the very beginning. The expedition itself was amazing, and extremely well run. Everything went smoothly and the safari afterwards ticked off a bucket list item, I didn’t know existed. The feeling when I reached the summit was incredible and I couldn’t have done it without the CTSS team, both in the office and on the ground. I’m already planning my next adventure with CTSS and now have added Everest 2024 to my bucket list. Thank you Mike and Caroline.
I am transformed forever! If you want a life-changing, positive experience with guides who have heart and tons of experience for your personalized journey to the summit, CTSS and its local team are the Mount Kilimanjaro choice. Ethical business practices that build up guide/porter team families and the local economy, made me feel happy to be their clients in even more ways. Do it now!
- $5,995
- $5,995
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