Climbing Kilimanjaro has over 15 years of experience in leading hikers and climbers to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Our experienced guides have a proud summit success rate averaging between 96% - 98% and have safely guided over 7000 clients to the top of the mountain. Our professional tour consultants have all made successful summit attempts and are therefore in a position to provide you with an in depth knowledge of the mountain. We provide unique and tailor-made itineraries to suite your individual requirements and preferences, including all your hotel bookings, meet and assist at the airport, airport transfers to and from your hotel, as well as many exciting travel extensions to the surrounding game parks and the magical island of Zanzibar.
It is important to point out that the challenge is a non-technical trek to climb kilimanjaro, but it offers a full mountaineering experience. You will need to be fit and any regular hillwalker will find this expedition within his or her capabilities. A training programme should include at least one hill walk a week with a small pack of around 10kgs, and regular visits to the gym or the swimming pool once a week for the final two months before departure.Age is not a limiting factor either; the secret of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro is to go slowly and enjoy the scenery, drink well, eat well and sleep well. A regular, maintained pace will ensure proper acclimatisation.
We take seven days over this climb of Kilimanjaro. Summit day starts early on Day Six. The ethos centres around the principle that if you look after yourself well during the first five days, then the sixth 'summit' day will be a challenge but not dangerous.
Our trip to Mt Kilimanjaro promotes good mountaineering practises for an enjoyable trip, a memorable holiday and one that may lead in the future to more mountain adventures. Our programme is safety-conscious and purposeful in teaching about issues like altitude sickness, and what it actually means. Most worries are borne of ignorance; but with knowledge comes calm, and with that calm comes the ability to prepare mentally and to prevent unnecessary stress.
Kilimanjaro the Mountain
The once-eternal snows on her broad summit spread across three ancient peaks - Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira, which erupted an estimated 100,000 years ago. The actual summit is Uhuru Peak (meaning ‘independence’). Kilimanjaro translates to “mountain of the springs” and encapsulates five different habitats from bottom to top. It is this uniqueness of micro-climates and habitats that makes an ascent of the mountain so special. Sadly Kilimanjaro is now a prime example of the effects of global warming, and her permanent glaciers are in retreat.
In a period of seven days, traversing the mountain over 24 miles, ascending from 6000 feet to 19,340’ and back down, you will go from cultivated farmland through equatorial forest and alpine heath, across a lunar-like rocky landscape up to a glaciated summit. Mt Kilimanjaro's unique position just below the equator offers an opportunity to experience so much in one expedition.
''I am writing to say how much Kay and I enjoyed our trip to Tanzania. We are very pleased to have reached the summit of Kilimanjaro and very much appreciate the excellent organisation which enabled the climb to go smoothly and successfully.' Brian Dodson
The Route we use
Generally speaking the route we prefer is called the Machame route. It is regarded as the most challenging of the routes on Mt Kilimanjaro, but we believe ultimately the most satisfying. We circle the summit massif on days 3 ,4 and 5 and ascend to the summit from Barafu Hut. This means seeing the mountain from all different angles and the days circling the base do not involve any real gain in altitude which is good for acclimatisation. After summitting we descend from Barafu Hut down the Mweka route to the gate and back to Moshi. We do however also guide on all routes and have treks on the Rongai, Lemosho and Marangu routes.
Day 1 - Machame Gate to Machame Camp (3000m), 4 hours through forest
Day 2 - Machame to Shira Plateau (3850m'), 5 hours through forest and open heath
Day 3 - Shira Plateau to Barranco Hut (3950m), 6 hours on open heath and over two valleys
Day 4 - Barranco Hut to Karanga Valley (3930m), 3 hours on open heath and rock across one valley
Day 5 - Karanga Valley to Barafu Hut (4600m), 3 hours ascent on open ground
Day 6 - Barafu Hut to Summit (5895m) and down to Millennium Camp (3300m), 6-8 hours to crater rim at night, 45 minutes from rim to Uhuru Peak, 3 or 4 hours back to Barafu Hut, 1-2 hours down to Millennium Camp
Day 7 - Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate (1500m) and Moshi. 3 to 4 hours in forest.
Why BRISTLEBILL SAFARIS ADVENTURE ?
We have a 100% safety track record for our Kilimanjaro trekking adventures, excellent staff and we do not outsource because we have our own set-up and company in East Africa. Using proper acclimatisation on the ascent, providing great food, good preparation and briefings with an emphasis on teamwork, safety and fun means people come back from their holiday feeling very fulfilled and happy.
