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Exploring The Wildlife of The Serengeti National Park About the Serengeti National Park Serengeti National Park, in northern Tanzania, is known for The Great Wildebeest Migration – one of the
At U. we pride ourselves on creating and delivering life-altering adventure tours that focus on ‘Responsible Travel’
For a once in a lifetime experience we highly recommend joining us on this extraordinary adventure to the summit of Africa’s highest mountain – Mt. Kilimanjaro. Join a team of like-minded adventurers and conquer the heights, enjoying the camaraderie and local hospitality along the way.
Quick Facts About Mount Kilimanjaro
- It’s in Tanzania and actually sits 250 miles from the equator
- It is one of the 7 summits – the tallest mountains on all 7 continents and is generally considered to be the easiest to climb
- It’s estimated to be approx. 460,000 years old
- The summit is called Uhuru Point and is 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level
- It is the world’s tallest free-standing mountain – formed from volcanic activity – but once had three volcanic cones: Kibo (19,340’/5,895m), Mawenzi (16,893’/5,149m), and Shira (13,000’/3,962m)
- On that note, it’s probably pertinent to mention at this point that Kilimanjaro is dormant, not extinct!
Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro with U. Adventure Trips
If you’re seeking meaningful experiences, while travelling responsibly, then come hike this jewel of the seven summits with U. Adventure Trips. We take time to get to know the local Swahili people and have engaged experienced local guides to immerse you in all things cultural along your journey. The Swahili people are kind and generous, quick to smile, and even quicker to extend that smile into a heartfelt laugh. Their infectious positivity will create the blueprint from which your Kilimanjaro experience will be anchored.
Preparing For Your Kilimanjaro Climb
Statistically speaking, many hikers fail to complete the climb due to a lack of preparation. We absolutely don’t want this to be you! Mount Kilimanjaro is known as being the ‘easiest’ of the 7 Summits, and because of this many people take a much too relaxed approach to their preparation for the hike. We strongly suggest that you prepare by doing smaller hikes building into hikes of longer duration and when possible, at altitude. Add in a weighted backpack of about 10-12kgs so you build both strength and durability. Some people say training on stairs or stair masters at the gym has helped! However you prepare, just make sure that you do – fitness is key!
Packing for your Kilimanjaro Trip
Probably the best piece of advice we can give you is to wear your (well worn in) hiking boots on the plane. They should never leave your sight on your journey to Tanzania. Breaking in a new pair is just not an option!
You’ll be sent a more in-depth packing list on confirmation of your booking, but in the meantime, think warmth and waterproofness (both clothes and waterproof bags). Think layers and anti-chaff. Think sensible! The days may be warm, but the evenings are cool and we do ascend into the snow line. Second awesome piece of advice – everything you intend to bring, carry and wear should be well tested and worn in before you leave home – bring nothing new!
You must bring 1 travel backpack (no suitcases), and a 1-day bag that can hold about 10kgs of food, water (at least 3 litres), emergency equipment, clothes, your passport, camera, etc. Once you start your journey to the summit, the porters will transfer your backpack for you, between base camps.
Managing Your Expectations
The ascent is estimated to take 7 days to achieve as we acclimatize your body slowly, allowing you to adjust to the high altitude and different oxygen levels. To ascend too quickly invites altitude sickness to sink its nasty claws into you. We will move with our personal guides and porters at an achievable pace tailored to give you the very best opportunity to achieve the climb safely and enjoyably. On that note, because we care, we will do a health check every day to ensure you are ready to move to the next higher-altitude base camp.
There is little room for personal vanity or social media – they are two modern states of mind which won’t accompany us on this cool adventure. Ladies & gents, we strongly suggest leaving the makeup behind and being prepared for a wifi blackout for most of the journey. This is a perfect time for self-reflection and total immersion into nature. Trust us – the social media world will still be there when you return!
Expect to be embraced with love and laughter by the Swahili people. Expect to experience a magical time climbing one of the seven summits, but expect it to be difficult. Allow yourself the space to experience every amazing part of this journey, from the evening campfires and tent sleeping to the unique and breathtaking views.
Get to know your porters, your guides, and the local villagers on your way, and take time to simply ‘be’ in such a massive epic environment.
Tips and Feedback From Other U. Travellers
- Pre-empt the chills and don’t be afraid to put on layers early
- Drink plenty of water. The higher the altitude the quicker you’ll dehydrate, which often leads to headaches – drinking water helps stay off dehydration headaches.
- If your phone is your camera, then invest in a solar phone charger! (but don’t expect cell coverage!)
- Take it slow! We cannot stress this enough. The quicker you try to reach the top, the higher the chance of you not making it there due to Acute Mountain Sickness.
- Remember sun protection. It might seem silly as we said it would get cold, but the chances of getting a sunburn in higher elevations are high.
- Remember to eat. You might lose your appetite at a high altitude, but you will need the energy for the summit. We have found that eating a little, frequently, is the best way to keep your energy levels constant
- Prepare for your trip – physically and mentally. Read about the climb, and learn what elevation means and how it will affect you physically.
- Take breaks when needed. It is very important to listen to your body when it needs rest, water, etc.
- Make sure you are rested. It can be tough to fall asleep at times as the body is adjusting, but get as much rest as you can at campsites.
- Trust yourself! You will get through this climb one step at a time (literally). You can do this!
- Enjoy every step of the way – even when it is tough.
- Celebrate when you reach the top! (Sheila MacDonald celebrated with champagne when she reached the top as the first woman in 1927)
Mindful High Altitude Trekking – Travel Responsibly and Share the Message
As accessibility opens, so does our impact increase on the natural environment of Mount Kilimanjaro and its surrounds. There have been many concerning reports on the effect of tourism on the mountain and the local villages that service the trekking trade. Most of which is not positive. Today over 40,000 people hike the mountain every year, and our message to all you future adventures is to Leave No Trace. This is an absolute hard and fast rule. At U. we travel to this policy in all that we do, see, and experience.
Until recently there has been a lack of education available to ALL stakeholders on the effect increased trekkers have on the environment and the subsequent disruption to Kilimanjaro’s natural ecosystem.
This imbalance has led to the direct destruction of vegetation, a disruption in the natural life cycle and expansion of local fauna, the introduction of new threatening species of plants, insects & animals, and pollution – garbage, excrement, noise, and infrastructure.
Mount Kilimanjaro Porters Society
U. use only highly qualified locals who are part of the Mount Kilimanjaro Porters Society. MKPS’s ethos is to “.. promote the welfare and rights of porters climbing Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro and to ensure fair payment and work conditions.” Furthermore, they are aligned with our absolute desire to ensure all climbers Travel Responsibly.
U. Ripples and U.Waves
- Leave no Trace
- Respect the Locals
- Respect the environment
Always a Step Further
The foundations of U. sit on the pillars of ‘creating better human beings’, to ‘travel responsibly’, and to ‘care for ourselves, each other, and our planet’. After you descend and return to base camp we commit our group to spend a day in a local school doing maintenance and clean-up. This is a small way in which we connect with the locals, give back, and learn about local culture and customs so that we may share this knowledge with others.
We encourage you to buy gifts and memorabilia for family and friends back home, connecting you directly to the local providers so more of your financial contribution is felt at a local level.
So, be bold, be courageous, Climb and conquer Mount Kilimanjaro and your own goals, have fun – learn and experience and then come back and share your journey and knowledge with others. This is the U. Way!
Trips to get you here
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world – but it is also one of the most beautiful. This volunteer U.Impact! specially crafted for U. takes involvement in the town of Moshi to another level.
$1,705
Climb the world’s highest free-standing mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro and reach the highest point in Africa with this 12 days trip
$2,920
