Summiting the world’ tallest free standing mountain in Tanzania

Pick Up

• Boma Africa will greet you up upon arrival at the airport or bus station
• You will stay the first night in Arusha at a comfortable B&B
• Your guide will come to welcome you and provide your mountain orientation
• Your guide will check your gear and packs to make sure your equipment is appropriate
• Sleep well the night before your climb!

First Day

• Early in the morning, after breakfast, your guide and crew will pick you up at your hotel
• Make sure to bring:
  • your passport, or a photocopy of your passport for registration at the park
  • Pocket money for last minute purchases such as batteries, chocolate bar, water, etc.
  • Cash to tip your crew if desired
• Extra luggage can be stored at your hotel or the Boma Africa office (please arrange in advance)
• You will all leave Arusha and drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate for registration
• Depending on your route you may have a packed lunchbox, or your cook might serve a hot lunch before you start to trek
• Once registration is complete, you will begin walking slowly through the rainforest zone of Kilimanjaro!

Trekking

• On most days climbers will walk between 7 and 15 km, taking from 4 to 9 hours.
• Pole Pole!! Slow steady climbing is the rule!
• The crew will provide you clean drinking water for each day
• You are expected to drink 3L of water each day, so your guide will remind you many times to take a rest and drink some water
• As you are trekking you are likely to be sharing the route will some other trekkers, and you will see porters making their way up and down the path
• Your guide will tell you about special plants, features of the mountain, and cultural anecdotes
• First thing in the morning, you will have a wakeup call from the crew, and they will provide you with soap and warm water to wash up.
• A full hot breakfast is served daily with tea and coffee.
• After breakfast and preparing, you and your guide will start the daily trek while the crew breaks camp
• Lunches on the mountain vary between packed lunchboxes and prepared hot lunches served at carefully chosen rest points along the route
• When you arrive at the next camp, you will be welcomed with a light snack and steaming hot tea and coffee
• Your crew will be busy setting up camp; you may feel like resting, or like helping out and setting up some tents! Karibu!
• You will be provided with warm water and soap to freshen up after a long day’s trekking.
• A delicious hot dinner is served every evening in the mess tent.
• Your guide will debrief with your group about the day’s hike, and let you know what to expect for the following day
• Going to bed early is common as climbers are tired, and the days start early. As sleeping disturbances are common at higher altitudes, it’s best to rest as much as possible. Even if you have trouble falling asleep, resting your body and mind will rejuvenate your energy.
• It is common to experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness as the days go on. LINK TO SAFETY->Click here to read more about altitude sickness.

Summiting

Many routes require summiting at night, while there are few that lead you to the crater during daytime.

Night Summit

• After dinner you will rest for several hours
• Around 11 your guide will wake you up and you will have orientation over tea and biscuits
• You will begin the ascent around 12 am
• You will need all your warmest clothes, headlamp, any special snack, water and walking poles
• You can expect to feel a strong headache, you may vomit, and you will become extremely fatigued
• Making it to the summit around sunrise is common; after a quick celebration and photo session, you begin descending
• Usually you spend less than 15 minutes at Uhuru Peak
• You might ask your guide to take photos as you will likely be very cold, very tired, and may have some mild confusion due to altitude
• Communicate regularly with your guide
• Making it to the summit often takes every last bit of strength and mental determination you can muster!

Daytime Summit / Crater Camp Excursion

• If you are spending a night at the crater camp, you will make the climb from the preceding camp during the day
• Early the next morning (around 4 am) you will awaken and hike the final 2 hours to the summit- making it in time for sunrise.

Last Day

• It is usual to get to the gate in the early afternoon. A celebratory lunch will be served with wine and beer (as per request)
• You will be presented your certificate of achievement, and have a chance to say thank you to your crew (this is the best time to give any tip to the crew). See FAQs – tipping + Expeditions Equal Payment Plan
• All Boma Africa expeditions end by participation in Boma Goes Green, our environmental improvement program.
• You will get to plant a monumental tree to commemorate your climb, while building a shaded garden in Moshi.
• Think of a name for your tree!
• You will be dropped off at your B&B in Arusha for a much deserved shower and rest!

Food

• Boma Africa carefully plans your meals before your expedition
• Choosing top quality ingredients and providing a well-balanced diet on the mountain gives you the best chances of a successful healthy climb
• Meals are cooked and served inside a mess tent or mountain hut
• One of the side effects of altitude is loss of appetite and nausea. Don’t be surprised if you find it hard to eat- but please make the effort! Being well nourished is extremely important for your climb!
• Please advise in advance of any special dietary requests.
• Don’t hesitate to speak to your guide with any concerns regarding meals during your climb.

Breakfast

• A full hot breakfast is served with tea or coffee every day. It is common to have a variety of eggs, bread, sausage, porridge, pancakes, French toast and fruit.

Lunch

• Lunch alternates between a variety of carefully packed lunchboxes, and hot lunches that are served along route.
• It is common to have boiled eggs, pasta or rice salad, chicken, fruit and vegetables, biscuits, fruit juice, simmered sauces with rice, and more.

Dinner

• Always hot and appetizing, your dinners are prepared by your cook at the camp. It is common to have 3 courses: soup & bread, main course, and desert.

Tea Time

• You will have hot tea & coffee every morning and afternoon.

Toilets

• There are “outhouses” or “longdrops” situated along the routes and near to camps. On some routes you are provided with a private portable toilet. (available on all routes at special request)
• You will be provided with toilet paper.
• There are no shower facilities on the mountain.

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