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Dmytro Horbatov
Kilimanjaro, known as the sparkling mountain, is recognized as one of the top 10 most beautiful mountains in the world and one of the three most beautiful volcanoes worldwide. As highest peak in Africa it's a prominent part of the Seven Summits program. During the ascent to Kilimanjaro with the Kuluar Club we offer you not only to climb the highest point of the mountain - Uhuru Peak (5895 m), but you also have the chance to engage in a safari at the unique, unusual and interesting national parks of Ngorongoro and Tarangire in Tanzania. After that you can relax on the white beaches of the island of Zanzibar, swimming in the waves of the Indian Ocean.
Climbing Kilimanjaro is the most comfortable climb in the world, and there is no such level of service on any other peak. There are about 3-4 service personnel per participant. They set up tents for you, prepare delicious food (first, second and desserts), carry your belongings, and in the morning they heat water for washing.
Kilimanjaro climbing options we offer:
- Climbing to Kili along the Umbwe route - in tents. Our classic and favorite program. It is no less comfortable and more atmospheric in tents than in lodges.
- Climbing Kilimanjaro in lodges (Marangu route) - for those who do not want to spend the night in tents. You are now reading its description.
- Kilimanjaro with local guides - without the KULUAR team leader. It is a bit cheaper and possible for any dates on any route.
Climbing Kilimanjaro and safari in Tanzania is a journey that will change your life. The number of new impressions is unsurpassed. Do not hesitate!
Over ten years of experience, hundreds of participants and dozens of groups. Many optimizations and improvements allow us to deliver the program at the highest level.
The group is accompanied by local guides who have been trained as Wilderness First Responders and have emergency oxygen. Just in case
For the ascent we chose the Umbwe route, the least crowded and shortest route. The short day hikes allow for acclimatization outings in the afternoon. In addition, the route is very beautiful.
We do not cancel or reschedule groups. If the manager gave the go-ahead to buy the ticket, you can buy it with confidence. Through our fault there will be no cancellation.
The cooks cook the food, the porters carry the stuff. Your job is to enjoy!
Experienced Kuluar Club team leaders, who have been to Tanzania many times, will accompany participants throughout the program.
The manager has been to Tanzania personally and will advise you knowledgeably.
More than 12,000 participants have already been with Kuluar and 97.8% have been satisfied. We are sure you will be too!
The airport, where everyone is flying, has the same name as the main destination of our journey, Kilimanjaro. Try to buy tickets to arrive in the morning. From the airport we move to the town of Moshi, where we check into a hotel. After a shower and short rest, we walk along the streets. In the evening, we get acquainted with the rest of the group, where everyone will introduce himself and the guide will tell you about the next program and answer your questions. Our tour through Tanzania has begun.
Everyone is waiting. After all, today begins the main part of our journey - the trek to the top of the highest mountain in Africa. We have breakfast at the hotel, after which we drive to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gates, where we get passes to the protected zone and register our group with the rescue service. Here you will get meeting with the obligatory support personnel on the ascent - the local guide, assistant guides, cooks and porters. They will provide maximum comfort for our team during the ascent. After registration, we start walking up a winding path through the rainforest. It's not too hard to walk, we only have light backpacks with the most necessary things - water, camera, sunscreen... But the approach is steep.
Walking through the tropical forest we can listen the singing of the birds and the cries of the monkeys/ Along the route we have a snack, and on arrival at Umbwe camp - a hot dinner cooked by our cook.
Distance: ≈ 9 km, altitude gain: +1220 m, travel time: ≈ 6 hours, climatic zone: rain forests
We wake up early, have breakfast and go. Almost immediately, we leave the forest zone and enter the high mountain bush zone. We will be surrounded by amazing panoramic views, lichen-covered rocks and wonderful lobelia plants. If it is not cloudy, we will see Volcano Meru for the first time.
The weather at this altitude is cold and windy, so a good membrane jacket and pants will be useful for you.
During the trip Kuluar Team Leader will control everyone's is feeling and give useful advices. We'll spend the night at Barranco Camp, which overlooks the snowy cap of Uhuru Peak, our main goal. We will arrive at the camp for lunch, after which we will walk a little higher for better acclimatization.
Distance: ≈ 4.9 km, altitude difference: +1090 m, travel time: ≈ 5-6 hours, + acclimatization, climatic zone: heather deserts.
A delicious breakfast, tea and sweets and off we go. At the beginning, we will climb the Barranco Great Wal. It looks very impressive, although the ascent lasts only about an hour, which is not much. We recommend leaving early today so we don't have to wait in line at the wall. Step by step we go to the top and rest, taking pictures against the backdrop of Kibo volcano. The further way to Karanga camp is not an easy one - small descents and ascents alternate all the time. Our guide will help you find the optimal pace in order to use as little energy as possible. We'll need them yet.
At the camp, the group will have lunch and rest.
Distance: ≈ 4.6 km, altitude difference: +417 / -380 m, travel time: ≈ 4-5 hours, climatic zone: heather deserts, alpine meadows
We have breakfast and continue our way to the summit. Today we reach Barafu Camp, at 4670 m. It is from here tomorrow night we will go to the top. After the arrival at the camp, we make an acclimatization hike to the Kosovo camp at 4800 m.
After that we go back to the camp, have dinner and go to bed early. We have to recover and gain strength for the ascent as much as possible.
Distance: ≈ 3.9 km, altitude difference: +630 m, travel time: ≈ 3-4 hours, + acclimatization time, climatic zone: alpine meadows.
The key day of our expedition to Tanzania - is the ascent to the highest peak of the continent - Mount Kilimanjaro. We wake up very early, because the summit day starts at 1 am.
We gather all our strength and willpower in our first - we will need them, it will be really hard. But we are ready. Step by step along the ridge up to the summit. Closer to Stella Point, we meet the sunrise. This is one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world. Many tourists go to Africa just for him. When the sun rises, it gets warmer. The summit is not far away. Here is quite close to the famous ice Kilimanjaro, the sight of which takes your breath away. At one point, a small miracle happens, and you notice that there is nowhere else to climb. Yeah! We are on top of Kilimanjaro, Uhuru Peak. You have beautiful views in all directions, and the whole world lies at your feet.
During the ascent you are accompanied by a Kuluar Team Leader and local guides with the rate - 1 guide per 2 clients. They are always ready to help and support. The ascent takes about 7-8 hours.
After enjoying the summit, we start descending. It will take about 2 hours to the Barafu camp. Here we have a rest and a snack, then we will come down to Mweka Camp, it takes 5-6 hours.
We go down another trail, it makes our route even more landscaped and beautiful.
Distance: ≈ 16.5 km, altitude difference: +1235 / -2835 m, travel time: ≈ 10-14 hours, climatic zone: alpine meadows, eternal glaciers, rain forests
We continue our descent to the exit of the national park. Just a little more, and we will leave this amazing place. We leave in order to go to meet new adventures, so do not get upset. At Mweka Gate, we get official certificates for climbing Kilimanjaro and get on the bus. After the mountain, everyone wants to go to the hotel and take a shower. But we prepared one more surprise for you - Chemka hot springs. The place is amazingly beautiful, and removes all the tiredness after the mountain! Before we included the springs in the program, we took several groups to them, and 100% of the participants were very satisfied!
The springs are located after Moshi (that is, you first stop at the hotel where you left your stuff, and pick it up, including bathing gear) 15 km from the main road. That 15 km on a offload takes about an hour, but the springs make up for it! Their water is comfortable (not hot), there's a cool bungee cord and little fish that will give you a pilling. Don't be afraid, people usually pay money for that!
After the springs, we drive to Arusha, where we check into a hotel and rest before the safari.
Distance: ≈ 8.7 km, elevation gain: -1400 m, travel time: ≈ 2-3 hours, climatic zone: rain forests
After a successful ascent of Kilimanjaro, we have two days of fascinating safari in Tanzania. We wake up early in the morning, have breakfast (or take lunch boxes) and leave the hotel before 7 am. It's a long drive to the safari, and it's better to spend more time observing the wild animals. First we will visit Tarangire National Park - "House of Elephants" as it is called by the locals. Really, there are a lot of elephants here. Of interest, there are also giraffes and in the trees you can see leopards and pythons. If you are very lucky. Also, there are a lot of baobabs in the park. And the baobabs, under which the elephants walk, look doubly delightful - big trees and big animals together.
Closer to sunset, we leave the park and drive to a campsite on the hill for the night.
We wake up early in the morning and drive to the "Lost World" - this is how we want to call the reservation area Ngorongoro. We will get to a unique place, because the whole park Ngorongoro - volcano crater grandiose in its size. It has its own microclimate, flora and an amazing fauna, which is inhabited by lions, elephants, hyenas, buffalos, thousands of zebras and antelopes... The uniqueness of the place is that the entire park is located inside the crater and is enclosed by a natural wall. The animals are comfortable and safe here, and they don't run out! No matter how far you go, the animals are everywhere. The exception is the lions' territory - zebras and antelopes have no place here.
If we are lucky, we will find lions right by the road.
Also, we visit the village, which is home to the famous Massai tribe.
This is a touristy place, they will pester you and try to "sell" you different souvenirs. Fight back and haggle hard. We will pay for a performance (included in the price) and the Massai will dance, sing and show us how they live. Let's face it, most Massai come to the village "to work" and live elsewhere. But there are still some who live in just such shacks. Don't expect much from the tribe, but the photos are colorful!
After this incredible safari, we go back to a hotel in Moshi town, where we stay overnight.
Here the main program of our trip is over. But everyone is welcome to come with us to Zanzibar.
The cost of a vacation in Zanzibar is $300.
We have breakfast and go to Kilimanjaro Airport, from where we take a local flight to the Paradise Island of Zanzibar. This will be the vacation we deserve!
We stay at Nungwi Beach, the best beach in Zanzibar where there are no big tides, and you can swim all day long. Nungwi is a 1.5 hour drive from the airport and Stone Town. Therefore, we will walk around the city center immediately after arrival, and then take a boat ride to Prison Island, to the huge 150-year-old turtles. After the turtles check into a hotel on the ocean, and we start to relax - swimming, sunbathing and eating seafood!
This day we purposely left free, because there is something to do on the island, and everyone's tastes are different. The most popular options are:
In the morning we swim in the ocean, sunbathe, and swim again.
People who want, can extend their vacation on the paradise island, but for us it's time to go home. You can fly back from Zanzibar, Dar Es Salaam or Kilimanjaro - it depends what would be cheaper and more convenient for you.
Thank you all for the trip and see you again!
You must not have any of the diseases on this list in order to participate in the program
A yellow fever vaccination is not necessary to visit Tanzania. The exception is if you are traveling from potentially dangerous countries (mostly Central Africa).
There are no vaccinations against malaria, you don't need to take medicine in advance either - it's a big burden on the organism. Just in case, we buy medicines against malaria on the spot, but there have been no cases in our groups yet.
Subject to weather conditions and general wishes of the group, the teamleader has the right to make changes in the itinerary.
Citizens of the USA and EU have to get a visa to the passport on arrival. The fee is $100 and $50.
We had not chosen the Umbwe route for climbing Kilimanjaro right away. At first the idea was to make the program via the Machama route. Many guides and experts recommend it. And it's a really good route, which gives an excellent acclimatization, but takes a lot of energy - if you go for 6 days, as most people do. We are also walking 6 days, so we decided to study in detail another route which is actually a parallel one, the Umbwe route. The guidebooks have given it the name as the most difficult route to climb Kilimanjaro. There is some truth in this, because you have to go all the way uphill. It is not easy. But at the same time this track has a number of advantages:
At the same time you should understand that day passages are not big, but on steep paths. You will have to go steadily upwards. During the route we are not rushing anywhere, we will have a rest and take a lot of pictures. So you will pass, do not worry.
Climbing Kilimanjaro opens to you many peaks. After Kili we recommend:
We have prepared for you the Kilimanjaro Commemorative Medal, which you will receive after the ascent.
You need to buy your tickets in advance, as soon as we confirm your participation in the trek.
Our recommendations for flight selection services can be found in this article.
You need good insurance to participate in the program. Please do not ignore this point. It has saved some participants thousands of dollars. Our recommendations for insurance can be found here: "Insurance for Kuluar Hikes Participants".
On arrival in Moshi you can rent some equipment:
Prices are for the whole period of the ascent (6 days) as of 2020. The actual prices may vary slightly.
Unlike most other well-known mountains, Kilimanjaro can be climbed at any time of year. But in April, May and November it is the "rainy season," which makes the rocks slippery. There are far fewer people on the mountain at this time. See our timetable and choose the best dates!
Kilimanjaro has a pronounced altitude belt. At the beginning of the program in the jungle can be +25 and above, and on the sixth day, when the summit is stormed, the temperature can drop to -10 degrees and below. Because of this it is important to choose the right clothes and sleeping bag. Read the relevant section.
The best way to prepare for climbing Kilimanjaro is to run. Start training 3-4 months before the start of the program, gradually increasing the running time. A good result can be considered a 10-kilometer run without stopping. If you have any doubts about your physical condition, please contact our manager for advice.
To participate in the ascent of Kilimanjaro, it is recommended to have experience in hiking in mountains above 3000 meters. But even if you have not been at such a height, then if you are in good physical shape, you can take part in the program. Due to the geographical location of the mountain, acclimatization is easier here, so the chance of a successful ascent is quite high even for beginners.
During the program, participants do not have the opportunity to charge phones and other devices, so it is worth stocking up on spare batteries or power banks.
The cost depends on the number of participants:
| Number of participants | Value |
|---|---|
| 5 and more | $3100 |
| 4 | $3300 |
| 3 | $3700 |
| 2 | $4500 |
| 1 | $6800 |
Total additional expenses without Zanzibar will be about $400 + airflights. Take a few hundred dollars for souvenirs.
The vacation in Zanzibar is paid separately and costs $500. This includes: 2 nights at a 4* hotel (breakfast included), transfer from the airport to your hotel, and a visit to Turtle Island. Additional excursions and return transfers to the airport are paid separately. You can also extend your holiday on the island on your own.
If the amount of prepayment is too much for you at the moment, but you still want to book a place, write to the consultant and he will break it down into comfortable parts.
👉 Check out: payment methods and refund conditions in case of cancellation or departure from the route
Dear friends! We kindly ask you to choose dollar banknotes issued in 2009 or newer. Banknotes of the 90s are not accepted in many countries, and we sometimes have problems with payments with local partners. Thank you for your understanding and happy new dollars :)
*Please note: the consultant will help with the selection and search for air tickets, recommend an insurance company, but it is not his task to purchase them. Participants do it themselves or contact our partners, all contacts are in the article: tickets, hotels and insurance
