Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking & Safari Adventure
January 25 - February 2, 2010: Kili Climb
February 2-6, 2010: Safari

Price	$2,900 for Climb $1,950 for Safari
Single Supplement	$700 (always optional) for the climb and the safari, each
Length	Nine Days & Eight Nights Trek Five Days & Four Nights Safari
Activities	Trekking & Safari
Guides (Tentative)	Allan & local guides
Difficulty Level	More Difficult (Trek) For All Abilities (Safari)
Navigation Required	None
Other	You can register for the trek, the safari, or both

The Roof of Africa. At 19,330 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa, a lone sentinel rising above the plains below. For over 100 years the mountain has attracted adventurers hoping to reach its summit and our small group of travelers will attempt the same, hiking to the top during the full moon of late January. Climinb Mt. Kilimanjaro is one of the most accessible, amazing adventures in the world. Coupled with a safari, you will have two of the most awe-inspiring vacations in a lifetime all rolled into one trip.

There are seven separate routes leading up and down the mountain and choosing the right route is extremely important. The Marangu Route is the most popular because it provides hut accommodations and is short and steep, appealing to travelers wishing to save time and money. Honestly, we think that is a bit crazy. If you travel to Africa, rather than worrying about saving a day and a few dollars, you might as well pick a route that is beautiful, less traveled, and offers a greater chance of reaching the summit. The clear winner, for us, is the Lemosho Route and it is this trek we have scheduled.

Starting from the western side of Kilimanjaro, the route allows us to spend seven days on the mountain, five up and two returning. This extra time is crucial for acclimatizing to the high altitude. We have local guides to lead us, porters to carry our tents and other gear, and cooks to keep us nourished. Early in the morning of the sixth day of trekking, we rise to climb to the summit and enjoy an amazing view of the surrounding countryside. We start and end our trek with a hotel stay in Moshi, one of the gateway towns for climbers. (For a photo tour of our February 2010 climb, see Liz Miller's and Dan Kibler's photo gallery.)

Tanzania Safari
You can choose to join us for the Kilimanjaro climb alone, on a five-day safari through the national parks of Tanzania, or both. We know - everyone has heard about an African safari and most of us know someone who has done one. Let us assure you - the safaris we have done in Africa have been some of the most amazing experiences we have had anywhere in the world. Truly, we are not exaggerating when we say everyone should do a safari at least once.

We visit the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater and Ndutu conservation areas of the Serengeti ecosystem, where we can see lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhino, and dozens of other animals. During February, the Great Migration is in the Ndutu Conservation Area, allowing you to see amazing numbers of animals. The safari is optional and we will transfer you to the airport on the last day of the Kili climb if you choose not to participate. It is also possible to join us just for the safari portion, for example if you have friends or family who don't want to do the climb.

Zephyr and our Local Guides

This will be Zephyr's first trip to Tanzania and we have partnered with two local outfitters, one for the Kili climb and one for the safari, to make our trip outstanding. There are hundreds of local operators in the area and finding the right one is a daunting task, one we spent many hours researching. It is these local companies which will work in conjunction with Zephyr Adventures to provide our local staff, so key to a memorable journey.

Trip Difficulty
Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the classic mountaineering climbs in the world, famous in part because it is one of the Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each continent. However, it is equally popular because it is accessible to the standard traveler. The climb requires no mountaineering or rock climbing experience and - other than a good pair of boots, proper clothing, and perhaps trekking poles - no high altitude gear such as ice axes or crampons. (Your tent and group camping equipment is provided and you can bring your own sleeping bag or rent one for $75.) However, seven days of hiking and six nights of camping is strenuous at any time and when reaching altitudes over 19,000 feet is very demanding for many trekkers. Average travelers in decent shape can summit the mountain. However, please don't underestimate the climb; this is one trip you should prepare for in advance and we'll send you information in the Pre-Departure Packet on how to do so.

Special Note
Because we must provide a deposit to our local outfitters, the $500 deposit for this trip is not refundable or transferrable to another trip, starting seven days after you receive your trip confirmation email and Pre-Departure Packet. Please strongly consider trip insurance!

Accommodations
On our Kilimanjaro climb, we spend the first and last night at a comfortable hotel in Moshi. We are camping the remaining six nights of the climb.

On our safari, we spend the first night at Migunga Camp Lodge, a tented camp and lodge featuring 19 permanent tented structures on 35 acres in the forest near Lake Manyara National Park. You'll love it. We then spend two nights camping at the Serengeti Savannah Camp, a campsite within Serengeti National Park itself. These small tents with private bathrooms give us the real safari experience, although our attentive staff and cooks do make life easy. We end our safari with a night in the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, one of the few hotels perched right on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. The views are amazing!

For More Information
See our Tanzania Frequently Asked Questions, Kilimanaro Itinerary, and Safari Itinerary pages. Mount Kilimanjaro photos provided by Marc van der Chijs under a Creative Commons license.