Climbing Kilimanjaro with Thomson Safaris was an absolute pleasure. I couldn’t have wished for a better support team for my ‘7th’ summit! Vanessa O’Brien completed the Seven Summits challenge with Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa and plans on completing the Explorer’s Grand Slam when she reaches the North Pole next month.
Dr. Scott Olitsky, who raised money on two Thomson Safaris’ Kilimanjaro treks for HHT asked us to carry 7-year old Molly Dunne’s photo to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in order to fulfill items off her bucket list.
Our group would not have made it to Kilimanjaro’s summit without the Thomson Safaris’ extraordinary team of guides, porters, and camp crew. You could tell they were proud to work for Thomson.
Once I started packing for my trek, it was a lot easier than I thought. The Thomson Safaris’ Kilimanjaro Prep Guide was helpful and easy to use. I’m ready to go and really excited! Here’s a list of helpful tips from my colleagues who have already climbed and summited Kili…
During my hike last weekend, I practiced the rest step, a technique hikers use conserve energy. Watch the video below to learn how this is effective on long hikes requiring muscle endurance, like Kilimanjaro. My trek with Thomson Safaris is approaching quickly!
Instead of doing this on a Stairmaster, I prefer 8-10 minute sets on a single flight of stairs because it not only forces me to focus and puts me into the zone but it also gives me the opportunity to train for the descent… don’t forget, you have to walk down several thousand feet from the summit! Follow Rachel’s journey as she trains for her Kilimanjaro climb with Thomson Safaris via the Western Approach Route in August.
This August, the newest member of the Thomson Safaris’ Kilimanjaro team, Rachel, is going to make her first attempt to summit Kilimanjaro. Follow her progress as she blogs about training for her trek and prepares for her trip to Tanzania.
This past season, Thomson Safaris became the first—and only company—on the Kilimanjaro to outfit our porters with professional all-weather uniforms. We tested quite a few prototype fabrics and uniforms until we finally found the right all-weather blend to provide protection from rain, wind and cold, while still maintaining comfort.
We are honored to have earned a place in Outside Magazine’s 2012 Travel Awards Hall of Fame. The trek and safari package on Outside’s “All-Time Favorite Trip List” begins with Thomson Safaris’ Grand Traverse Route and concludes with the Explorer’s Safari, which includes a Maasai-led hike through the Great Rift Valley.
Congratulations! You are now at Uhuru Peak, Africa’s highest point and the world’s tallest free standing mountain. A few weeks ago, a new sign was erected at Uhuru Peak. Thomson Safaris’ trekker recalls her first glimpse of the sign at Kilimanjaro’s summit…