There are a few suggested items that might seem a little strange on the first look-through. Will you really need all those hand-warmers? How many layers will you really WEAR? We asked Thomson staffers which item they scoffed at…until they started their trek, and realized how happy they were to have.
A climb up Kilimanjaro isn’t just a physical challenge, it’s a botany lesson; as you travel through the various climate zones, the flora changes dramatically, from fields of coffee in the foothills to tiny patches of the hardiest lichens near the top.
Hans Meyer is a name most Kili trekkers recognize; the first man to officially summit Kilimanjaro, in 1889, he long ago secured his place in the history books. It’s rare to talk about trekking Kilimanjaro in any depth without mentioning Meyer’s famous ascent.
With temperatures ranging from the 90s F near the base to as low as -10°F at the summit, and weather that can change from bright sun to a chilly downpour in minutes, there are few items as important on your Kilimanjaro trek as reliable rain gear. These days, much if not most waterproof gear…
Ngorongoro once rose much, much higher than the 7500 foot rim. Photo: Andy Biggs Today, the Ngorongoro Crater’s rim rises just 7,500 feet above sea level; visitors might experience chilly nights, and anyone peering from the rim down to the crater floor, which sinks 2,000 feet below, might have a momentary sense of vertigo…but then…
Guests planning to trek Kili often ask us what they should do to train. No matter what your fitness level, Kilimanjaro offers specific challenges, and we strongly recommend people train specifically to meet them. We always tell them that since they can’t train for the most difficult element they’ll face on Kili, the altitude,…
Thomson Safaris staffer shares expert tips on packing for Kilimanjaro. Amy just returned from her successful Kili trek in November, and she attributes some of her success to a basic (but often ignored) tip: Don’t overpack.
One particular formation on Kilimanjaro has been fascinating and awing climbers for decades, now: Lava Tower. The tower is around 300 feet tall, and previously, climbers were able to hike up it (a scramble that could be treacherous on icy days).
We sat down for a chat with James to learn about his life as a Thomson Safaris guide on Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Kilimanjaro is especially remarkable as an incubator for isolated, mutated, or rare species found almost nowhere else. One of the most striking of those species is the giant groundsel varietal Dendrosenecio kilimanjari.
