One of our Grand Traverse trekkers wrote a message to us recently. It was titled “Best Selling Points for the Thomson Grand Traverse.” “Having a cot off the ground is HUGE!” “Not having to wake up and hike to summit in the middle of the night!” “Choice of whether or not to sleep at Crater…
Did you know Kilimanjaro is made up of three different volcanoes? Or that it’s the tallest freestanding mountain on Earth? You might dream of the summit, but don’t be surprised if the Barranco Wall becomes your favorite part of the mountain. Kilimanjaro is full of surprises large and small – multiple peaks that will be…
My name is John King. I’m one of Thomson Safaris’ staffers, and I recently summited Kilimanjaro on the Western Approach route. I’m a novice mountaineer, and I wrote about my Kilimanjaro preparation just before my adventure. Now, I’d like to share a few things I learned on the mountain. 1. Prepare for Dry Air and…
Even with a pair of broken in boots that fit well, your feet may get sore after so much hiking on Kilimanjaro. Luckily, there are a few lacing techniques that can relieve pressure or help secure your but to reduce friction and blistering. Surgeon’s Knot If your boot becomes loose around the heel…
Watch as I run through the packing list in the Thomson Kili Prep Guide. Check the packing tips page on our site for more details on what to pack. My name is John King. I’m one of Thomson Safaris’ staffers, and I’m getting ready to climb Kilimanjaro’s Western Approach. What’s special about me climbing?…
Imagine waking up at 13,200 feet on Kilimanjaro on the sixth day of your trek. A friendly face might hand you a cup of coffee as you tie your boots. Another might refill your water bottles. Later, a team breaks down your tent, toilet tent and dining tent, stows away the food and cooking equipment…
Ralph and Szabi met in Basel early in 2017. Ralph owns a positive change consulting practice, and Szabi is a scientist who works for one of Ralph’s clients. Szabi talked about climbing Kilimanjaro at one meeting, and Ralph suggested going together. The rest is history. They kept a day-by-day journal of their journey from home…
You’re about to walk over 30 miles up the tallest mountain on the continent. Trust us – your boots are your most important piece of equipment. So, let’s talk about boots! What should you buy and how should you get them ready for the mountain? How to Buy Boots for Kilimanjaro First, we…
How do you dress to hike through Kilimanjaro’s five climate zones? From the humid, equatorial heat of the rainforest (high of 70-90 degrees) to the peak’s icy drifts (low of -10 degrees), this mountain will require quite a few wardrobe changes. You won’t just change outfits from zone to zone either. Kilimanjaro creates its own…
If you’re trying to explain just how high Kilimanjaro is to someone, here are a few quick comparisons. Taller than the 16 Tallest Buildings in the US Combined Have you ever visited One World Trade Center or the Empire State Building or The Ledge at Willis Tower? The panoramas from these buildings are…
