“Can I climb Kili?” is a question many of our guests ask themselves throughout the planning stages of their trek. A mountain that stretches 19,341 feet high, Kilimanjaro is a serious feat that requires physical strength, mental endurance, and a lot of determination. You too might be wondering if you’re up to the challenge. The…
The Start of a Dream Twenty years ago, I met a group of women who were planning to hike Kilimanjaro. They invited me to train with them; I could barely keep up. I loved their energy, and they were so enthusiastic about their adventure, that I put Kilimanjaro on my bucket list, too. They sent me…
Meet Thomson staffer Sam, she’s headed to Kilimanjaro later this year, and is sharing the training tips that will increase her chance of summiting the Roof of Africa. She’s also letting us in on what motivates her to travel, and keeps her going when training is hard. We hope you are as inspired as we are.
The Kilimanjaro summit sign has long been an inspiration to weary trekkers nearing the top. But over the years, the original sign, constructed from wooden planks, became weathered and worn. In January 2012, the wooden sign was finally retired, replaced with a shiny new green sign…
Both daytime and nighttime summiteers will start at Barafu camp, but their experiences will unfold a bit differently… Depending on the route you take up the mountain, your summit bid may be a 10-15 hour night bid, or you may have the opportunity to summit during the day. Shorter routes, like Umbwe, include nighttime summits with immediate descents, since limited acclimatization time on these treks makes it uncomfortable for climbers to stay at the summit elevations for long.
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.
Many independence celebrations are planned throughout the country including a 4-day weekend festival and a large celebration at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam. Additionally, 200 climbers from around the world are participating in the Kilimanjaro Uhuru Climb. The climbers, who began their ascent last week, will converge at Kilimanjaro’s summit from four different routes today.
Watch this clip of a Thomson Safaris trekker wielding his mighty hula hoop at the summit of Kilimanjaro.
