“Special Edition” Kilimanjaro 2022

Rongai Route with Andes Survivor, Eduardo Strauch

Tentative timeframe: August 2022

Join Science in the Wild and Alpine Expeditions for an off-the-grid adventure as we make our way to the top of Africa: Kilimanjaro (5,895 m/19,341 ft.) with one of the 16 Andes Survivors, Eduardo Strauch!

We’ll travel via the less-frequented Rongai route which approaches the mountain from the North along the border of Tanzania and Kenya. You’ll get to experience the changing terrain as we journey through forest, moorland, and alpine desert landscapes. We’ll also enjoy exploring the glaciers in the summit crater.

Total land costs: $4600

Includes: airport/hotel transfers; transport from Arusha to starting point on mountain and return to Arusha; National Park gate fees; hut/camping fees; certified local guide; porters’ salaries; rescue fees (required by the national park); all meals on the mountain; two nights’ accommodation in Arusha hotel (double occupancy); tents, foam sleeping pads, cooking equipment, eating utensils, and portable toilet.

Excludes: international airfare; excess baggage fees (international); tips for guides, educators and porters; mountain equipment (e.g. sleeping bags); meals off the mountain; charges incurred as a result of delays or changes in the itinerary beyond the control of Science in the Wild

CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY:
· $1000 deposit will be fully refunded if applicant is not accepted.

If accepted, the following applies: $150 non-refundable registration fee.
·         Full refunds, less registration fee will be provided if requested 90 days prior to expedition departure.
·         50% refund will be provided if requested 60 to 89 days prior to expedition departure.
·         No refunds will be provided 59 days or less prior to expedition.

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While climbing Kilimanjaro, there will be multiple opportunities to learn about this majestic volcano, one of the world’s 7 Summits! We’ll show you some of the tools scientists use in the field like a handheld weather station, rock hammer, GPS and laser rangefinder. You’ll learn about mountain weather and clouds, the geology and history of the volcano, the past, present and future state of Kilimanjaro’s glaciers, and about the spectacular night sky. Join us!

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart your home country

Plan to leave your home country on this day.

Day 2 - Arrival in Tanzania

Plan to arrive today at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you’ll be greeted by the Alpine Expeditions and Science in the Wild team and transferred to our hotel for the night.

Day 3 - Simba Camp

After breakfast, we’ll be picked up in a Land Rover and drive for 4-5 hours through villages and coffee plantations to the Rongai Gate on the north side of Kilimanjaro. From there we will hike through fields of maize and potatoes until we enter the pine forest. We climb gently but consistently through the forest until we reach Simba Camp at 2,600 m/8,530 ft. (3-4 hours of walking). This is near the “First Cave” at the edge of what is called the moorland zone with extensive views over the Kenyan plains.

Day 4 - Kikelewa Camp

Today is a longer day as we hike from Simba camp to Kikelewa camp (5-6 hours walking) at 3679 m/12,070 ft. We’ll start by ascending to the Second Cave where we’ll have lunch and enjoy the views. After another few hours through moorland terrain, we’ll reach our camp in a sheltered valley with giant Senecio trees nearby. During the evening, we will have a chance to hear from Eduardo about his incredible 72 day survival epic in the Andes and about the scientific perspective of both the interesting geology of the mountains and the survival of human beings in extreme conditions.

Day 5 - Mawenzi Camp

We do a short steep climb up grassy slopes as we hike from Kikelewa camp to Mawenzi camp (3-4 hours walking) today at 4303 m/14,117 ft. There’s plenty of exciting geology around given the towering spires of Mawenzi, so we’ll take some time to explore. Views of the main summit of Kilimanjaro open up and we can better appreciate what a massive volcano this is.

Day 6 - Mawenzi Camp

Today is an acclimatization/rest day. It is important to spend two nights at this altitude to avoid potential problems with altitude sickness higher on the mountain. This day also allows for rest and to enjoy interesting conversations with Eduardo and Ulyana as well as some music with Ricardo and our porters and guides. We will also have the option to do an easy and short acclimatization walk to gain a little bit of elevation. Night at Mawenzi camp.

Day 7 - High Camp

Today we cross the high alpine desert that is situated between Mawenzi and Kibo. Kibo is the big volcano that you see in most Kilimanjaro photos but the Kilimanjaro massif is actually composed of three distinct volcanic cones: Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi. Kibo is the highest of the three and the only one with glaciers. Our hike takes us up to our high camp (called the School Hut) at 4730 m/15,518 ft., where we prepare for our summit ascent the next day.

Day 8 - Summit Day!

Today we wake up to a light breakfast, then prepare for our summit ascent. We plan to reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft by mid-morning. Here, views of the crater and its glaciers greet us. Another 2 hours of hiking along the crater rim takes us to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak. After celebrating at the summit, we descend to one of the summit glaciers, to take a closer look at the ice. We then descend back to our high camp for some much-deserved rest!

Day 9 - Horombo Hut (camping)

To descend the mountain we use the Marangu route (aka the normal or “Coca-Cola” route). This allows us for a quicker and easier descent and also to see a very different side of the mountain with very different vegetation and fauna. This day we hike from our high camp down to the Horombo Hut, where we will have our final camp at 3700 m/12,139 ft.

Day 10 - Mweka Gate

Today we descend to Mweka gate at 1707 m/5602 ft. Our vehicle takes us back to our hotel for hot showers and a great celebration dinner!

Day 11 - Departure

Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for the flight back home today*.

*We recommend budgeting 1 – 2 extra days in town (food and hotels at your own expense), in case of delays on the mountain – e.g., bad weather.

Please contact us for more information if interested in adding short excursions to the beaches of Zanzibar, a safari, or a climb of Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active stratovolcano 3 hours west of Kilimanjaro.

Ok, I'm interested, what do I do now?

Send us an email or give us a call to register your interest. We’ll provide you with a more detailed itinerary, route map, equipment list and required medical forms.

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