Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro
Frequently Asked Questions
Why trek with Absolute Adventure
Travel?
Why trek with Absolute Adventure Travel? First Class
Guides:
Your guide is the key to your safety on the
mountain. Our guides are very experienced and speak English. Many are the same
guides that David Breashears used while filming the IMAX film 'Kilimanjaro - To
The Roof of Africa'.
Your party will have one head guide, who is
responsible for all aspects of the trek, plus one assistant guide for every two
trekkers.
Equipment:
We provide our own tents and sleeping mats. If you
require it, we will also provide, free of charge, the finest down jackets and
sleeping bags to make sure you are comfortable in the cold at higher altitudes.
The trekking schedule:
The key to a successful trek is acclimatization.
Remember that only 40% of the people who set out to climb Kilimanjaro ever
reach the summit. The other 60% fail because they try to climb too fast and get
ill, some seriously so. Beware any trek that takes you on the Marangu Route
(commonly known as the Coca Cola route) and the Machame Route (commonly known
as the whiskey route). Our success rate is in excess of 95%.
We want you to achieve your goal of standing on the
summit of Kilimanjaro and we also want you to enjoy your trek. Our treks are
designed to give you the very best chance of doing both.
No other company offers such well designed daily
plans:
- Many companies will save money by trying to get you up
and down the mountain as quickly as possible. Why does this save money? Because
the biggest expense is the daily pay to all the staff on the mountain that
support you - guides, cooks, kitchen staff and porters.
- Another common way to save money is to avoid camping in
the summit crater. This is typical of the majority of routes, including the
Marangu and Machame Route, and most treks that stay at Barranco Camp and even
some that stay at Arrow Glacier use this ploy. There are several problems with
this approach:
You will start your summit attempt from either
15,000 or 16,000 feet, and then climb, in the pitch dark, because you will
start your summit attempt at midnight or shortly thereafter, for either 4,340
or 3,340 feet to the summit. This is no fun.
These levels of altitude gain are far outside
recommended safety limits at these heights. To ignore this is potentially
dangerous and we do not do it.
Why travel half way around the world to climb to the
summit in the dark?
We offer two itineraries, the Classic and Ultimate
treks, and both camp in the crater. The advantage of this approach, in addition
to the safety issues discussed above, is that your summit climb is only 500 or
600 feet. Your summit trek starts after breakfast, in daylight, and when you
reach it, an hour or so later, you feel great, and have lots of time to enjoy
the incredible views or take pictures and video before starting your descent.
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Daily Altitude Gain:
The average daily altitude gain is a very important
factor in the probability of a successful trek. The lower the number feet
gained the better. We have compared our four main competitors against our two
treks:
|
Company |
Average Daily Altitude
Gain |
Rating |
|
MTS - Machame Route |
2848 |
Worst |
|
MTS - Western Breach |
2478 |
--- |
|
MM - Shira Plateau / Western
Breach |
1773 |
--- |
|
TS - Western Breach |
1923 |
--- |
|
Absolute Adventure - Classic |
1690 |
--- |
|
Absolute Adventure -
Ultimate |
1250 |
Best |
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Our Itineraries:
Both the Classic and Ultimate Kilimanjaro treks follow
the same route. They start in the Lemosho Glades and lead you up to the Shira
Plateau, then on to Fischer Camp, the Lava Tower Camp and then Arrow Glacier
Camp at the base of the Western Breach. They ascend the Western Breach and camp
in the Summit Crater the night before you reach the summit.
This is a beautiful route and far from the crowds on the
other routes. It is likely that your party will be alone for most of the trek
and it feels as though you have the whole mountain as your playground.
The primary difference between our Classic and Ultimate
treks is that trekkers on the Ultimate Trek spend two nights at the Lava Tower
camp, approximately 14,100 feet, for additional acclimatization. This extra day
gives you a significant physical advantage over all other trekkers.
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The Classic itinerary:
Nine nights / ten days. It includes two nights prior
to the trek in Arusha. This time is important as it allows you to get over the
tiredness resulting from flying, and you have the opportunity to meet your
guides and have a full gear check before the trek begins.
The trek begins on the third day. You will spend seven
nights on the mountain, six going up and just one coming down.
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The Ultimate Itinerary:
Ten nights / eleven days.
It includes two nights prior to the trek in Arusha to
let you get over the long flight.
As with the Classic trek, the guides will meet you and
discuss the upcoming trek with you and also do a full gear check to make sure
you have everything you are going to need for the trek.
Your trek will begin on the third day and you will spend
eight nights on the mountain. Seven going up and just one coming down.
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Value For Money:
Cost is always important. Our trekking prices include
the most experienced guides, first class equipment, very good and nutritious
food, down sleeping bags and jackets. We use first class accommodations before
and after the trek and we have stayed at them ourselves to ensure their
quality.
Our prices also include Park fees - many of our
competitors charge these in addition to the trekking costs.
|
Company |
Trek Price |
Park Fees |
Single Supp. |
Total Price |
|
MTS - Machame Route |
$3,590 3-6 members |
600 |
500 |
$4,190 |
|
MTS - Western Breach |
$3,890 3-6 members |
600 |
500 |
$4,490 |
|
MM - Shira Plateau / Western
Breach |
$3,900 4-8 members |
Incl |
350 |
$3,900 |
|
TS - Western Breach |
$3,190 |
Incl |
200 |
$3,190 |
|
Absolute Adventure - Classic |
$3,379 4 members |
Incl |
350 |
$3,379 |
|
Absolute Adventure -
Ultimate |
$3,584 4 members |
Incl |
500 |
$3,584 |
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Sinya Camp:
Either trek may be upgraded to include Sinya Camp, one
of our 'Top 5 Camps in All Africa'. Located on the western side of Kilimanjaro
this luxurious tented camp has incredible views of the mountain, offers two
daily game drives, walks with the local Maasai and all the activities you
expect from a 5 Star safari destination. Additional nights may be added at
Sinya.
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Safari Options:
One of the reasons for coming to Tanzania is to enjoy
the incredible wildlife. We have designed a short, post-trek, safari that
includes two of the highlights of Tanzania - The incomparable Ngorongoro Crater
and the simply amazing Serengeti.
We suggest two nights at the Ngorongoro Crater and three
on a luxury mobile safari, Hemingway style, in the Serengeti.
We will design the safari portion of your vacation to
reflect the time you have available and the probable location of the Great
Migration.
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International Flights:
We offer very competitive international flights from
airports throughout America. The preferred route is to fly into Amsterdam and
from their direct into Kilimanjaro International Airport on the KLM flight.
The land/air package from Houston is approximately:
Classic Trek: $4,943
Ultimate Trek: $5,138
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When Should you Trek Kilimanjaro?
There are two preferred trekking periods; mid-December
to mid-March and early June through mid-October.
We offer several set departure dates throughout the year.
Please note that if you have a party of four or more
trekkers we can arrange the trip for your party on any date you wish at no
additional charge.
Click here to view our Mount
Kilimanjaro general information page.
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