View Full Version : Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari
Headed to a Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari (11 days) sometime between 21 Sep. to 22 Oct.
http://www.keadventure.com/trip/krs/kilimanjaro-trek-and-safari.html
Wife and I are going provided butt heads at work can figure out their schedule enough in advance for us to make reservations.
We live at 5,200', regularly backpack and ski at 9-12,000', and frequently hike to above 14,000'. 17,000' will be a challenge, but we intend to do our best.
My concerns are security. Moon phase for the "Day 7" summit and descent. Rainy season and the hoards of insects that follow. Disease prevention.
Moon phase & weather in Tanzania 26-26 Sep., 3-4 Oct., or 17-18 Oct.
Any advice, thoughts, opinions are welcome.
A Pineland flag might be nice to fly from the summit...
Headed to a Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari (11 days) sometime between 21 Sep. to 22 Oct.
http://www.keadventure.com/trip/krs/kilimanjaro-trek-and-safari.html
Wife and I are going provided butt heads at work can figure out their schedule enough in advance for us to make reservations.
We live at 5,200', regularly backpack and ski at 9-12,000', and frequently hike to above 14,000'. 17,000' will be a challenge, but we intend to do our best.
My concerns are security. Moon phase for the "Day 7" summit and descent. Rainy season and the hoards of insects that follow. Disease prevention.
Moon phase & weather in Tanzania 26-26 Sep., 3-4 Oct., or 17-18 Oct.
Any advice, thoughts, opinions are welcome.
A Pineland flag might be nice to fly from the summit...
Awesome!
I'd love to go back.
In 2009(October) I climbed Mt Meru(the highest peak you can see from the top of Kili).
While I didn't climb Kili, I got a killer set of photos OF Kili from the top of Mt Mere as the sun rose behind Kili.
Anywho...Kili is over 19,000+, but it sounds to me like you and your wife have the basics sorted....hiking/trekking fitness to 14k is a good base.
I think you guys sound fine fitness wise, but more cardio and hiking/trekking PT can't hurt.
Personal security when I was in Nairobi airport, Arusha Airport, and Tanzania seemed pretty good...no worries.
Nairobi airport was(and I think still is as best I can tell) a bit of a dump. But there was(is?) a cafe at the extreme left of the terminal(facing the runway) with free WiFi.
Security of checked bags is something to consider for traveling commercial in Africa. Try and keep all valuables with you.....it's common(especially in South Africa) for bags to get opened and pillaged or cut with a razor and ransacked...hence all the guys who offer to plastic wrap your luggage.
I do know Kenya is having some issues regarding poop coming out of Somalia as well as their own crimes problems in Nairobi. I stayed away from Nairobi.
I felt perfectly safe wherever I went using a fair bit of situational awareness.
I felt FAR safer in Kenya/Tanzania than South Africa in JoBurg and Eastern Cape.
To me the biggest risks were health and ground transport(vehicle accidents..driving can be shocking).
You may require a Yellow Fever shot(I know I got one prior as it's compulsery for Tanzania), and ensure your shot cards are up to date.
Talking to your GP and packing some extra self-aid might be a good idea, starting with things like Loperamide(anti -diarhea) and oral rehydration gear....as well as any other emergency pharm relevant based on knowledge/training
I took Doxycycline daily (even though there's little to no malaria risk on the mountain itself..the same can't be said down lower coming in/out).
I'll defer to any 18Ds or Docs who jump in on the medical side of the house.
Insurance for medical evacuation is an option to consider.
I found water/food quality and prep to be of a good standard, but I also kept a portable Katadyn water filter and a small number of "One Square Meals" with me that weren't needed.
Bring a spare camera, and some spare camera batteries. We arrived first to the top of Meru and it was pretty cold and my camera battery didn't last long.....I rewarmed it in an armpit and it worked again as did my spare battery...but make sure you learn from my mistake!
Walking poles are popular on both mountains.
As you're on this forum, I'm sure you will quickly build a good relationship with your guide(I think it's compulsery on Kili...it is on Meru). The better the relationship with your guide, the better your guide will look after you.
I was shocked at how some of the westerners treated their guides as inferiors, and the guides I spoke with at the end of my trip confided in me that they have "burned out" the odd client who treated them poorly by setting a high pace that broke them to return down the hill early.....including one particularly wealthy and well known Russian.
Just my anecdotal 0.02c
Badger52
03-22-2013, 08:43
Awesome!
http://www.moonconnection.com/moon_phases_calendar.phtml
Pretty handy.
cat in the hat
03-22-2013, 18:58
I went up Kili a little less than 3 years go. (Apr 2010)
Tanzania WILL require yellow fever. you can actually get it right there at Jules Nyere airport.
physically, sound like you will be fine. all of the climb is done during daylight hours except for the summit. and none of it is technical. each day is more or less a solid afternoon hike.
for the summit, they will wake you up at midnight to start so you will on top for sunrise. it is steep but a well worn path. a headlamp is still a good idea.
electricity is scarce on the mountain, rechargeable cameras etc might be dead before you get to the top.
light rain gear to carry during the day. long pants and shirts are better than sunscreen.
a warm jacket and sneakers for the evenings when it cools off. don't take too many clothes, there are no showers so you are going to get ripe but who cares. (wet wipes are a good idea) i went with an extra set of clothes and a pair of socks per day.
A view from Kili in Google Maps
http://maps.google.com/intl/en/help/maps/streetview/gallery/the-worlds-highest-peaks/uhuru.html
MTN Medic
03-29-2013, 14:15
Doxycycline and a ton of sunscreen. Doxy takes care of the malarial, the rickesettial diseases and, unfortunately, makes you photosensitive which is less than ideal at near 19000 feet ASL. Use sunscreen and wear a hat and longsleeve shirts and take care of your skin! 19,000 ft, equatorial situation and pharmacologically induced sensitivity to exposure means that you have to be extremely careful to avoid serious burns. Also, if your doctor can prescribe Acetazolamide (Diamox) and instruct you in its use, you have a much better likelyhood of summiting. Imodium and antibiotics are also good as the hygene is poor on a mountain with so many visitors and no "bathroom" to speak of. HAND SANITIZER! Oh yeah, drink Tusker beer; it is the best. Safari is malt liquor. I think that covers the basics. Oh yeah, buy trinkets and souvenirs in a shop and not from "random people." You will get a better price and it WILL be negotiable as well as being a safer alternative. This way a guy wont see how much money you have with wallet in hand and steal your stuff. Buy some tanzanite and make some jewelry when you get back and simply: Take it all in! One of my favorite countries in Africa.
Wow, that got long...
MTN Medic
03-29-2013, 14:18
Oh, and ear plugs. They do the muslim call to prayer there and the Christian churches try to blast the sound out with christian music. This is rather ironic as everyone will tell you there that they are the "most tolerant country in the World and there is no ethnic or religious tensions at all."
You might check if these guys will be out there. http://kiliclimbing.com
Great guys and definitely good to have around for skill and experience. I never got to take the time to do Kilimanjaro -- just Mt Kenya, but great experience. Given your background and work, my only tip would be checking out his website and chatting with Chris (see link above) for latest information and issues from a guide's perspective.
In Nairobi, eat at the carnivore restaurant. It is an outdoor restaurant with a 20' ft round barbecue pit serving everything running on the plains. Its a must do experience.
Badger52
09-16-2013, 05:37
All best to you & HH6, time to tag the thread.
:)
Thoughts and prayers for a safe climb and safe passage home.
Wow! What a trip. Details to follow.