dossier

Mt Meru and Kilimanjaro

General Information
This tour combines trekking to the summits of the continent's highest andfifth highest peaks. We start with the beautiful ascent of Mt. Meru - anexceptional crater rim roller - coaster warm up and acclimatization trek forthe big one – Kibo on Kilimanjaro.

Meru is a real gem of a mountain and is often ignored by trekkers who onlyseem intent on climbing Kili. Meru is the second highest mountain in Tanzaniaat 4,565 m. Our trek allows three days for the ascent, since it involves a3,500 m altitude trek on which you will be escorted by an armed park guard whowill probably be carrying a pre first world War Lee Enfield rifle with thebarrel lashed onto the stock by bicycle inner tubes! The trail winds throughgrass lands, rain forest, giant heathers and Hagiena Rose wood all well stockedwith wild animals. Then you enter the limited zone of Groundsels and Lobeliasand climb the rubbly crater rim to the summit via Rhino Point. There are greatviews down to the subsidiary cinder cone on the crater floor and of courseacross to Kilimanjaro, which is where you will be heading next.

Kilimanjaro at 5895m the ice jeweled Crown of Africa, stands proud of theAmbroseli plains, the easiest of the so called "Seven Summits."Nearly everyone who comes to East Africa at least dreams of standing on top ofthe peak even if they never even aim to climb it! The allure of the mountainhas arisen from the time in the 1850s when the first Europeans saw it at adistance and even believed some of the native rumours that the mountain wasencrusted in salt or covered in silver. When explorers suggested that the whitedeposits might actually be snow and ice instead, even the Royal GeographicalSociety laughed. It seemed a contradiction in terms: How could you be standingso near to the equator and yet be standing in snow? Simple – "By being atnearly 20,000 feet!" The explorers replied.

Although global warming has meant that there is now a lot less ice around thanthere used to be even fifty years ago; the views from the top are quitestunning, not only because of the stepped glaciers, rose tinted in the morningsun, but also the distant views over Tanzania and Kenya, to Mount Meru, theSerengeti volcanoes such as Mt. Lengai, and even to Mt. Kenya on a very clearday.

Kilimanjaro is a very popular hike and a huge trekking industry has spawnedfrom it, most of it concentrated on the Marangu Route. We however use a muchless frequented path called the Machame route, which although steeper in placesthan Marangu, is not particularly difficult and has the advantage of gettingyou away from the tourist hordes. It is also reckoned to be the most scenicroute on the mountain.

The Set Up
This tour can be booked up for virtuallyany date that you want to travel (we advise against April to mid June). As longas there are two or more of you, tell us the dates that you want and if youwould like us to book flights, we will try to book up the appropriate airlinefor that date.  (Airfare is not includedin the tour package).  Then all you needto do is get your gear together (list provided in our pre-departure info), geta Tanzanian Visa, Yellow Fever jab (and any others you may need), take outinsurance and take out with you the US $450+$250 Park Fees that is needed whenyou enter the Kilimanjaro and Arusha National Parks respectively. Then all youhave to make sure that you have some fitness to take on this big mountain andenjoy it!

How the Trekking is Organized
At the Park gates or possibly at your hotel, you willhave to pay the Tanzanian National park fees. On trek you should expect tocarry a daypack containing your immediate needs. Porters will carry the mainluggage, food, cooking and camping equipment. Accommodation while on trek is amixture of multi-bedded huts (dormitory style) on Mount Meru and two persontents on Mount Kenya. Normally you will start fairly early and after breakfastthe porters scurry on ahead very rapidly (they are well acclimatized!). Youwill be given a packed lunch and then you will walk with your guide to the nextlocation, where the tent should already be erected. You then will usually begiven soft drinks followed by the main cooked meal. People normally retire atdusk after the guide has explained what will happen the following day.

Grade D
This trek encounters considerable extremes of both altitude and climate and isthus graded D. Many people who attempt Kilimanjaro & Meru fail to reach thesummits due either to lack of physical preparation or because they cannot adaptquickly enough to the altitude. This 13 day tour with the ascent of Meru beforeKili, should give you sufficient acclimatization to avoid the more seriouseffects of altitude. However, as on any high altitude trek, there can be noguarantee that you will have no acclimatization problems. If you experienceadverse effects to altitude, you will have to descend and remain at a loweraltitude until. In the interests of safety and your well being, you should talkto the guide if you are feeling poorly. This trek is most likely to be enjoyedby those who already have had some high mountain walking experience.

Climate
Weather in the high mountains is never totallypredictable and East Africa is no exception especially as it has two wet andtwo dry seasons per year. The best seasons are Mid December - February and midJune to September. You can do this tour anytime of year, but we would adviseagainst April to mid June as this is the period of Long Rains. The nights ontrek will be cool to cold (below freezing higher on the mountains) and dayscool to warm. On Summit days a very early start can be expected and althoughthis is steep on Kilimanjaro, the traverse between Stella point and the actualsummit of Uhuru peak is exposed to winds which are below freezing, often –20Cto –25C with wind chill. So good warm walking gear is essential. Driving uptowards Meru / Kilimanjaro across the plains and in the game parks it can bequite hot (up in the 30s C/90 F).

Our Base - Springlands Hotel
Our safaris and mountain climbs inNorthern Tanzania are based at "Springlands", our hotel near Moshi.This is a small modern, family-run hotel located just outside of town. It haspleasant gardens, fine views of Kilimanjaro and a pleasant covered dining areain the gardens. There is also an indoor restaurant and small bar. En-suiteaccommodation is available in the main building with showers, mosquito mesh inthe windows, fans and very clean bore-hole water. A large swimming pool hasbeen recently completed together with a new dining area. If you have some sparetime in the hotel we recommend a morning guided walk in the nearby forestswhere there are many troops of monkeys to be seen including Vervets and theless common black and white colobus monkey. A wide variety of bird life is alsoto be seen on this walk.

Before you arrive all transport, guides, porters,huts or camping, and all food necessary for your climb or safari are arrangedby the hotel and are inclusive in the cost. The hotel staff will brief you beforeyou depart for your trip. All that remains for you to do - is enjoy it!

Equipment & Clothing
All communal camping and cooking equipment isprovided. Each person must provide their own sleeping bag (suitable for 3- 4seasons use) and personal equipment. This should be of high quality, especiallythe sleeping bag, warm clothing and boots. grade (plastic boots, crampons andIce axe are not required under normal conditions, but ski poles will be usefuland there is no harm in bringing a walking axe if you have one, but it willnormally be of limited use ) A detailed list of recommended clothing andequipment will be sent to each member shortly after confirmation of booking.

What's Included
All road transportation as specified inthe itinerary. Bed and breakfast and dinner (half board) accommodation atSpringlands (lunch is not included while at Springlands); all meals when ontrek; services of guides, cook and porters, when out on trek. (The brochureprice is based on a land only package, however we can arrange return flights,the price of which will vary depending on the operator and the seasoninvolved).

Not Included: Drinks, bottled water, clothing or hire of any equipment, tips,personal toiletry requirements, insurance (trip medical/evacuation insurance isrequired – call our office for more details and pricing) and all items of apersonal nature Passport, insurance, visas immunization fees, airport taxes(allow $20).

Tipping: Portersand guides on Meru and Kilimanjaro see tipping as a very important part oftheir income, although we admit that this situation can be awkward, especiallyif you do not come from a tipping environment, it has become part of theculture and can lead to awkward scenes if too little is paid. Part of theproblem has been expectation fuelled by the excessive one off tips given bysome walkers filled with euphoria having completed the climb! Tipping is atyour discretion, but the advice is currently $5 (US) per day for each porterper group and more for the guide + cook. On this basis each porter will getaround $35, a guide / cook anything up to $50. This may seem excessive, butdivided between two or more people it is not too bad especially if the staff havedone a good job. You will have at least the satisfaction of seeing the moneyhopefully going into the local economy. Most of the porters especially willhave ‘shambas’, or small peasant holdings, where they will farm during the lowseason, or when illness or other reasons keeps them away from the mountain. Itis sobering to realize that although some of the guides do quite well out ofthe industry (as long as their health holds) most of the porters do not earn acash income for long periods during the year and although if they have‘Shambas’ they will be self sufficient to a degree, life is still hard!

Health Matters & Documents
You should carry a reasonablycomprehensive medical kit with you as the First Aid supplies on the mountainsmay be a limited. We don't mean things like traction splints, but basicdressings (including burns dressing), Asprin, Ibuprufin, antihistamine,antiseptic cream, skin closures , Iodine Tincture solution and your Malariatablets. You do need to have a validcertificate of vaccination for Yellow Fever.

Visas: ForTanzania you will need a visa bought before departure.  Call the Tanzania Embassy for details.

Safari Extension
After the two great peaks of Tanzania there is theopportunity of a wildlife safari tour extension, Here there is the possibilityof viewing the big five and many other species. Ask for Dossier ASF.

Books & Maps
"Lonely Planet guide to walking inEast Africa," by David Else. A well researched, well written book whichincludes a wealth of practical information on walking in E. Africa includingtopographical maps and plenty of background information on the countries.Highly recommended. "East African International Mountain Guide", byA. Wielochowski. Though the emphasis is on climbing, this authoritativeguidebook contains valuable information for trekkers. "East Africa",by J.R.Yogerst. An excellent overall guide from Lonely Planet.

There is also the Climbers "Guide to MountKenya and Kilimanjaro," by Ian Allen, which contains notes on the walks aswell as climbing. This is a neat little memento being pocket sized with aweather resistant cover. This is printed by the Mountain Club Of Kenya.

You can also purchase a map to Kilimanjaro fromany specialty travel book & map store.