2014 is the year you will climb the highest mountain in Africa!
David Noyes on the summit of Kilimanjaro
Have you dreamed of watching the sunrise over Africa from the top of the highest free-standing mountain in the world? Or watching the sunset over the Serengeti while a pride of lion disappear into the high grass? In 2014 you can make a difference in the lives of children and experience Africa on this extraordinary Kilimanjaro trek & photo safari designed and led by award-wining photographer and travel writer, David Noyes.
Our fundraising climb will help provide children in East Africa with a second chance at a quality education by supporting one of our heroic program partners. Each participant should be prepared to raise at least $3,195 for the climb alone, or $5,170 for the climb and photo safari. One easy way to ask for support of your climb and safari is by setting up a fundraising page with First Giving or a similar page.
Dates: June 7-21, 2014
Itinerary in Brief
- JUNE 7: Arrive Kilimanjaro Airport
- JUNE 8: Visit Orphanage
- JUNE 9-15: 7-Day Machame Trek
- JUNE 16-20: 5-Day Safari
- JUNE 21: Depart (or depart on June 16)
Trek Highlights
- 7-day Machame Route
- Visit to Make a Difference orphanage
- 3-nights Moshi
- Celebration dinner
- $3,195 (not including flights to Kilimanjaro Airport)
Safari Highlights (optional addition following the trek)
- 3 half-day game drives
- Olduvai Gorge
- Maasai village visit
- Ngorongoro Crater
- Serengeti, full day game drive
- 4 nights in Moshi
- Fairwell dinner
- $5,170 (Total for trek and safari, not including flights to Kilimanjaro Airport)
Innocent Eyes Project
It is impossible to travel into poor or isolated corners of the developing world and not be touched by the innocent eyes of a young child. Ours is not a sad story. It is a story about the hopes and dreams of families and about the gift we share as travelers to experience the world. Innocent Eyes Project, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that supports grassroots child education programs in developing countries by raising and allocating funds for projects where small amounts of money can have the largest impact on under-served children and communities.
DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1 (Saturday June 7): ARRIVE KILIMANJARO AIRPORT
When you arrive at the Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi.
- Accommodation: Bristol Cottages or similar
- Meals: n/a
DAY 2 (Sunday June 8): REST DAY AND ORPHANAGE VISIT
Today is a special day. Spend the day visiting and Make a Difference orphanage. Learn about these extraordinary young people and the heroes who are giving them a second chance. Your guide will provide a briefing the evening before your trek, and you must separate one bag for the trek from your other luggage. Rental equipment is available. Extra luggage can be stored in a locked storage room at your Moshi hotel at no charge.
- Accommodation: Bristol Cottages or similar
- Today at your Moshi hotel only breakfast is included.
- Meals: B
DAY 3 (Monday June 9): MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME CAMP
Drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Once you reach the park gate, climbers are requested to make their final preparations for the climb and sign the national park registration book. Porters will be seen arranging their packs containing the food, water, and other equipment. Make sure that you have all your day pack items with you as the porters travel very quickly. We depart the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.
- 6,000 ft / 1,830 m to 10,200 ft / 3,100 m
- Distance: 18 km
- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
- Habitat: Montane Forest
- Accommodation: Camping
- Meals: BLD
DAY 4 (Tuesday June 10): HIKE FROM MACHAME CAMP TO SHIRA CAMP
After breakfast we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite.
- 10,200 ft / 3,100 m to 12,600 ft / 3,840 m
- Distance: 9 km
- Walking Time: 4-6 hours
- Habitat: Moorland
- Accommodation: Camping
- Meals: BLD
DAY 5 (Wednesday June 11): HIKE FROM SHIRA CAMP TO LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO CAMP
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” We now continue down to the Barranco Hut. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
- 12,600 ft / 3,840 m to 12,700 ft / 3,860 m
- Distance: 15 km
- Walking Time: 5-7 hours
- Habitat: Semi-desert
- Accommodation: Camping
- Meals: BLD
DAY 6 (Thursday June 12): BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA CAMP
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail.
- 12,700 ft / 3,860 m to 13,800 ft / 4,200 m
- Distance: 7 km
- Hiking Time: 4 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
- Meals: BLD
- Accommodation: Camping
DAY 7 (Friday June 13): HIKE FROM KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP
After breakfast, we continue up to the Barafu Hut. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
- 13,800 ft / 3,860 m to 15,100 ft / 4,600 m
- Distance: 6 km
- Hiking Time: 4 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Desert
- Accommodation: Camping
- Meals: BLD
DAY 8 (Saturday June 14): HIKE FROM BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT TO MWEKA HUT
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa! From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
- 15,100 ft / 4,600 m to 19,300 ft / 5,895 m
- 19,300 ft / 5,895 m to 10,200 ft / 3,100 m
- Distance: 7 km ascent / 23 km descent
- Hiking Time: 6-8 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent
- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
- Accommodation: Camping
- Meals: BLD
DAY 9 (Sunday June 15): HIKE FROM MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA TRAIL HEAD, RETURN TO MOSHI
After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi for an evening celebration dinner at local restaurant. Don’t forget to tip your guides and porters.
- 10,200 ft / 3,100 m to 6,000 ft / 1,830 m
- Distance: 15 km
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Forest
- Accommodation: Bristol Cottages or similar
- Meals: BD
DAY 10 (Monday June 16): TRANSFER TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT, DEPART (OR CONTINUE ON TO OPTIONAL SAFARI)
Free day to spend exploring Moshi. Visit the colorful outdoor market, and souvenir shops, or hire a local guide to go off the beaten path.
- Accommodation: n/a
- Meals: B
- OPTIONAL SAFARI
DAY 10 (Monday June 16): DRIVE TO TARANGIRE, AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE
Today your safari guide drives you from Moshi to Tarangire with lunch en route for an afternoon game drive.
- Accommodation: Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge or Kirurumu Tented Camp-Manyara
- Meals: BLD
DAY 11 (Tuesday June 17): DRIVE TO SERENGETI, AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE
Drive to the Serengeti for an afternoon game drive in search of the migration in the Moru Kopjes area.
- Accommodation: Kati Kati Tented Camp or Serengeti Halisi Tented Camp
- Meals: BLD
DAY 12 (Wednesday June 18): SERENGETI, FULL DAY GAME DRIVE
Enjoy a full day game drive in the remarkable Serengeti with a picnic lunch served mid-day.
- Accommodation: Kati Kati Tented Camp or Serengeti Halisi Tented Camp
- Meals: BLD
DAY 13 (Thursday June 19): DRIVE SERENGETI TO NGORONGORO VIA OLDUVAI GORGE
Drive from the Serengeti to the scenic Ngorongoro Crater enjoying wildlife viewing along the way. En route, you’ll have options to visit the Olduvai Gorge and/or an authentic Maasai village.
- Accommodation: Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge or Ngorongoro Farmhouse
- Meals: BLD
DAY 14 (Friday June 20): NGORONGORO CRATER, MORNING GAME DRIVE, RETURN TO MOSHI
Enjoy a morning game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater. In the afternoon, return to Moshi via Mto Wa Mbu, or if you are flying out tonight, your guide can drop you off directly at the Kilimanjaro Airport.
- Accommodation: Bristol Cottages or similar with farewell dinner
- Meals: BLD
DAY 15 (Saturday June 21): TRANSFER TO KILIMANJARO AIRPORT, DEPART
Free day to spend exploring Moshi. Visit the colorful outdoor market, and souvenir shops, or hire a local guide to go off the beaten path.
- Accommodation: n/a
- Meals: B
* Itinerary is subject to change.
PRICE INCLUDES
- $500 donation to Innocent Eyes Project, Inc.
- National Park gate fees
- Transport from Moshi to starting point on mountain and return to Moshi
- Camping fees
- Certified, experienced, English-speaking guides for all routes
- Salaries for all crew members
- Rescue fees (as required by national park)
- All meals on the mountain
- Tents, foam sleeping pads, cooking equipment, and eating utensils
- Oximeters
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Tips for guides and porters
- Sleeping bags and personal items
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation and meals in Moshi
- Personal expenses (visas, airport taxes, Internet, etc.)
BUDGET FOR EXTRA
- $250 for trekking tips
- $120 for safari tips
- $30 for meals in Moshi
More Information on the Innocent Eyes Project and the Trek >>