Tanzania·23 - 31 March 2024
Do something extraordinary this Easter; trek to the summit of the highest freestanding mountain on Earth
SOLD OUTChallenge yourself this Easter, with an experience you will never forget. Kilimanjaro is a mountaineering classic, the highest mountain in Africa, one of the ‘Seven Summits’ and the highest freestanding mountain in the world at 5,895m. Reaching its lofty summit can be a life changing experience, the realisation of a long-held ambition or the start of a lifelong love affair with high altitude mountaineering. But regardless of the outcome, one thing is for certain; Kilimanjaro as an experience is as challenging as it is unforgettable. Kilimanjaro is a powerful place. It is not uncommon to hear seasoned mountaineers, nominate Kilimanjaro as their favorite of the 'Seven Summits.' It is a unique mountain environment; beautiful, wild and possessing of a special energy that you will sense as you climb. The high mountain crew are integral to this with their warmth, kindness and generous spirit. Song is never far from their lips, nor are words of greeting and encouragement. Climbing Kilimanjaro is a thrilling and awe-inspiring adventure that offers a unique sense of accomplishment, breath-taking natural beauty and immersion in unique mountain culture.
Celebrate Easter from the peak of Kilimanjaro. A moment you will never forget!
We have the most experienced and kindest guides on Kilimanjaro. John Bosco leads the expedition alongside our Assistant Head Guide Kennedy Lengutai.
Our head chef Steven is the culinary king of the clouds, serving up some of the best food at altitude in the world.
Salinero is one of the best hotels in Moshi and the ideal place to start and finish your trek.
Our "Max Add Ons" include a portable shower and private toilets for your comfort.
With bank holidays and annual leave falling on and around this date, it is the perfect time to take on Kilimanjaro.
Stay on and visit the phenomenal Tarangire National Park and see the 'Big 5'.
John is one of the most experienced guides working on Kilimanjaro with over 200 summits, with many coming via the Western Breach, by far and away the most technical route on Kilimanjaro and the most dangerous.
John has an impressive record of getting people to the summit. The oldest client he has guided to the summit to date was 78 years old while the youngest was just 9!
John has an impeccable safety record, undergoes regular First Aid training and is highly experienced at recognising and treating the symptoms of AMS.
John will no doubt impress you with his kind and professional manner, attention to detail and skill on the mountain.
Arusha-born Kennedy first began working as a porter on Kilimanjaro when he was a teenager.
He later attended Mweka Wildlife College and became a certified guide. He's been working as a lead guide on Kilimanjaro for more than 10 years and has summited Africa's greatest mountain more than 100 times.
Kennedy lives on his farm in Arusha with his wife and two children. When not climbing, he's usually busy tending his coffee, bananas, and avocados.
Mathew hails from Arusha and has a long history with Kilimanjaro, beginning as a porter when he was still just a teenager.
He is a graduate of Arusha's National College of Tourism and is now one of the best providers of Kilimanjaro logistics in Tanzania.
Mathew will be on hand 24/7 to make sure our expedition is a great success.
Oliver is the founder of True Summit Adventures, a certified Mountain Leader and experienced adventurer and alpinist.
He has been to the summit of Kilimanjaro five times: in 2019, 2022 and no less than three times in 2023.
Of Kilimanjaro he says: "I think it is something everyone should do in their lifetime. It is a challenge going to 6000m, but it is a very special place. Everything from the unique scenery, to the people who work on its slopes, the whole experience is magic, a dream. It's my pleasure and my hope to share this dream with you."
Oliver will be fully managing this climb from start to finish from the UK, while James Bell leads in Tanzania.
Steven is one of the most experienced high-altitude chef's in the world.
He has over 15 years experience as a chef on Kilimanjaro, where he prides himself on providing the best and freshest recipes whatever your culinary preferences and requirements.
A graduate of the Royal Institute of Tourism in Moshi, Steve lives in Moshi with his wife and four children.
JOURNEY TO THE SUMMIT
Kilimanjaro has many routes to choose from but at True Summit Adventures we prefer Machame for its spectacular views, challenging nature, and lower chance of overcrowding.
Technically speaking, the Machame route has some steeper sections, scrambles (including the famous Baranco Wall), and longer distances trekking between camps compared to other routes. However, the topography allows climbers to trek high and sleep low, making acclimatisation easier and contributing to higher summit success rates.
The route starts along the southwest side of the mountain, entering at Machame Camp before proceeding steeply north, and traversing the Shira Plateau. It eventually joins the Shira and Lemosho routes at Shira Camp, and ends at Mweka Gate.
This is a true expedition, with camping under the stars in wild and beautiful nature, although we provide private showers and toilets on every night of the expedition.
Reach the highest point on the African continent as sunrise pierces the horizon
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The adventure begins!
It is our pleasure to welcome you to Tanzania and the experience of a lifetime.
A True Summit Adventures team member will collect you from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and take you to the team hotel and base in Moshi. We use the excellent Salinero Hotel, one of the best hotels in the Moshi area. You can take this opportunity to relax by the pool, have a massage, or maybe head into town for a coffee at Union Cafe.
In the evening, we gather for introductions, a gear check, expedition briefing and – most important of all, a hearty dinner!
Be sure to eat a lot as the climb is long and arduous...
Today we begin with a good breakfast at Salierno before taking the 40 minute transfer to the start of the trek at Machame Gate.
Here we meet our expert climbing crew; guides, porters and camp teams and complete the necessary park registrations.
Today, the trekking is relatively relaxed. The first section of the climb meanders gently through magnificent, dense rainforest to Machame Camp.
Our guides set a steady, maintainable pace, although anyone wishing to trail-run these first days is welcome to – a superstar guide will be assigned to accompany you!
In the evening we adjust to expedition life and get stuck into the best food available on the mountain, courtesy of our excellent Head Chef Steven.
Today we continue steeply up through forest until we reach the Shira Plateau. Here we will enjoy amazing views of Kilimanjaro, directly ahead of us, and Mount Meru in the distance.
Mount Meru is another dormant volcano, close to Arusha, some 70km west of Kilimanjaro. At 4500m its summit normally protrudes from the clouds providing a beautiful backdrop to the climb.
Our journey through this diverse landscape continues and today we head above the treeline and onto the high moorland where we traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing under the imposing Lava Tower, where we stop for lunch.
Today we gain some serious altitude - touching 4600m at the Lava Tower, but following the mountaineering code of ‘trek high, sleep low’, we will descend to the Baranco Camp for the night, helping our bodies acclimatise as we continue our push to the roof of Africa.
Today we reach one of the highlights of the whole trek – the famous Baranco Wall. The steepest section of the climb, you should expect epic scrambling followed by stunning views.
By this point you will no doubt marvel at the strength of the Tanzanian porters as they cheerfully haul packs with gravity-defying ease up the steep slopes of the wall.
Tea, coffee and snacks await you at the top before we head towards the Karanga Valley, and a final climb which takes us into camp at 3,963m.
Today we make the relatively short hike to Barafu Camp, trekking across desolate scree slopes with little or no vegetation remaining at this altitude.
Most of today will be spent settling in at the camp, fuelling up, and resting as we prepare physically for the long night and day to follow.
After an early dinner, final team briefing and gear check, we aim to get a few hours sleep before a midnight breakfast and the climb to the summit!
Today is the day! As people around the world are sleeping in their beds we begin our climb to the top of Kilimanjaro.
Starting at midnight, we will move collectively over the scree and up towards the summit glaciers. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of sun hit us.
Surrounded by stunning ice cliffs, facing the jagged Mawenzi Peak, and alive with the energy of the mountain – we guarantee it will be moment you'll never forget.
Another hour’s walk takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). Here we will gather to celebrate and take the all important summit photos!
After summiting we return to Barafu Camp via Stella Point for a well-earned breakfast rest. Later we make our way down to Millennium Camp where we can start to celebrate and bask in the glow of our summit success.
Today is our last day of trekking, with the descent taking us back through rainforest to Mweka Gate. Here we pause momentarily to complete park formalities and thank the porters and guides for their magnificent work.
It is impossible to properly convey the sheer energy, kindness, and knowledge of the high mountain crew - the true heroes of Kilimanjaro.
Then the celebrations begin in earnest as we head back to the Salinero in Moshi for hot showers, massages and a celebratory dinner packed with anecdotes, and a presentation of summit certificates.
All good things must end!
Today we say our final goodbyes and drivers will be on hand to take you to the airport.
Alternatively, we can help organise an extended stay in beautiful Tanzania, where you can embark on a safari or head to its exquisite Indian Ocean beaches.
We hope the experience of climbing Kilimanjaro and this incredible Easter adventure lives long in your memory, and perhaps inspires you to start planning your next expedition with us.
Accommodation pre and post climb is at the excellent Salinero Hotel, one of the best hotels in the Moshi area.
We believe the Salinero is the ideal place to prepare for and then relax after the expedition. All rooms are fully en-suite with air conditioning, while the hotel has a pool, along with a spa and an excellent restaurant.
Once on the climb, we switch to four season tents and sleeping bags, which will all be pitched and carried for us by our amazing team of porters. Hot drinks will be served in your tent before breakfast, while all meals are served in a communal “mess” tent.
A portable toilet will also be provided, helping to make your journey up and down the mountain as comfortable as possible.
Airport transfers
Pre and post climb accommodation at Lindren Lodge
Welcome and farewell dinners
Tanzanian Head Guide and Assistant Guides
Kilimanjaro National Park fees, camping fees and rescue fees
One porter per guest for main bag (max weight 20kg)
Transportation to and from mountain gate
4-season mountain tents
Sleeping mattress
Sleeping bags (-15ºC limit)
3 meals a day on the mountain
Filtered and treated water throughout
Portable shower
Supplemental oxygen if required, plus oximeter
Portable flush toilets
Fair wages for the mountain crew
Dedicated logistics manager
Celebration drinks and snacks at Mweka Gate
Full support in Moshi if your climb ends early
Satellite phone
Daily health check
Flights
Tanzanian entry visa
Lunch on arrival / departure day
Alcoholic drinks
Travel insurance for trekking up to 6000m
Tip to the high mountain crew (at least $250 pp)
Stay on after the climb and enjoy a 2 day safari (or more) in Tarangire National Park
PRICE$832.38/pp
Stay on after the climb and enjoy a 2 day safari (or more) in Tarangire National Park
PRICE$945.58/pp
Absolutely. Extra nights at Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel are around US $90.
Like any mountain, the weather on Kilimanjaro is changeable and is colder at night and the higher you go. Temperatures at the summit are typically -3 to -8 degrees Celsius.
You need to be fit enough to hike uphill for six to eight hours a day for multiple days. A good test is to walk 21km. If you feel like you could do it easily again the next day then you are probably fit enough.
The food is plentiful and consists largely of rice, pasta and potato dishes served with meat and vegetables along with lots of fruit. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free dishes are also available.
Kilimanjaro. The main reason being there is no summit night on Everest Basecamp Trek and no camping.
Kilimanjaro is an epic challenge. By preparing well you give yourself the best chance to summit and adapt to altitude.
Kilimanjaro can have a harsh and unpredictable climate. Your kit list should include: a poncho, a rain cover/ dry sack for your bags, and spare warm gloves and socks.
Having the right currency is always handy. US$ are ideal for paying the visa on arrival fee and tipping to the high mountain crew at the end of the expedition.
Our "Kili" Blogs
Oliver Browne · Thu 8 Jun 2023
Oliver Browne, True Summit Adventures' CEO, answers the questions on our expeditions to the highest freestanding mountain in the world
Oliver Browne · Mon 14 Nov 2022
A short note on preparing for climbing Kilimanjaro!
Oliver Browne · Sat 8 Jul 2023
How do they compare, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya?