Tanzania : Mount Kilimanjaro

Mt Kilimanjaro is Africa's highest mountain and the highest freestanding mountain in the world. It rises majestically from the Tanzanian plains close to the Kenyan border. The mountain lies just 3 degrees south of the Equator and at 5,895m / 19,340' is the highest mountain in the world which can be climbed without technical equipment.

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Mount Kilimanjaro	summit at dawn	KiliShira plateau

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Hemingway's Camp

Climbing Kilimanjaro

Hemingway's Camp
Hemingway's Camp situated on the plains below Mt. Kilimanjaro is a bumpy 3hr drive from Arusha, but worth the drive as you will be entering a truly wild part of Tanzania. You drive through the beautiful highlands that flank the western edge of Mt. Kilimanjaro passing through a patchwork of fields and small villages that typify rural Africa, before descending into semi arid bush country and into the private Maasai conservancy of Olmalog.

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elephants	lookout hill	Maasai

Hemingway's Camp is a semi-permanent camp, with 5 tastefully furnished twin/double tents. Each has comfortable beds with thick mattresses, solar lighting and an ensuite chemical flush toilet and safari style bucket shower. There is a dining tent, in front of which are several large bean bags so you can relax in the afternoon sun and take in the views of Kilimanjaro

The camp is set under the spreading branches of Acacia trees at the base of a volcanic cone known as 'lookout hill', which is a lovely spot for a sundowner and has great views across the Amboseli plains and Kilimanjaro. There is some good resident game in the area and more animals are moving across the border from Amboseli as they realize that this community land is now not a place they have to run from man. Elephant are in abundance, even some forest elephant are coming down from the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro. The ability to walk, night game drive and see the Maasai in their natural surroundings makes this a quite unique camp. Fly camping away from camp is also possible. What makes Hemingway's Camp special are the walking safaris to see the elephant up close and meeting the local Maasai and learning about their lives and how they live in this beautiful area. You can be assured that you will be the only visitors in 60,000 acres of wild bush country.

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camp	dining	dung beetle

elephant walk	view of Mt Kilimanjaro from camp	tent

Climbing Kilimanjaro
Kili is a serious mountain and there are many ground operators in Tanzania who say they can get you to the top but as there is such stiff competition many companies cut corners. There is also a huge conservation issue regarding the mountain, ie the damage to the environment, the amount of rubbish left behind, the number of latrines which have to be dug. Paramount is you and your full team's safety. One corner often cut is ill equipped and overloaded porters and many have died on the mountain due to this.

For all these reasons we use a respectable Tanzania company. They are more expensive but they look after their clients extremely well and, as important, they look after their guides and porters who have good equipment and go on regular courses on first aid, safety and evacuation procedures. We tend to encourage a longer ascent of the mountain to give you time to acclimatize and as a result a very high number of our clients manage to climb to the summit.

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KiliUhuru peak	summit	tent

There are a number of different routes up Kili. We have indicated 2 routes - Lemosho and Machame - where there are set date departures. They are over 8 days so there is time for acclimatization and they are less popular routes so you will not see so many other people. We can also arrange tailor made climbs for couples or private groups using these routes or any of the other routes up. Costs depend on the size of the group and the number of days on the mountain.

Machame
Machame is considered by many to be the most beautiful and scenic route up Mt. Kilimanjaro, passing through tropical montane rain forest to the snows of Kilimanjaro. The dates have been set to coincide with the full moon and the best weather conditions. All Hoopoe Kili Climbs include a large staff including the chief guide, an assistant guide, cook, and porters. Camp is superbly outfitted, including thick foam mattresses for all the igloo tents, a toilet tent, tables and chairs, and high frequency two-way radios for communication with base.
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Lemosho
This climb is ideal for those wanting more privacy, a slower climb, or a more scenic route. The traversing of the Shira plateau can be especially spectacular, and this route also ensures the best of the Machame route. The dates have been set to coincide with the full moon and the best weather conditions. All Hoopoe Kili Climbs include a large staff including the chief guide, an assistant guide, cook, and porters. Camp is superbly outfitted, including thick foam mattresses for all the igloo tents, a toilet tent, tables and chairs, and high frequency two-way radios for communication with base.
click here for full details