Luxury Kilimanjaro: The Western Breach View Full Screen Itinerary

Fully Licensed Kilimanjaro Guides

In 1991, the park authorities at Kilimanjaro made it compulsory for all trekkers to arrange their walk through a licensed agency. Furthermore, they insist that all trekkers must be accompanied throughout their walk by a guide supplied by the agency. Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions are partnered with a fully licenced agency and guiding service company regarded as one of the most respected guiding companies on the mountain. Your team of 30 or more guides and porters will be at your disposal no matter what size of group you climb in.

Top Tips:

Buy a good Kilimanjaro Guide Book or go to the library and rent one – read it thoroughly if you can many weeks before your trip. The extra knowledge on flora and fauna on the mountain will be enjoyable and add to your experience whilst there. Finding out the geological history and human interaction and connection with the mountain also will add depth to your overall experience.

Remember lip balm. The air is thin and very dry and your lips will start to crack in this desert environment. Breathe through your nose so as to conserve body moisture and keep lips from drying out for longer.

If you have flexibility, September and October are great months to trek – crowds have desperate somewhat from the busier summer months. February is also great however, after the shorter rains, the mountain is snow covered and looks utterly beautiful.

Speak to your Sandgrouse Travel consultant, we will try to coincide your trek with a full moon, if you have flexibility with when you can go it is worth it.

Pack a wide brimmed sun hat. Bring a buff or Arabic head scarf. Sun cream on your ears. Drinking lots of water. Taking enough clean socks – this is an amazing moral boost whilst on the mountain. Well-worn in boots. Tried and tested kit before leaving for trip. Good organization – planning and preparation well before departure date. Pack tissues or a roll of loo roll. Try and learn a few Swahili phrases before you go – it helps break down barriers with your guides and porters and is fun. Personal medical kit including Imodium pills, pain killers, aspirin. Diamox for altitude. Alcohol based anti-bacterial hand wash. Good packing – familiarise yourself with packing your bag, good organization. A quality head torch is essential. Walking poles/sticks. These act as third and fourth legs and as you tire are a real Godsend. It is a good idea to lay out all your kit before travel and make sure you tick off the items you think you will need.

Visas

Almost everyone needs a visa. A single-entry visa valid for up to three months costs approximately $50, depending on nationality. Your visa can be purchased on arrival at JRO International Airport.

Difficulties to overcome on your trek: 

Fitness

The obvious: a general good level of fitness. It’s hard to quantify someone’s level of fitness, and each sport is very different. The best form of training and gauging weather you’re capable of this is to actually walk/trek. A few weekends training with walking in the hills trekking would be suitable. This will also serve people very well trying out their kit prior to the expedition a few times. No doubt many people will be popping out and accruing new items, perhaps new boots even. It is important to have well worn in boots for this trip.

Positive Mental Attitude

Keeping a Positive Mental Attitude. Hugely important on any challenge, especially physical challenges. If you have the general level of fitness mentioned above, coupled with the mental grit and determination you will likely succeed in this sort of event – especially taking a well thought and planned out route I’ve suggested earlier. A good sense of humour will help too.

Dealing with the altitude

The main difficulty is the altitude. The walking is not hugely strenuous, with an average of about 3 to 4 maybe 5 hours a day (not including the Summit Day which is a BIG day at nearly 13 to 16 hours). It’s recommended that clients take Diamox a prescription based drug that helps the body realise it’s at altitude and start acclimatizing soon. 

Keeping yourself together on the mountain. It may sound silly, but as you start to physically and mentally crack around the edges it’s easy to let things slip a little. You have to remember to keep drinking, keep washing your hands, applying your lip balm, suncreams etc. As you go on throughout the trek these things play a vital role in wheather you’re successful or not. It would be a great shame to be beaten by sunstroke or dehydration. However, your Guides are pretty good at reminding you of these things. 

Sample Food Menu:

BREAKFAST: Eggs made to order, sausages, toast, hash browned potatoes, banana bread / muffins, granola with cold milk, fresh fruits, fruit juice, hot coffee, lemongrass tea, cocoa.

LUNCH: Chicken breast sandwiches, pasta salad, crudites, salami, fresh fruits.

AFTERNOON TEA: Hot coffee, Lemongrass tea, cocoa, cookies with cheese, popcorn, roasted nuts.

DINNER: Different soups, Chinese rice / Italian-style lasagna, green bean salad, fresh fruit salad served in a watermelon.

TRAIL SNACKS: Mixed nuts or fresh-roasted peanuts, mixed dried organic fruits, fresh locally grown fruit, home-made cookies, candy bars, popcorn. We advise bringing a small selection of your favourite snack bars from home too. 

Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-free, Gluten –free and other special dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice. 

For further information on Mount Kilimanjaro nutrition, search our articles within our magazine and blog: Sandgrouse Traveller. 

Read our recent food article: Mountain food is the source of success

On Day two at camp, in the evening you will have a full safety briefing with your head guide and also the medic who is with you almost like your silent shadow the whole trek. The medic is also a trained first aid responder. The head guide is also a trained first aid responder. The medic is trained to a very high standard and carries all the medical gear you will need in the event of an emergency. The briefing consists of a gear demonstration. The safety briefing is hugely important and puts your mind at rest.

Oxygen for emergency use - For groups of 6+, 2 kits (2 x 100L medical oxygen bottle, regulators & masks) are provided.

* Pulse-oximeter - The head guide checks and charts these numbers daily at dinner time, for each climber.

* Hyperbolic Chamber  - a portable altitude chamber, for emergency use

* Automated External Defibrillator (optional) - Included on treks with a night in the Crater Camp

* Stretcher - Converts into a rigid steel-framed litter

* First-aid & medicine kit, comprehensively stocked and kept as per WFR guidelines

* VHF handheld radios - Carried for quick communication between head and assistant guides. An extra battery accompanies each radio.

* Mobile phones - carried by all guides, for daily communications with our base in Arusha.

* Satellite phone - carried by the head guide for emergencies (in areas with no mobile network)

* Medical equipment porter – to stay with the group at all times, to ensure that the safety gear is always nearby and ready to employ.