Mt. Kilimanjaro Recommendations
Some of our top recommendations for everything around the mountain.
Kilimanjaro Bathroom Picture: A Room With A View
Ah, there is nothing like going to the bathroom and having a great view of Mawenzi peak, Kilimanjaro’s little sister, while you are around 15,000 ft, 4600 meters on Kili. This picture was at, I believe, Barafu Camp bathroom and provides a nice refreshing view. It’s a shame, you can’t see this window while squatting on the ground, trying to position your legs to the sides of a four inch hole - and then realizing you forgot the toilet paper.
Date: January 17th, 2007 |
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Travel Insurance: Should you have it?
While Kilimanjaro is one of the easier mountains to climb in the world, it does not mean you should forgo travel insurance. Travel insurance is usually required by all foreign expeditions companies, but not required by local companies (generally speaking). Fortunately, since you do not use any specialized equipment going up Kilimanjaro, it’s considered that you are hiking, or trekking, and therefore you can get most travel insurance that covers outdoor adventure.
Travel insurance is pretty cheap normally - and the extra $50 you spend, is well worth the safety and security to know that you are covered. One …
Date: January 12th, 2007 |
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REI Adventure in Tanzania
I stumbled across REI’s Adventures website today announcing one of their Kilimanjaro and safaris in Tanzania. See REI’s Kilimanjaro Prices. The total cost for the trip, assuming you an REI member, is $5394, because you have to pay for the park fees separately.
REI, just like many companies, is not based in Africa nor do they have an actual company there. They are partnering with another company, which I think is Tusker Trails or Abercrombie & Kent, and then selling the trip for more because they have the audience. If I calculate the total cost of this trip, …
Date: January 5th, 2007 |
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Missing Climber Body Found in China
Sorry folks, this is non-Kilimanjaro related story, but does go to show you the power of mountains - something you should consider when climbing Kilimanjaro. As many of you know, one of the owners of Mountain Maddness, Christine Boskoff, has been missing for the last few week in China, having not come home from a climbing expedition. Well, it looks like they found one of the bodies. This is very sad, as Christine was a integral part of the mountain and adventure community.
Read CNN Story
The thing about this, and the recent story on Mt. Hood in Oregon …
Date: December 27th, 2006 |
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Kilimanjaro Traverse - Camps of the Lemosho and Mweka Trails - Part Five
Arrow Glacier Camp – 15,925 ft., one night
When the Western Breach was open only 5% of the annual trekkers used this route and camp. Closed in January 06, I recon very few souls will ever see it again.
Situated on the flanks of a gigantic debris field at the foot of the Breach, This camp, like no others we visited, had a transient and nomadic feel to it.
After less than two hours journey from Lava Tower, we dropped our gear and followed our guide, Stephen, up about one third of the Breach to continue our acclimatization process. …
Date: December 20th, 2006 |
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Kilimanjaro Company Review: Kilimanjaro Tanzanite Safaris
This local company in Tanzania has been spamming my Kilimanjaro blog with their links, so I thought I would do a proper review and see what they have
to offer.
Well, to be brutally honest, it looks like this company, Kilimanjaro Tanzanite Safaris, is a standard Tanzanian company - they offer everything, but nothing that’s different from anyone else. It’s just meat and potatoes tour. They have copied a bunch of material, text and pictures from around the Internet and then posted it in no logical order with lots of strange colors, fonts and advertisements. It fact, I have even …
Date: January 16th, 2007 |
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Please Note: Tanzania Tour Reminder
This is a pretty standard reminder we give people before going on safari and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s basically a reminder to sit back, chill, and enjoy the experience. I guarantee that usually guides are late, distances are much longer than expected, and problems do happen.
PLEASE NOTE:
While we strive to make your trip the best possible, and pride ourselves on trying to cover every detail of your trips, it’s important to understand that Tanzanian business, time and culture operate in a different manner throughout East Africa. With an adventure trip this long and …
Date: January 10th, 2007 |
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Want to feel like shit? Climb Kilimanjaro, mate.
Just because Mount Kilimanjaro is one of those well-known mountains that everyone likes to climb, you should be forewarned that it’s not always a happy experience. Climbing Kilimanjaro can, and will, kick your ass - and can make you feel like shit. You probably are wondering why I am on this rant about the mountain? Well, I stumbled across this great blog of a guy’s experience climbing Kili. He had a really tough time and, in the end, it was hard on him physically and mentally. Not even the climb, but …
Date: December 29th, 2006 |
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Kilimanjaro Traverse - Camps of the Lemosho and Mweka Trails - Part Six
Crater Camp – 18, 370 ft., one night
Getting to the crater ascending the Western Breach with my son will remain as awesome a task as I have ever completed. The Breach is closed now but there are some outfitters that will guide you to Crater Camp climbing during the day from Barafu camp. Anyway you get there is well worth the experience.
As a flatlander and student of climbing history, I had to experience camping at 18, 370 ft. Peering from our tent at the frozen glaciers can hardly be put into words but seeing them illuminated in …
Date: December 21st, 2006 |
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Kilimanjaro Traverse - Camps of the Lemosho & Mweka Trails - Part Four
Lava Tower Camp – 14,950 ft., one night
Made famous by the IMAX movie, this iconic stopping point was the first time I really noticed the clouds drifting by below us. Because we were climbing the Western Breach, scrambling to the top of the tower was mandatory…our final test if you will. Had we failed, the suggestion would have been to climb the “normal” route through Barafu Camp. The frightened Cheeseheads from flatland, however, negotiated the pitch with sufficient alacrity to earn the privilege to climb the Breach.
The camp was comfortable, beautiful and relaxing. As with every morning, …
Date: December 19th, 2006 |
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