One Kili climb, two flights and three custom stops later – we arrived in an oasis away from the madness. Welcomed with open arms, singing and an impromptu African drum circle, we all let out sighs of relief and awe over what the beauty of the Royal Livingstone Hotel had to offer. Let the much needed rest and relaxation
Read MoreI think I speak for everyone when I say that we all had the greatest night’s sleep we could have ever imagined after coming off Mt. Kilimanjaro. Although the next morning some of us woke up with an African stomach bug, that didn’t keep us from devouring a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel while we reminisced about the
Read MoreEveryone experiences the mountain in their own unique way. Here is a glimpse into one climbers experience, Robert Thrasher, and how the climb was about more than, well, the climb… Despacito – “Pole pole” (or “slowly”) was a common refrain over the seven days on the mountain. I’d never really hiked slowly. My wife and I both are more about
Read MoreSummit night & day is tough as it ranges from an 11 to 16 hour day. Climbers go to sleep after an early dinner the night before and are awaken around midnight to prepare for the summit attempt. After a light snack, they will ascend in the darkness, cold and wind. Temperatures will usually range from -4° to 5° Fahrenheit. Altitude
Read MoreToday will be another short trek and day of acclimatization as our climbers are near the mountain’s peak. Today’s hike is four to five hours to Kosovo Camp. After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction, which connects with the Mweka Trail. The scenic climb to Barafu is mostly on a moraine with a view of
Read MoreAfter breakfast the first big challenge is waiting for you. We climb up and over the Great Barranco Wall, topping out at about 14,500 ft. before dropping to our camp at the Karanga. Therefore it is a good idea to start early to avoid a traffic jam at the wall. You will need about 1 to 2 hours to climb the Great Barranco Wall.
Read MoreThe path today runs through a black lava desert past millions of heavy rocks. From the Shira Plateau, the group will continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As they continue, their direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the
Read MoreToday is a shorter day that begins by climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as Picnic Rock. The route begins in the moorland zone, above the cloud line that rests above the forest. As our climbers hike up the steep ridge along steep rocks they will be rewarded with a magnificent view over the
Read MoreOnce registered in the official book of the National Park our group will finally start climbing! They will walk the first meters on the way to the first camp on a well-developed forest road. The rain forest is responsible for the wet and humid climate. Right and left of the road are Kilimanjaro’s red giant ferns and impatiens. On the way
Read MoreToday was spent doing one of the most important things for this trip before stepping foot on the mountain–the gear check. Beyond Adventures prepares each climber with a full packing list & a detailed itinerary of the climb to help facilitate their packing. In addition it is crucial to check everyones gear once they arrive in
Read MoreWe spent another great day in Arusha, eating breakfast together at the hotel and subsequently visiting Lego, Papa Deo’s hometown. Papa Deo invited us to his establishment called Lego Mountain Peace and Praise, a multi building facility on a mountain ridge facing Kilimanjaro. We spent time reflecting on the trip, playing
Read MoreToday marks the beginning of an incredible journey! Everyone has arrived safely at the Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania and we are staying at the Mount Meru Hotel in Arusha, Tanzania. Similar to Mount Kilimanjaro, which is comprised of three volcano cones, Mount Meru is also a dormant volcano and
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