Tanzania·9 - 17 July 2024
One of the greatest adventures a family can have together
SOLD OUTBoost family time and family ties with the ultimate in bucket list adventures. Forge an unbreakable bond born out of an unforgettable challenge. Share in the wonder and delight of reaching the highest point in Africa, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, and a first-class adventure as a father and son or mother and daughter. Stand on the roof of Africa together; achieve something incredible, see your child soar, and your relationships solidified. Explore the allure and majesty of Kilimanjaro – from its forests to its summit glaciers – and take pride and joy in tackling one of the world’s most extraordinary treks in the presence of your loved ones. This private group expedition has been specially created with an unbeatable family experience in mind. You will join other family pairs and groups and experience all Kilimanjaro can offer: challenge, adventure, discovery and breathtaking natural beauty that won’t fail to bring you closer together. With maximum comfort and 'add ons,' this once in a lifetime expedition has everything, from the best chef, expedition Dr for safety and world class guiding from our CEO and supporting Tanzanian guides.
The best family bonding experience available? Kilimanjaro might just be it!
There is nothing more powerful for young people than the chance to safely challenge themselves.
Our doctor, Emmanuel Tesha, has summited Kilimanjaro more than 10 times, is on hand for your safety and peace of mind.
We have private showers and toilets accompany us, along with many other comforts including double sleeping mattresses and pillows.
We make our summit bid from the strictly private Kosovo Camp, making the summit push (and descent) one hour shorter.
True Summit Adventures founder Oliver Browne has 6 ascents of Kilimanjaro and leads this special expedition alongside our Tanzanian Head Guide, John Bosco.
From the head guide and his assistant guides to the camp manager, high altitude porters & chefs, we have assembled arguably the best team on Kilimanjaro.
The Machame 7 Day route is widely considered the best route on Kilimanjaro in terms of scenery and acclimatisation.
Oliver is the Founder of True Summit Adventures, a certified Mountain Leader and an experienced adventurer and alpinist.
Oliver has summited Kilimanjaro six times, in 2019, 2022, and 3 times in 2023 and once so far in 2024. The idea for an "all family" ascent came from seeing how magical the climb had been for other families who had made the climb with him.
"I am very excited for this expedition" he says. "It is a challenge everyone should experience, it's not easy going to 6000m, but it is a very special place, from the scenery, to the people who work on its slopes, the whole experience is magic, a dream. To do this as a young or older person and as a family will be unreal."
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.
A proud Massai, our head assistant guide Kennedy began working on Kilimanjaro as a teenage porter before attending Mweka Wildlife College and becoming a certified guide.
He has been working as a lead guide on the mountain for 10-plus years, and has been to the summit more than 100 times.
Kennedy lives on his farm in Arusha with his wife and two children where he grows coffee, bananas and avocados.
Dr Emmanuel Tesha, an expert in AMS and high altitude rescue joins the expedition for your safety and peace of mind.
This is Dr Emmanuel's third Kilimanjaro ascent with True Summit Adventures, having accompanied private trips in 2022 and 2023 - in total, he has more than 10 ascents of the mountain.
A graduate of Kibaha College of Health and Allied Sciences, Dr Emmanuel has been a general practitioner for 7 years and has spent two years working with KILIMEDAIR doing medical search and rescue in Tanzania's National Parks.
Steven is one of the most experienced chefs own Kilimanjaro and serves some of the best food we have seen or tasted at high altitude anywhere in the world.
A graduate of the Royal Institute of Tourism in Moshi, Steven has over 15 years of experience cooking on Kilimanjaro. He produces excellent food whatever your dietary requirements.
He lives in Moshi with his wife and four children.
A graduate of Tanzania's National College of Tourism, Arusha-born Mathew started working on Kilimanjaro as a porter when he was in his teens.
With over 15 years of experience running expeditions, Mathew is one of the best logistics managers working in Tanzania.
He will be on hand in Moshi to manage the expedition through its entirety and is responsible for guests should they need to leave the climb early for any reason.
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.
Climb Kilimanjaro on this unique parent-child expedition for family memories which last a lifetime.
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Welcome to Tanzania and to the family adventure 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 Kilimanjaro Wonders, the best hotel in the Moshi area.
Once settled in, please relax by the pool, hit the gym, 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 is the day and everyone is excited to start!
After breakfast at the hotel we make the 1 hour journey to the 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, the best way to enjoy Kilimanjaro and experience this epic journey.
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 day's hiking concludes at Shira Camp, at 3750m. Arriving by 1pm we can enjoy lunch al fresco if the sun is shining. In the afternoon we take a walk to the ancient Shira Cave and push a little higher up the mountain for some added acclimatisation.
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 short hike to Kosovo Camp our launchpad for the summit.
For this expedition we use the private Kosovo Camp as opposed to the Barafu Camp which gets us higher up the mountain, cutting time to the summit and on the descent.
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!
The big day is finally here! As people around the world are sleeping in their beds we begin our climb to the top of Kilimanjaro.
Starting just after 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 Kosovo 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.
A final rendition of the Kilimanjaro songs is high probable! It is impossible to properly convey the sheer energy, kindness, and strength of the high mountain crew.
Then the celebrations begin in earnest as we head back to the Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel in Moshi for hot showers, massages and a celebratory dinner packed with anecdotes, and a presentation of summit certificates.
Today we reach the conclusion of our family adventure epic.
We hope that this experience of climbing Kilimanjaro together will be an experience you never forget! That you will feel inspired, energised and full of joy for weeks if not months to come..
Drivers will be on hand to take you the airport. Alternatively, stay on in beautiful Tanzania, nd embark on a safari in one of the National Parks or head to its exquisite Indian Ocean beaches.
You can also visit the child orphanage and baby rescue centre we support in Arusha, Neema Village.
Visiting Neema is a powerful experience; both heart warming and heartbreaking at the same time. But few people who visit are not moved by the vital work being done here by Doris and Michael Fortson.
Accommodation at the start and end of the expedition is at the excellent, four star Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel, the best hotel in the Moshi area.
Kilimanjaro Wonders is the ideal place to ready yourself for the expedition, and relax / celebrate afterwards.
On the climb we four season tents and sleeping bags with double mattresses and pillows. Tents are pitched for us each day, and are carried by our amazing team of porters.
Hot drinks are served inside tents before breakfast each morning, with all meals taking place in our dedicated “mess” tent.
Airport transfers
Pre- and post- trip accommodation
Welcome and farewell dinners
Kilimanjaro National Park fees, camping fees and rescue fees
Transportation to and from mountain gate
Tanzanian Guides
One porter per guest for main bag (max weight 20kg)
4-season mountain tents
Sleeping matress
Sleeping bags (-15ºC limit)
3 meals a day on the mountain
Filtered and treated water throughout
Supplemental oxygen if required, plus oximeter
Portable flush toilets
Fair wages for the mountain crew
Dedicated logistics manager
Full support in Moshi if your climb ends early
Launch from Kosovo Camp
Team Dr
Portable shower
Flights
Travel insurance
Tanzanian Entry Visa ($50 on arrival for British passport holders)
Single supplement
Lunch on arrival / departure day
Tips to the high mountain crew (at least US$250)
Alcoholic drinks
Visit the spectacular Ngorogoro Crater and Tarangire National Park
PRICE$1,619.25/pp
Visit the child orphanage and baby rescue center doing vital work for the most vulnerable children in Tanzania
PRICEFree
Youth is no barrier to climbing Kilimanjaro, but participants must be fit and ready to hike for 6 to 7 hours a day. Fourteen is a sensible age to attempt Africa's highest peak.
Absolutely. Extra nights at Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel are around US $120.
Like any mountain, the weather is changeable. It can get very cold at night, and temperatures drop further as altitude increases. Summit temperatures are usually from -3 to -8 degrees Celsius, which is why we spend limited time on it.
Expedition members should be fit enough to hike uphill for six to eight hours a day for multiple days. If you can walk 21km comfortably, equivalent to a day's walk in the countryside, you have the basic fitness necessary to consider this expedition.
All meals on the mountain are included. Since hiking Kilimanjaro burns so much energy, we ensure food is plentiful. You can expect lots of high-energy foods such as rice, pasta, and potatoes, prepared as stews with meat and vegetables. Tanzania's hotels and our mountain chefs can cater for vegetarians, vegans, and those who are gluten-intolerant.
Dessert usually comprises fruit.
Neither expedition is a walk in the park. We consider Kilimanjaro to be the more difficult because night stops are in tents and the approach to the summit takes place in the dark before dawn.
In the unlikely event of you wanting or having to leave the climb early we have a full set of protocols in place to get you safely down the mountain. Our team includes skilled first aiders and we carry a satellite phone at all times in case an emergency evacuation is required. Our logistics manager will also be on hand to deal with any unexpected events and organise your new itinerary.
Yes. This is encouraged and we would be delighted to organise this powerful experience for you.
July is the best month to climb, but the weather on Kilimanjaro can be changable. Adhere to the kit list we provide by: - Bringing a poncho - Bringing a rain cover or dry sacks for your main and day bags - Keeping an extra pair of gloves dry for summit night.
You can use US dollars for purchasing your visa on arrival, tipping the mountain crew, and making larger purchases in Moshi. It's also useful to have some Tanzanian shillings to hand.
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 25 Jun 2022
Visiting the baby rescue centre Neema Village, Arusha