Kilimanjaro Trek & Remote Foot Safari in Kenya

Leave it to MTS to offer the most comprehensive, one-of-a-kind Kilimanjaro adventure! Our exclusive itinerary slips you into "safari mode" with exciting walks and elephant viewing in Amboseli National Park, then features a six-day climb of Kilimanjaro via the rarely-traveled Rongai Route, a singular trail skirting spectacular Mawenzi peak (you'll be surprised how few people you'll see during your ascent!). Matching the Rongai Route for its remote and wild nature is Tsavo National Park, where you'll track game along the palm-fringed banks of the Galana River. (We have the only permit to camp and hike along this stunning waterway!) Your guides include Alex Fiksman, one of East Africa's leading mountaineers and rock-climbing aces, and Julius Odhiambo, one of Kenya's top ornithologists and naturalists.

Climb-Only Option
Short on time? Just do the climb! You'll just have to come back another time to experience the magic of Africa's wildlife. 10 days. Call for details.

Exclusive MTS Non-Climb Option ~ New!
Not up for the climb? While your spouse, partner, or friend goes for the summit, you can enjoy traditional safari activities in five-star comfort-night and day game viewing, horseback riding, nature walks, "sundowners," and more-at two elegant permanent camps: Ol Donyo Wuas, nestled at the foot of the Chyulu Hills; and Finch Hatton's, a luxurious legacy of the former big game hunter in Tsavo. Both offer continuous views of Kilimanjaro. On Day 10 (see itinerary above) you'll meet the group in Tsavo after the climb. Call for availability and prices.

Activities

6 days strenuous hiking at high elevation on Kilimanjaro (max. 19,340'), 4 days moderate to strenuous hiking on foot safaris, game viewing by 4-wheel-drive vehicle

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Climb Kilimanjaro via the Rongai Route, the least touristed (and most gradual) ascent of the mountain
• So much more than a climb of Kili: includes a walking safari in the remote wilds of Tsavo National Park-an MTS exclusive!
• Wildlife viewing in Amboseli, known for its magnificent elephant herds and dramatic views of Kilimanjaro

2010 PRICES
$5,495 (9-15 members)
$5,845 (7-8 members)
$6,195 (4-6 members)
$1,250 park fees
$300 internal air
$1,000 single supplement

“Climb Only” Option
$3,995 per person (9-15 members)
$4,345 per person (7-8 members)
$4,695 per person (4-6 members)
$1,050 park fees (subject to change)
$250 internal airfare (Arusha/Nairobi—Mountain Travel Sobek will book and issue these tickets for you)

Duration: 13 days Start Location: Nairobi End Location: Nairobi Best time to go: January - March, June - December

Itinerary

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  Day 1 : Arrive in Nairobi

  Meet in Nairobi, Kenya. Overnight at the Macushla House, a peaceful retreat just outside Nairobi.

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  Day 2 : Amboseli National Park

  Game viewing in Amboseli, noted for having the most magnificent elephant herds in Africa and dramatic views of Kilimanjaro. (Noted researchers Cynthia Moss and Joyce Poole have conducted groundbreaking elephant studies here for almost 30 years.)

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  Day 3 : Amboseli National Park

  Non-climb Option: Those doing the non-climb option will head to the trailhead with the rest of the group, then transfer about an hour to Ol Donyo Wuas. See the non-climb itinerary on page 7.

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  Days 4 - 5 : Kilimanjaro trek / Kikelewa Camp

  From the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro on the Kenya side, you'll be climbing toward the "roof of Africa" through unspoiled forests, moorlands, and alpine zone, arriving at a high camp at 15,500'. Our itinerary includes an extra day for acclimatization below the craggy north face of Mawenzi, Kilimanjaro's forgotten peak (it's the second-highest point at 16,893 feet).

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  Days 6 - 7 : Mawenzi Camp / Outward Bound Hut

  Mawenzi Camp

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  Day 8 : Summit and Horombo Hut

  Pre-dawn hike (the classic alpine start) to Kilimanjaro's glacier-clad summit to watch the sun rise over the African plains, an indescribable thrill and feeling of accomplishment! Descend to camp at 12,000'.

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  Day 9 : Marangu – End trek, “Climb Only” participants depart

  Hike down through the lush equatorial rain forest, home to colobus and Syke's monkeys, and meet waiting vehicles for a drive to our hotel in Marangu, Tanzania.

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  Day 10 : Tsavo East National Park

  Drive to our camp along the Galana River in Tsavo East National Park, where Mountain Travel Sobek has an exclusive permit.

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  Days 11 - 12 : Tsavo East National Park / Tsavo East National Park

  Tsavo is Africa at its most intense and dramatic, a raw sunburned land through which the Galana, the only source of water for the wildlife, cuts a bright green swath. Accompanied by trackers and an armed escort, you'll carefully search for prides of lions, including the rare maneless males, stalk elephant herds, view hippos and crocs in quiet pools, and enjoy some of the best birding in Kenya.

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  Day 13 : Drive to Malindi for flights back

  Drive to Malindi for flights back to Nairobi and connecting homeward-bound flights. Or join one of our extensions in East Africa.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Alex Fiksman

  Alex (Sasha) is a native of the former Soviet Union, immigrated to the United States at a young age. He lived and was educated in New York City, where he taught chemistry for nearly ten years before meeting and falling in love with a young woman from Kenya, who later became his wife. Alex also fell in love with Kenya, where he has continued to follow his serious outdoor pursuits, including hiking and rock climbing on Mount Kenya. His enthusiasm for the bush is infectious and we're certain you'll enjoy his company on safari. "I feel the freedom here that I have never felt before," says Alex, "the freedom to camp in the open savanna, to decide what path to take in my walk through the bush. As trivial as these freedoms may sound, few places in the world offer them in the same magnitude as Kenya."

photo credits: ©Michael Powers / MTS