About the Kilimanjaro Trek
Standing tall at 19,340 ft (5,894 m), Mt. Kilimanjaro shines as the world's highest freestanding mountain. Imagine standing on top, looking down over Africa, and saying, "I did it." Well, you can. And there's no better time than now. Come with us, and feel the thrill of a mountain climb. At the same time, experience the joy of giving back to homeless children, and the wonderful sense of renewed purpose and vitality.
Everyman's Everest
Kilimanjaro is fondly referred to as "everyman's Everest". With no technical climbing required, summiting the mountain is a feat that anyone fit and able can accomplish simply by walking - walking, that is, with respect for the mountain and knowledge of altitude.
Our climb up Kilimanjaro is a 7-day, 36-mile walk on the Machame-Mweka route. This scenic route takes you through four different ecosystems: rainforest, heath, moorland, and glacier. The trek includes a night during the ascent in the picturesque Karanga Valley. This extra night aids acclimatization and allows our climbers time to recover and prepare for the final push to the top.
Summit the Mountain on a Full Moon
All of our climbs are timed around a full moon so as to provide our climbers with the ultimate summit experience. But just being on the mountain is an exhilarating experience. By day we hike through Kili's fascinating landscape. At night we sleep in modern and comfortable mountain tents. You'll climb into your warm sleeping bag with the fresh mountain air and the southern skies embracing your sense of adventure.
Our company's relationship with a local Tanzanian outfitter - Chagga Tours - ensures that our service, supplies, safety and regional knowledge is up-to-date and of the best quality. We honor Chagga Tours' commitment to sustainable tourism and to paying their local workers a fair salary.
The Kili Climb for Kids 2013
Our trip in 2013 will be our 6th climb up the mountain.
[ top ]2013 Itinerary
Our 2013 trip has spots available and we'd love to hear from you. The trip will take place from January 27 - February 9, 2013.
Click here to inquire about the 2013 Kilimanjaro climb.
| January 27 | Depart to Amsterdam |
|---|---|
| January 28 | Travel Amsterdam to Kilimanjaro, arriving at Kilemakyaro Hotel at 8:25pm |
| January 29 | Visit Amani Home for Street Kids; Duffle Shuffle |
| January 30 | Day 1 on Mountain (Machame Route) |
| January 31 | Day 2 on Mountain |
| February 1 | Day 3 on Mountain |
| February 2 | Day 4 on Mountain |
| February 3 | Day 5 on Mountain |
| February 4 | Day 6 on Mountain (Summit Day) |
| February 5 | Day 7 exit Mountain. Transfer to Moshi. Banquet. |
| February 6 | Depart Moshi for Safari to Lake Manyara National Park. Transfer to Ngorongora. |
| February 7 | Full Day of wildlife viewing at Ngorongora Crater |
| February 8 | Half day of safari. Transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for departure at 9pm |
| February 9 | Arrive Home |
[ top ]
The Details
The 2013 Kilimanjaro trip is now open!! Sign up now.
1. Fitness Assessments
Once the team has been finalized, Alison Wiley, a Live Out Loud Adventures guide, begins personal fitness assessments with the objective of providing each climber with their own customized exercise program. The goal of the fitness program is to ensure that every climber is physically and mentally ready to climb the mountain, prepared for the discomforts of "thin" air, and strong enough to walk 6 to 8 hours a day.
2. Team Gathering
An initial team gathering is held a few months before the climb. At that time we request documents for visa processing (Live Out Loud Adventures takes care of all travel visa applications), begin the gear review, and discuss immunization requirements and Amani Children's Home fundraising initiatives.
Climbers are asked to ensure that they have a valid passport. Passport validity should extend at least 6 months beyond date of departure from Tanzania.
3. Amani Fundraising
We believe that life's "meaningful experiences" are created when we reach beyond ourselves and give back to the world around us. To this end, we set a "stretch goal" for each climber to raise $5000 for the Amani Children's Home in Tanzania. See www.amanikids.org for more information on this wonderful organization that rescues homeless children and restores their hope by providing shelter, food, education and love.
Alison has been involved with Amani since 2004 when it was a ramshackle dwelling housing 62 children between the ages of 4 and 16. Today, it is a local success story (Globe and Mail) thanks to the generosity of friends around the world who have raised enough money to fund a wonderful new home with classrooms, bedrooms, an outdoor soccer field, and a loving nurturing environment.
Valerie Todd is the director of the Amani Children's Home and visits Toronto and the Kili climbers every fall. She is an inspiration and helps fuel our fundraising campaign with passion, materials and tips.
Gearing Up
Our expeditions are unique in that our journey with you begins the moment you "sign on", not the moment you "step off the plane".
Within your busy life, we start to prepare you mentally and physically to remove obstacles, instill confidence and create excitement. To help with this, we provide the following supports:
1) Physical Fitness Program
It is quite common for inexperienced climbers to have fears associated with tackling the "unknown." Our physical fitness program is designed to alleviate those fears by assisting you to be physically ready. Prior to the trip, we assess each climber's physical fitness and create a customized program that, over the course of 3 months, prepares the climber both physically and mentally for the rigours of the mountain. The fitness program is designed by our resident world-class athlete and is specifically geared to those with busy lives.
2) Your Comprehensive Gear List
We provide you with a comprehensive gear list that includes every item you will require. At one of the team gatherings, we demonstrate the proper use of each item.
3) Team Gatherings
One of the realizations you will have when you summit the mountain is that you did it as a TEAM. No one summits alone — your power and strength is in numbers. We foster that team camaraderie from the beginning with team gatherings where you meet and greet climbers "old" and "new," review gear, and simulate night ascents. By the time you set foot on the mountain, you've developed a confidence, acquired a set of skills, and are comfortable within your team.
4) Visa Processing
We handle all travel visas so as to avoid inconsistencies and last minute complications.
5) Fundraising Kit
Fundraising for the local children's home is not meant to be a stress but rather an extension of the experience. As you begin your fundraising campaign, you will discover a community of friends that admires what you're doing, respects your dreams, and cheers you on.
We provide you with a comprehensive kit that gives you background information on the charity, tips on fundraising, and tax receipt information. In addition, Valerie Todd, the Director of the Amani Children's Home, visits Toronto and the Kili climbers every fall. She provides us with a source of inspiration, and makes herself available for presentations among friends and interested groups.
[ top ]Giving Back to the World Around Us
Part of our "summit" experience is ‘giving back' to the places that have just served to empower and invigorate us. Through fundraising efforts done back home, we donate much-needed funds to impoverished street children giving them the gift of safety, food, shelter, education… the necessities of life most of us take for granted. The act of raising money and then handing it over to the actual beneficiaries is reward beyond recognition. It is your hand in the global village.
The Goal
Our climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro is unique: what we take from the mountain personally we give back to the local community financially. Our goal – a stretch goal to aim for – is to raise $5,000/climber for the Amani Children's Home. Raising the money is not meant to be a hurdle but an inspiration that lifts us up. You'll be amazed by the enthusiastic support your friends, community, teachers and relatives will provide.
On the last day of our trip, we visit the Amani Children's Home where we interact with the children, celebrate African culture, and offer our donations. You'll leave feeling quite overwhelmed by the difference that you and others have made in the lives of these children.
The Amani Home for Street Kids
What is Amani? Amani is the Swahili word for PEACE. It is also a wonderful home for 120 homeless children at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Moshi, Tanzania. It is run by Valerie Todd, a Duke University graduate. From here, social workers scour the streets at night for abandoned, abused, neglected, and impoverished children, bringing them back to shelter, food, education, medicine and love.
The aim of this non-profit organization is to "rescue children, restore hope, and transform lives" and to eventually reintegrate the children back into their society, ideally with a relative or family friend and, in the process, to restore their strength of mind and body.
In January 2007, the Amani Children's Home celebrated the opening of their new building - a real home with real beds, real classrooms, a soccer field, social workers, and teachers offering a recognized government curriculum. A small group of individuals from around the world made this dream come true. Now we must carry this success story forward.
The funds raised from the Kilimanjaro Trek will begin the next chapter for the Amani children: to enable them to graduate and return to society as productive citizens, mothers and fathers.
For more information on Amani, please visit www.amanikids.org.
[ top ]Kili Facts
Kilimanjaro National Park was designated a world heritage site in 1987.
Kilimanjaro is only 3 degrees south of the Equator and is contained entirely within Tanzania.
Rising 4800m above the East African plains, 270km from the shores of the Indian Ocean and measuring up to 40km across, Kilimanjaro is a bizarre geological oddity, the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, and one formed, shaped, eroded and scarred by the twin forces of fire and ice. It is actually three volcanoes, with two main peaks, Kibo and Mawenzi.
The highest point on Mt. Kilimanjaro is Uhuru Peak on Kibo, which is one of the Seven Summits of the world.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the homeland of the Chagga people, one of Tanzania's largest ethnic groups.
It is said that to climb Kilimanjaro is to walk through four seasons in four days.
The variety of flora found on Kilimanjaro is due to the mountain's tremendous height and in part to its proximity to both the equator and the Indian Ocean. Kilimanjaro is said to have between four and six distinctive zones: the forest zone, alpine heath, moorland zone, alpine desert, and the ice cap.