Kilimanjaro Climb for Moving Mountains

Kilimanjaro Climb for Moving Mountains

This is a special fundraising climb for Moving Mountains, run by our staff in Tanzania and joined by some of the MM team from Kenya and one of the UK trustees. The aim is for this trip to enable us to fund all the educational costs we have in Kenya and Tanzania, including children's fees and teachers salaries, plus the running of Ulamba Childrens home and the early child development unit.

The funds that you raise through climbing Kilimanjaro will have a direct impact on the ground in Kenya and Tanzania. You'll climb with the people who manage our projects, learn about them, our beneficiaries and East Africa. We'll also visit N'garoni Primary School, which we're mid way through constructing, on the slopes of Kilimanjaro.

It will be a seven day challenging trek up the mountain to reach the summit of the highest peak in Africa, and we are hoping that we will attract a team of supporters who will be helping the charity to continue it's great work. We promise an adventure and experience that you'll never forget, with an expert support and guide team and plenty of fun and enjoyment!

The cost of the trip includes all the land costs of climbing the mountain, which you can pay yourself if you wish. 

More about the Kilimanjaro Climb

Kilimanjaro translates to “mountain of the springs” and its unique position just below the equator offers an opportunity to experience five different habitats from bottom to top, which makes an ascent of the mountain undeniably special. In a matter of days you’ll climb Kilimanjaro from the equator to what feels like the Arctic, moving through grasslands, tropical rainforest, alpine meadows, moorlands and desert uplands to snow and ice.

The Machame Route we will be doing is a camping trip using quality mountain tents, and qualified local guides who work with us full time, porters who carry the bags and equipment, and cooks who provide fresh, tasty food every day. The ratio of guide:climber is 1:4.

From the start you will have experienced people who love the outdoors to talk to in the office, all of them have climbed Kilimanjaro several times and can give an honest appraisal of the Kilimanjaro climb. This personal service extends to Tanzania where our in country director Castro will give a team briefing along with our head guide and cook and be on hand all the time. He will introduce you to the guides who all speak good English and understand that this is more than a holiday, it is a personal dream to summit the roof of Africa and support the charity. 

Mount Kilimanjaro fitness and terrain

The terrain on Kilimanjaro varies throughout; in a period of seven days, traversing the mountain over 38 miles, ascending from 2000m to 5895m and back down, you will pass through cultivated farmland, equatorial forest and alpine heath, across a lunar-like volcanic desert and up to a glaciated summit. Climbing Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb and there are no precipitous drops along the way, no rock climbing or specialist equipment needed. 

The paths are in good condition and well trodden; some are steeper than others (in particular the Great Barranco Wall is an exciting scramble) and you will most likely meet people all along the way. On summit day the path is mostly scree, which can be loose and unrelenting, especially on the descent when your knees will probably suffer.

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a non-technical trek but it does offer a full mountaineering experience. Experience in hill walking is a benefit but not absolutely necessary, since this is a supported climb. You will have however be outdoors constantly and living in tents so any sort of experience with camping will be useful and a good level of training is expected, especially on the thigh and calf muscles. 

The staff will carry your main bag up to a maximum weight of 15 kgs plus all the tents, kitchen equipment, food, fuel, tables and chairs. 

Mount Kilimanjaro kit list

• Strong, waterproof duffle bag or rucksack for your main gear
• Waterproof day sack of about 30 -40 litres for carrying your daily needs
• Sleeping bag rated down to -10° Celsius or more if you get cold easily
• Sturdy hiking boots with ankle support, and a sole that does not bend too easily. Gore-Tex lined fabric boots are fine but not quite as warm as leather. Gaiters are advised also.
• Waterproof windbreaker and trousers, preferably breathable, with a hood and big enough to accommodate several layers beneath
• Down jacket or a heavy duty fleece for warmth especially on summit night
• Thermal underwear or long johns for summit night
• Balaclava or insulated warm hat, insulated gloves or mittens and thermal inner gloves
• Sun hat, sun lotion, SPF lip screen and sunglasses
• Trekking clothes - trousers and shorts, shirts and T-shirts, jumper or midlayer fleece, underwear and several pairs of hiking socks, trainers or sandals
• Water bottle and/or camelback (take a protective cover for the mouthpiece) and water purification tablets (optional, iodine-based is fine)
• Head torch with spare batteries
• Trekking poles (especially useful for coming down from the summit)
• Personal wash kit include a nail brush, moisturising cream, a small towel, tweezers, soap, nail clippers and wet wipes
• Variety of waterproof bags - for dirty clothes, sleeping bag and things to keep dry
• Personal first aid includes aspirin, Nurofen, plasters, Germolene, Immodium, strepsils and prescription medicines for possible gastric problems
• Passport, insurance papers, spending money, air tickets, spare batteries and powerbanks, camera.