Kilimanjaro

Someone who wishes to break the traditional expedition boundaries and pushout into the exciting new era of mountain climbing. Prospective challengers must have banked up a combination of previous expeditions, ultra-marathons and / or similar endurance events. Your mental and physical fitness is key to your success!

To reach the summit of Kilimanjaro within 24 hours from Umbwe gate requires a high degree of fitness and prior climbing experience.  A typical profile for someone who is interested in attempting this challenge is the completion of the seven summits or similar prior experience. A typical applicant for this challenge will have done long summit days, of over 18 -20 hours in duration and will be able to competently move over complex terrain. You will need to arrive with a fine-tuned personal hydration and nutrition system and have a thorough understanding of your own personal limitations.

We run this on a 1 max 2 clients to guide ratio. It is considered a private and bespoke expedition.

This means you can set you dates and style as we go! It gives us the most flexibility in a successful and safe summit.

We are very open and inclusive and will be delighted to chat over what you do and why you feel this is for you. Nothing is impossible. Fitness and pre acclimatisation will be key and with a decent lead time this is all possible to achieve.

We are here to not only push the boundaries but to experience the most wonderful sides of Kilimanjaro. This is simply the most spectacular route. The Western Breach is considered a technical route therefore uncrowded and takes in aspects of the mountain few other climbers get to experience. We chose this combination for these reasons, while coincidently it offers the most direct and shortest line to the summit.

This route broadly follows a volcanic ridgeline that leads to a small alpine cirque where Barranco camp is situated. From there it ascends a steep scree slope to our campsite at Arrow Glacier at the bottom of the Western Breach. The Western Breach itself offers short sections of technical scrambling before we reach the rim of the volcano.  We will don our helmets and use additional equipment such as a rope for safety. On occasions we will need ice axes and crampons which will be portered with us as back up.

From here we descend into the cauldron before climbing a short but steep slope to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Kilimanjaro is famous for its unique range of habitats. This route showcases the best of these environments. We start our ascent in equatorial rainforest which host a vast range of plant and animal species endemic to this mountain. From here we move into dense, moss-covered heath forest before entering a broad moorland zone which hosts unique plant species like the Giant Groundsel and Lobelias. Above this lies the barren alpine zone and the desert like upper slopes of this mighty volcano.

This is a trekking route with technical sections.  It follows a well-marked but varied trail to the summit. The start of the route, in the rainforest is quite muddy and wet, above it the ground dries up and becomes rocky. The only technical difficulties on the route are on the Western Breach itself. Here there are several sections of rocky terrain that offer grade 2 scrambling which should well be in the climber’s ability to surmount. Our guides carry a rope to secure our passage through these sections.

Total ascent is 4,635 metres. Total descent is 4,679 metres.

The sections of scrambling encountered on the Western Breach are short and generally do not surpass grade 2 on the international scrambling grade. Minimal technical climbing skills are required but being sure footed and nimble with good balance is key. Specialist technical climbing equipment might be needed to climb these sections (for safety reasons only) and applicants wishing to complete this challenge should be confident in dealing with this type of terrain. The guides accompanying you on this challenge will be carrying to safeguard you on these short sections and to expediate your ascent.

For your enjoyment and success you will need to be extremely fit to complete this challenge. As a minimal requirement you should be able to carry a 5 – 7 kg load, continuously uphill, without long rest periods for 18 -20 hours. Long summit days on mountains like Aconcagua, Denali and Mount Everest are a perfect example of what level of fitness is required to attempt this challenge.

360 will have with us rope, crampons and ice axes as backup for use on the western breach! This is backup if conditions dictate the need, which is rare! You will need a climbing helmet to complete this challenge.

The aim of this unique challenge is to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro from the Umbwe gate within 24 hours. Our past challengers’ times have varied from 9 hrs and 50 minutes to 22 hours to complete this challenge.

Your guides accompanying you are not only Kilimanjaro specialists but world class expedition leaders. We provide you with a local crew who has ascended the mountain at least 400 times and an International Expedition Leader who has led multiple expeditions to 8000m peaks as well as having completed the Seven Summits challenge numerous times and Kilimanjaro over 60 times. Their job is climbing mountains and they relish this challenge of ascending Kilimanjaro within 24 hours just as much as you. Both your western guide and your local team will be familiar with Rapid Kilimanjaro ascents.

There are two training plans you need to follow for this expedition. One will be focused on your physical fitness and one is focused on altitude. Both are vital components for the completion of this expedition.

It is paramount to be properly acclimatised to 5,000m before coming out to attempt this challenge. Being properly acclimatised means you will be able to achieve this challenge without the need for supplementary oxygen, although we will have plenty as back up! Prior acclimatisation can be achieved by joining our expeditions to 6000m peaks immediately before commencing this climb and/or by being supported by The Altitude Centre in the UK. We have teamed up with the TAC and part of the adventure will start before you even reach Kilimanjaro.

Prior acclimatisation with The Altitude Centre in London (or remotely via them) is a pre-requisite for this challenge. The three-part plan with them will include:

1, An advanced mountaineering consultation

2, High altitude training

3, Hypoxic tents

The Altitude Centre tailors your acclimatisation plan around your schedule in the lead-up to the climb. The plan we put together with you incorporates your work/life/social commitments, as well as your current training and training history. The plans will range from 2 weeks to 8 weeks, depending on your initial consultation with The Altitude Centre team.

The aim of the Advanced Mountaineering Consultation (even for those who have climbed before) is to understand your genetic suitability for Altitude Sickness with no prior exposure having taken place (the same conditions we will see on Kilimanjaro). We will test your passive, active and cognitive function while at altitude and assess how we can help you best. The data collected will help us tailor your acclimatisation plan to build on your strengths and combat any weaknesses.

High-altitude training will take place primarily at home via the use of a home generator. These systems can generate altitudes up to 6500m and will allow us to use all 3 modalities of pre-acclimatisation. You will conduct IHE (passive), IHT (exercise) and Sleep sessions at altitude from home. The Altitude Centre team will provide all the training plans you need so nothing is left to chance with the Kilimanjaro weekend!

As we mentioned above, the more hours of exposure you can get in the tent, the better acclimatised your body will be to the altitudes it will be exposed to on Kilimanjaro. A minimum of 14 nights sleeping at altitude should be the aim, but the more the better!

Yes, The Altitude Centre work all across Europe and further afield so just ask!

No, this is a very separate cost and depending on your plan with TAC depends on the costs. We leave all of this in their hands!

As soon as you book the trip, we will put you in touch with our friends at The Altitude Centre to book your initial consultation. The Altitude Centre recommends booking your consultation as early as possible to give you plenty of time to put a plan in place for your training ahead of the trip of a lifetime!

The plan is not to use supplementary O2 BUT it is paramount that we will have it for back up with multiple delivery systems for your comfort and safety. During the expedition there will be O2 in all camps and we will have dedicated porters trekking with us caring your personal supply.

During the expedition your guide team will be monitoring your O2 saturation levels from the starting point to the summit at regular intervals. In the past our challengers have only begun to use Oxygen once they reached high camp (Arrow Glacier of Barafu at 4,600 to 4,900m respectively). They used it as a precaution only and they slept on Oxygen (2 l/p/min) for 4 -6 hours, before continuing 3 l/p/min to the summit. Having O2 helps with your rest, your speed and of course your hydration. It also helps with your body battling the colder elements that we feel at altitude.

We have an array of delivery systems in situ for different stages of the trek

• Nose canula for sleeping / or trekking early on
• Non rebreathing face mask for trekking past 4500m and on the trek to the summit – this mask delivers a higher concentrated O2 to the user
• Rebreathing face mask for sleeping

All the tubes will have neoprene covers for them to prevent freezing.

360 will be working closely with the Altitude Centre and once your training is complete we will decide if we should add Diamox to your acclimatising plan. If decided, we will be starting you on 250MG morning and night 24 hours prior to leaving the UK. You will stay on Diamox until summit night.

Yes, we are and we have one of the highest ratings possible. We are very proud of this – our porters and crew make your climbing and trekking possible. They sing and dance up the mountain giving us an incredible experience. In return, we do our utmost to support them back.

The mistreatment of porters can be a troubling challenge in the climbing industry. We are an approved Partner company with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project – KPAP – and the International Mountain Explorers Connection – IMEC – Partner for Responsible Travel Program.

We voluntarily participate with KPAP’s monitoring activities and allow KPAP to evaluate the treatment of our porters on all of our climbs. By climbing with us you can be assured that your porters are well taken care of.

KPAP also helps to improve the working conditions of porters by:

• Lending donated clothing at no charge to the mountain crew for use while climbing
• Educating the public on porter working conditions and climbing responsibly
• Providing industry guidelines for proper porter treatment
• Offering educational classes to porters

Again, yes we are. This is a very important aspect of 360 operations. Please do chat to 360 and ask for the full documentation on this to see how we operate, not only in Africa on Kilimanjaro but globally.

At 360, we LOVE what we do and are always striving to be better and do more good things.

We provide extensive training to our African team, such as the REC Level 4 Remote Emergency First Aid Course, conducted by UK expert in Rescue & Emergency, Allan Shaw. 

Not only does this keep our standards high and you all safe but we are helping build the skills of our guides, enabling them to push forwards in their careers.

All meals on the mountain are of the highest possible standard. In fact considering that our cooks have to produce the best possible meals in a wilderness setting using only the most basic of facilities (gas burners) the meals they produce are nothing short of a miracle. The meals are always fresh, nutritious and varied. We ensure that dietary preferences are always met and that the best local ingredients are used. The underlying aim is to provide balanced nutritional meals packed with carbohydrates to re-fuel hungry bodies and to keep stores replenished.

Snacks will also be provided at pop-up camps en route. You are invited to bring along any of your favourite snacks and goody bags from home if you want. Concentrate on high energy food-stuffs such as Jelly Babies or nuts to give you that little boost on an arduous day.

Absolutely, please inform the office of any allergies or intolerances and we will ensure that these are taken into account on the trek.

Many people get sucked into bringing along protein bars and energy gels, having never tried them before they embark on the trek.

This can leave them constipated and in excruciating pain at altitude.

We recommend trialling your snacks before you get on the mountain and see what works for your body. Every body is different.

This advice comes from 360 operating on Kilimanjaro for 20+ years, with co-founder Rolfe having summited over 60 times. Feel free to get in touch with us to chat over best snacks to pack with you on the mountain.

Our local camp crew will set up the tents for you. We send them ahead to secure the best site and to get the site prepared before you arrive. We will only be resting for a short time – this very much depends on when we arrive into camp and the pace we are keeping – but it is important to take rest when we can.

We bring along our own toilet tents with Portaloo units. This method allows us to maintain the best possible levels of hygiene without contributing to the toilet problems that can happen at some camps.

Our extensive experience and knowledge of the mountain has led us to understand precisely where and how to best carry out an evacuation from any given location.   As with all our expeditions we plan for the unexpected and have developed a thorough evac plan for any emergency that could arise. We always carry satellite phones and radios on the hill with us. We have unrestricted use of the mountain shelters and carry our own personal stretchers. We carry a Gamow bag and will have registered our team with the helicopter rescue service prior to the expedition.

Please remember you are with an expert team of leaders and guides who have worked in remote environments for decades. You have chosen one of the best providers in the industry and your safety is of paramount importance to us.

All our guides are in communication with each other by phone and radio. In addition the national park operates a rescue service on all the routes we use, this service is linked by radio to the park headquarters. In the vast majority of cases of emergency rescue the problems can be attributed to altitude and if so the solution is immediate descent to lower altitudes. Our local mountain crew are all experienced in dealing with any problems that arise. Our guides are either doctors or qualified with the highest standard of wilderness first aid qualifications and can handle any emergency to the highest level of competency, in the vast majority of cases without national park assistance.

There are different types of altitude sickness. Although our acclimatisation regime ensures that everybody enjoys the best possible chance of getting high on the mountain, altitude related problems can happen. The most common of this is high altitude sickness – AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Symptoms for this can include headaches, nausea and vomiting.

This sounds quite dramatic but generally this is just the process your body naturally goes through to adjust to the higher altitudes and the reduced partial pressure of the atmosphere. For some people, the acclimatisation process takes a little longer than others.

With your altitude training in collaboration with The Altitude Centre you should be in a good position and be well-accustomed to trek on the mountain. We will be carrying extra Oxygen to aid this too.

For our guides, this is all part and parcel of ascending a near 6,000m peak and, although we assess each client’s personal situation carefully, we also further consider the compounding effects of dehydration brought on by excessive vomiting and loss of appetite.

AMS might sound frightening but our guides are fully trained (and highly experienced) in helping relieve your personal symptoms and providing advice on how to best proceed.

In most cases AMS can be avoided by following these guidelines:

• Drink lots of water
• Walk slowly
• Stay warm
• Eat well

We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the various affects that altitude can cause.

During your pre-climb briefing, we describe altitude sickness to you in detail, and advise you how to cope with it. The most important thing is not to fear it, but to respect it and to know how to deal with it and more importantly tell your guides how you feel. Our guides have seen every condition that the mountain produces, and they will always know how to deal with problems.

In the lead up to your challenge, working with The Altitude Centre to prepare for your Flash ascent will be key.

HACE and HAPE rarely occur on Mount Kilimanjaro and our guides are fully trained in the recognition of the onset of these problems and will deal with them at the first sign of their development.

The Malaria protozoa generally does not survive over an altitude of 1,500m so once commencing the actual Mount Kilimanjaro climb Malaria poses no threat. The entry gate is at 1,800m. Both Moshi and Arusha however are slightly lower than this and particularly after the wet season there are frequent incidents of malaria amongst the local inhabitants of these towns. Your time in these places is however quite short and if precautions such as sleeping under mosquito nets, applying insect repellent and wearing long sleeve shirts and trousers are taken then the chances of contracting this disease is significantly reduced. If you are extending your stay in Tanzania to visit other areas, for example, doing the safari option, then you should take them.

We advocate a little bit of self-help on the mountain. If you have a blister developing for example then please stop take off your boot and treat it before it becomes a problem. Your own first aid kit should contain: a basic blister kit, plasters, antiseptic, high factor sun protection, your own personal medication (sometimes your porter might get to camp after you and if he is carrying your medication you may not be able to take it according to the regime you are used to), basic pain relief (aspirin and Ibuprofen), a personal course of antibiotics if prone to illness. Foot powder in your socks every morning is great for preventing blisters. Generally the best approach to take when packing your first aid kit is to include such basic medications as if you would on a family or personal holiday.

Your 360 expedition leader and / or a local porter (we call the ambulance man!) carries a very comprehensive first aid kit which contains a wide range of supplies and medications. They are fully trained to use whatever is needed for any emergency that may arise. We advocate keeping this in mind when packing your own first aid supplies and keeping your own FA kit as compact and light as possible.

The following vaccinations are recommended:

• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Polio
• Yellow Fever (see below)

This list is not absolute and it is important you should see your GP Surgery or travel clinic for latest recommendations and to ensure you are up to date on necessary vaccinations.

The advice about Yellow Fever vaccinations for travelling to Tanzania changes frequently and you must check with your GP surgery or Travel Clinic for the latest advice before you travel. We cannot advise you on this due to the frequency with which the advice changes.

Because of the huge variety of terrain encountered when ascending this mountain it is very important to wear the right footwear. Boots should be sturdy, waterproof, insulated against cold temperatures and offer adequate ankle support. In addition it is highly recommended that your boots are well worn in to prevent the formation of blisters.

A wide range of suitable boots are on the market and further advice as to which brands are available can be found online or at your local gear store. When in store try lots of boots on, use the ramps in the shops to test their traction, make sure they are comfortable as you will be almost living in them for days on end and they are very important.

It is not necessary to buy technical boots with crampon clips unless you plan to do more ambitious climbs in the future as crampons are not used to climb this mountain.

The bags the porters carry should be of a soft material (“duffel bag” or rucksack variety) and should not be a suitcase or hard bodied metal case. This bag should weigh no more then 15kg when packed for the mountain. On all our Mount Kilimanjaro trips we have found this weight to be ample and usually everybody can plan to take only enough clothes and equipment needed for the mountain.

Park regulations restrict porters to carrying 20kg only and on top of your luggage, porters also have to carry a share of the food, kitchen equipment, camping equipment and their own survival gear.

Inside the bag carried by the porters should be a change of clothing, your clothing for higher up the mountain, sleeping bag, personal toiletries etc.

They are highly recommended and are worth their weight in gold particularly when at the summit. Our guides wear them every evening from the first camp up. A layer system comprising of several layers of base and thermal layers, fleeces, and a thick jacket will suffice on most summit attempts but nothing beats the efficiency of a good down jacket (especially when topped with a water proof layer).

Should be rated within the -10C comfort zone. From the first camp upwards it is not unusual to experience frosty nights and a good night’s sleep is important to giving you the best chance to climb this mountain. Ensure you get a sleeping bag that has this temperature rating at this comfort zone rather than as its extreme zone.

Our guides take sleeping bags rated to well below -10C to ensure that they are warm at night. 3 season sleeping bags can be enhanced by using an inner silk liner (or similar), and ultimately by draping your down jacket over you. The idea is to be as comfortable and warm as possible and henceforth to ensure plenty of sleep. It is important to remember that down sleeping bags work by your own body heating the down that’s inside the bag. Once you have warmed the bag up the feather down will retain the heat and ensure that you sleep at a temperature that’s your own body temperature. For best results wear as little as possible when inside your sleeping bag. Our guides will often only wear a set of thermals in their bag. It is important for the bag to trap the heat. By wearing multiple layers of clothing your clothing will trap this heat and your bag will not function properly.

You can rent equipment from our friends at www.outdoorhire.co.uk. Look under Partner Kit Lists, 360 Expeditions and Mount Kilimanjaro. However, we do advocate the use of personal equipment when it comes to footwear, your boots should be well worn in to your own feet.

Tanzania almost straddles the equator and daytime temperatures are warm. Although around 30% of the population in Moshi and Arusha are Muslim there is not a very strict dress code for foreigners. When in Rome do as the Romans. Shorts and T-shirts are fine to wear during the day. Evening wear generally tends to be casual with long trousers and casual shirt appropriate for all hotels and restaurants. Tanzanians are generally quite conservative in their dress code and are generally well dressed despite their situation in life.

The optimal climbing seasons are late December through to early March when the daytime temperatures are the warmest and there is a reduced cloud cover. June through to October are also good as the daytime conditions are generally cooler but clear. Bear in mind that this time-frame coincides with the European and USA holiday season and that the routes may be busy. In October the crowds tend to vanish.

The temperature at the top of the mountain can vary widely. Sometimes it is only a degree or two below freezing, but visitors should be prepared for possible temperatures as low as minus 25 Celsius, especially in conjunction with wind chill.

360 Expeditions will be booking flights on your behalf. We provide confirmation of flight times and departure terminal approximately three weeks before your departure date. Please be aware that flight schedules are subject to change. Please ensure that you have checked your flight details before you set out for the airport.

You must carry individual travel insurance to take part in the trek. We cannot take you on the mountain without proof of insurance.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the appropriate insurance for your intended trip.  To include medical evacuation and coverage up to the maximum altitude of this trip.

Your insurance details are requested on the booking form, however this can be arranged at a later date. 360 Expeditions will be requesting your insurance details 8 weeks before your departure.

Your passport should be valid for 6 months after the date the trek starts. If it runs out before you may be refused entry. It is also advisable to have a couple of photocopies of your passport in case of loss.

Visas are compulsory for entry into Tanzania for UK citizens. Although these can be acquired relatively easily at the border, we recommend that you contact your nearest Tanzanian embassy to avoid queuing, unnecessary delays and potential clearance.

Tanzania High Commission UK

3 Stratford Place W1C 1AS

London, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 207 569 1470

http://tanzaniahighcommission.co.uk

You will be expected to reach a strong level of fitness and to be able to keep up a reasonable pace in order to complete the Rapid ascent. However, we can and will ensure from your previous mountain and altitude experience and general fitness that you are ready to complete a Rapid ascent.

The 360 expedition training programs have been devised to be expedition specific. Use these as a guide but also feel free to contact us for individual advice on how best to incorporate a suitable fitness program with your own lifestyle.

Having a strong level of fitness is a must for this style of expedition. It will lend itself to acclimatisation, enjoyment of the challenge, and summit success. This is not to be undertaken lightly, you will need to be at an optimal level of fitness ready for the challenge.

We understand this expedition is a great financial investment and lifetime experience. Generally speaking deposits are due upon booking as we need to book your international flights well in advance. The full amount should be paid 4 months prior to departure. However having said this, our aim is to get you to the top of this mountain and we understand that personal financial situations can vary. Please contact our friendly office crew to discuss a suitable payment plan should you find raising the funds to be difficult. We have after all been in your shoes and go by the motto of where there’s a will there’s a way.

Please read our terms and conditions careful before you depart. 360 Expeditions highly recommends trip cancellation insurance for all expeditions. Due to the nature and heavy costs of government and operator permits we must adhere to a stringent refund policy.

American dollars are readily recognised and are easily converted to the local currency. Upon arrival there is a bureau de change at the airport as well as a tempermental ATM just beyond the arrivals barriers. Generally these provide a better rate of exchange then your hotel.

For most situations when buying gifts or small goods such as drinks or snacks etc. The use of small denomination US($) dollar bills is not a problem. Getting change for a $20 bill when buying a $1 coke will be a problem. Larger bills are good for tipping your porters at the end of the expedition and a sufficient amount should be carried with you for this. Please refer to ‘how much do we tip our local crew’ for details on how much to take for this.

Please discuss with the office team ahead of your departure.

Although you will only be a small team i.e. one or two, there will still be a substantial local team working extremely hard to ensure that your expedition runs well.

Tipping the 360 leader is entirely at your own discretion.

If you need to leave early, arrangements can be made with the help of your guide. Additional costs (transport, hotels, flights etc.) will be incurred.

Opportunities to charge your batteries will be limited. If you can get hold of a solar battery charger this is probably the best option. This together with making sure that you keep your spare batteries warm i.e. by keeping them near your body day and night should mean that you can keep snapping all the way!

There is mobile phone coverage but this weakens to almost non-existent above camp 2. You do sometimes receive signal on top to relay the good news though. Your 360 leader will have a satellite phone that is used in emergency situations only.

The voltage is 220v / 50Hz like the UK. Rectangular or round three-pin plugs are used.

While we will do everything we can to provide adequate safety for the group and security for your possessions, the general rule is that if you don’t need it, don’t bring it. This includes jewellery, necklaces, rings and even watches. Your passport and money should be kept on you at all times. As with travel in any foreign country, you need to look after yourself and your possessions, and this is no different.

Tanzania has made a bold conservation move and has banned plastic bags – from production to importation and use within the country.

Visitors are advised to avoid carrying plastic bags or packing plastic bags in their luggage but please note that ziploc bags to carry toiletries will be permitted, on the basis they remain in your possession and are not disposed of within the country.  We suggest biodegradable nappy sacks and wet wipes.