KILIMANJARO CLIMB
ABOUT THE CLIMB • WHAT TO EXPECT
CLIMBING ROUTES • DATES & PRICES
ABOUT THE CLIMB
You stand victorious at the summit, on your Kilimanjaro climb to the pinnacle of Africa, a testament to the power of the human spirit. The climb is a brutal test, but one that you conquer with fire in your heart as you bask in the glory of the view.
Trekking through the five unique zones, each with its own wild beauty, you push yourself to the brink. But with every step, your self-confidence grows, fueled by delicious meals and your guiding team, elite in every way. But most of all, it is your own daring spirit, saying yes to the challenge, that brings you to this life-changing moment, which will be forever etched in your mind and soul.
READ WHY ALL OUR CLIMBERS RATE US 5-STARS
AFRICA'S HIGHEST PEAK
Kilimanjaro commands attention, a stark and solitary giant towering over a sea of clouds. Within the protective confines of UNESCO's Kilimanjaro National Park, this awe-inspiring mountain is a dual-peaked wonder - Kibo and Mawenzi - their gleaming spires glittering like jewels in the brilliant sun.
But a Kilimanjaro climb to the summit is merely the start of a wondrous journey. After achieving this majestic peak, brace yourself for an untamed escapade on a wildlife safari, immersing yourself in the indescribable spectacle of the massive animal migration, or embark upon an enchanting odyssey back in time to the fabled island of Zanzibar.
Tusker's Kilimanjaro climb narrated by Will Lyman from National Geographic.
THE RAINFOREST
An exhilarating encounter with nature awaits on your first day. You climb through the lush rain-forest of Kilimanjaro, where narrow trails wind beneath a canopy of towering giants and black and white Colobus monkeys bark at you from the upper branches.
ON THE CLIMB
You emerge from the lush embrace of the rain-forest, humbled by the grandeur that awaits. As you trek through three distinct vegetation zones, the greenery recedes, leaving you exposed to the raw splendor of the rugged terrain on your summit ascent.
THE SUMMIT
The pinnacle of your journey. After countless days of trudging up the trail through the thinning air, you reach the summit, the crown of Africa. Take in the wilderness below and let the feeling of euphoria wash over you, your reward for your perseverance.
TANZANIA IS ADVENTURE
A little-known fact about Tanzania is that one of Kilimanjaro’s most dramatic features are the glaciers. They are diminishing but still incredibly dramatic, especially on your last day of your Kilimanjaro climb, hiking amongst them toward the crater rim.
Another spectacular experience is to hike down into the crater, then up to the Ashpit, the second highest point on Kibo peak. On two of our climbing routes – Lemosho and Tusker Spiral – we camp down inside the amazing crater, allowing you to wander amongst the glaciers and up to the Ashpit, where fumaroles are evidence of Kilimanjaro’s dormant state.
KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK
- Discover Kilimanjaro National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The highest mountain in Africa, and one of the famed Seven Summits
- Explore 5 distinct vegetation zones
- Discover Kilimanjaro’s extraordinary flora and fauna with expert guides
- Camp beneath a vast canopy of stars
- Finally, complete Kilimanjaro from your bucket list
THE CHALLENGE
You’ve seized the challenge. You’re in the best shape of your life. Now what? Climb Kilimanjaro! Now it’s all up to you and your guides. Along with the challenge, your mountain guides are the heart and soul of your adventure. They bring a richness of knowledge, experience, and training, critical to the success and safety of your Kilimanjaro climb. As you rise to the challenge, your guides ensure you that you are ready to face it with full resolve and commitment. They are your backstop all the way to the summit, ensuring that you are healthy, strong, and successful.
Before you sign up, you should call our office to speak with EDDIE FRANK, Tusker’s owner and founding guide. You’ll get an insider’s view and knowledge that will turn your Kilimanjaro adventure into a life-changing experience. Eddie has climbed Kilimanjaro 54 times, giving him a ton of experience and a wealth of Kilimanjaro knowhow.
Question? Ask Us Anything • +1.775.833.9700 • 1.800.231.1919
REACHING THE SUMMIT
If you listen to the many thousands of Tusker Trail climbers, they say that reaching Kilimanjaro’s summit on their Kilimanjaro climb was one of the most incredible personal accomplishments they have ever achieved. 98% of them reached the summit on an adventure which changed them forever, empowering them to do greater things in their lives. And many have come back for more, recapturing the powerful emotions at the summit. This is the magic that Eddie has injected into all of Tusker’s treks, especially on Kilimanjaro. It’s the magic that all Tusker guides and crew understand. It’s the magic that he learned as a young boy from his father.
A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE
Set yourself on a journey of self-discovery, by embracing the spirit of adventure and shedding your fears. It's a journey not just of the body, but of the mind and spirit, teaching you valuable lessons that stays with you for a lifetime.
But a Kilimanjaro climb is more than just an item to check off your list, it's a transformative experience that takes you to a deeper inner place. With each step on this epic journey, you will feel a sense of empowerment and the realization that you can accomplish anything. This feeling will stay with you for the rest of your life, it's a journey that is life changing.
REFUEL IN TUSKER’S SIGNATURE MOUNTAIN CAMP
Rising to the challenge of a personal quest does not mean sacrificing the rewards of a well-earned tough day’s climb. As you embark on your mountain journey- both inner and outer- you deserve to be supported and nourished. Our meals, prepared by chefs trained by the Culinary Institute of America, will not only sustain you but will thrill your taste buds and feed your spirit, fueling you for long days on the climb. Our Adventure Kitchen is the ultimate culinary experience on the mountain.
Your camp should also be a sanctuary after a day's grueling hike, a place to rejuvenate and replenish your strength. It should be a haven where you can relax and share stories of with your fellow climbers, and nourish the camaraderie. And then fall into a deep slumber in our specially designed full sized walk-in mountain tents, engineered by Eddie for the unique needs of climbing Kilimanjaro. It's time to rise to the challenge, in comfort and style.
HOW TUSKER TRAIL WAS BORN
For Eddie Frank, the journey to the summit of Kilimanjaro began decades ago, as he led wild and rugged expeditions across the African continent. The mountain's call was always there, a siren song that could not be ignored. Eventually, he answered the call, leading his first group up the majestic slopes. Almost 5 decades ago, when only a few audacious travelers dared to climb the mountain and the Marangu route was the norm, Kilimanjaro was just beginning to be designated as a national park. This was before the adventure world knew what was yet to come.
Ferrying across the Congo River on a Trans-Africa expedition in 1983
It put a smile on his face when Eddie when he first set foot on Kilimanjaro. He knew then that he would spend the rest of his life leading adventurers and organizing climbs through this paradise. Almost 5 decades and 54 climbs later, Eddie has explored every inch of the mountain, helping establish the reputation of the Lemosho route that thousands of climbers use today. But his most important climb was in 2004, when he met mountain guide Amy Micks, who became a guiding light for Tusker Trail, as the two of them explored the far corners of the earth.
With the number of Kilimanjaro climbers on the rise, they charted a new and more extensive route, the "Tusker Spiral Route." This trek takes you around the entire mountain, allowing for proper acclimatization and spending the night after the summit camping in the rarely visited crater, just beneath Uhuru Peak. All of Tusker's climbing routes are designed to instill the same sense of awe and wonder as every person feels on their very first adventure. That’s the goal.
Now, Tusker leads thousands of adventurers on journeys of discovery around the globe, from Everest Base Camp, to the Greenland's fjords, Mongolia's far west, and of course, on Eddie and Amy's favorite routes on Kilimanjaro.
Question? Ask Us Anything • +1.775.833.9700 • 1.800.231.1919
THE KILIMANJARO EXPERIENCE
The experience and the challenge on a Kilimanjaro climb is one of pure wildness and raw beauty. It is a journey that takes you deep into the heart of Africa, where the land is wild and the people are fiercely independent. As you make your way up the mountain, you are surrounded by towering peaks and endless skies, the only sounds the crunch of your boots on the rocky terrain and the distant call of the wildlife.
The climb is demanding and grueling, but the rewards are well worth it. As you reach the summit, you are greeted by breathtaking views of the surrounding wilderness and a sense of accomplishment that is truly unparalleled. The Kilimanjaro experience is one that will stay with you for the rest of your life, a reminder of the wildness and beauty that still exists in this world, and the power of human determination and spirit.
But it's not just a physical challenge, it's also a mental one. The altitude, the cold, the solitude, all conspire to test your willpower and push you to your limits. But when you reach the top, standing on the roof of Africa, you'll realize that it was all worth it. The view is truly spectacular, and the feeling of triumph is indescribable.
A FIELD GUIDE TO THE FLORA OF KILIMANJARO
Kilimanjaro, the majestic mountain of Africa, teems with life. A verdant tapestry of vegetation drapes its slopes, beckoning the curious and adventurous to explore. Amy and Eddie Frank, alongside Swiss biologist Thomas Rüegg, embarked on a decade-long journey to document the diversity of this flora. And from their labors a comprehensive field guide was born - coveted by climbers from every corner of the globe. To set foot on Kilimanjaro is to be enveloped in a world of natural splendor. And with this guide in hand, you'll be able to savor every moment of your climb.
Read this excerpt from the BOOK FOREWORD by Dave Bunn, former Director of the California State Department of Conservation.
"Speaking as a seasoned wildlife biologist, I know that this volume will become an indispensable resource for anyone climbing Kilimanjaro. It allows you to immerse yourself in the unique, compelling world on this mountain, the highest solitary peak in the world.“ -David Bunn
You will receive a signed copy of the field guide in your pre-climb package.
AMY FRANK TALKS ABOUT THE FLORA...
“I have always been amazed by the diversity of the Flora on the lowlands and slopes, of Kilimanjaro. It was a shame that no compendium of the Flora existed as a learning tool. As luck would have it Eddie and I met Swiss biologist, Thomas Rüegg who also felt the same way. Ten years and dozens of summits later, we published our field guide, The Flora of Kilimanjaro."
THE BEST ROUTES
There are seven routes through the wilds of Kilimanjaro National Park, all leading to Uhuru Peak, the summit. But Tusker climbs four of the most scenic LEMOSHO, TUSKER SPIRAL, MACHAME & UMBWE. Each one is a unique challenge, each one guaranteed to give you the ultimate experience. The latest route, forged by Eddie and Amy Frank is the Tusker Spiral Route, a true masterpiece of the mountain. A circumnavigation of Uhuru Peak, it takes in the untamed trails of the north, west, south, and east, with extra days to acclimatize to the thin air. This is the longest and most rewarding route, but also the one most likely to lead to the summit.
A DAYTIME SUMMIT CLIMB
Most companies climb to the summit at midnight. However, we have found that a daylight summit climb takes advantage of the magnificent views and warmer temperatures. This allows you to get a good night’s rest, essential for a successful summit bid after many tough days on the trail. We do a daytime ascent on our longer routes - LEMOSHO & TUSKER SPIRAL.
ELITE GUIDE TRAINING
Eddie Frank, Tusker's audacious founding guide who trained the elite Special Forces of the US Army at high altitude, and his partner Amy, have been training Tusker’s own elite team of Kilimanjaro Mountain Guides for almost two decades. Tusker’s guiding team have guided thousands of climbers to the summit over the past four decades, with an impeccable summit success rate of 98%.
PRIVATE CLIMB OPTIONS
Just imagine - embarking on a journey to the summit of one of the world's most majestic peaks on a Kilimanjaro climb, surrounded by climbing companions of your choosing. You can tailor your own Kilimanjaro climb. The flexibility to choose your own dates allows you to fully immerse yourself in the experience. Simply reach out to us and inquire about the possibilities of a private climb and let us guide you on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
KILIMANJARO'S CLIMBING SEASONS
The weather on Mount Kilimanjaro varies by altitude and season, with each season having a unique appeal. See the summary below to find out what the weather is like throughout the year. After years leading climbers to the summit in all kinds of weather, we are happy to talk to you about the best time to climb.
Question? Ask Us Anything • +1.775.833.9700 • 1.800.231.1919
SUMMER
In the southern hemisphere, during the months of December, January and February the sun shines brightly, and the air is hot and dry, making it an attractive time for climbing. However, as the climate changes, we are seeing an increase in precipitation during this traditionally dry season. Weather patterns that once seemed predictable are shifting, making it important for climbers to gear up accordingly.
FALL
Fall begins in March and goes through April and May. As the weather starts cooling, the rainy season approaches. For safety reasons (slippery ice near the summit) Tusker does not run any climbs from Mar 15 to May 30. It is typically very wet at lower altitudes and starts to get dangerously icy on the crater rim towards the summit.
WINTER
Winter begins in June and continues through July and August. During this season, you will experience the beauty of snow-covered peaks and glaciers. This is the most pleasant, coolest time of the year, and is one of the more popular seasons to climb.
SPRING
Spring occurs in September, October, and November. It brings new life as the countryside welcomes you with colorful blooms. As this is the short rainy season, Tusker does not run any climbs from November 15 to December 10.
KILIMANJARO WEATHER AND WEBCAM
We are in the business of staying on top of Kilimanjaro’s weather conditions. From days to months out, we adjust our climb logistics according to historically predictable weather conditions. Additionally, as a Kilimanjaro first, Tusker Trail has been operating a live Kilimanjaro webcam since 2004. Tusker has also created the web's most comprehensive Kilimanjaro Weather resource page where you will find Moshi and Summit weather forecasts, live wind and satellite weather maps, climb tips by elevation zone and weather based climbing gear recommendations where you can benefit from Tusker's years experience of leading Kilimanjaro Climbs.
Before you climb be sure to check Tusker's Kilimanjaro weather page, with Kilimanjaro forecasts, wind and satellite mapping, plus weather -based climbing tips.
Today's current view of Mount Kilimanjaro by Tusker Trail's KILICAM in the foothills of Kilimanjaro, uploading live photos around the world since 2004.
PHOTO GALLERY
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WHAT TO EXPECT
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