CLIMBING AND TREKKING IN EAST AFRICA – where, how and why.
Part Three – Climbing Kilimanjaro

In the third of our blogs on climbing and trekking in East Africa, Jeremy Gane looks back fondly on 30 years of leading and organising Kilimanjaro climbs.

I often think of the vast, wild, high slopes of Kilimanjaro. Volcanic rock broken down by millennia of cold and wind to become a moonscape of fractured pinnacles and high-altitude desert. I love so much those higher slopes when I climb Kilimanjaro, these wild and wonderful places, where solitary raptors soar above, shy antelope, and occasionally even a leopard may cross the trail. It is peaceful there.

In these quiet, restricted Covid19 times I think of Shira, Kibo and the more challenging Mawenzi. They are the three volcanoes that make up the Kilimanjaro massif. Most climbers will focus on reaching the summit of Kibo – the “Roof of Africa” – but they will likely engage with Shira and Mawenzi on the way up. Take the Lemosho, Machame or Shira route and you will cross the caldera of Shira, a vast sunken volcanic cone, which is now more like a high altitude heath that dips and then slopes upwards as you trek south to north. Take the Rongai Route and you will almost certainly camp at one of my favourite Kilimanjaro camping sites, Mawenzi Tarn, from where you can look up at the dramatic rocky and somewhat dangerous face of Mawenzi, with its shattered volcanic rim. I’ve had two aborted attempts to climb Mawenzi and I’m not just day-dreaming about going back for the third attempt this summer (covid-allowing!) – I am actively planning the expedition!

I think of the amazing, tough and reliable Tanzanian leaders, guides, cooks and porters who take the tourists up Kilimanjaro and without whom it would not be possible to make the ascent. They too are dreaming of the time that climbers will return to Kilimanjaro, bringing work, revenue and adventure.

Most mountain climbers will confirm that some of their best memories are of those quiet moments, high on the slopes of a great massif when they have been alone and wondering at the magnificence of the great mountain and perhaps putting into some context their own miniscule part in the scheme of life. The climber is able – even during the busiest climbing season – to be alone in the vast high-altitude desert of the approach to the summit, or in the moon-like crater of Kibo, or in the heathland off the waymarked trails and designated camp sites. The Kilimanjaro massif offers the climber a vast and magnificent landscape that is around 80kms long and 40kms wide.

For Gane and Marshall, Kilimanjaro has been the heart of our business since 1991, when we first began organising climbs of Africa’s highest summit. In those 30 years of planning Kilimanjaro climbs, there have been many groups that have stood out. These have included some very prominent and high profile events, including the Comic Relief Red Nose Day climb, which took place almost to this day 12 years ago, and which saw a team of celebrities led by Gary Barlow summit and descend Kilimanjaro in good health and great spirits. It was a wonderful event to be a part of.

But equally memorable for me have been many of our regular Kilimanjaro climbs, and the climbers who have joined us on our open group climbs to the summit. The two intrepid climbers in the photo below are Eloise and Samantha. Youth and lots of pre-climb training worked wonders for them and they breezed up the mountain on one of our Shira8 open group climbs. They looked strong and together at the top – almost ready to go higher! It was a delight to see them approach, summit and enjoy Kilimanjaro with such great spirt, and it’s lovely to think that Eloise’s mother also climbed both Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya with us.

In the second half of 2021, we hope to begin organising our Kilimanjaro scheduled group departures once again. Later this year, we will also be launching a series of micro-challenges for UK charities and corporates, which will include Kilimanjaro. These micro-challenges are intended to accommodate a maximum group size of 8 and have a low environmental footprint, yet still retain the great dynamics of a group challenge. Gane and Marshall will donate 10% of pre-tax profits to go to environmental projects and all flights will be carbon offset. If you are interested in joining us to the Roof of Africa, whether on one of scheduled departures, as a micro-challenge or a private climb, do get in touch!

You can also read more about our Kilimanjaro climbs, and the different routes we offer, on our Kilimanjaro pages.