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Africa
Africa
is a continent of contrasts, it accounts for over a
quarter of the world’s land mass and 10% of the
worlds population. It’s the fastest growing continent
on our planet.
Its variety of tribal people and cultural customs are unequaled in the world.
The diversity of landscapes that these people live on are equally interesting,
ranging from arid deserts to equatorial forest.
Our planned trip to the cradle of mankind will take you on a journey of adventure
that will challenge you physically as well as stimulate and open your senses
to Africa’s people, scenery, culture and wildlife. It will promote a greater
awareness and understanding about Africa as it is today.
Trip Itinerary
Our trip will take us on an adventure of a life time to climb MT. Meru a beautiful
extinct Volcano as an acclimatization trek before attempting the highest mountain
on the African Continent, Kilimanjaro. Then we go on safari to see Africa’s
wild life to Lake Manayara and Ngorongoro the crater of the rain gods.
Mt. Meru
Mt Meru is a beautiful mountain and an ideal mountain to acclimatize on before
our attempt on Kilimanjaro. It is known locally as the little giant.
Meru is a collapsed volcano and is not very well known to climbers and scientists.
It is the third highest mountain in Africa standing at a height of 4565 meters.
The ascent of mount Meru is not at all comparable with that of Kilimanjaro. We
will have armed guides on the first section of this trek as there is a great
presence of wild life on the lower slopes due to the variety of plant life and
large areas of pronounced vegetation.
We will approach the summit by a spectacular trek through the rain forest and
then out onto an alpine meadow before we ascend along the ridge line of the crater
rim which will give us views of the caved in crater and it’s central eruption
cone. While climbing on Meru we will be using huts to sleep in on the mountain.
From Meru’s summit we will get impressive views of our main objective,
Kilimanjaro.
Kilimanjaro
Our main objective on this expedition is to stand on the summit of the highest
freestanding mountain on earth and the highest mountain in Africa.
Kilimanjaro stands 330 Kms south of the equator on the Northern boundary of Tanzania.
It is indeed a fascinating mountain and to climb it we will endure a climb that
will take us through five different climatical changes as we push for Africa’s
highest point named Uhuru Peak, Peak of freedom.
Mt. Kilimanjaro’s five Major zones
1 The low lands of cultivated banana and
coffee plantations.
2 The rain forest.
3 Open moorland and alpine meadow.
4 High desert that is like a moonscape terrain.
5 Finally onto the upper slopes of the mountain
in Arctic conditions.
It is indeed a unique mountain with temperatures from +20 degrees Celsius in
the cultivated zone to –10 degrees Celsius in the Arctic zone.
Our route will take us up the Machame,western Breach route to the summit. This
is the most impressive route of ascent for the ordinary mountain walker and the
most interesting treks on the mountain. The route culminates with an exciting
scramble through the huge amphitheater of the Western Breach. We will be camping
on route.
Optional Safari
Lake Manayara
We will camp in a small town called Mto wa Mbu (Mosquito Creek) which is at the
base of the Rift Valley. The escarpment of the Rift valley looms high on the
horizon forming an impressive backdrop to the lake and the town.
The large variety of mammals, reptiles and birds and the different types of vegetation,
are all within this area, which will make our visit to Lake Manayara a diverse
and particularly memorable place to see.
Ngorongoro Crater
Few places in the world have such spectacular scenery as this vast and arid area.
No words or pictures can prepare the visitor for the beauty of their first view
of this magical crater.
The crater of the Rain Gods was formed aeons ago when layers of heat and boiling
magma beneath the surface of the Great Rift Valley sought release.
It was born in the same kind of mighty explosion that lifted the nearby Kilimanjaro
towards the heavens.
Over the Millennia, as the fires died and the volcano sank back beneath itself,
leaving the walls of the crater as a protection to the mystical mysteries that
was created within the crater floor. Now it is teeming with wildlife and vegetation.
It is impossible to give a description of the size and beauty of the crater,
you will just have to see it yourself. It is a wonder of the world.
We will see the big five here but as well as that this area has some of the worlds
richest archaeological sites. Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli give a fascinating glimpses
of our own revolution through the past four million years. This may be well be
one of the places where we all began.
While here we also hope to visit a village of the famous Maasai warriors and
see how they live.
We return to the city before we depart for home. This trip is planned to give
as best possible a greater understanding to us of what Africa is all about as
well as giving a chance to fulfill an ambition to the Climb to the top of the
worlds highest freestanding mountain by the most interesting route on the mountain.
Health Precautions/ Gear Lists
Immunizations for Africa
You have to get several immunizations before you leave for Africa, so it is advisable
to see your doctor for an up to date on what’s currently required.
Special
note:
We will all be subjected to vaccination checks at customs. It is important to
have our vaccination cards signed and with us.
Exploring
The Great Wonders of Africa with Pat Falvey
General daily Itinerary
IRISH AND WORLDWIDE ADVENTURES
Irish African Kilimanjaro Expedition 2004
Mt.
MERU/ KILIMANJARO CLIMB / SAFARI:
Day 1: Leave Ireland.
MT. Meru
Day 2: Drive to Arusha
national park gate where our first trek begins, today we
climb to 2750 meters to the Miriakamba hut.
Day 3: A 4Hrs walk
climbing steep ground through the path of the rainforest
to the saddle hut at 3750m. In the Afternoon we climb
to the summit of Little Meru and then return to Saddle
Hut.
Day 4: The start
for the summit is made early in the morning around Midnight
to Mt. Meru summit 4566m thereafter we descend to Miriakamba
hut, we should arrive back by 10 to 11 am. Relax for
one hour and descend to Gate.
Day 5: Rest day in
Moshi and briefing for Kilimanjaro.
Kilimanjaro main Climb Machame Route
Day 6: Drive to Machame
village at 0900Hrs start walking through the rain forest
to the Machame Hut at 3000meters.
Day 7: The Machame
hut camp site to the Shira hut at 3800 meters. We leave
the glades of forest and follow that ascending route
on the moorland to our camp site.
Day 8: Acclimatize
day in Shira hut camp site another overnight at 3800m.
Day 9: Ascending
you pass the “Last Water Point” walking on
to our base for the ascent of the mountain at Lava Tower/Arrow
glacier. We have a few hours rest before our final attempt
on the mountain.
Day 10: Early start
for the summit up the Western Breach. The route is exposed
and is a classic scramble, usually there is no need for
crampons but if we have a bad rainy season they might
be handy for the descent. We make our way onto the crater
rim before a final ascent to the summit to UHURU PEAK
the highest point in Africa at 5896m (19340 feet). From
here we descend straight down to Horombo hut and overnight.
This day will be the hardest and will take between 15
to 18 hours.
Day 11: Descend down
to Marangu gate, transfer to hotel overnight and debriefing.
Safari 3 Days
Day 12: Drive to
Lake Manyara, packet lunch dinner and overnight at campsite.
Day 13: Lake Manyara
for seeing the Big Five, there after we overnight Mto
wa Mbu (Mosquito Creek) at the base of the great Rift Valley..
Day 14: After breakfast we cross to the
upper reaches of the Great Rift Valley on way to Ngorongoro Crater, (Crater
of Rain Gods) afternoon game drive dinner and overnight at Simba campsite.
Day 15: Travel to
Arusha Celebration dinner.
Day 16: Free day
shopping
Day 17: Departure
from Kilimanjaro .Day 18 Travel back to Ireland
The above itinerary is subject changes depending on conditions on the mountains
and on change in transport within countries.
Entry and exit visas
We will get entry and exit Visas in Kenya and Tanzania.
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