KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

Adult Group Holidays Challenging / Tough Walking & Trekking RT Trip Specific Serious Adventure

12 days from GBP1,549 to GBP2,197 including flights
Tripcode: TYR

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Countries Visited: Tanzania

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  • KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

    What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!

    Written July 2009

    We all had a fantastic trip and will long smile about the happy memories of a great experience! 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
    Reaching the top of the highest free standing mountain on the planet surely is enough inspiration for anyone thinking about embarking on this trip?
    What did you think of your group leader?
    The group leader was very good, though the real quality was in the assistant guides: their knowledge, passion and committment to seeing us to the top was immense! They were literally brilliant and made our trip.
    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
    Thoroughly plan everything before you go and then feel free to really immerse yourself in the trip, safe in the knowledge that you're as prepared as humanly possible and don't have to worry about anything you may or may not have remembered!
    Is there anything else you would like to add?
    Nothing other than a fantastic time was had by all and I would thoroughly recommend it to one and all who may be interested.
     
  • KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

    What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!

    Written March 2009

    An amazing trip for those that love a challenge. 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
    Waking up to camp covered in snow and dropping down a few hundred metres to a sunny valley covered in giant plants. Being expertly led down a path that had been turned into a fast moving stream by a sudden storm of huge hailstones a real feeling of being alive.
    What did you think of your group leader?
    All our guides were great people and had been walking Kili for years. I always felt well directed and safe. The Africa Walking Company are the local operator and highly recommended.
    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
    Take your time and go on one of the longer trips such as shira or lemosho glades for maximum acclimatisation. All of my group made it - we met the Rongai group at the airport and they weren't as successful. Don't forget a waterproof cover for your daysack! Stamina is key - not fitness. Train by long walks rather than or as well as running.
    Is there anything else you would like to add?
    Don't miss this!
     
  • KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

    What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!

    Written March 2009

    An absolutely brilliant experience and one I won't forget in a hurry. Every cold night in that tent was worth it and I would recommend this trip to anyone I thought would enjoy it.  

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

    Reaching Stella Point was the big moment for me, it was actually more emotional than reaching the summit. It was such a long tough climb, and you are tested mentally as well as physically, everyone in our group made it which was fantastic and it was a wonderful moment to share.

    What did you think of your group leader?
    The group leader was great, he learned everyones names straight away and always made sure we were feeling okay. He gave good advice to those people not feeling well and was extremely knowledgeable.
    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

    Take lots of evergy snacks to eat along the way. Although the guides will give you chocolate bars and fruit i would recommend taking some of your own. Kendal Mint Cake comes highly recommended!

    Also, buy the highest season sleeping bag you can get, it is cold in those tents, and if you can't sleep it does not bode well for the next day. Also invest in some good thermals. Its worth paying a bit extra.

    Is there anything else you would like to add?

    It was a tough trek, but worth every minute of it. I thought the conditions (toilets, washing etc) would be a struggle, but for me it just made the holiday more interesting. (And highly amusing at times!)

     
  • KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

    Had a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friends

    Written November 2008

    A great trip - would definately recommend doing this longer trip which gives you 8 days on the mountain, than one of the shorter ones. I have friends who have done shorter trips and who have ended up with altitude sickness. I followed the instructions and drank lots of water and I think that along with the longer time on the mountain, this was why I didn't even have a headache! 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

    The sunrise after the 6 hour trek up to Stella Point. Never has a sunrise been so welcome! Our whole team of 11 made it to Uhuru peak which was fantastic - and a credit to the African Walking company that led us up there.

    What did you think of your group leader?
    Mr Obote was friendly and pleasant and kept an eye on us all. He shared the position at the front of the group when walking, with other guides some days. The trip was different to previous trips I have done in Nepal in that there was not a lot of local information imparted to us unless we asked, and we were not really told what to do at the campsites as much. But the up-side to this was that the time in the camps was a bit less regimented and controlled. You could have a little freedom to explore the immediate area if you wished. We were always given an itinery for the next day which was useful. The other guide and helpers were friendly and the porters cheered and danced when it was announced we had given them a high amount of tips.
    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

    Take Toilet roll!! On previous trips, the toilet tent always had a roll in there, but on this trip it did not. Toilet roll became a bit like gold dust and became a barter material! So yes - don't forget to pack plenty.

    Be prepared to be a bit shocked by what you find behind most rocks and boulders on the trail - other people obviously haven't waited to find a toilet!

    Also - take a small scarf to tie over your mouth on the dusty paths. It may have been due to the time of year (with the scree not being frozen), but the clouds of dust kicked up by those in front on the summit day descent in particular, left me with a cough for a week after we got home.

    Make sure you are as fit as possible before you go - the last thing you want is to be worried about acheing legs when you can't catch your breath. Also - consider taking a general antibiotic with you. 2 of us on the trip benefitted from this when we had stomach upsets.

    I would say take iodine with you- lower down, the water was purified by the leader with something that smelt like chlorine - but as I understand it, this doesn't kill everything. When we asked if it had been boiled, it turns out no - they had purified it lower down as it was 'stagnant' water (nice). But higher up where the water was free flowing- they would boil it! Seems the wrong way round to me! Anyway - I put iodine in it all - but recommend neutralisers and maybe Berocca to take any remaining taste away.

    Is there anything else you would like to add?

    Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by the first few days easy walking round the Shira Plateu. Although there are some longer days as the trip progresses - the summit day is still a bit of a shock to the system. It took us a long 6 hours at -5 degrees in the dark to Stella point, another hour to Uhuru peak (this last bit is easy compared to getting to Stella Point), then 2 and a half hours back to Barafu camp. After a break - it was another couple of hours to Millenum Camp (but they sell beer!). Its a nice camp with trees around but very dusty - but as I said...they sell beer!

    Also - we were not expecting a 6 hour walk the last day to get back to the pick up point. The trip notes hadn't mentioned how long it would be. It was very pretty in the forest - but a long and rushed descent.

    Basically - it was an excellent trek - the glaciers on the top were amazing - the scenery is so barren and rugged and dramatic. The Baranco wall is very imposing and looks so hard - but actually it was quite fun scrambling up parts of it, and it is in an area you actually see plants!

    As long as you are pretty fit and aware of the joys of sleeping in tents and roughing it a bit, I would highly recommend this trip!

     
  • KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

    Had a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friendsHad a great time - we’ll be recommending Exodus to friends

    Written March 2008

    The trek from start to finish exceeded my expections. I would find it difficult to fault it in any way. 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
    Seeing the sun rise from Uhuru summit was quite an emotional experience for us all.
    What did you think of your group leader?
    Our leader and guide inspired and cajoled us all the way through the trek. Their happy and positive leadership was one of the reasons we all made it to the top.
    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
    Be prepared for a very tough but enjoyable time on the mountain. Try and get youself in good condition before you go, because if you dont then there are are times when you will struggle, especially on the final leg to the top.
     
  • KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

    An enjoyable holidayAn enjoyable holidayAn enjoyable holidayAn enjoyable holidayAn enjoyable holiday

    Written March 2008

    For a first timer on such a trip, the information available on what to take and what not to take was very misleading. I could've taken certain things in place of other stuff I didn't need. 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
    The final ascent to the summit of Kilimanjaro
    What did you think of your group leader?
    Excellent, great bloke
    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
    Read as much info as possible and seek out advice from someone who has been before. The information available was too vague and was obviously given as an idea for you to make your own mind up, not good if you have never done anything like this before. Needs to be more specific.
    Is there anything else you would like to add?
    More information required, I cannot emphasise enough how much you need to specify requirements for this trip. The trip itself is fantastic, the guides and porters were fantastic, the list of things to take leaves a lot to the imagination. You are obviously restricted on weight and size of the things you take, therefore you inevitably omit certain things and also take things that you shouldn't.
     
  • KILIMANJARO CLIMB - SHIRA ROUTE

    What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!What can I say? An absolute classic!

    Written February 2008

    Better than Rongai.....but only just! Absolutely brilliant! Once again, I loved it, hated it, and then loved it again! And I wanna go back for more punishment! :) 

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    What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
    Getting to the summit for the second time in truly awful weather conditions. Leaving Barafu in a raging snowstorm, howling winds, and a chill that went right to the bone was not fun. It was difficult to stand up let alone walk and scramble over icy rocks! Rest breaks should have been a welcome relief but not on this night, as soon as you stopped walking you simply froze in the icy wind and all I wanted to do was get moving again! The snow was being blasted into my face so hard I felt like I was being hit by hundreds of needles!! The walk from Stella Point to Uhuru was as hard as it was from Gilman's to Uhuru the year before but to get to the summit in those abysmal conditions made it even sweeter than before! Afterwards our guides said those conditions were the worst in 5 years!
    What did you think of your group leader?
    Peter, Mussa, and Zabron were brilliant. They only had the 5 of us to look after but they were top class. Friendly, knowledgeable, and determined they made sure all 5 of us got to Uhuru and back down again safely. Everyone from the leaders to the boys who put the tents up were faultless. They all did a fabulous job, each and every one of them. I particularly admired the lad who had to look after our toilet tent! A crap(!) job but someone had to do it and a toilet tent is a luxury compared to the huts!!
    Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
    Take Diamox! Take a water tube insulation cover for your Camelbak! Take hand/feet warmers! You may not need the warmers but I'm glad I had them 'cos the weather was tortuous during our final ascent!
    Is there anything else you would like to add?
    Shira is so different to Rongai. It looks and feels like you are climbing a totally different mountain. The scenery is very different on the two routes. Shira is harder than Rongai because it's much more rugged and rocky. And Kibo looks far more dramatic and imposing on the Shira side. Also, on Shira you've got the Barranco Wall and Lava Tower to look forward to. For these reasons I prefer Shira over Rongai. I've fallen in love with Kili. I want to climb it again. It's such a beautiful mountain to climb and I don't think I will ever get bored of it. It wasn't easy for me and at times I hated it but then I loved it again. The sense of achievement is unreal and all the pain and torture is quickly forgotten...until the next time....Northern Circuit beckons!!
     
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Olly, Brendan, David, Alistair and Susanne.


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EXODUS BROCHURE

 
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This trip is featured in the Walking & Trekking brochure.

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