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Archive for the ‘Kilimanjaro’ Category

Travel Reading Series: Two Books about the Seven Summits

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Anyone with any interest in mountaineering today has heard of the infamous Seven Summits – the highest point on each of the seven continents. But just 30 years ago, no one had ever heard of such a concept and only a few had even thought about it. No one had achieved the feat.

To learn more about the seven summit climbs, I read two books this month. The first is Beyond Everest: Quest for the Seven Summits written by Pat Morrow and published in 1986. The second was Seven Summits: The Quest to Reach the Highest Point on Every Continent edited by Steve Bell and published in 2000. Both books were fascinating and helped me to understand just how difficult these climbs can be.

To read the full book review click here.

Start your own quest for the Seven Summits and join one of our upcoming expeditions:

Aconcagua, Argentina, South America

View trip description.

  • January 14-February 3, 2012
  • January 12-February 1, 2013

Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa

View trip description.

  • January 20 – February 2, 2012
  • July 13 – 26, 2012
  • September 1- 14, 2012
  • December 21, 2012 – January 3, 2013
  • December 28, 2012 – January 10, 2013
  • January 18-31, 2013
  • February 8-21, 2013

Mount Elbrus, Russia, Europe

View trip description.

  • June 29, 2013-July 14, 2012
  • June 28, 2013 – July 13, 2013
  • June 28 – July 13, 2013
  • July 12-27, 2013

Mount Vinson, Antarctica

View trip description.

Joanne and David Take on Kilimanjaro

Monday, February 21st, 2011

And they’re off! Follow along as David and Joanne Genyk of Alberta, Canada attempt to summit Kilimanjaro—Africa’s highest peak. They are having a great time so far and we look forward to their updates.

Read Joanne and David’s daily dispatches at: http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_cyber/2011/2011-02-13-kili-lemosho/main.php

Berg Adventures is Listed on IMEC “Partnership for Responsible Travel Program”

Saturday, February 19th, 2011

By Tracy Jacobson

The moment you step foot on the base of Kilimanjaro, at the gates, you will be welcomed by your support team who will be there with you every step of the way until the end of your climb. These guys will amaze you with their work ethic, energy, and endless smiles.

Every morning after breakfast, you will grab your daypack and leave your camp. You glance back and see the camp filled with all of the group supplies: tents, tables, chairs, food, duffle bags, and toilets you used the night before. You hike ahead with your group and guide, move towards the next destination. Before you know it, porters are passing you, “Mambo vipi?!”, “Jambo!” they say with a smile; one carrying your duffle bag, one with chairs and one with food—the porters march ahead of your climbing team.

Hours later you arrive at your next camp; exhausted, ready to eat and rest. To your amazement, this next camp is set up. You are welcomed with song as your support team gather to sing you all into camp. Your duffle bags are by your tent; the cooking tent radiates smells of the delicious hot meals.

Each day as you move higher and closer to the roof of Africa, the air gets thinner. You feel the toll of multiple hiking days but are able to keep moving forward because your basic needs are met, above and beyond all expectations.

The porters and staff who make this all happen do not always receive the treatment and pay they deserve.

Unfortunately, there are many situations happen on the mountain. Even to this day companies try to make more money by cutting costs, and the ones who directly suffer are the porters. Porters typically do not have contracts with companies, they are either hired days before, or literally at the gates. The money they make on each trip, even if only a couple of trips a year, could pay to feed their families. Not the case for a lot of porters: low wages, or if any kind of payment/tipping (they may never see if the guide decides to pocked it), carrying loads too heavy (more than 20kgs), and/or they do not get the same quality food or decent sleeping accommodations while on the mountain.

There has been an organization set up (the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project) to ensure that the porters working for companies running expeditions on Kilimanjaro adhere to the fair treatment and pay the applicable amount to the porters they hire.

Berg Adventures was recognized by the Porters Assistance Project and IMEC (The International Mountain Explorers Connection), and was listed on the “Partnership for Responsible Travel Program” for our standard of operations and fair treatment of our porters.

Berg Adventures considers the hard working porters a big and very important part of the team. We believe very strongly in fair treatment and respect for porters and have had the opportunity to hire our core group for multiple trips.

When picking a company to climb with, you are hiring the entire operation. It is recommended you do your homework, and ask questions; don’t assume the company will take care of their porters.

Find out more information on Berg Adventures Kilimanjaro Trips.

For more information on the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project: please go to http://www.kiliporters.org/

An Award-winning Short Story Inspired by a Berg Adventures Climber

Monday, January 24th, 2011

You may recognize Julia Kochuk from the ‘Meet the BAI Climber’ in our website. In March 2009, she joined Berg Adventures on the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Expedition for a climb to the top of Africa, Mt. Kilimanjaro, to raise awareness and money for the organization. While she loved the climb and the safari, it was the people she met there who have stuck with her and continue to inspire her today, nearly two years after her experience.

Now a writing student at the University of Victoria, Julia has used her creative talents to write a short story directly inspired by her Tanzanian experiences. But, Julia didn’t stop after writing the story. She has now published her award-winning story “Amani” as a book complete with photos from her trip and with illustrations by her friend and artist, Jen Bonter. Proceeds from this beautiful book will go to the Linde School outside of Arusha, Tanzania.

This May, Julia and her friends will be taking the proceeds raised from the book sales, directly to the Linde School. They will spend approximately four weeks distributing the money and volunteering at the school teaching English and hanging out with the children during recess.

Read more about Julia’s Kilimanjaro Climb in 2009.

More details about the book “Amani”.

To order “Amani” or to donate: http://web.me.com/julia_rose/linde_store/__uniLINDE_store_..html

Kick off your New Year with a Trip to Kilimanjaro

Monday, December 27th, 2010

We still have room on our February 2011 trip to the roof top of Africa—Kilimanjaro– via the Lemosho Traverse. This route is the ultimate way to experience Kilimanjaro as it slowly traverses across the mountain’s diverse ecosystems and takes you to its rarely visited places. You will hike through an old growth forest, along a remote plateau, below the northern ice fields, inside the crater and finally, up to the summit. This unique route includes an awesome night camping in the crater at 18,700ft/5700m. For more information on this and other Kilimanjaro trips click here.

To make your trip an even greater adventure, add a safari to your itinerary. We have 3 day, 6 day and custom safari options available. Click here for details.

Dates for the Lemosho Route: (Some dates are flexible, contact our office for details.)

  • February 13-26, 2011
  • June 24-July 6, 2011
  • July 8 – 21, 2011
  • August 5-18, 2011
  • September 2 -15, 2011
  • December 23, 2011-January 05, 2012

Please refer to the Kilimanjaro Dates & Prices page for more information.

Kilimanjaro Climbs In December and January

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

The Lemosho Traverse is one of our most popular routes on Kilimanjaro, Why?

  • A 9-day climb increases summit success
  • Hiking high, sleeping low
  • Wake at sunrise for your summit attempt
  • Sleep a night in the crater at the highest point in Africa!

We have limited spots available for the following dates:

December 18 – 31, 2009
January 09 – 21, 2010
January 22 – February 04, 2010

Add on a 3 or 6 Day Safari after your climb!

For questions or bookings, Contact Tracy at Berg Adventures.

Lemosho Traverse Itinerary: http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_trips/africa/kilimanjaro-lemosho-itinerary.php

Previous Lemosho Trip dispatches: http://www.bergadventures.com/v3_cyber/2009/2009-02-27-kili-lemosho/main.php

Kilimanjaro Rongai Climb and Safari

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

On the less travelled north side of Kilimanjaro, Sherwood and Michelle, a brother and sister team, will trek the Rongai route on their way to Uhuru Peak, the very top of Africa. After an unforgettable journey on Kilimanjaro they will begin their ultimate safari. For six days they will explore the African savannah, viewing large numbers of animals including lions, zebras and giraffes.

Read expedition dispatches…

Kilimanjaro Climb – Lemosho Traverse

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

After reaching the crater rim, Jan, Amanda and Rob will go for the summit or take advantage of a night’s rest in the crater before waking in the early morning to ascend to the top of Africa. With the ultimate experience of sleeping in the crater camp they will get the opportunity to have a closer look at the marvels of Kilimanjaro’s towering glacial wall of ice.

Read expedition dispatches….

Marjorie Dietz Reaches the Top of Africa

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Marjorie Dietz, from Alberta, Canada, summited Kilimanjaro at 4:45pm on July 13, 2009.

Read the latest expedition dispatch for more details.