Overview
About Dermot Whelan
Dermot Whelan is an award-winning Radio and TV Presenter, Comedian and Public Speaker. He presents the hugely popular Dermot and Dave Show on Today FM and has appeared on television shows and stages all across the globe. He has picked up more than 15 IMRO Radio Awards, a National Meteor Award and a ong at the New York Festival Awards for the World’s Best Radio Shows.
In December 2021, Dermot presented ‘Big Night In’ with on RTÉ One alongside co-host Doireann Garrihy. The very well received show included laugh out loud celebrity pranks, nail biting studio games, audience surprises and a Christmas stocking full of other treats.
Dermot has written his first book ‘Mind Full: Unwreck Your Head, Destress Your Life’ which is a number one bestseller. The book is a fun and accessible guide to meditation.
Alongside his media work, Dermot is a certified Masters of Wisdom and Meditation Teacher, qualifying in California with one of the world’s leading experts in corporate stress management and meditation practice. He has been a practicing meditator for 10 years and has joined forces with mental health advocates, A Lust for Life and annual youth conference, Zeminar. He has also worked with many schools to introduce mindfulness practice for students.
About Earth’s Edge
We are the only company in the world who have an experienced expedition leader and doctor on our Kilimanjaro (5,896m) expeditions while keeping group sizes sustainably small. Having an expedition leader and doctor on all our Kilimanjaro expeditions allows us to deliver an unrivalled level of safety and service for each and every one of our clients.
About Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro is not only Africa’s tallest mountain standing at 5,896m, but it is also the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Kilimanjaro is, in fact, a huge crater known as Kibo and it is over 2km wide.
Our 12-day itinerary includes seven days of trekking on the scenic Machame Trail. This time-frame allows for excellent acclimatisation and increases the chance of a successful summit. This route is also rich in biodiversity, and you will experience ever changing landscapes. From spotting African wildlife in the low scrublands, you trek through lush forests followed by striking alpine tundra before finally ascending over scree and past glaciers to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.
This trek is suitable for people with a good level of fitness. You do not need mountaineering experience to climb Kilimanjaro. Unlike most companies who spend their last night before summiting in Barafu camp, we stay in Kosovo camp. Kosovo camp is a much quieter camp, and is 120m higher in terms of altitude. This cuts an hour off our summit night!
The expedition leader and doctor work in tandem with our incredible Earth’s Edge team of guides and porters to deliver an exhilarating experience each and every day on the trail! The morning ritual of native song and dance gets the blood pumping in the early sunlight, and will help you reach the top!
There’s also a free day at the end of your trip where you can get some well deserved R&R by the pool, or go on an optional one-day Safari in Tarangire National Park.
About Dermot’s Kilimanjaro Expedition
The total cost of climbing Kilimanjaro is highlighted above. To book your spot, you are required to pay a 399.00 deposit. You can pay the remaining balance by instalments or in full. All fees must be paid three months prior to departure.
Your fees include the following:
- Return international flights from Dublin to Kilimanjaro
- Experienced expedition leader
- Experienced expedition doctor
- Earth’s Edge team of guides, porters and support staff
- All accommodation
- All meals (except in Arusha where accommodation is on a B&B basis)
- A celebratory dinner at the end of the expedition
- All transport throughout the expedition
- National Park fees
- All group gear consisting of first aid kits, mountaineering equipment, cooking equipment, etc.
- Use of state of the art tents and thermarests
Extras:
In addition to the above, there are a number of added extras Dermot is offering on his climb. They are all optional, but we would love you to take part in them all.
- Training Weekend: Dermot will be hosting a training weekend in Wicklow in advance of the expedition. This weekend is a chance for you to meet Dermot, an experienced expedition leader, and your fellow adventurers! On the training weekend, an experienced expedition leader will give a full expedition brief, lead two training hikes and offer expert advice on all aspects of the expedition including training, equipment, weather, and more. You will need to register for the event once you have booked your place via the Earth’s Edge booking portal. Training days are included within the price of the trip. Food and accommodation required for the training events are not included.
- Virtual Meet and Meditation Session: Before we leave home soil, Dermot will introduce you to the fundamentals of meditation and will lead you in some scientifically proven techniques to destress and prepare you for the exciting road ahead using tips from his “Vision to Win – Using the Secrets of Sports Stars to Get What You Want” talk! This will be another perfect opportunity to meet your fellow adventurers from the comfort of your own home.
- Mountain Meditation: Dermot will lead you in a very special guided meditation as you embark on your trek in the most powerful of settings. Together with Dermot, you will set your own private intentions for the climb, reflect on what you are ready to leave behind and engage with the power of the breath to focus your strength and resilience for this amazing journey skyward!
- MIND FULL: A signed copy of Dermot’s book “Mind Full: Unwreck your head, Destress your life”, in which Dermot asks the question for all of us: how do we know when our minds are full? And what can we do about it before our heads are wrecked? This book is his bestselling no nonsense, incense-free, hilarious guide to relaxing the head, reducing anxiety and living a calmer life.
- Exclusive Facebook Group: Dermot would like to invite you to a private Facebook group where everyone can meet each other, share pictures, share progress and get excited about this trip of a lifetime.
When signing up for the adventure you agree to share your contact information with both Earth’s Edge and Dermot Whelan so that you can be sent appropriate information about the trip and be invited to participate in the above activities.
Itinerary
Day 2
Arrive in Tanzania
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Arrive in Kilimanjaro International Airport in the afternoon. Transfer to our hotel in Arusha and then relax for the rest of the day. Have an expedition brief before dinner. Overnight hotel.
Day 3
Machame Gate (1,490m) to Machame Camp (2,980m) 7 hrs trekking
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After breakfast and meeting the Earth's Edge guides, we drive for just over an hour to Machame Gate (1,828m). At the gate we register with the National Park and then meet our team of porters. Once we start walking it’s not long before we enter the stop for lunch and then continue to Machame Camp in the afternoon. Overnight camp. Altitude 2,980m.
Day 4
Machame Camp to Shira Camp (3,840m), 6 hrs trekking
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After breakfast we leave Machame Camp and follow a steep trail all the way to the Shira Plateau. We stop for plenty of rests and photos throughout the day. We set up camp in the early afternoon and relax for the rest of the day. Overnight camp. Altitude 3,840m.
Day 5
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (3,950m), 7 hrs trekking
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We leave Shira Camp and walk east towards Lava Tower, a huge rocky outcrop. After five hours of walking along a rocky trail we have lunch just before Lava Tower, reaching 4,630m before walking back down to Barranco Camp. This jump in elevation greatly helps us with acclimatisation and is key to a successful summit attempt. After lunch we descend 680 metres to set up camp below the Barranco Wall. Overnight camp. Altitude 3,950m
Day 6
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4,000m), 5 hrs trekking
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The day starts by walking up and over the Barranco Wall which is not quite as hard as it looks! We are rewarded with great views of Kilimanjaro, the Heim Glacier and the surrounding landscape. The trail then enters the Karanga Valley with many short ascents and descents as we cross many small streams. We set up camp just after the Karanga River and spend the afternoon relaxing. Overnight camp. Altitude 4,000m.
Day 7
Karanga Camp to Kosovo Camp (4,800m), 5 hrs trekking
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After breakfast we walk along a ridge towards Barafu Camp where we register with the park rangers. We set an easy pace to ensure good acclimatisation. As we gain altitude the landscape becomes completely barren and free of vegetation. We continue on a steep trail to reach the much quieter Kosovo Camp. Because of the elevation this campsite is colder than previous camps but the views are amazing. We spend the afternoon resting, eating and preparing for tomorrow’s summit day. Your expedition leader will give you a full summit brief in the afternoon. Go to bed very early in preparation for the big day! Overnight camp. Altitude 4,800m.
Day 8
Kosovo Camp to Uhuru Peak (5,896m) to Millennium Camp (3,832m), 14 hrs trekking
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SUMMIT DAY! We rise very early (usually around 12:00a.m), and move at steady pace as we walk on steep scree to reach Stella Point (5,685m). We take a short rest at Stella Point to enjoy the sunrise. From there it's a further two hours on an often snow-covered route to reach the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro (5,896m)! All the effort is well worth it as the feeling of being on the roof of Africa is second to none! After a short stay at the summit we start the descent to Millennium Camp. Overnight camp. Altitude 3,832m.
Day 9
Millennium Camp to Arusha, 6 hrs trekking
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After a hot breakfast we walk downhill for six hours and finish our trek at Mweka Gate. From the gate we drive back to Arusha and enjoy a well earned hot shower! The rest of the day is spent resting tired bodies by the pool. In the evening we enjoy a celebratory meal and some drinks at the hotel. Overnight hotel.
Day 10
Day Of Leisure
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Relax by the pool or go on our optional safari day if you still have some energy left!
Facts
Kilimanjaro lies within the 756-square-kilometre Kilimanjaro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is one of the few places on earth that supports five major ecological zones: rain forest, heath, moorland, alpine desert and glaciers.
There are actually three volcanoes that form Kilimanjaro and they are Shira, Mawenzi and Kibo. You will pass Shira on route to the summit, but it is Uhuru Peak on the volcano of Kibo that marks the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and the highest point in Africa. Its last eruption was around 200 years ago and today Kibo lies dormant.
In 1889, German geographer Hans Meyer and Austrian mountain climber Ludwig Purtscheller were the first to climb Kilimanjaro.
Approximately 25,000 people attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro annually. About two-thirds of them are successful. Altitude-related problems are the most common reason climbers turn back.
The Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project is an American run Tanzanian NGO which campaigns for the fair treatment of porters on Kilimanjaro. KPAP send an investigator on all our Kilimanjaro treks to monitor porter welfare. KPAP investigators report on porter compensation, tips, clothing, food and the weight of their loads. Earth's Edge is a proud partner of KPAP.
Kilimanjaro is not a peak you can climb on your own. It is mandatory to climb with a licensed guide and have porters carry your equipment. This sustains the local economy and allows local people to reap the rewards of tourism.
Best time to climb Kilimanjaro
In Tanzania, there are two wet seasons and two dry seasons. The "long rains" run from March through May and the "short rains" run from November to mid-December. Outside these times is considered the dry season. It can still rain during the dry season but statistically, it is much drier. This makes January, February and June through to October the best time to climb the mountain.
What you need to climb Kilimanjaro
We have an extensive packing list on what you should bring with you when hiking Kilimanjaro. You can view this packing list here.
How to prepare to climb Kilimanjaro
We have classified Kilimanjaro as a level 5 expedition, for more information about our levels system click here. We expect participants to have a very good level of fitness. Although this is not a technical climb, it is very steep in places and you will be gaining height very quickly. The group moves at a comfortable pace and nobody is ever left behind. Nevertheless, it is your responsibility to contact us if you have any concerns regarding your level of fitness, health or ability to complete the trek. We strongly recommend that you read our information pack, which gives in detail on how you should prepare for climbing Kilimanjaro. You can read this document here.
Read our Kilimanjaro blogs
Are you looking for even more information on this expedition? We have lots of extra insight into our Kilimanjaro trips here. You can also watch our Youtube playlist here.
Sustainability
Certified B-Corp
Earth’s Edge is a certified B-Corp. In fact, we are the highest scoring B-Corp travel company in Ireland. We are passionate about sustainable travel, bettering the lives of the people connected with the company and minimising our environmental impact.
Tree Planting
We plant 30 native trees in Nepal for each person that travels with us in partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects. If you would like to plant more, please contact info@earths-edge.com. Each extra tree costs €0.15 cents. Learn more about our tree planting here.
Available Dates
No dates available.
