Overview
About Nadia
Born in London and a true city girl in her 20s, it has only been in recent years that Nadia has discovered her passion for the outdoors and nature. Now, she’s making up for lost time!
Through her career as a travel writer, Nadia found herself trying new outdoor activities all over the world and as a total newbie started sharing her experiences in real time. With this came a relatability that her social media followers resonated with and now she’s ready to bring them along with her for the ride!
Nadia has enjoyed meeting like-minded people throughout her years of travelling. She cannot wait to bring a new group together for the experience of a lifetime.
About Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro (5896m) is not only Africa’s highest point, but it’s also the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Kilimanjaro is a huge crater known as Kibo over 2km wide with several distinct cones, the highest being Uhuru Peak. This 12-day itinerary includes seven days of walking on the Machame trail, the most scenic route to the summit. The Kilimanjaro climb incorporates seven days on the mountain which allows for great acclimatisation and maximises chances of a successful summit attempt. The route provides spectacular scenery and a wide variety of different landscapes. We start in scrublands thick with African wildlife and then move into lush forests followed by flowering alpine tundra. Above 4,500m the landscape changes to snow and rock as we approach the summit. This trek is suitable for people with a good level of fitness who enjoy a challenge. The sense of achievement after climbing Kilimanjaro and view from the roof of Africa makes all the hard work and effort well worth it!
About Nadia’s Kilimanjaro Climb
There are a number of added extra’s Nadia is doing on her climb. They are all optional, but we would love you to partake in them all.
- Training Days and Weekend: Nadia will be hosting five pre-departure training events! Four individual training days spread throughout 2021 on Slieve Donard, Lugnaquilla, Mweelrea and Carrauntohill and a weekend event in Glendalough in August. You will also meet an expedition leader, expedition doctor and your fellow adventurers! On the training weekend an experienced expedition leader will be giving a full expedition brief, leading two training hikes and offering expert advice on all aspects of the expedition including training, equipment, weather etc. You will need to register for the events 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.
- Team Facebook Group: Nadia would like to invite you to a private group where you can meet each other, share pics, share advice and get excited about this trip of a lifetime.
- Equipment for the Porters: We are asking you to bring any second-hand clothing that you no longer need for the hard-working porters that will help us climb Kilimanjaro. For more information about the porters and the items we are trying to collect please request an information pack.
- Tree planting: We are planting three native trees on your behalf in December 2021 in an effort to reduce your carbon footprint. If you would like to plant more, please contact info@earths-edge.com. Each extra tree costs €1.
- Mountain Cleanup: We are bringing three litter pickers on the mountain with us. While walking you will have the option to help us gather rubbish which we will dispose of responsibly after the climb.
When signing up for the adventure you agree to share your contact information with both Earth’s Edge and Nadia El Ferdaoussi so that you can be sent appropriate information about the trip and be invited to participate in the above activities.
Itinerary
Day 3
Machame Gate (1,490m) to Machame Camp (2,980m), 7 hrs trekking.
↓
Drive to Machame gate and then trek through Montane forest to reach Machame Camp.
Day 4
Machame Camp to Shira Camp (3,840m), 6 hrs trekking.
↓
Trek above the tree line to Shira Camp.
Day 5
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (3,950m), 7 hrs trekking.
↓
Trek to Barranco camp via Lava Tower (4630m). Today's route has stunning views throughout.
Day 6
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4,000m), 5 hrs trekking.
↓
Trek through an alpine desert to set up camp in the Karanga Valley.
Day 7
Karanga Camp to Kosovo Camp (4,800m), 5 hrs trekking.
↓
Trek to Kosovo camp and prepare for tomorrow's summit attempt.
Day 8
Kosovo Camp to Uhuru Peak (5,896m) to Millennium Camp (3,832m), 14 hrs trekking.
↓
Trek to the summit of Africa! Afterwards, descend to Millennium Camp.
Day 9
Millennium Camp to Arusha, 6 hrs trekking.
↓
Trek to Mweka Gate and then drive to Arusha. Enjoy the pool and bar at the hotel in the afternoon and evening!
Day 10
Day of leisure.
↓
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.
