Slideshow

Bob and Pete...oldies at the summit

Everybody knows that climbing Kilimanjaro is easier than many of the big mountains out there, but it is still no walk in the park, and a lot of boomers and seniors out there are put off by the thought that they are just too old. Another reason why older people often defer is the fear of being placed in a younger group that will put them under pressure to perform at pace which might undermine the whole experience and ultimately prevent them from summiting.

The latter fear is not unjustified, and it really does make sense to avoid putting yourself in a group of 20-somethings if you are 50-something or above. At MEM Africa we are coupled with Eco Travel Africa, a company run by Bob Holdsworth and Peter Baxter who both are over 40 ( although Bob is in denial) and who specialize in over-50s and boomer travel in East Africa. Bob and Peter have both climbed Kilimanjaro many times, most recently on the Northern Circuit and Western Breach, and both lived to tell the take.

Kilimanjaro is a challenge, but it is a challenge well suited to older climbers because ethe gradient is forgiving, conditions are rarely technical, and a solid but steady pace is almost always a sure way to the summit. MEM Africa was also recently priviledge to arrange a climb for Stacy Fulton who was climbing with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and succeeded in reaching the summit after a tough but rewarding climb. Stacy writes a little about her trip on this site, and it is definitely one to read for those wondering whether they should or not.

MEM Africa should be your first choice in senior and special needs groups for Kilimanjaro and East African Northern Circuit safaris. Get in touch with Bob or Peter or Mohammed of MEM Africa who would glad to set you up with an exclusive trip, but would also be happy to give you all the info you need to drag your sorry old carcasses up that mountain…!

The Beautiful Crater Camp

This year MEM Tours Africa hosted an unusual itinerary for Kilimanjaro which it must be said has very few untrammeled options left. Planning for the trip began around the idea of a Western Breach summit to which MEM MD Mohammed Shabay added the additional thought of approaching the summit via Rongai Route and the Northern Circuit.

The Northern Circuit is as the name suggests the northern quadrant of the series of trails that circumnavigate Kibo Crater. Ecologically and topographically the Northern Route is very different to the much more commonly used Southern Circuit. It is drier and more uniform in texture and consists mainly of undulating slopes falling slowly away from the ocher red peak of Kibo. The vegetation, as with the scenery, is much less dramatic, but is also softer on the eye and certainly easier on the body and mind.

Most interestingly though the trail once it has veered west of the main Rongai Route is narrow, little used and dotted with small campsites bereft of trash, clutter and most importantly crowds. Our group, consisting of friends from various parts of the world, spent the first five days more or less alone on a beautiful landscape moving slowly around towards the western edge of the crater. To the north the plains of Ambroseli and the Highlands of Mount Kenya were often visible, with the many shades and moods of Kibo a constant present on our left.

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The legendary Western Breach

There is a great deal of misinformation in circulation about the Great Western Breach which is an ascent route  to the summit which is most commonly, but not exclusively, used via the Shira or Lemosho Route. To separate fact from fiction we have addressed some of the  morecommon misconceptions surrounding this phenomenon:

FICTION: The Western Breach is an easy climb

FACT: This is not so. The Western Breach is in fact the most physically challenging of all the approaches to the summit of Kibo. (Uhuru Peak) The Breach ascends a 3000ft nearly vertical rock face from Arrow Glacier Hut to the crater’s rim (from 15 700ft to about 18 600ft), and it requires heavy leg work to cope with the gradient and the scree underfoot. At the same time it is necessary to keep more than one eye open for falling or loose rocks which make up the principal danger of this route. In addition, and at certain times of the year, ice and snow is a hazard.

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A View Of Ol Doinyo Lengai

Tanzania is not just about Kilimanjaro and Serengeti. This is a country of rich and diverse natural landscapes, and MEM Tours Africa offers a number of different trekking options to cover as much of the country to the walking traveler as possible.

The Ngorongoro Highlands is a jewel in the Tanzanian crown, and although the vast majority of visitors to the region flock to the crater itself, and to the lodges and camps that ring that extraordinary natural feature, there is actually much more to the reserve than just this.

Under the protection of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority is the archeological site of Oduvai Gorge, and a large area of tropical highland, peppered with dormant and active volcanoes, the climax of which is the starkly beautiful Ol Doinyo Lengai Crater which has seen recent volcanic activity is 2007 and 2008.

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Sunrise from Moir Camp

This year we will be launching our Rongai Route/ Western Breach climb that offers a unique version of both of these iconic climbs. We have fixed a date for Sat Sept 19 to kick of this great offer, with a starting offer of US$2200 per person including airport pickup, all transfers, fees and guide/support logistics for the duration of the climb.

This will be a unique opportunity to challenge yourself on one of Kilimanjaro’s most demanding routes, while at the same time take the road less traveled by approaching the summit via the seldom used Northern Circuit, and the reaching the summit via the iconic Western Breach.

This is a climbers climb, and is not for novices and beginner. The summit will be via Arrow Glacier Camp, and the punishing Skree Climb of the Western Breach. This is not a well trodden route and expect to meet very few other climbers en route.

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Mawenzi Peak from Rongai Trail

This year MEM Africa is introducing a few new versions of the Rongai Route trail to tempt you along the path of the favorite Kilimanjaro alternative.

The favorite alternative…

Rongai is the northernmost route, and one of the least developed of the active Kilimanjaro trails. The trail commences close to the Kenyan border and approaches the summit along the barren northern slopes.

Rongai differs from the southern and eastern routes of Kilimanjaro by being drier and more uniform in landscape, but it also features a number of deep caves that serve as sheltered accommodation for the few groups that use this trail.

MEM Rongai 2009

Our trips this year will include both the Northern and Southern Circuits, beginning after a morning drive to the border settlement of Lotokitok, and utilizing Rongai Route proper for the first few days. We will link up briefly with Marangu Route with a night at Kibo Camp, after which we continue southwards to link up with the Southern Circuit. With nights at Karanga and Barranco Camps, we will round the Southern Circuit and attack the summit from the Western Breach.

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