KILIMANJARO LEMOSHO
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Frequently Asked Questions
Trip Details
Full details & information about what you can expect in the lead up & during the challenge.
Costs & Fundraising
The balance for your trip cost, will be due to us 10 weeks before your departure. You will be sent a reminder & an invoice 12 weeks before, giving you 2 weeks to make the payment.
80% of your fundraising target is due to be with your charity 12 weeks before the challenge, meaning that it either needs to be banked with them, or sat against a Just Giving page. We will then invoice your charity for the remaining cost of your place on the challenge, it is important you make that 80% target otherwise your charity will not pay for your place, and your trip could be cancelled.
The remaining 20% of your balance will be due to be with your charity 4 weeks after your trip ends.
Our base cost is on a twin share room basis, if you are signing up as a couple of two friends – you can tell us when you register onto the challenge, so we ensure that you will be sharing a room.
If you are signing up to the challenge as an individual, we will match you with someone of the same gender and roughly the same age.
You can choose to pay an additional supplement to have your own room (and/or tent) on the challenge.
All of our groups are an average size of approximately 20 participants. We welcome individuals, couples and groups of friends on to our challenges, and many who join us literally have a mountain to climb in terms of the scale of the challenge they are taking on. We advocate camaraderie and team bonding, and really believe that this enhances your experience.
Yes as long as we know in advance of the trip, we can cater for all dietary requirements & requests.
Signing Up to the Challenge
Once you pay your deposit & have signed up to the challenge, you will receive a confirmation email welcoming you into the challenge.
You will also receive instructions on how to download our challenge app which has in it all the information you need to start preparing for your challenge – from kit lists to training guides.
We will keep you updated with regular emails & newsletters in the lead-up to the challenge, as well as information on training days & weekends.
If you need to cancel your challenge, your deposit is non-refundable – therefore we recommend you speak to our team to see what alternative options you may have.
Yes, if for whatever reason you need to push your departure back to a later one or change your trip altogether you can do so for a date change fee of £175, subject to availability.
Country entry requirements can change because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s something our team constantly keep their eyes on. If we must cancel the trip – you will be offered a transfer to a future date/ departure or a full refund. However, if you need to cancel your trip – e.g. you test positive, then you will need to seek reimbursement from your travel insurance.
Currently, we do not have the accounting facility to take instalments, we can only take your payment in full at least 12 weeks before your departure.
Preparation
Yes – in our challenge app, which you can download once you are fully registered for the challenge we have a host of training materials, guides & advice for you to use. We also have training weekends and days which you can sign up to meet others & test out not just your fitness, but your mental readiness for the challenge and your all-important kit!
Closer to the challenge we will set up a WhatsApp group so that you can meet others online who are going to be on your trip. We also have a lively & dynamic Facebook group you can join at any time to meet other fellow challengers – past & present to share and swap training tips, advice & stories.
You will need specific travel insurance, which covers the duration of your trip, along with full cover for any activities you will be doing (i.e. trekking, cycling) and to cover you up to any altitude you may be trekking to. Once you are signed up for the challenge, we will send you full details of our recommended providers of appropriate cover.
Life on the Challenge
- Fully supported 11 day group challenge
- UK qualified medic
- Full support team, including local guides
- International flights and air travel taxes
- Action Challenge trek leader
- All accommodation, twin share – hotels / tea house
- All meals with the group; including breakfast, lunch and dinner
- National Park entrance fees
- Day in Moshi ended with a celebratory dinner
- Pre event support including discounted training weekends
- Airline fuel surcharge
- Single supplement for teahouse / hotel
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance
- Vaccinations
- Tips for local crew
- Optional extensions
- Optional training weekends
- Kit hire
Kilimanjaro is a trek, rather than a climb, and pass over well trodden trails & paths which have been formed all the way up to the top of the mountain. There are sections which are trickier than others, with rocks, boulders & scrubland – but it is a ‘trek’ rather than a climb. We recommend strong walking boots, which give you good ankle support & have good grip.
We are real foodies at Action Challenge and whilst we cannot promise a gastronomic feast on a Kilimanjaro climb, we do ensure there is plenty of food which is varied and wholesome. Breakfast is usually a hot drink with bread/ toast and spreads, porridge, eggs and sausage. Our Kilimanjaro cook team then hurries ahead of us to set up the mess tent and provide us with a hot lunch. This usually consists of a starter soup, followed by either a rice or pasta dish with meat and veggies.
On arrival into camp hot drinks and snacks are usually served before we tuck into the main event, which again is usually a hot soup starter, followed by a more substantial main than lunch, perhaps a warm winter stew, or meat and fish with lots of veggies, pasta or rice followed by a pudding or cake if it is a special occasion. We also recommend that participants pack some of their favourite snacks to enjoy throughout the day.
Whilst trekking your luggage will be transported by our local team of porters! Each morning your main luggage will be collected, organised and taken directly to the next night’s campsite. You will carry with you a backpack (approx. 30l) with all your essentials you will need with you for the day of trekking (water, snacks, layers, suncream etc.)
The pace will always be slow, steady and manageable. A slow and manageable pace is a key part of good, safe acclimatisation. Your action challenge leader, uk medic and head local guide will together decide the best pace for the group. Remember there’ll always also be time to stop and take in the views, eat a snack or change a layer.
Yes, and plenty of it!
Your challenge will be led by an experienced Action Challenge leader. Our leaders are selected for their experience, knowledge, enthusiasm, sensitivity and sense of humour, and will ensure that your trip runs smoothly.
You will also be accompanied by an Action Challenge doctor, who will be carrying a fully stocked medical kit in case of any emergency. They will carry out daily health checks, and the re-assurance of their presence should allow you to focus on, and enjoy your challenge!
We have a full support team in country with two way radio contact between the Action Challenge Head Quarters in London and local staff and satellite phone for emergencies. If for any reason you need to leave the group early local staff will assist you and will arrange transfers, accommodation and medical care if necessary.
There are 2 seasons on Kilimanjaro as apposed to our typical 4. However we should prepare for all weather as mountain weather can be unpredictable.
In the first few days, we experience hot and humid weather (approx 25-30°C), which becomes colder as we approach the summit, decreasing by approximately 1°C every 200m we climb. Sun protection with high SPF is vital as the intensity of the sun’s rays increases with altitude – even when it feels cold through cloud cover or increased winds. Waterproofs are essential to ensure we’re prepared in the event of wet weather.
Jan – Mar is the first dry season on Kilimanjaro so the chance of rain is lower, although it’s likely to be colder than the rest of the year with higher chance of snow as we reach the summit.
Apr – May are the wettest months and not ideal for trekking. We do not operate treks during this time to ensure our team’s enjoyment and safety throughout the trek.
Jun – Oct offers the best chance of dry weather throughout the trek, which means it’s the most popular trekking season on the mountain.
Nov – Dec is a short season, rains begin mid November and snow-fall increases as we come into December.
Our Brochure
The Challenge brochure details the full itinerary, inclusions, and more – download for a full run down of the challenge details.