Kilimanjaro
Bucket-list high-altitude trekking
Luxury tented accommodation
Expert guided support
Warm Tanzanian culture
Safari option
The mighty Kilimanjaro, at 19,341 feet, is the highest free-standing mountain on the planet and the highest point in Africa. This dormant volcano in Tanzania dominates the surrounding plains, rising more than 16,000 feet from its base along the border of Tanzania and Kenya. High-altitude glaciers tower over primeval montane forests, making for one of the planet’s more impressive sights.
Kilimanjaro is one of the safest high-altitude treks in the world.
The terrain is excellent and we have ample time to acclimatize our bodies. The crew will provide regular acclimation checks and, though bottled oxygen generally is not needed, we do carry some. Descent from the mountain is straightforward from most camps if needed. The trek requires good physical condition, not technical mountaineering skill.
The Tanzanian support crew that I hand-select for Kilimanjaro are highly experienced, with a very high guide-to-client ratio. Lead guide Eric Murphy has summited Kilimanjaro more than 150 times. Your guide staff will have a cumulative 500+ summits and more than 100 years of experience on this mountain alone. On our summit night, we will have close to a 1:1 guide-to-client ratio to ensure the highest level of support for the team.
Our level of support is unmatched: approximately 75 Tanzanian guides, cooks, waiters, tent crew, toilet crew, crew cooks and porters will join our seven-day journey from and to Arusha via the beautiful Machame/Mweka routes. The crew makes this luxury trek an excellent challenge for beginning and advanced hikers alike.
Next expedition: February 7-18, 2026
Timmerman Traverse
for Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
~ invite only ~
Registration opens September 1, 2025
Lodging
Lodging in Tanzania is at the historic Arusha Hotel (Four Points). Located in the center of Arusha town, portions of this hotel date to the late 1800s, when it was a stop on the Cape to Cairo route. It comes complete with a gym, pool, and extensive grounds. Lodging will be shared double rooms. Single rooms are available at an extra cost, booked ahead of time.
On the trek, we will be in camping in 4-person tents, two people per tent. Those without a same-sex/partner pairing will have a single tent. Due to space restrictions, we try to minimize single tents.
For group dining, we will have a grand-size mess tent with tables, chairs, and cutlery for meals.
Dining
At each camp, we will enjoy meals together in our large mess tent. We will also have team briefings in the mess tent before dinner regarding the next day, terrain, mileage, and gear that needs to be in your pack. We will discuss altitude and acclimation, AMS prevention/treatment, and other topics that are relevant to your safety and success on Kilimanjaro.
Along the trail, we will stop for a hot lunch on longer days. On shorter days, lunch will be in the next camp. Each morning the staff will pass out trail snacks as well. You will have also have your favorite trail snacks on hand that you brought from home (see Gear List).
Trekking
Weight of pack
You will hike with a light daypack. It will have only the things you need each day while on the trail: rain gear, warm layers, sun protection, water, snacks, and so forth. Aim to keep your daypack weight below 7kg/15lbs.
Porters will carry your heavier duffel bag each day from location to location. Your duffel is for your sleeping bags, extra clothes, toiletries and other things you should not be carrying in your daypack. (See Gear List.)
For detailed daily trekking descriptions, see the Itinerary.
“Best guide I have had for trekking and adventure travel.”
~ J. Morrison, 2022 Everest Base Camp trek
“Eric was an exceptional leader throughout the trek -- especially given that our group comprised lots of senior executives accustomed to being in charge of things and leading themselves.
He was calm, knowledgeable, and never lost his cool, even in some anxious moments on the trail (like when we were passed on a narrow section of trail by two yak trains heading different directions) or in response to some fairly obvious questions (“It’s called a stuff-sack for a reason!”).
He did a fantastic job throughout, and the fact that the entire team made it to Base Camp is testament to his effectiveness.”
~ D. Hoffman, 2022 Everest Base Camp trek
