He has done it. Our Head Guide on Kilimanjaro has been awarded Kilimanjaro Mountain Guide of the year for 2019. Athumani has been working full time with Ian Taylor Trekking now for 10 years. We are lucky to have the best staff working for us on Kilimanjaro. He has trekked to Everest Base Camp & Island peak and also has dreams of climbing Mount Everest in 2024. 

Mountain Man

Furthermore, Athumani has worked hard to bring other staff with him. He coaches our team, promotes hard working team members and hand picks our team on the ground.  We have invested in him and and he has invested in us!  With the support of Ian Taylor Trekking, he has helped our team go to college, learn mountain skills, customer service and become mountain guides.  As a result, he is well respected among his colleagues.

Business Man

With Ian Taylor Trekking funding, Athumani has also set up 3 businesses in Tanzania. A small taxi company, mini market and safari vehicle rental business. Athumani has  created so many jobs for his community and family.

Family Man

Athumani, his wife Mariam and their two beautiful children have made a wonderful live for themselves in Arusha. He is a true testament to hard work, team work, persistence and doing it right, all while bringing others with him.

The Best of the Best

Athumani has proven himself to be the best of the best on Mount Kilimanjaro.  He continues to show that the safety of our clients and teammates is his number one concern. Athumani has help us develop our service along with, our unique 8 day Lemosho route itinerary. Creating a safer journey up and down Kilimanjaro has been our goal and it is working. We are getting 100% success on our unique itinerary.

A Few Words from Athumani

How do you feel after winning the award: This Award means a lot to me, I feel highly recommended in my profession. After winning the award I feel more confident and I will keep working hard for my family, my country and my trekking company. Through winning the award I can raise the credibility of our company which means a lot to me.

This award will increase visibility of how we operate our quality Kilimanjaro climbs on the mountains and hopefully draw new customers. By winning this award I hope it will be a good motivator within our team. Most people who win an award are excited to share the news and I am so excited to about this award. I hope the award increases customer loyalty, by knowing that I am a skilled professional and recognized for my work, team and services we offer.

Why do I like working on Mount Kilimanjaro:  I like working on the mountain because is job of my dreams. Since I was young, I was always thinking of working on the mountain and finally I found the amazing geological paradise of Kilimanjaro.

I choose the mountain because it is a physical job. It keeps me active and i stay fit mentally and physically. Also this job gives me a comfortable life and opens more doors to me, like getting a chance to visit some countries abroad.

Working on the mountain gives me a chance to meet with people from different parts of the world. I can learn from these people and they can learn from me. There is no greater gift. This makes my job so special.

The Kilimanjaro’s Northern Circuit route has 9-days on the mountain. The route itself is 75 km /46 miles long, with the total elevation from the entry gate to the summit being 3,645 m /11,958 feet. After flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport, we spend our first night in the town of Arusha. We use the Sheraton hotel or the similar as our base. We will begin the trek from the Lemosho Park Gate, located on the western side of Kilimanjaro.

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive to the beginning of the trail. We will check in at the national park gate – Lemosho Gate – and have a hot lunch. A couple of hours later, we start the hike through the beautiful rain forest trails to reach the Mti Mkubwa Camp. Kilimanjaro National Park is rich in flora and fauna. Our route leads you up to the Shira Plateau. The Plateau offers spectacular views before we head up the southwestern side of Mount Kilimanjaro.

On day three, we go from Shira Camp 1 across the Shira plateau to Shira Camp 2 at 3,900m/ 12,795 feet. On day four, after three nights of good acclimatization, we reach the height of 4,640m/ 15,223 feet. This gives our teams some of the best views of the western breach of Kilimanjaro.

From there, we trek to Lava Tower, and switch to the Northern Circuit trail, moving to Moir Hut. Moir hut is a little used campsite at the base of the Lent Hills. A variety of hikes are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity.

On the summit day, we will leave around 1am in the evening for the steady but very strenuous ascent to Uhuru Peak. The last 200m/ 657 feet to the crater rim are the most difficult. You need to get your breathing right when attempting the summit push, and you will make it. Many climbers stop at Gilman’s Point, but with the right mindset and guidance, you’ll be able to reach the summit. It takes another hour to the summit, and you are there, taking in the incredible view from the Roof of Africa.

After enjoying the summit, we return to Barafu Camp for Lunch. After a rest and lunch, we will move lower, following the Mweka route, till we reach the Mweka Camp at 3,100m/ 10,170 feet, where we stay for the night. Our final day of trekking will see us heading towards the Mweka Park Gate and back to Arusha and the Sheraton hotel by 4 pm. Before that, when signing out with the authorities of the Park, you will receive a certificate, so you can memorize this achievement and share it with your loved ones.

We have Kilimanjaro’s Number 1 Guide and the amazing Dream Team. We only run high quality Kilimanjaro trips with better food, tents, guides and support. Additionally, we support our team on the ground and have sent over twenty staff from our Team to college to learn English, and become chefs and guides.

Not to mention, spending nine days on the Northern Circuit Route up Mount Kilimanjaro will change your life.

Climb Mount Kilimanjaro and have the adventure of a lifetime with a group of people who also love the thrill of reaching new highs and pushing their boundaries to discover something new at the top.

Climbing Kilimanjaro on the northern Route is an experience that you don’t want to miss out on! Challenge yourself on one of the most unforgettable climbs of your life, discover the beauty of the Kilimanjaro’s Northern Route and bring home some amazing memories.

It’s simple, if you are used to hiking and comfortable carrying a heavy backpack hiking up 1,000m/ 3,280 feet on a regular basic and training weekly and stay strong and active then you will find Kilimanjaro challenging but straight forward.

When deciding to climb Kilimanjaro, you need to consider your current ability, access to training facilities, and how much time you have to dedicate to training. All of these things will determine if you are successful on the climb. If you think running and walking on the flat with a weighted backpack are enough, you need to think again. Leg strength and endurance training in your endurance heart rate zone is important for safety and success. We can help you build a training plan.

The Two Main Factors

Firstly, In my opinion you need a minimum of 8 days on Kilimanjaro. Taking eight days on Kilimanjaro will give you the best acclimatization process and the best experience possible. Climbing Kilimanjaro is truly one of the great trekking experiences. So why not spend more days on the mountain to get the most out of your experience. I know it costs more, but you will come away with a much richer experience.

Secondly, you need to make sure that you are coming with the right training and preparations. We are available 5 days a week, to make sure you are getting the best information on the climb. We want to make sure that you have the tools to be safe and successful.

The Long Descent Down Kilimanjaro

Think about the elevation gains and lack of oxygen so you can build the correct training plan.

Day 1: Hike from 7,545 feet to 9,186 feet

Day 2: Hike from 9,186 feet to 11,500 feet

Day 3: Hike from 11,500 feet to 13,123 feet. Sleep at 12,795 feet

Day 4: Hike from 12,795 feet to 15,223 feet down to 12,795 feet

Day 5: Hike from 12,795 feet to 13,780 feet up and down to 13,123 feet

Day 6: Hike from 13,123 feet to 16,076 feet

Day 7: Hike from 16,076 feet to 19,341 feet back down to 10,170 feet

Day 8: Hike from 10,170 feet to 5,577 feet

When you think about these elevation gains and long steep descents you need to review the daily distances, elevations gains up and down. Consider the incline on ascent and descent and think how you train for low oxygen environments. We can help you understand the key elements to this and how you can map out a training plan for climbing Kilimanjaro.

Hiking up and Down Hills is the Best Training

Hiking up and down hills with weight is by far the best training you can do. Try to build up from 3 hour to 8 hour hikes once a week. Taking regular and increasingly longer hikes will help develop the muscles that you need when you arrive on the side of Kilimanjaro. This can not be on the flat. You need to trying to gain 500m/ 1,640 feet, building up to 1,000m/ 3,280 feet ascents and descents. However, very few people are lucky enough to have access to hills every weekend. Try to find some local hills or stairs to walk up and down if possible. Gradually increasing the duration of your walks will help to develop your stamina and also assist in preparing you for being on your feet over long distances.

When out on training hikes, ensure that you always wear the boots you intend to take to Kilimanjaro. Getting used to and breaking in your trekking boots will assist in making you as comfortable as possible on your climb. It is also good to train in the same backpack you will be taking with you on the climb. This will help you feel at ease with it and gradually add weight to the pack to build strength. Building up gradually from 6kg/ 13lbs to 12kg/ 26lbs over a 6 month period. Learn more.

All of our 8 day trips on Kilimanjaro start the summit night from Kosovo Camp 4,900m/ 16,076 feet. Kosovo Camp gives our clients the best chance of success.

Everything Comes Down to Summit Night

Kosovo camp is at 4,900m/ 16,076 feet.  Your Kilimanjaro climb will come down to one long summit night and day.  If you are leaving from Kosovo Camp, you will leave around 1am. No matter where you leave from, it is a long, slow and mental challenge to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro at 5,895m/ 19,341 feet.

Our Approach to Summit Night on Kilimanjaro

After 17 years of climbing on Kilimanjaro we have developed the best approach to summit night to maximize safety and success. If weather allows and winds are low, we will be taking off from the higher camp of Kosovo.  The reason that our teams can do this is because we have taken adequate time to acclimatize lower down on the Shira Plateau. If you are only on a 5-7 day trip, it can be risky going all the way to Kosovo Camp for the night.  The reason for this is that your body would not be able to cope with the altitude with less acclimatization.

Our teams aim Kosovo camp at 12 mid day. Indeed, this will give our bodies the time for additional acclimatization and most importantly rest and sleep. By staying at the higher camp, we will also position ourselves away from the noise of the main camp.

Kilimanjaro’s Number 1 Guide

At approximately midnight it will be time to get up and to start getting dressed and your gear ready. It is important to start slowly drinking water. The goal would be to try and drink 1/2 liters of water before you leave on the summit night. At 12:30pm we will be served light breakfast in the dining tent and you can fill your Nalgene bottles with boiled water for the night ahead. Some people like to have 2 Nalgene bottles (2 liters of water) for their summit attempt. This is a personal choice on how much you carry. Make sure you keep well hydrated during the whole trip and even prior to joining the Kilimanjaro climb. Our Head Guide is Kilimanjaro’s Number 1 Guide so you will be in good hands.

Start Hiking to the Summit of Kilimanjaro

At 1am, we will start hiking towards the summit. We will aim to gain 200m/ 656 vertical feet, per hour on route to the summit.  Our goal on the summit night is to keep a very strict routine while going up.  We will walk for an hour and then stop, drink water, eat some snacks and go to the toilet just off the trail. Each stop will be 5 to 7 minutes, depending on the weather. We will repeat this for the next 5 hours as we slowly edge our way above 5,500m/ 18,000 feet. As we reach this elevation we may need to stop every 30 minutes as the lack of oxygen becomes more challenging. At this stage, we will begin to slowly move towards Stella Point, as light hits the horizon.

Steep Terrain up and down

The last section up to Stella point is one of the hardest during the night. The pace will be slow and steady as you focus on deep breathing.  Once we get to Stella Point, it will likely be very cold, so we will rest for 5 minutes and have some hot tea. Then, we will continue the 50 minutes to the true summit. The terrain is now a little easier than the previous hours to reach Stella Point. The lack of oxygen is challenging, so you need to make sure you are focusing on deep breathing all the way up to the summit. Getting oxygen into your body is the most important thing you should be thinking about on your summit attempt. After 6 hours of walking up hill you will reach the summit of Kilimanjaro!

Standing on the Summit of Kilimanjaro

Enjoy the achievement of reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro!! You will have dreamt of this moment for months even years. Savor the moment, as it will stay with you for the rest of your life. After the struggle and challenge to reach the summit is over, remember you are only half way. The descent is steep and takes a lot of focus as the terrain is challenging under foot.

The Steep Descent

Next, we will begin to move as a team back to high camp, which should take about 2 to 3 hours. It is extremely important to get back down below 5,500m/ 18,000 feet as quickly as possible. Depending on what time we reach high camp, you will have some time to rest, re-hydrate, eat a full lunch, pack your bag and slowly make your way down the trail.  We will make our way all the way down to Mweka Camp at 3,100m/ 10,171 feet.  From the summit, this is a 2,795m/ 9,170 feet drop down to the camp!  This will likely be one of the most challenging days of your life to cover this distance!

Pick 8 Days on the Lemosho Route

We highly recommend our 8 day climbs as you want to give yourself the best and safest chance at trekking to 5,895m/ 19,341 feet. Watch the video above to see some raw footage from the summit night on Kilimanjaro.

Not everyone will have access to hills, but this is the best way to train your body and legs for down hill hiking. Depending on your chosen adventure you do need to assess the level of downhill. We have elevation gains available for all of our key trips. I encourage you to review the daily elevation drops and what type of terrain you will be walking on.

For example, on our Inca trail treks you will be drop 700m/ 2,296 feet to 1,000m/ 3,280 feet on different days all on steep rocky stairs. On Kilimanjaro you will drop 2,800m/ 9,186 feet in one day on scree and rock and this is very challenging on your legs and joints.

You have just walked for days on end you have reached your goal but not you have to retrace your steps, often in a quicker time frame. Hiking downhill will take its toll on your joints.  Fore sure, the downhill hike will take more wear and tear on your joints and muscles than the uphill.

You do need to use effective training techniques to minimize the impact on your body.  Descending using good technique means that you move faster and feel lighter. Remember, 80% of accidents happen on the way down.

Keeping Knees Healthy

We live in Eagle-vail Colorado with amazing access to altitude and a wide range of mountain terrain to train on. In Colorado we can train all year round on hilly terrain preparing for Kilimanjaro, Himalayan trekking and mountaineering trips. I know most of you are joining our trips from sea level and with minimal access to hill training. I encourage you to get out to Colorado doing some multi-day hiking in preparation for your chosen adventure.

If you do not have access to hills and mountains, you must figure out other ways to prepare your knee joints to handle downhill stress. From a knee perspective, downhill hiking means eccentric loading and typically thousands of repetitions of it. Eccentric loading (the lengthening phase of a contraction) is especially challenging to what is called the patellofemoral joint of the knee. This is where the knee cap, meets the femur. Inadequate strength, poor mechanics and lack of exposure to this type of loading can turn downhill forces into injury producing stress. Prior to your trekking trip you need to start implementing sport specific training into our general preparedness programming.

Hiking Uphill and Downhill

Hiking uphill is all concentric muscle action (muscle active while shortening) at the knee joint without any eccentric loading (loading while muscle is lengthening). Concentric only exercises tend to cause less mechanical stress, load and pain to joints and tendons than do exercises that have eccentric phases. What goes up must come down.

You must prepare our body and specifically your knees to handle downhill hiking. Depending on the trip, you really need 6 months of some sport specific training into our general preparedness programming.

The strength movements below are similar but slightly different in specific ways. We purposely only hit each one once per week because too much volume of these exercises could quickly lead to an over training injury, so be careful. I would recommend adding in additional hip flexor and quadriceps mobility work at the end of your training sessions as well to maintain good length tension relationships and to protect your spine.

The Point of These Exercises

Increase vertical loading volume of the knees with a sight posterior to anterior (back to front) force vector. Get exposed and accustomed to decelerating the vertical and forward forces using primarily a knee strategy.  Transition from doing most lunges and squats with a 3 points of contact foot position to a more heel elevated position where we contact and press through the forefoot.

The 3 points of contact foot position is the most stable position for the foot and encourages a balance of hip and thigh musculature – great for general preparedness training. Transitioning to a heels elevated position where the forces are applied through the forefoot places most of the stress on the quadriceps and knees – optimal for downhill hiking training.

Exercises for Downhill Hiking

You should consider adding these movements into your weekly training 2 times per week. Add 3-5 sets of 10-15 repetitions (per leg)

1). Heels Elevated Goblet Squat
2). Forward Alternating Lunge with Farmers Carry Loading
3). Forward Alternating Drop from Box Lunges
4). Banded Posterior to Anterior (PA) Forward Lunges

Carrying Weight

One of the best ways of mitigating the risk of musculoskeletal issues is by carrying a light pack. Then build up the weight you carry over time. An overly heavy backpack is not recommended in the early stages of your training.

Extract its biggest toll on your body during steep and/or long downhill sections, so a hiker should always aim to travel as lightly as the dictates of their skillset and the environment into which they are venturing allow.

If you are carrying weight on longer hike you should slowly build up the weight you carry. You should also consider carry water uphill and dump as much water/ weight as possible for your downhill. Always assess the weight you are carrying for each hike and always build up slowly over time. You do not want to get injured.

1). La Sportiva Trango Tech GTX

In our opinion, La Sportiva have great footwear options at the moment.  Finding a boot that will last a long time, be comfortable, waterproof and have good support, is always our goal.  This option is both a great trekking boot as well as a light mountaineering boot for alpine climbs. They are crampon compatible, however still a lightweight option good for a Kilimanjaro climb.  Having the slightly more rigid sole helps keep your foot sturdy and protected on the trails on Kilimanjaro.  They will also be a warm option for the cold night spent going up to the summit!  These boots would be a great option for the trekking portions on Mount Elbrus or Aconcagua as well.

2). Salomon Quest 4 GTX

Another great option is the Salomon Quest 4 GTX Trekking boots. More and more people are using these trekking boots on a wide range of our trekking adventures in Nepal and around the world. They are comfortable, sturdy, waterproof and a very resilient trekking boot for Kilimanjaro. They will give you the warmth you need on the cold night walking to the summit as well!

3). Scarpa Kenesis

Ian has used the Scarpa Kenesis pro GTX trekking boots for a few years. They are a little heavier than other trekking boots but a great boot for Kilimanjaro. If you maintain them well, you will have them for years.  Scarpa are always re-inventing trekking boots and if they fit your foot correctly, then they may be the right boot for you. They work great and last a long time.

4). Mammut Trovat

Ian has also used a range of Mammut trekking boots over the years. He really likes the Mammut Trovat guide High trekking boots. They are really durable, reliable and will last a long time. The high ankle support is great for the rocky terrains you will encounter and all around a great boot for Kilimanjaro.  All these boots will last a long time if you look after them well.

5).  Meindl Vakuum

You could also consider using the Meindl Vakuum trekking boots.  These are a good option for Everest Base Camp treks and a wide range of trekking peaks and multi-day trekking adventures. These are a very popular boot and we see a lot of clients arriving to Nepal in this option. They are an excellent choice for mixed rocky terrain and long distance hiking.  These boots will be with you for many miles as they are an extremely durable boot.  Also, this could be a good option for you if you feel the cold in your feet as they will be a warmer option.

Once you have signed up to one of our Kilimanjaro climbs, then we will send you our 35 page trip Dossier. The Dossier includes an itemized kit list, training advice and other relevant information to help you come fully prepared to Tanzania.

Chat With the Experts

We are your best resource for getting the right gear for your climb of Kilimanjaro and will be available to you 5 days a week to assist you.  If you want to have the best experience on Kilimanjaro, then GET IN TOUCH today.