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3 Luxury Bush and Beach Escapes in Africa

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By AFRICA EXCLUSIVE

Kenya and The Kenya Coast

Kenya 3 Luxury Bush and Beach Escapes in Africa

Kenya safari hike.

Kenya is home to the original safari holiday and is one of the most exciting destinations in Africa. Blessed with spectacular scenery and a huge variety of wildlife and birdlife, Kenya is home to the famous Masai Mara which is perhaps the most famous of all African wildlife reserves. With its rolling savannah plains and flat topped acacia trees, the Mara is one of the best places to see the Big Five animals of lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. Kenya also has the added bonus of a beautiful coastline, the Kenya Coast, with stunning beaches and plenty of little hideaways to relax and unwind in. Lamu Island is one of the coast’s hidden gems and is Kenya’s oldest living town. A place made for relaxation, and aside from the historic sights, you’ll find white sandy beaches and a variety of water sports.

Tanzania and Zanzibar

Serengeti 3 Luxury Bush and Beach Escapes in Africa

Serengeti.

Tanzania is the largest country in east Africa and the best place for a remote safari. It has the greatest diversity of scenery and wildlife than any other country and is home to many of Africa’s most famous sights including the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro and the Rift Valley. One of the most enthralling spectacles available to you on a safari in Tanzania is the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti. This is a spectacular natural event that occurs every year when over two million wildebeest, zebra and antelope migrate in a clockwise fashion between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara plains in Kenya. As well as this, the county is home to the Spice Island and beach destination of Zanzibar. The island has a fascinating history which can be discovered in the Old Town through its remarkable buildings and markets. You’ll also find some of the best beaches in the world here sat alongside warm crystal clear water and coral reefs.

Botswana and Mauritius

Botswana safari 3 Luxury Bush and Beach Escapes in Africa

Botswana safari.

Botswana is Africa’s most luxurious safari destination and is ideal for those who want an authentic safari but don’t want to compromise on the luxury. Being much less developed than other African countries, it boasts some of the most remote and unspoilt reserves in the world, where animals are free to roam without boundaries and the camps and lodges are exquisite. Home to many unique features such as the Okavango Delta, the Makgadikgadi Saltpans and the Chobe National Park, the focus of a safari experience here is firmly on the wildlife. Botswana is often referred to as ‘Elephant Country’ due to its high concentration of elephants which can be spotted in all major safari regions. The country combines perfectly with a beach break on the tropical paradise island of Mauritius. Its mountainous interior and long stretches of powdery white sands lead to bays of clear azure waters and stunning coral reefs, creating the perfect backdrop to a relaxing beach holiday.

Africa Exclusive is a tour operator that specializes in tailor-made luxury safari holidays to Africa and the Indian Ocean http://www.africaexclusivesafaris.com

7 Places to Go Scuba Diving in the Southern Hemisphere

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Diving 7 Places to Go Scuba Diving in the Southern HemisphereThere are some fantastic scuba diving destinations in the southern hemisphere, ranging from the pristine dive sites of the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific to the world famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

1. Galápagos Islands

With their healthy marine environment and a wide variety of endemic species, the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific offer an amazing diving destination. Forming a national park and a biological marine reserve, local diving tours are coordinated by knowledgeable guides who are licensed by the Galapagos National Park Service.

2. Australia

Attracting around two million visitors each year, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is one of the most famous scuba diving destinations in the world. The World Heritage-listed reef is considered one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, offering easy access; warm, clear waters; and vibrant marine life.

3. Madagascar

Madagascar’s reefs have suffered less damage from bleaching and pollution than many other Indian Ocean reefs, and are home to an abundance of marine life. Spots such as Nosy Be in the north and the offshore island of Tsarabanjina are very popular, but you can still seek out quieter, less well- known diving locations.

4. Borneo

The northern part of the island of Borneo, in the Malaysian state of Sabah, has some excellent dive sites. Various locations offer the potential for very different diving experiences – from spotting turtles around Sipadan Island, hammerhead sharks around Layang Layang, and migrating whale sharks around Lankayan, to macro diving around Mabul or Kapalai.

5. Tanzania

The Pemba island group off the coast of Tanzania offers some of the most interesting diving in East Africa, with incredible underwater scenery, abundant marine life, and hard and soft coral gardens. Some of the vertical coral cliffs plummet to depths of more than 800 metres, and with excellent underwater visibility it can be an awesome experience to peer over the edge.

6. South Africa

South Africa’s east coast benefits from warm waters brought in by the Mozambique Current, and the dive sites around Sodwana Bay – the country’s “diving capital” – offer the most southerly hard coral reef systems in the world, with a diverse range of tropical fish and visits from the larger pelagic fish.

7. The Seychelles

The marine life around the Seychelles, especially the more remote coral islands, can be excellent, and there are sites suitable for both novices and experienced divers. Beautiful marine landscapes of coral outcrops and underwater caverns are joined by a rich marine life, including more than a thousand different species of fish.

Remember to take out scuba diving travel insurance or great value holiday insurance in Oz, which will cover you for diving and any other activities you plan to participate in during your trip.

Q&A With Mount Kilimanjaro Veteran Trip Leader Kapanya Kitaba

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Kapanya Q&A With Mount Kilimanjaro Veteran Trip Leader Kapanya Kitaba

By NAVAYA OLE NDASKOI

It is not often one meets a very experienced veteran trip leader specializing on safari to wild parks and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro who says, when he successfully climbed Kilimanjaro to the summit for the first time in 1988, “I was very happy when I reached the roof of Africa. I felt like I have been ascended into heaven, body and soul.”

It is unusual to find a trip leader whose father, and grandfather before him, was a herbalist who got connected to the African culture on the mountain. It is even unusual if that trip leader was a lecturer at Mweka College of Wildlife, one of the biggest of its kind on earth. So I made the most of my meeting on February 4, 2010, with Kapanya Kitaba.

The location is the Parastatal Pension Fund Business Center in the outskirts of Arusha town of North Tanzania. Kapanya receives me. His smile is broad and his handshake friendly. He is the type of man who appears larger in his photos than in real life.

Mountaineering Background

I ask if he ever climbed any mountain when he was a child. He did, he says. “To us a mountain is a sacred place. My father, and prior to him my grandfather, would climb Mount Rungwe in South-West Tanzania, where I was born and raised, to pray. They told us to stay quiet at home while they are on the mountain until they get back home. After they returned they allowed us to go on with normal activities. My father was a herbalist. He used to climb Mount Rungwe to get some herbs and roots. He used the herbs and roots as well as leaves to treat people with different problems.”

He explains that he comes from a mountaineering back ground. “Climbing has a done a great thing in my life. I am connected to people from across the globe. Through climbing I have traveled to Russia. In fact I led climbing trips in Russia. That was the first time in my life I stayed in the coldest place on earth. Then climbing to me is a sport. Other people have their own reasons for climbing certain mountains. Likewise, climbing is like a laboratory.”

“I climb to see how fit I am,” Kapanya says. “I remember at one time when I wanted to climb Kilimanjaro and the mountain refused. I thought I was stronger while actually I was sick. I was rescued. I had malaria and pulmonary edema. I nearly died because I forced to climb. I started to cry. When I arrived home my daughter laughed at me when she saw me in a stretcher. She teased me, ‘this time Kapanya is caught.’”

The point, he says, is that one must be healthy in order to attempt the climb.

Not Necessary to Summit Mount Kilimanjaro

Rebuffing the charge that it is necessary to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Kitaba explains: “Trip leaders usually have in their minds that they must summit. They know that a miner dies in the mine. A fisherman can drown. A soldier dies on the frontline of the war. Trip leaders think that it is a weakness and that they are bad leaders if they do not summit. Summiting is not necessary if the situation does not allow. Trip leaders push themselves up. I can understand the reason. Leaders must lead by examples. Even then, it is also true that humans have weaknesses. If you are unfit, please descend.”

He advises: “There is something I would love to say about hopeful climbers. Clients pay a lot of money, by any standard, to attempt Mount Kilimanjaro. Their dreams too are understandably to summit. It is a fact that Kilimanjaro climb does not require technical skills. However, it is strenuous and can in fact be a serious physical test.”

After a pause, he says: “It is unpredictable how you will adapt to the altitude. Do not go fast and drink plenty of water all time. The greatest protection is avoiding rapid climbs, ascends and descends as well. Bear in mind too that some people might not summit. We have an excellent team to accompany you to descend, if need be. Even then you still have a life experience. Attempting Kilimanjaro is a greatest achievement in a special way. Very few people have heard of this mount let alone setting their eyes on it. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. It is the highest free-standing mountain on earth. The fact that you attempted it is surely worthwhile.”

Mental Preparation

I ask about his technical advice to hopeful climbers. He says, “The love and will to climb must be respected. It is important every participant understands the climb is challenging. Climbing is a challenging dream that most people would wish to turn into reality. Remember that you will be in high altitude. So number one is that you must be prepared mentally. Your mind is the greatest weapon in your disposal.”

Of course that is not the only necessary thing. “Physically preparations then follow,” he adds for good measure. “Trip members should be in excellent physical condition. Make sure you prepare yourself as much as possible. Running, jogging, biking, swimming and other physical exercises prepares you better for the climb. Exercise your lungs and muscles. The lungs must be able to absorb enough oxygen for your body. Muscles must be prepared to withstand the climb.”

He continues: ”Try also to set up little camping and sleep there if possible. Also get familiar with nature. You must have the best gear. You must be better dressed from feet to head. Above all, you must take seriously the advice of your trip leader even if you are a professional mountaineer. Principally, you must respect a mountain. If a trip leader tells you to slow down, please listen.”

This advice, he says, applies to every participant. “Porters, trip leaders, guides, cook and camp crew. Every one must be prepared. If a cook, for instance, is poorly prepared it means the whole attempt is going to crumble; same with the porters. Bear in mind that we attempt the climb as a team.”

Kooh Navard Team Crew Q&A With Mount Kilimanjaro Veteran Trip Leader Kapanya Kitaba

Best Routes

I ask him about the best and the most dangerous routes on Kilimanjaro. “To be honest with you every route is dangerous on its own way and degree. There are six main routes through which you can climb. Mweka route is for descending. Machame route is for ascending. Marangu is for both ascending and descending. Loitokitok is for ascending. Umbwe is for ascending and descending. Shira is for both ascending and descending as well.”

As for his favorite route, he says he loves Shira route. “It is the best scenic route. It is less traveled route. It is the cleanest of all. Above all it takes more days to reach the summit. This means it gives enough time to acclimatize and therefore more chances to summit. Machame is my second favorite. It is challenging and it is also scenic. It is comparatively less crowed. It is clean. Through this route you approach Kibo Peak with a very good view. You go through different types of vegetation zones.”

He loves other routes as well. “I also love Loitokitok route. It is short. It is therefore good for all ages including children and the elderly alike. It is a gentlest of all except when you reach Kibo hut. Otherwise it is the best, as I said, for all ages attempting Kilimanjaro.”

“About 25,000 people attempt climbing Kilimanjaro annually,” Kitaba reveals. “Of this, 55 percent climb through Marangu route,” he says. “The rest go through Shira, Machame, Umbwe and Loitoktok and the rest. I am told the Government is soon going to open Maua route to stop the two ways congestion on Marangu route. So climbers will soon be ascending through Marangu route and descend through Maua route.”

Western Breach

When I ask Kapanya what he thinks about the Western Breach, his answer is a classic: “the Western Breach is a section of three routes meeting together. The section starts at Arrow Glaciers to the crater. The Western Breach Wall is steep. It is challenging as it is dangerous in the sense that rocks fall. This is due to the fact that glaciers which used to hold rocks down have melted. A small rock, say 20 grams, can start rolling down from several feet above. As it rolls its speed increases. On its way it can provoke other rocks to fall as well. They roll down bouncing very dangerously.”

The falling rocks can be fatal, “To be sure, these falling rocks can be as dangerous as a bullet if they hit you. Remember that the route is too thin, rocky and steep. In some places you have to climb with all fours. I mean with feet and hands. So you literally have no hiding place once the rocks starts coming aiming straight at you.”

“But why do some companies use this route?” I ask him. “Their clients like challenges. They do not like to do easy things. It also means that few companies travel through that section. In that way they companies which sell it are selling a unique product.”

At this point, Kapanya goes global, “In 1996 a storm struck the summit of Mount Everest. That was the deadliest storm in recorded history of the mount. Eight people died. Among the fatalities were group leaders Rob Hall and Scott Fischer. Journalist Jon Krakauer, a survivor from that trek, went on to write the bestseller, Into Thin Air.”

Deaths on mountains can be turning points. “The book and the mainstream media took the disaster far and wide and raised questions about the commercialization of Everest. People thought hopeful climbers would stop attempting the mountain. Everest attracted many hopeful climbers instead. People love challenges. The same can be said about Mount Kilimanjaro. In 2005, two clients died at the Western Breach. Several porters were seriously wounded. We thought the route would be closed down all together. The number of hopefuls attempting Mount Kilimanjaro through the route shot up instead.”

Mountain Sickness

I wonder what mountain sickness is and how it is treated. “This is a combination of undesirable conditions. These include headache, loss of appetite, nausea, failing to sleeplessness, vomiting, dry cough, swelling of eye ankles and eyelids, pulmonary edema as well as cerebral edema,” Kitaba explains.

There are different ways to approach the crises. “You must be prepared. You must know mountain hazards. People do fall down. Others get injured. A trip leader must act instantly to save lives. If someone dies you must be courageous. The body must be taken down and out of the mountain. So you call a rescue team.”

He adds, “There are no cars high on the mountain. Helicopters cannot just land everywhere. In times of crises you rely on the team. Well fed and cared of porters who are also strong are very helpful. They can carry some extra luggage and continue with the rest of the group while others evacuate the sick person or carry out the body in that case. Evacuation is possible anywhere on the mountain.”

Equipment

You must have the best of equipment to attempt Kilimanjaro, I ask him. “Of course yes. You need equipments,” he says. “Number one is personal clothes. You need layers of warm clothes to protect yourself against cold. You need rain gears to protect yourself against the rain. You also need a mattress and a sleeping bag as well as warm clothes that keep you warm and comfortable in a sleeping bag at night. You must be protected from head to toes. Sun glasses and walking sticks are necessary. In short everybody must be well dressed when attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Preferably clients come with their own gears. In fact more than 90 percent do so.”

Do companies have some equipment? I ask him. He says that most companies arrange accommodation in tents. They also have first aid gears such as Gamow bags, oxygen tanks and some medicine. They have cooking utensils, the crew, and water and so on.

Balanced Diet

But you must be well fed to be able to attempt the climb, isn’t it, I ask him.

“Everybody must eat a balanced diet on Mount Kilimanjaro. You must eat quality food that is easy to digest. Food should not be oily. Oily food subjects the body to double work; to digest the food and convert fat into carbohydrate. You will loose a lot of calories required for the climb. You need to eat proteins so that to replace the worn-out cells. You need a lot of water too.”

He stresses the need to drink plenty of water, “As you hike you loose a lot of water through breathing, hyperventilation, urine and so forth. Now you must replace water. Otherwise you are prone to acute high altitude sickness like cerebral edema. If you are dehydrated you can easily construct cold related body complications. In the meantime water helps the body expels unwanted water in the body.

Winding Up

What message does he have for prospective Kilimanjaro climbers? I think it is an easy question, but it turns out to be otherwise. “Most people use Marangu route for six days. It is popularly known as Coca Cola route. It is also called soft route. It allows a six days climb. Shira route through Western Breach cannot be attempted in six days.”

“I highly recommend eight days climbing however. It gives you wider chances to summit since you have a fair time to acclimatize. This also means a higher possibility to summit with slim chances of constructing acute altitude sickness.”

Kapanya is currently the Executive Director of his own company called East African Outdoor Adventures Ltd which specializes on Kilimanjaro climbing and safari.

Q&A With Senior Trip Leader Alexander Lemunge: How to Prepare For a Successful Kili Hike

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kilimanjaro summit Q&A With Senior Trip Leader Alexander Lemunge: How to Prepare For a Successful Kili Hike

On the roof of Africa. Alex, left, with the tourist.

By NAVAYA OLE NDASKOI 

Navaya ole Ndaskoi: What kind of training and exercise do you need to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?

Alexander Lemunge: As a client you need training by hiking at list three times a week carrying some weight in a backpack preferably 15 ponds, about 7 kilograms. If someone has an opportunity to do a real hike on the mountains, that is the best way to train yourself. I led people who did treadmill, climbing stairs because that is all they could do. Mental preparation, however, is the most important thing. You must be determined. It is mind over body. It is very hard to train for the altitude, unless you pay some money to get into a pressurized room.

Who should climb Kilimanjaro for six and eight days, and why?

Highly experienced people on high altitude who has no or little problems of high altitude can climb in six days. Less experienced climbers can climb for about eight days. You simply climb during the day time if you choose the eight days package. However, six days allows climbing with enough minimum time to acclimatize. In effect more time on the mountain broadens chances of summiting. I recommend climbing for eight days.

What do you remember most on the numerous times you led groups on Kilimanjaro?

I remember leading a trip of a mother and her three daughters. They fell sick in different times at different altitudes. The mother was very scared. With our moral support and medicines we provided they all made to the summit. That was emotionally moving. I remember seeing them breaking into tears in jubilations. That was amazing. I was very happy and this day will remain in my mind for the rest of my life. Another day I was coming down Mweka trail. A client-cum-friend gave me a lunar bar chocolate. I ate half of it. Incidentally I read what the ingredients are. Wow, the bars reads, ‘this bar is for women.’ You can imagine what has been going on in mind. For some minutes I was wondering what could happen for the next few hours!

How does a trip leader relate to a client?

A trip leader is a layer between the client and the company. He represents the company and oversees the quality of services being offered to the client as indicated in the itinerary. He is in charge of everything in the trip that makes a client feel at home.

What is the difference between a trip leader and guide?

A trip leader is more trained on high altitude physiology and outdoor management. They have intensive training on first aid. The trip leader has more feeling about taking care of a client, monitoring of the trip. He or she cannot accomplish these without a guide.

What are the equipments required to attempt climbing Kilimanjaro?

Proper equipment is extremely important to the success, enjoyment, comfort and safety of your trip. On Kilimanjaro your body must be kept very warm all times. For a comfortable climb you need comfortable hiking boots well worn. You need to dress in layers, a minimum of three that fits on top of one another. Bear in mind that NO cotton is allowed because when it gets wet it does not keep you warm. On top of that a Gore-Tex jacket and pants are necessary and a warm compressible jacket for cold protection on higher altitude is needed. The head must be well protected, for this you need a shade hat for the sun, a warm hat and a balaclava for cold. Sunglasses are very important too; bring a few pairs including glaciers sunglasses. Remember that you are near the Equator and sunlight is very strong on high altitude. For sleeping, bring a full size sleeping pad and a sleeping bag which is at least 15 degrees below Fahrenheit.

Does the company provide any equipment?

The quality of tents is very important when shopping for a company to climb Kilimanjaro with. High quality tents will protect you from storms, snow, rains and keep you warm and safe on Kilimanjaro. Tents need to be four-seasons tents built specifically for high altitudes and wind resistance. Mountain Hardwear Trango 4 Tent is a typical example. Also the company provides water treatment methods. I prefer the Swiss Army Katadyn water pump because it is an environmental friendly method of cleaning water and it is easy to clean huge quantity of water. This makes clean and safe water available for drinking, cooking and body wash. In the meantime, we use sterilizer to clean fruits and vegetables to prevent any bacterial contamination. I always welcome clients to visit the kitchen tent so that they can see for themselves how food is prepared in the most hygienic way.

lunch Q&A With Senior Trip Leader Alexander Lemunge: How to Prepare For a Successful Kili Hike

Alex Lemunge (third to the left) is having lunch with tourists.

It is said that food change from low to high altitude. What is your take on this?

Your body cannot digest protein on high altitude. The meals must contain mainly carbohydrates such as pasta or rice. Meat, fish and the like will not be served on high altitudes. On the contrary, in low altitudes full meal with proteins will be served to give you enough energy for the climb. On both high and low altitudes meals must contains vegetables and fruits for proper diet. It is strongly advised that you drink three to five liters of water every day, good hydration help acclimatization on the mountain.

What is mountain sickness?

This disease has two appearances. The most common severe form of altitude illness, the most often causing death is high altitude pulmonary oedema. It is a problem of lungs that typically shows up on the second night after reaching a specific altitude. The pressure in the lungs arteries rise, and fluid seeps out of the pulmonary capillaries and begins to fill the alveolar sacs. The patient begins to drown. The second is called high altitude cerebral oedema, a brain problem with a high potential for death. This is when the intracranial is filled with pressure or fluids suppressing the brain. Both are fatal. Emergency kit which includes oxygen, high altitude hypobaric chamber and some pills are used as first aid. The treatment is descent, descent, descent.

Kilimanjaro is the highest walkable mountain on Earth. What does this means?

We do not use ropes, carabiners, and other technical climbing gear when climbing Kilimanjaro. It is just a hike. Above all Kilimanjaro has a generous weather compared with most other mountains from around the world. Most climbers reach the crater rim with little more than a walking stick, clothing and proper determination.

What measures do you take in case of an accident?

We immediately give first aid to stop life threatening and at the same time we call rescue team. Kilimanjaro National Park has its well functioning rescue teams which work shoulder to shoulder with a respective company whose client gets an accident. The rescue team can drive up to 12,000 feet above the sea level. Beyond that altitude they use different types of litter to carry the patient down the mountain depending on the severity of the problem. The patient is then taken by an ambulance to KCMC hospital in Moshi town on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Sometimes the patient is sometime flown to Nairobi Hospital in Kenya by helicopter. Flying Doctors Services and Knight Support have the best rescue ambulance helicopters that work efficiently.

giraffe Q&A With Senior Trip Leader Alexander Lemunge: How to Prepare For a Successful Kili Hike

A giraffe on the Mount Meru with Mount Kilimanjaro on the background.

Kilimanjaro is literally a stone-thrown away from the Equator. This highest free-standing mountain in the world is snow caped. Is this not amazing Alexander?

This is fascinating. Kilimanjaro is the only place to see snow close to the Equator. In fact the world climate is summarized on Kilimanjaro. The ascent of the slopes is a virtual climatic World tour from the tropical to the Arctic. Even before you cross the national park boundary, the cultivated foothills give way to lush montane forest, inhabited by elephant, leopard, buffalo the endangered abbot’s duiker and other small antelope and primates. Higher still lies the moorland zone, where a cover of giant heather is studded with other worldly giant lobelias. Above 4,000 m, a surreal alpine desert supports little life other than a few hardy mosses and lichen. Then, finally the last vestigial vegetation gives way to a winter wonderland of ice and snow and the magnificent beauty of the roof of the continent. By the time you reach the summit, you are already in the range of -25 degrees centigrade. Snow capped roof of Africa will literally carry you far way emotionally.

Q&A With Senior Trip Leader Alexander Lemunge: Kilimanjaro Trekking

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hike Q&A With Senior Trip Leader Alexander Lemunge: Kilimanjaro Trekking

Alex Lemunge shows tourists the route they will pass to summit Kilimanjaro.

By NAVAYA OLE NDASKOI

The Kilimanjaro glaciers are turning straight to vapour. The Arrow glacier is no longer on Kilimanjaro. The Heim glacier was very famous for glacier climbing before 1996. Now almost all of it has evaporated. The Northern ice fields are mostly gone as well. In an interview with Navaya ole Ndaskoi, Alexander Lemunge, Executive Director of East African Voyage Ltd and a Senior Trip Leader who led thousands of tourists to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, said these are footprints of global warming confronting mankind.

Navaya ole Ndaskoi: Would you mind telling our readers about your self?

Alexander Lemunge: I was born on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in 1968. I spent my early life supporting the family like many children in Africa and attaining formal education. In 1997 I traveled to USA to become a certified Wilderness First Responder and CPR Emergency Cardiac Care Provider. During my stay in US, I attended leadership training with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) completing the Outdoor Educator Course.

I also attended several other courses with NOLS in East Africa. In the meantime, I studied a lot about High Altitude Physiology and rock climbing. I attended an interpretation course conducted by Richard Estes who is a well known researcher, conservationist and writer who has been doing field work in Africa since 1963. I attended a two-week course at the college of Africa Wildlife Management at Mweka, Tanzania. I also worked with Tanzania National Parks Authority to organize and recruit over 500 mountain guides, currently leading trips on Mount Kilimanjaro. I trained Kilimanjaro and Meru rescue teams in rescue skills and evacuation.

Currently I am doing Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Tourism at the Open University of Tanzania. Today I have my own company called East African Voyage Company Limited and I still work on contract basis with companies as a trip leader in Tanzania, leading treks on Kilimanjaro and safari. I have been in the tourism industry in Tanzania since 1994. I led over 150 ascents on Mount Kilimanjaro. The clients I led have successfully climbed to the summit of Kilimanjaro on over 95 per cent.

What makes East African Voyage Company Ltd different from other tour operators in Tanzania?

A combination of factors makes us different. Our guiding experience for example has been very instrumental. We also developed a very smooth relationship with our clients. We know the rules of tourism very much. The three of us have one thing in common: to start a company, to start a company that is compliant to the laws and regulations, and determination to provide the best quality services to our clients as much as possible. We do this successfully by ensuring that one of us must lead every group until such a time we have a well trained group of trip leaders.

We also offer periodic training to our staff as a strategy to always improve the quality of the services we provide. In the meantime we have been struggling to diversify our products. Apart from the well-known traditional wildlife tour, we tailor-make itineraries that also include the less known products such as cultural tours meaning that we visit and stay with societies like nomadic Maasai, Hadzabe hunter-gatherers, Mbugwe fishermen, Iraqw agro-pastoralists and many others. We also organize walking safari, hiking, biking and others. We are role models in eco-tourism. We link clients, communities and the environment. We are born in the Greater Serengeti Region and we know the challenges facing the wildlife, people and the environment. We therefore struggle to address these challenges.

How do you describe the tourism infrastructure in Tanzania?

Infrastructure is very broad. I would like to comment on its three aspects. First, the roads are generally in poor condition. During the rain season matters goes from bad to worse. This is responsible for the high and low seasons. Tourists could flow all year round if the roads are improved.

The second problem is about the flights. Very few airlines land on Kilimanjaro International Airport and Julius Nyerere International Airport. So to this day, most tourists coming to Tanzania come through Nairobi, Kenya. The problem of airports, local and international, needs to be addressed very urgently to encourage international airlines to land straight into Tanzania. Finally I would like to say that accommodation is still an acute problem that also needs to be addressed.

kili hike Q&A With Senior Trip Leader Alexander Lemunge: Kilimanjaro Trekking

Alexander (in a white t-shirt), and a guide, lead tourists on Kilimanjaro.

You have been leading trips attempting to climb Kilimanjaro for over 10 years. Do you think porters who carry items of the clients are properly taken care-off?

There is no set-up system of how much each trip is sold. In effect different companies sell the product differently. Very few sell the product expensively and the majority sells very cheaply. Those who sell cheaply fail to pay porters and other staff. Some delay payment of their staff for months. Others do not pay at all, leaving porters to depend tips from tourists. This in turn seriously affects the quality of service they provide.

The living standard of porters is low. My opinion is that they should set-up an association with offices in Arusha, Moshi and at respective gate through which we climb Kilimanjaro such as Machame, Marangu, Mweka and Rongai. This will make them as accessible to porters as much as humanly possible. It will in turn improve their working conditions. I tried to the best of my abilities to support them in their claims since I understand the importance of their work and the need for their welfare to be taken seriously.

You climbed Kilimanjaro to the summit more than 150 times. Do you see any signs of global warming on the ice of Kilimanjaro?

Of course, yes. The Arrow glacier is no longer on Kilimanjaro. When I started to climb in 1993 it was almost in its full shape of an arrow. The Heim glacier was very famous for glacier climbing before 1996. Now almost all of it has melted. The Northern ice fields are mostly gone as well. Half of Fortangular glacier is no more. All these have led to rock falls especially on the Western Breach. As you can understand global warming is responsible for this. Scientific evidence indicates that there will be no glacier at all remaining on Kilimanjaro by 2025. This is a sad fact confronting mankind.

Around 40,000 tourists attempt to climb Kilimanjaro every year. What are the environmental implications of this? There are numerous camping sites. This means land is being cleared. When you are talking about 40,000 tourists you are talking, to be lenient, of a minimum of 120,000 people if two porters are attached to every tourist. Now this is a very serious crowd. Water consumption is increasing destroying the environment forever. The human waste and other trash are also growing. Tourists, porters and guides should be serious trained about the leave no trace philosophy, you must take out every thing you took in.

What do you advice Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), a Government agency that manages Kilimanjaro and other National Parks in Tanzania?

Lemosho trail is the fastest growing route. Yet it is surprisingly inaccessible. TANAPA and Kilimanjaro National Park must work on this, if I were to advice.

Can you explain technically about climbing Kilimanjaro?

Climbing Kilimanjaro is physically demanding. You should be in a good shape before attempting climb. On going heart and lungs diseases can seriously affect climb. At 19,340 feet oxygen is half of what you get at sea level. The heart and the lungs should be working properly. I must stress that someone with any history of such problems must consult his or her physician before attempting to climb Kilimanjaro.

How many routes are there, and which one do you prefer?

There are seven routes which are Lemosho, Londorosi, Machame, Marangu, Mweka, Rongai and Umbwe. I prefer Lemosho through Barafu as well as Machame. These routes are more scenic and least crowded compared to the rest. This gives a climber enough time to acclimatize and summit. In addition clients sleep in tented camps instead of in cortèges. Tented camps are not noisy and they give a client some privacy.

“On Kilimanjaro I Felt Like Sitting on the Wing of an Airplane”

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andres peres On Kilimanjaro I Felt Like Sitting on the Wing of an Airplane

Andres during his adventure in Tanzania.

By NAVAYA OLE NDASKOI

Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world stands proudly in Tanzania. Andres Perez, a lawyer at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda based in Arusha, Tanzania, climbed it. Supported by East African Voyage Company Ltd, he biked from Arusha town to Mount Meru, the second highest mountain in the country, which he climbed in four days. He biked to Mount Kilimanjaro and actually climbed it to the summit, an imperious 5,895 meters above the sea level, in seven days, and biked back to Arusha. He calls this unique life adventure ‘a mountaineering duathlon’.

Navaya ole Ndaskoi: Would you mind telling the readers about yourself?

Andres Perez: My name is Andres Perez. I am a citizen of Venezuela and the United States. I live in Arusha, Tanzania, where I work as a lawyer for the United Nations Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Ever since I was a child I always enjoyed going into the outdoors and pushing myself with outdoor adventures.

How long have you been in Arusha?

I have been living in Arusha since this February. I was also here for three months last year, from September to November.

What other high mountains did you climb and how are they different from and similar to Mount Kilimanjaro, if you ever climbed any other mountain?

I climbed a couple of other mountains in my life, each has its own character. Just a year ago I did a trek through Northern India in the Ladakh Province. I trekked from Lamayuru to Alchi via the Stakspi La. After a day and half of resting, I summated a mountain called Stok Kangri together with two of my brothers. The mountain is over 6,000 meters above sea level. I also summated Tronador in Argentina as well as Muhavura in Uganda on the border with Rwanda and several other smaller mountains.

One thing that set Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru aside from all of them is the fact that they are both free standing. I have never ever been on a mountain that is as majestic as Mount Kilimanjaro. I felt like I was sitting on the wing of an airplane when I was on the summit. It was absolutely amazing.

climbing western breach On Kilimanjaro I Felt Like Sitting on the Wing of an Airplane

Andres climbing Kilimanjaro via the Western Breach, the most challenging of all routes.

Did you climb the other mountains you mentioned through tour operators in the respective countries or how did you climb those mountains?

Normally I would climb by myself, self supported or accompanied by a ranger when necessary. This is actually my first experience with a tour company and was a very positive one. Outside Tanzania I never climbed through any tour company.

Is it a good thing that people climb Kilimanjaro and other mountains in Tanzania through tour companies unlike in other countries?

A lot of people are able to summit Kilimanjaro thanks to tour companies because not everybody has the experience to climb alone. Me personally I like adventure and the independence to climb by myself but given that one has to summit with a guide in Tanzania I was very happy to climb with East African Voyage Company Limited. They allowed me the independence that I need to enjoy my trip as somebody who likes to do these things by myself.

biking On Kilimanjaro I Felt Like Sitting on the Wing of an Airplane

Andres biking from Mount Meru to Mount Kilimanjaro.

You biked from Arusha town to Arusha National Park. Then you climbed Mount Meru, the second highest mountain in Tanzania for four days. Next you biked from Momella Gate to Umbwe Gate from where you started a seven-day climb of Kilimanjaro, the highest free-standing mountain in the world. Where did you get that fascinating idea from?

Well, as I said I really enjoy putting together adventures for myself. I task myself physically especially in the outdoors and I got this idea because before I moved to Tanzania I lived in Colorado in the United States and I raced in duathlons (a single sporting event composed of two disciplines, in this case biking and trekking) which combined running and cycling. So I thought I should apply that concept to mountaineering and then basically ride my bicycle to the base of each mountain and then back and I wanted to do so continuously and wanted to do two mountains back to back. In short that is how I got the idea.

You climbed through East African Voyage Company Ltd. How did you know the company?

I was introduced to East African Voyage Company Limited by a former co-worker called Julie Veillette and as I was asking around for advice about which company is good for me to go with for something like this, that gave me that degree of independence where I did not feel like I was part of a huge group, in which I did not have a sense of personal satisfaction. She said that East African Voyage Company Limited can do this and that it is a small operation and also very qualified. That is how I became interested in it.

There are over 300 licensed tour operators in Tanzania. You surely had specific reasons for choosing East African Voyage Company Limited. What were your reasons?

Because I am normally somebody who does these activities on my own, I was initially skeptical about going with a tour company because I do not like to see that every single aspect of the trip is taken care of. I wanted to have some sense of personal accomplishment. I did not want to go with an enormous tour company that is impersonal. After speaking to Julie Veillette and getting to know a little more about East African Voyage Company Limited, I went with this company because they have highly trained staff and because they were willing to accommodate this idea. I thought they could be the perfect people to go with. For that very reason I wanted somebody who could organize things for me and help me with logistics but who, at the same time, agreed that maybe this guy want to climb Mount Kilimanjaro the hardest way possible, maybe he want to ride after Mount Meru and maybe he want to ride to and from and they were completely open to that and I appreciated that. I do not think every company out there could have organized this adventure for me, not at all.

What were the roles of the tour company in your remarkable achievement?

East African Voyage Company Limited helped me put together the itinerary. They also provided me with local knowledge on the mountains, because every mountain is different, as to what I probably need and what I will be facing. Most importantly they helped to coordinate the logistics from point to point and from day to day. I arrived at the Momella Gate and there was the vehicle ready waiting for me that I could put my bicycle into.

In short the company provided the necessary support. Along the way as I pedaled to these different places there was a car with me from some distance that I could count on if I had an accident. Also they obviously provided the equipment, food and organized porters. The services of the company were remarkable. They were excellent. I cannot imagine of any better.

How do you describe this unique combination of biking and climbing adventure?

I call it a “mountaineering duathlon”, that is what I can think of. This is my life experience. I never did anything like this before. I was wondering whether I could do it. I had the vision that this is something I could do. I did it. It was beautiful! It was beautiful as far as scenery, experience and spiritual aspects of being on these mountains but it was absolutely exhausting. It was a life time experience.

top of kili On Kilimanjaro I Felt Like Sitting on the Wing of an Airplane

On the roof of Africa Andres felt like sitting on a wing of an airplane.

You successfully summated Kilimanjaro. What are your comments?

I am very happy about it. I very much love the experience of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. This is my first time on the mountain. It is the highest mountain in Africa. I hope in my life time to summit the highest mountain in each of the seven continents and this is a good start.

As I said before it is the most beautiful summit I have ever seen in my life. I never saw anything that wonderful, the sun coming up, the ice, the glaciers, the crater, the ash pit and all. It was a buffet, so to speak, of geological formations and colors and sights. It was phenomenal.

crater On Kilimanjaro I Felt Like Sitting on the Wing of an Airplane

Andres slept in the Crater on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Kilimanjaro is literally a stone-thrown away from the Equator. This highest free-standing mountain in the world is snow caped. Is this not amazing Andres?

Sure! I saw snow. I saw huge and beautiful glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro. Seeing snow in Africa and along the Equator is something you cannot imagine. It is all over Kilimanjaro.

At night I slept in the crater, which was another interesting aspect of this trip. It was a personal record as far as overnighting at higher altitudes is concerned. I fell asleep to the sound of the glaciers creaking and popping which was a really nice experience in my life.

What do you remember mostly about this unique Kilimanjaro climbing adventure?

The ascent of the Western breach from Arrow Glacier to the Crater was surely intense, it was about four and half hours of walking absolutely straight up with a full pack at high altitude. Every time I turned around and stopped I felt like I was climbing in the clouds. That was really nice and obviously being on the summit you feel the cold air and hearing my boots crunch on snow and seeing the sun come up with the beautiful colors was phenomenal. One other thing that I really enjoyed on this trip was meeting everybody in my group. We shared jokes. I practiced a bit of Kiswahili. We ate the food together and many other things.

bike repair On Kilimanjaro I Felt Like Sitting on the Wing of an Airplane

East African Voyage crew helping Andres fix the bicycle.

What was the easiest and hardest part of the adventure?

The easiest part was enjoying it. I loved every second of it. I have nothing to regret at all. The logistics coordinated by East African Voyage Company Limited made the whole adventure easy.

The hardest part was some of the cycling. I rode a single speed bicycle. I had one gear. I had no suspension. It has neither shock-absorbers in the front nor in the rear. I chose one gear to make it more challenging. Riding from Protea Aishi Lodge to the Machame Gate is about 11 kilometers straight up on one gear and it was raining on me. That was the toughest part of the trip. Likewise the last 30 kilometers on the way back to Arusha from Mweka Gate were really hard. I dug deep in order to continue. Also, falling asleep in the crater was not easy. It was very high. I felt safe but it was a new experience. I did not sleep soundly. It was hard. I don’t think I slept at all. Maybe I slept for about two hours.

You used a single speed bicycle?

It is a Redline single speed mountain bike with 29 inches wheels which helps a bit with the climb given the fact that it is a single speed, the wheels are bigger than the standard mountain bikes. The frame is steel, which makes it easy to repair. It maintenance costs are comparatively low.

You had mountain sickness on Kilimanjaro?

No. Not even once! I felt very strong. I did not take any diamox and I carried my own pack all the time and I made sure it was fully weighted and it was not lighter than anybody else’s. I credit a lot of that to my training and also the fact that I was well nourished in the entire trip. My team ensured that I was drinking enough water all the time and I eat sufficient food.

Zanzibar: The Locals’ Unguja

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tropical beach Zanzibar: The Locals UngujaBy VALERIE MELLEMA

Zanzibar; even the name of this enchanting island is exotic. While the world knows it as Zanzibar, locals call it Unguja and know it for one of the most brilliant jewels in Africa. Located 25 miles off the shore of Tanzania, travelers will find a lush paradise, rich history and a welcoming people.

What can you find to do in Zanzibar?  Here are a few of the best attractions on the island.

Beaches – Zanzibar is an island, so, of course, there are beaches to explore and enjoy.  You will find numerous sandy beaches, with overhanging palm trees for your enjoyment.  The crystalline Indian Ocean stretches away to the east, while the coast of mainland Africa can be glimpsed to the west.

More than 25 beaches can be found in Zanzibar, some remote, some convenient to cities.  All of them are bordered by quite fishing villages, where life moves at a slower pace.

Stone Town – This historic city is the cultural heart of Zanzibar. You will find palatial homes once owned by Arab merchant princes, market squares, charming bazaars and more. The architecture in the city is stunning, featuring a mixture of Arabic and European influences that is uniquely Zanzibar. While the city has been designated as a World Heritage Site, it is very much a living, breathing city, with all the amenities you would expect.

Diving – Zanzibar is home to some of the best diving in the world. Incredible coral reefs, pristine waters and astounding sea life are the main attractions. The waters are warm and clear, as well, providing you with some of the best diving environments anywhere.  Zanzibar Watersports is one of the best diving centers in the area, offering PADI certification and numerous expeditions throughout the surrounding islands.

Island Exploration - While the main island of Zanzibar is as far as most visitors get, the nation is actually an archipelago, featuring numerous other islands and islets. These other islands make perfect opportunities for exploration and travel. Chumbe and Chapwani offer accommodations and leisure activities, while you will find uninhabited islands that provide even more enjoyment in the area.

In short, whether you want to relax on a white sand beach, swim or dive the beautiful waters or enjoy exotic dining options, you will find numerous options in Zanzibar. The warm, welcoming people make you feel at home and the relatively low number of tourists on outlying islands is a huge bonus.

Trekking Kilimanjaro: Interview With Henry Stedman

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kilimanjaro guide Trekking Kilimanjaro: Interview With Henry StedmanKilimanjaro: The trekking guide to Africa’s highest mountain by Henry Stedman, a passionate trekker, author and travel writer, is now fully revised and expanded. An informative and enjoyable read, the book offers invaluable tips for complete beginners as well as experienced trekkers – giving you everything you need to know to reach Africa’s highest summit.

Providing detailed examples of costs, what to pack, when to go, recommended trekking agencies, up-to-date maps and descriptions of available routes, and much more, the guide helps you plan and complete your trip in the best way possible. You will learn the main reason for failing to reach the top, the meaning of the name Kilimanjaro, the history of Kili, useful expressions in Swahili, and interesting facts such as youngest versus oldest person to reach the top.

I especially like the chapters on minimum impact trekking, how to keep Kili clean, the porters’ daily life, and ways to help porters whose lot is not often a happy one. The new updated version also includes Mount Meru and guides to Marangu, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

kili Trekking Kilimanjaro: Interview With Henry StedmanAfter reading this well-put together and brilliant guidebook I felt curious to hear more about Henry Stedman’s passion for trekking and Kilimanjaro.

Erica Johansson: When did you first decide you wanted to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? Has it been a childhood dream or is your passion for Kili something you discovered later in life?

Henry Stedman: Visiting Africa was always my main dream. I remember being a small boy and watching one of David Attenborough’s wildlife programmes (‘Life on Earth’, I think it was) on television and wishing I could see all those wild animals for myself. I’m afraid I was a bit of a nerdy kid in that way; while my friends were all collecting football stickers, I collected a series of stickers on ‘Animals of Africa’ (I’ve still got the collection – and am still missing the mountain gorilla and the bushbaby, if anybody can help).

So Africa was always an obsession with me, and as I read more and more about the continent, so it didn’t take long, of course, before I stumbled across Kilimanjaro. And boy, the first time you see even a picture of Kilimanjaro is something you never forget – well, for me anyway.

So if you take my childhood love of Africa and combine it with my job as a travel writer that specialises in trekking, I suppose you could say it was inevitable that I would end up making a living (or trying to at least) on Africa’s highest mountain – and greatest trek: Kilimanjaro.

For how long have you been climbing?

One of the beauties of climbing Kilimanjaro is that there’s no actual climbing involved – just trekking. I’m no climber myself, and I wouldn’t know a belay.

Suppose my first serious trek would have been when I first went travelling after university at the age of 21. I went travelling with my mate Dave and, as part of our trip, visited Nepal where we completed the famous Annapurna Circuit – a three-week yomp around one of the most spectacular corners of the planet. Then, when I started travel writing about a dozen years ago, almost by accident I found a niche as a writer on trekking – and it’s what I’ve been doing ever since.

kilimanjaro Trekking Kilimanjaro: Interview With Henry Stedman

Kilimanjaro.

Actually, it was actually just about the easiest book I’ve ever written. There were some difficulties – in the book we include a chapter on Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, as many people fly into these places before making their way to Kili – and the Kenyan capital in particular can be a pretty dangerous place.

But overall, it was really straightforward. I’d already been writing guidebooks of about six years or so, and so I knew what I was doing. And because the book is about just one mountain (well, two if you include Kili’s neighbour Mount Meru, which we also write about), rather than an entire country, so as you can imagine the workload was as consequently less. Furthermore, the people in the region are also very helpful and willing to impart information, which made my job easier. And while the trekking itself can be a little hard, it’s also an incredible experience, which makes it is easier to write about.

But the main reason I found this book relatively easy to complete was because I just became obsessed with the mountain, so that even when I returned home I spent many hours poring over these dusty old books in the British Library reading everything I could about the place. When you have an infatuation like that, writing a book about it doesn’t seem like work at all.

You write in your book, “climb up Kili is to walk through four seasons in four days”. What is your favorite part and why?

My very favourite part of the walk is the moment when one leaves the forest and enters into an area of wild, flower-filled grasslands just before the heath and moorland zone properly begins. The forest itself is fascinating, with plenty of plants and animals to keep your mind off the fact that you’ve been walking uphill for the past few hours and your calf muscles are starting to scream. But then, after spending the entire first day marching in the shadow of these giant trees, you suddenly break out of the forest into these grasslands which glow orange in the early evening sun. On many of the routes this sudden break into the open is accompanied by one’s first view of the summit of Kilimanjaro itself – a suitable reward for all the efforts you’ve made during the day.

kilimanjaro view Trekking Kilimanjaro: Interview With Henry Stedman

Framed view of Kili.

To be honest I think there are many reasons. I’ve been writing about Kilimanjaro for over eight years now, and in that time I’ve climbed the mountain many times, with many different trekking agencies. So having been a client many times myself, I know what trekkers want – and what they don’t!

Perhaps the greatest advantage we have over other agencies is the new route that we are pioneering. When people think about climbing Kilimanjaro, they dream of several things: a true wilderness experience away from the crowds; the chance to see some of Africa’s famous native wildlife; and the cachet that comes with standing on the summit of Africa’s highest mountain.

With our new Unique Rongai Route, we’ve taken into account each of these dreams: because it is a unique route that other agencies don’t know about, so we manage to keep away from the crowds that swarm onto the Machame or Marangu trails. By avoiding the crowds and starting on the northern side of the mountain, which is bordered by Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, so our chances of spotting the local fauna is greater. And finally, by studying the topography of the mountain we have devised a route that we believe minimises one’s chances of contracting altitude sickness – and thus maximises people’s chances of reaching the summit.

Another advantage that we have is that I climb with every group. I know that just sounds like a boast, but I think it has important practical repercussions too. For if you book a climb in the States, UK or indeed anywhere outside of Tanzania, the tour operators you book with are actually just acting as middlemen. In other words, they take your money and sort out your trip, but when it comes to actually climbing the mountain you’re handed over to a local agency who sorts out the trek. As a result you’re placed in the hands of people whom you’ve probably never heard of, and have no idea if they are any good or not.

By insisting that I climb with every group, however, I can check that the standards of service, safety, food, etc. are maintained on the mountain and throughout the trek. I can also act as an extra pair of eyes and ears, spotting wildlife, checking on the health and fitness of the group, and can answer any questions people have about the mountain, its history, geology, flora and fauna etc.

Other advantages? Well, we have always taken the issue of porter welfare and safety very seriously, which is becoming an increasingly important concern amongst trekkers. In the book we write at great length about the work of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) and we continue to work closely with them and implement their recommendations.

Lastly, having climbed the mountain so many times I know who are the best guides, cooks, porters etc. – and I think I’ve gathered a great team together to accompany us on the trek.

For more information about Henry Stedman and how to join him on a trek to Kilimanjaro, visit Climb Mount Kilimanjaro.