January - March & August - October
Summiting a mountain on holiday is something we all aspire to do, although the lingering worry you'll end up back at your desk feeling more shattered than when you left means it's a permanent fixture on your forever growing 'to do' list. The beauty of this trip lies not only in achieving something many people are yet to achieve - summiting Africa's highest free-standing mountain - but also in the time you have to reap the reward at the end by enjoying one of Tanzania's top safari lodges. This way you can return feeling invigorated by your sense of personal achievement, rested and enviably smug on achieving both. You'll be left deciding which mountain to tackle next...
We've all heard of Mount Kilimanjaro but, did you realise there are at least five different routes to the top? Well, naturally here at Black Tomato we wouldn't hear of anyone climbing the mountain in a line of blue backpacks so instead, it's you and your guide climbing the mountain with nothing but open views and the summit lying ahead. We take you up the Lemosho Glades route, the least used ascent route because of its remote location (but that's why we love it). In eight days you will go from buffalo and elephant sightings and the lush rolling hills of the Shira Plateau to volcanic landscapes and hanging glaciers until the air is cold and the landscape sparse at Barafu Camp. A six hour walk takes you to the edge of the crater; Stella Point, at 19,000 feet where you will trek across the lunar landscape to set up camp in the soft sands by the ice wall of Furtwangler glacier. From here it's an early start and time for the adrenalin to kick in. The last leg will see you summit the mountain in time for sunrise before you start your descent.
This route is so remote that huts haven't even been built - a true sign of off-the-beaten-track. Each night you will eat a hearty meal in mess tents before retiring to your mountain tent for some much needed rest. Once back down the mountain you will be awarded with your climbing certificates and taken straight to Arusha airport for your short flight to Sasakwa. On arrival you will be whisked away to Faru Faru River Lodge for your 3 nights of much deserved luxury and relaxation.
This lodge is quite easily one of Tanzania's finest and the perfect place for you to enjoy such deserving comfort and intimate service. It sits quietly on a hill overlooking a watering hole and the Grumeti River which means if no energy has been spared for leaving the lodge you merely have to sit on the elevated decks and watch the meandering game below. Of course game drives and walks can be organised whenever you wish and being positioned adjacent to the Serengeti National Park, part of the famous migratory route, means there is plenty to see all year round. Alternative activities like spa treatments, archery, croquet, mountain biking, horse riding and hot air ballooning can also be enjoyed depending on how energetic or deservedly lazy you feel.
So, you can have it all, adventure, achievement and recuperation. Just don't be too smug when you get back or else everyone will be beating you to the next one... talking of which, what's it going to be?...
