Climb Kilimanjaro - The Machame Route

Price quoted includes:
• All transport – 4WD safari vehicles
• Accommodation as detailed – roomy tents when camping
• Camping equipment, (except sleeping bags and insulation mats)
• Services of guides and porters
• All National Parks entrance and camp site fees
• All food – breakfasts, packed lunches and evening meals
• High altitude emergency equipments ( Garmow Bag) during the climb
• Private portable flushing and chemical toilet (during the climb)
• Katadyn Combi Microfilter, to filter drinking water

Price quotes exclude:
• International flights
• Travel and personal accident insurance
• Visa, passport, vaccinations, medicines
• Tips
• Expenditure on alcoholic drinks, souvenirs, personal items
• Optional excursions/activities not detailed in itinerary
• Any additional services requested

Accommodation is camping throughout in 3 person mountain tents shared by two people. Vehicles or local porters will carry all your gear; you only carry a daypack with personal gear. When camping you will not have to participate in camp chores. We buy fresh produce locally and to ensure good standards of hygiene all food is prepared by our own staff. We can cater for special dietary requirements and there are no extra food-kitty payments. We can also arrange extra hotel bookings and airport transfers for before and after your trip.

You will be transported by private bus to and from your hotel and the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Private Bus

Mountain Village Lodge.
An imaginative recreation of a traditional African Village set in the heart of a coffee estate at the foothills of Mount Meru, with great views of Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro. Just 10 minutes from Arusha and 20 minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport, the lodge is the perfect basis for a Safari to the National Park and to Kilimanjaro. The Lodge has 38 romantic rondavels and 4 suites, set in beautiful gardens. Every room has a private bathroom with shower and the suites also have baths and a private verandah overlooking the Duluti Lake. The restaurant serves international cuisine. Guests may enjoy a relaxing walk around the lake.

L'Oasis Lodge Arusha
is uniquely designed viewing Mt. Meru at a distance, set in beautiful gardens and lawns with water fowl enjoying the fountains and mature trees. The lodge is located only few minutes from Arusha town. Rooms are in the main building and in beautiful bungalows set in the gardens. All 22 rooms are 'ensuite', with large beds, mosquito nets and a small verandah. The intimacy of the friendly service is appreciated as well as the guests’ privacy. It is an ideal starting point for your Safari to the parks. The lodge features a restaurant and a bar, a conference hall which can host up to 120 people. The cuisine features Thai & Indonesian specialties and a variety of international dishes, vegetarian and non-vegetarian. There are three different venues for dining. Our tip in Arusha!

Novotel Arusha
is situated in Arusha Town, in some 15 acres of gardens with numerous species of African trees and flowers, including Khana and Jacaranda.168 guestrooms are overlooking the swimming pool and Gymkhana Golf course or Mount Meru, all with ensuite bathroom and cable TV. Non smoking rooms are available.The restaurant of the hotel offers a wide variety of venues: cocktails served along the poolside, international cuisine in restaurant, African and theme night buffets and traditional evenings.For conferences, seminars, workshops, parties, press meetings and wedding receptions, the hotels offers conference rooms and a catering area of up to 200 guests. The Arusha International Conference Center, close to the hotel is an ideal facility for organizing conventions of up to 800 delegates.

3 Nights hotels
6 Nights camping

Africa VIP Travel Ltd believes in giving back to the community by helping support local schools in need. A portion of the proceeds is donated to local schools to improve education.

The donations will help purchase supplies for schools and tuition for poor families.
While visiting in Tanzania, we welcome you to visit the school we proudly help support.

Africa VIP Travel wil provide all tents and community camp equipment. You will need to bring all personal equipment (clothes, camera, sleeping bag, etc.) We will provide you with a detailed list of necessary equipment when your trip date approaches.

All guides are fluent in english.
For each or our climbs we have a medically trained guide to monitor for early AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness. We are trained for detection and appropriate treatment if necessary.
Most our mountain guides have climbed the mountain more than 50 times, and will draw on their personal experiences to encourage and support you throughout your trip. They have all studied the history and cultures of Tanzania and have years of experience conveying this knowledge in a fun and interesting fashion. Enjoy their tales of life from their villages and tales of life on trekking. You will find them easy to engage in discussions about current world events and African politics.
In addition to being a warm and knowledgeable travel companion they are there to look out for your safety, make sure you get great service in camps and lodges, and ensure your itinerary remains flexible enough to accommodate the interests and desires of you and your companions. All our guides have medical training and are first Aid certified. They can assist and advise you on medical problems or emergencies.

We consider safety on the mountain our primary concern during your climb. We monitor you during your climb for early symptoms of altitude sickness that may include: fatigue, headache, cough, dizziness, blurred vision, and loss of appetite.

For each or our climbs we have a medically trained guide to monitor for early AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness. We are trained for detection and appropriate treatment if necessary.

For all of our climbs we carry safety equipment: oxygen, Gamow bag and appropriate medication and cell phone

The Gamow bag or portable hyperbaric chamber is used in advancing acute mountain sickness with either HACE or high altitude cerebral edema or HAPE or high altitude pulmonary edema.

The Gamow bag is a high altitude portable chamber that helps adjust the ambient pressure as if descending 3,000 feet in altitude. The chamber is an inflatable, man-sized chamber in which the climber is enclosed. Once the ambient pressure increases in the chamber, it mimics the atmospheric conditions present at a lower altitude reducing the symptoms of AMS.

An oxygen bottle and mask are also used for emergencies of AMS. Our pulse-oximeter helps us monitor your response to treatment.
When you climb with us, we will try our best to make sure you will be safe, comfortable and have an enjoyable climb.

None

Up to 19,340 feet

Most of East Africa is savannah, comparable to the high plateau, semi-desert areas of Colorado or New Mexico. Altitude ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. (Obviously Kilimanjaro climbers will experience much higher altitudes.) Temperatures during the day range from 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Nights are cool with temperatures dipping as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas (Ngorongoro Crater, for example). Even though you will be traveling near the equator, please take our packing recommendations seriously and take along a light jacket or sweatshirt, sweater, and a fleece pullover. Additionally, bring something warm to sleep in at night. Humidity is low. If you don't travel near the rainy season, it usually doesn't rain.

Africa VIP Travel Ltd

"Karibu" in the native Swahili tongue of Tanzania means "warm welcome" to this enchanted land. Africa VIP Travel soars above other companies in the field of African holiday services because we go to extraordinary measures to provide our clients rich and in-depth encounters with the diverse flora and fauna of Tanzania. We believe only the most professional guides can assist our visitors to Tanzania to become intimately acquainted with the captivating beauty and mystery of this untamed land. Our guides are proficient in English and Kiswahili and well-skilled in all aspects of wildlife spotting, identification, and behavior and tourism in general. We welcome you to travel with Africa VIP Travel, a company dedicated to delivering high quality services and reliability in the field of African Tourism.

What do the trip prices include?
• Full board lodging (3 meals a day) on Safari or Kilimanjaro, whether in hotels, lodges, tented camps, mobile tented camps, or bush camps as specified in your itinerary
• Half board (2 meals a day on Zanzibar)
• All your park and game reserves fees, including conservation fees
• Unlimited game drives in our safari vehicles-window seat guaranteed
• All in-country transportation as specified in your itinerary, whether by vehicle or bush plane
• One of our experienced in-country safari and Kilimanjaro guides.
• Excursions, as specified in your itinerary
• 'Flying doctors' insurance
• Unlimited bottled water in our safari vehicles

What is not included in the trip price?
• International and regional airfare.
• Any expenses incurred in conjunction with this trip while in your home country.
• Cost of obtaining required passports or visas: Tanzania US$50pp, Kenya US$50pp.
• Airport departure taxes: Tanzania/Zanzibar domestic departure tax US$5pp one way, Tanzania/Zanzibar international departure tax US$30pp - payable direct in cash on departure if it is not yet included in your ticket).
• Travel Insurance. Please make sure that you obtain a convenient travel insurance in your home country
• Excess baggage fees. Note: Baggage is restricted to 33lbs/15kgs Kenya/Tanzania per person in a soft sided bag on all charter flights. Maximum weight per person on charter flights is 90kg/ 198lbs; it is the responsibility of the client to advise African Portfolio if this limit is exceeded as extra costs may be incurred.
• Medical expenses, meals or activities not specified or indicated as optional;
• Gratuities to drivers/guides/tour leaders. Note: Tipping is discretionary based on services provided; Tipping guidelines are: $10-$15 per day for professional safari guides/tour leaders; $5-$10 per day for camp staff, e.g. waiters, housekeepers, which is a communal tip that is shared among the staff); porters - $1; driver/guides - $5 -$10); restaurant waiters/waitresses – 10% of bill; hotel housekeeping - $2 per day.

How does our pricing work?
Our trips use tiered pricing based on logistics. Getting people into remote areas where the best game viewing exists is more costly when there are only two people in the Land Rover, rather than four or five. Economies of scale result in lower pricing for four or five people traveling together as opposed to pricing for a couple traveling alone. As well, the logistics of moving gear around for a walking safari with numerous bush camps is more complicated and costly than a trip that involves simply staying at a lodge. Our pricing structure is tiered so you pay for the costs of your safari and don't subsidize other groups.
Our trips have no hidden costs. We don’t quote you a low price and then tell you that, in addition you have to pay your park fees or that in-country transportation is extra. When we quote you a trip price it includes almost everything while you are in-country. The few items not included like gratuities, passport and visa fees, tips and beverages are set forth above.

Our trip prices range over a wide scale. The price depend on:
• The number of people traveling in the group
• Whether your in-country transportation is by bush plane or Land Rover
• Whether you choose to stay in lodges or smaller tented camps
• How remote you want to go
• Whether you want to view game from a mobile tented camp
• Whether you want to participate in walking safaris that involve remote bush camps
We can work with you to bring your safari within your budget range. Most of our trips are Suggested Itineraries, but you can vary them as you want. Let us know what your budget is and we will do our best to design a trip that gives you the experiences you want within the budget you set.

What are the payment requirements?
You can wire a down payment to our account at CRDB Bank in Tanzania. We require a

How far in advance to I need to book?
There is no cutoff. However, flights into Kenya and Tanzania are limited and you will find that there can be problems getting seats on British Airways or KLM if you try to schedule less than two months ahead of time. Peak seasons also book up as far as nine months ahead of time. Mid to late December is a busy time in both Kenya and Tanzania. Outside of peak seasons, you should have no trouble booking if you schedule your safari at least six to eight months in advance.

When is the best time of year to visit Tanzania?
Let's start with when not to travel: November, April and May. This is the rainy season in East Africa and it becomes pretty hard to get around in the remote places our guests want to explore. The mass migration moves from Kenya into the Serengeti in Tanzania in December, January, February, and March. That can be a spectacular time to travel in Tanzania. Climate changes are triggering some changes in the timing of the migration, so check with us if you are interested in traveling on the edges of the normal migratory months.
This doesn't mean that there isn't great game viewing at other times. June, July, August, September and October can be a very relaxing time. The lodges are less crowded and the game reserves not involved in the migratory pathways have as much game as normal. It's all a matter of what you want. Check with us if you have specific time frames in mind for your travel and we can help you plan where to be so you get the best possible game viewing experiences.

What kind of weather can I expect on Safari?
Most of East Africa is savannah, comparable to the high plateau, semi-desert areas of Colorado or New Mexico. Altitude ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. (Obviously Kilimanjaro climbers will experience much higher altitudes.) Temperatures during the day range from 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Nights are cool with temperatures dipping as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas (Ngorongoro Crater, for example). Even though you will be traveling near the equator, please take our packing recommendations seriously and take along a light jacket or sweatshirt, sweater, and a fleece pullover. Additionally, bring something warm to sleep in at night. Humidity is low. If you don't travel near the rainy season, it usually doesn't rain.

What kind of shape do I need to be in?
You get to choose the activity level of your safari. Traditional Land Rover safaris require little or no physical activity, although you can add all kinds of active adventures to your safari, including an afternoon walking safari.
Our Walking Safari, and Kilimanjaro Climb, are quite active. These trips include 8 to 10 walking days. Each walking day involves 3 to 6 hours on foot, with a Land Rover shadowing the group so you can walk as much of that time as you want and ride the rest of the way. On these trips, you also spend some time in a traditional Land Rover safari, but these safaris are definitely for people who want to be more active.

What if someone cancels at the last minute due to illness or unavoidable circumstances?
By that time, the hotels, guides and porters have been paid so we cannot offer a refund. We would recommend trip insurance, please refer above for a couple links.

What kind of medical care do I need before I go to Tanzania?
Before you leave for an international destination you should consult your physician. You will also need to decide on a malaria prevention medication. It is advised to take malaria prophylaxis.
Vaccination for Yellow Fever is not obligatory anymore. Other vaccinations like hepatitis and tetanus are recommended. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/travel/eafrica) has great information on recommended vaccines and further health-related advice for travel in East Africa.

What is the safety for Kilimanjaro trekkers?
For each or our climbs we have a medically trained guide to monitor for early AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness. We are trained for detection and appropriate treatment if necessary. For all of our climbs we carry safety equipment: oxygen, Gamow bag, Pulse-oximeter and appropriate medication and cell phone. The Gamow bag or portable hyperbaric chamber is used in advancing acute mountain sickness with either HACE or high altitude cerebral edema or HAPE or high altitude pulmonary edema. An oxygen bottle and mask are also used for emergencies of AMS. Our pulse-oximeter helps us monitor your response to treatment. When you climb with us, we will try our best to make sure you will be safe, comfortable and have an enjoyable climb.

Visa
Visitors from most countries require a visa in order to enter Tanzania. Some visitors can purchase a visa at the point of entry, but some nationalities are required to obtain the visa in advance in their home country. Please check the current situation with your local Tanzanian diplomatic mission. If you intend to fly to Nairobi and then travel on to Tanzania, remember that you may also require a multiple entry visa to enter Kenya, even if it is only for a few hours. January 2006 the Visa for Kenya and Tanzania is 50 US$ per person for each country.

INSURANCE
Whether or not you purchase travel insurance is strictly up to you, but we have provided couple sites that provide information; Travel Guard (www.insuredvacation.com) and Travel Insurance Services (www.travelinsure.com)
We suggest that you check your health insurance policy to make sure you are covered in cases of illness or accident in a foreign country.

Photography
Some of the happiest travelers I have met are those that don't take a camera with them and just enjoy what they see, but most people want a record of some of the fantastic sights along the way. You will get fairly close to a lot of the wildlife, but a good 35 mm camera with a 75-300 zoom lens will certainly help you take some great shots. It is always best to buy your film before you travel, because film here is expensive and not as fresh. 100 – 200 ASA is a good speed for general photography here. Though it can get bright, you might want to be able to get some action shots and the higher speed film will be helpful. Some people also like to use 400 ASA for fast moving animals and evening shots. A beanbag is much better than a tripod for photos from the car. (The safari vehicle should have a pop-up or removable roof to make photography easier.) A cable release is useful to get shots without camera motion. Also, a flash can help with indoor and campfire shots. Remember to bring extra batteries for your camera equipment. Most people find they take 2 to 3 rolls of film per day whilst on safari.
If you bring a video camera, don't forget the tapes (very expensive here) and the recharging accessories. You can generally recharge the camera at lodges and from the

Tipping
Our general recommendation is to tip moderately - in accordance with the level and quality of service provided. The following guidelines are generally accepted practice (per person): Safari guide(s) - US $5 -$10 per day; Cook 5 US$, Camp staff - US $3 - $5 per day, as a pooled tip to be shared among the housekeepers, waiters, bartender, etc. For porters and waiters at hotels and for taxi drivers in cities, the customary tip is approximately 10%. (Tipping in US$1.00 bills for porters and waiters is greatly appreciated). The traditional gratuity to safari guides or camp staff is not included in the price of your tour but is completely discretionary. Beware of unscrupulous people who try to exhort extra payment from unwary passengers just for shuffling their bags around.

Money Matters
The unit of local currency is the Tanzania Shilling (Tsh). American dollars in cash or travelers-cheques are acceptable in many places around town (note: AMEX Travellers-cheques are often not accepted). Credit cards are accepted only in big hotels, and if you do manage to find a place to use them there will usually be a surcharge of at least 10%.

Our trips use tiered pricing based on logistics. Getting people into remote areas where the best game viewing exists is more costly when there are only two people in the Land Rover, rather than four or five. Economies of scale result in lower pricing for four or five people traveling together as opposed to pricing for a couple traveling alone. As well, the logistics of moving gear around for a walking safari with numerous bush camps is more complicated and costly than a trip that involves simply staying at a lodge. Our pricing structure is tiered so you pay for the costs of your safari and don't subsidize other groups.
Our trips have no hidden costs. We don’t quote you a low price and then tell you that, in addition you have to pay your park fees or that in-country transportation is extra. When we quote you a trip price it includes almost everything while you are in-country. The few items not included like gratuities, passport and visa fees, tips and beverages are set forth above.

Our trip prices range over a wide scale. The price depend on:
• The number of people traveling in the group
• Whether your in-country transportation is by bush plane or Land Rover
• Whether you choose to stay in lodges or smaller tented camps
• How remote you want to go
• Whether you want to view game from a mobile tented camp
• Whether you want to participate in walking safaris that involve remote bush camps
We can work with you to bring your safari within your budget range. Most of our trips are Suggested Itineraries, but you can vary them as you want. Let us know what your budget is and we will do our best to design a trip that gives you the experiences you want within the budget you set.

What if someone cancels at the last minute due to illness or unavoidable circumstances?
By that time, the hotels, guides and porters have been paid so we cannot offer a refund. We would recommend trip insurance.