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Women's Safaris

Handling of luggage

You should bring a maximum of 15 kg when trekking on the mountains. It should be contained in a duffle bag or soft kitbag which will be carried inside a waterproof bag by a porter. You carry only a light daysack. Any unwanted baggage and suitcases can be safely stored at the foot of each mountain.

Food and drink

We choose the ingredients carefully to ensure that the food prepared by our team is tasty, easy to digest at altitude, and has a high energy content. We also cater well for vegetarians, ensuring that their meals are varied and inviting. For bigger groups, specialised cooks are provided to assist our experienced guides.

A fresh food re-supply is provided for groups of 8 or more clients on all 6 and 7 day Kilimanjaro climbs. This re-supply reaches the group on the day before the summit ascent and includes fresh bread, a selection of fruit and vegetables, cheese, and meat.
The sample menus below have a high liquid and carbohydrate content; the two important elements for successful climbing. Meat does feature heavily in our menus due to demand but is unimportant for mountain fitness on such short climbs.

At higher altitudes, stimulants (such as coffee) and less digestible foods (such as meat) are almost totally absent from the diet. The evening meal at the highest overnight on Kilimanjaro is a combined soup/stew as experience shows this to be the best preparation for the summit day.

Boiled water is offered each evening for filling waterbottles and is readily available at other mealtimes too. A wide selection of hot drinks are also available at mealtimes and soup is served twice daily. Soft drinks and beers are not available except on the Marangu route on Kilimanjaro.

Bed Tea

Tea or coffee served in your tent or bunk

Breakfast - GHD

1. Eggs with bacon and tomato/cucumber
2. Muesli and/or porridge
3. Seasonal fresh fruit (mango/banana/watermelon)
4. Toast with margarine, jam, and honey
5. Tea, coffee, Milo or drinking chocolate

Snacks 11

Energy snacks are provided for the daily walk such as biscuits, bananas, flapjacks, and chocolate bars.

Lunch

This is either a packed lunch on longer days or, more usually, a hot lunch served in camp by a small team who have raced ahead of the clients.

A packed lunch typically consists of :

1. Sandwiches with cheese and jam or meat
2. Fresh fruit, an egg, and cake
3. Hot soup and tea provided on the trail

A hot lunch typically consists of:

1. Soup (chicken/minestrone/different vegetables)
2. Bread (often toasted) or pancakes
3. Cheese, tinned fish, jam, and peanut butter
4. A salad (tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, onion)
5. Peanuts or popcorn plus cake or biscuits
6. A variety of hot drinks

Tea

In late afternoon, hot drinks are served. Whatever was not provided at lunch of cakes/biscuits and peanuts/popcorn is served now. A pleasant eating experience, and a good opportunity to drink lots!
Dinner e l
Dinner is the main meal of the day and always consists of three courses (soup followed by a main dish of several elements and then by a dessert).

1. Soup (chicken/ broth/ vegetable)
2. Chicken/beef/ fish. It can be roasted or prepared in a sauce.
3. Fresh vegetables, such as carrots, beans, peas, cauliflower, peppers, tomatoes. Often made into a delicious sauce.
4. A variety of carbohydrates such as potatoes, chips, rice, macaroni, and spaghetti.
5. Fruit salad or pancakes and biscuits and more hot drinks!

Hygiene

We always ensure that there is a bowl of hot washing water for you in the morning and again after the walk at an agreed time in the afternoon. The only exception is the highest overnight on Kilimanjaro (Kibo hut or Barafu or Arrow camps) where there is no running water and so all water must be carried from a lower level by porters.
Handwashing water treated with dettol is available with soap before all meals, and everyone is strongly advised to make use of it.
Long drop toilets are available at most of the campsites and huts used on mountain climbs. We very much encourage a policy of ‘burn and bury’ on all other occasions to avoid littering the mountains and issue you with matches. We do not provide toilet tents as experience shows that people often refuse to use them.

Accomodation when camping
We provide spacious two person tents of proven quality made in England and specifically designed for mountain use. There is plenty of personal space, an ample luggage storage area, and a separate external flysheet. A limited number of these tents are available as single tents at a supplementary charge and should be reserved in advance. Clients should bring their own sleeping bag and mat.

Breakfast and dinner are served in our communal dining tent with folding chairs, tables and lanterns. This tent is also available for communal use in the afternoon and evening; especially useful in the event of inclement weather.

Acclimatisation on mountain trips

Technical descriptions of the causes and symptoms of altitude sickness can be found in many guidebooks. It is likely that you will experience some form of mild altitude sickness on a high mountain trek. What follows below is based on practical experience rather than on detailed medical explanations.
Altitude sickness is caused by the failure of the body to adapt quickly enough to the reduced level of oxygen in the air as one gains altitude. There are many different symptoms but the most common are headaches, light-headedness, nausea, loss of appetite, tingling in the fingers and toes, and mild swelling of the face/ankles/fingers.
Many of these symptoms are not serious and often disappear within 48 hours. Most can be traced back to either poor blood circulation or the leakage of fluid within the body. In serious cases, this leakage is large and begins to fill up either the brain cavity (Cerebral Oedema) or the lung cavity (Pulmonary Oedema).

Cerebral Oedema is recognised by severe headaches combined with severe loss of balance and dizziness and will ultimately lead to coma; whilst Pulmonary Oedema is characterised by coughing up of pink sputum. Both conditions lead rapidly to death unless (and this is the only cure) an immediate descent is made.

Our practical experience is that there are three key steps to achieving successful acclimatisation. You will probably still suffer some mild symptoms of altitude sickness before adapting to function normally with reduced levels of oxygen.

1. Drink lots We recommend a fluid intake of 4-5 litres daily. Fluid intake improves circulation and most other bodily functions. Fluid intake does not add to fluid leakage from the body. Our menu contains lots of opportunities to drink! You need to drink lots of water too. If your urine is clear, you are drinking enough. Drink lots during the day to avoid a very broken sleep!
2. Walk slowly It is vital to place as little strain as possible on the body whilst it is trying to adapt to a reducing oxygen supply. Unless there is a very steep uphill section, your breathing rate whilst walking should be as if you are walking down the street at home!
3. Walk high Sleep low This means taking every opportunity to take afternoon excursions to a higher level before descending again to sleep. A pleasant way to train the body too! Obviously not a good idea if you already have some symptoms of altitude sickness.

Mild forms of altitude sickness are best treated by rest, maintaining fluid intake, and by aspirin tablets. Aspirin is far superior to other painkillers because it has the double effect of both relieving pain and helping acclimatisation by thinning the blood.
More serious forms of altitude sickness can be temporarily (but not permanently) helped by powerful diuretics such as Diamox. Some people take this drug before the climb whilst others use it only at higher altitudes. Whether you should use drugs such as Diamox before and during the trip is as much a personal decision as a scientific one as the medical causes/treatments of altitude sickness are still not fully understood.
We prefer to follow the methods outlined above to treat altitude symptoms. The final choice is left to you and Diamox is part of our medical kit when a Western leader is with mountain groups.

Special Note on Altitude Sickness

Serious cases of altitude sickness can only be treated by immediate descent. Our Western leaders and local guides are all experienced in dealing with the problems of altitude. It may be neccessary for you to descend to a lower altitude until you recover or even to abandon the climb in the interests of safety. The decision of the Western leader or the Senior guide in such situations will be final.

Trekking conditions

Most of the trails used on our mountain treks are well-defined and of good quality but some forest sections are often slippery and moorland paths can be very wet. The summit days on Mt. Kenya, Mt. Meru, and Kilimanjaro are almost exclusively on loose scree without permanent footpaths but no technical skills are required. Snow lies permanently on the summit of Kilimanjaro, and seasonally on the other mountains, but no special equipment is needed to walk on it.

These mountains are large volcanoes that tower above the surrounding plains. All climbs therefore require a considerable amount of ascent and descent but this is tempered by the short daily stages neccessary for acclimatisation. Be prepared for lots of uphill and downhill!

Clothing and equipment

All mountain treks have a wide range of temperatures so the best clothing is a lot of thin layers. Such clothing is easier to adjust as the temperature fluctuates and is also more effective insulation than a few thick items of clothing.

Sleeping and carrying equipment

1. 30-40 litre daypack (to ensure that all layers of clothing and other personal kit can be carried).
2. Duffle bag or soft kitbag for porters to carry on the mountain (not suitcases).
3. Plastic bags of various sizes to protect equipment you want to ensure is dry (e.g. sleeping bag and books) and for your daysack.
4. 4 seasons sleeping bag (especially for high camps on Kilimanjaro where the temperature can easily drop to well below zero). Consider a fleece liner if you really feel the cold.
5. Sleeping mat for camping trips but not for huts. Can be made of foam, or alternatively, an inflatable mattress (with repair kit!).

Drinking

1. 2 x 1 litre waterbottle or equivalent.
2. Purification equipment. Boiled drinking water is provided but you might want to use iodine or chlorine for further purification. Bring powdered juice to take away the taste if you use chemicals! Filtration pumps are excellent though costly.

Footwear

1. Walking boots that are worn-in and of proven quality (leather strongly recommended).
2. Thick socks and maybe also thin socks to wear under the thick socks (this often helps to prevent blisters).
3. Trainers or trekking sandals to wear in camp.
4. Gaiters can be very helpful in wet conditions and to stop scree getting inside your boots.

Inner clothing

1. T-shirts. At least some synthetic as cotton dries poorly and does not provide very good insulation.
2. Underwear.
3. Shorts.
4. Trousers (loose and comfortable). One pair should be thick and warm.
5. Thermal underwear is recommended for both upper and lower body if you feel the cold.

Outer clothing

You need a minimum of 3 warm layers for the upper body for evenings and for summit day ascents. Many combinations of warm layers are possible with recent developments in outdoor clothing but we strongly recommend a good quality duvet jacket.

1. 4 seasons duvet jacket (especially important for Kilimanjaro).
2. Fleece jacket or equivalent windproof jacket.
3. Waterproof jacket and trousers. There can be short but heavy showers even in the dry season.
4. 2 pairs of gloves/mittens (1 thin, 1 thick).
5. 1 sweater that can be worn under fleece and duvet jacket if neccessary.
6.

Head and face

1. Warm hat or (preferably) balaclava.
2. Sunhat.
3. Sunglasses (essential for summit days to avoid snow blindness).
4. Suncream with a high factor. The equatorial sun combined with the altitude is a very powerful combination even if you are used to the sun.
5. Lip balm, preferably with sun protection.

Personal usage

1. Towel and toiletries.
2. Toiletpaper.
3. Favourite snacks. Snacks are provided on all treks, but you might have something special you really like. Especially good for summit days.
4. Head torch. Practical in camp and very necessary on the summit day. Remember to bring lots of batteries and to allow for evening reading.
5. Camera and films. Films of reasonable quality can be bought in Kenya and Tanzania but are often expensive and not always easily available.
6. Pocket knife (always handy to have!).
7. Reading material and games/cards. The need to acclimatise means that many daily stages are no more than long mornings.

Medical equipment

Group medical kits with instructions are provided on all climbs. All Western leaders have first aid certificates and senior local guides have had first aid training. We pay special attention to avoiding altitude sickness by maximising acclimatisation and do not carry oxygen cylinders.

Personal medical kit

We recommend that you bring your own personal medical kit for the most basic needs.

1. Aspirin for headaches and mild pains. Aspirin is particularly good on the mountains because it also thins the blood, which helps acclimatisation at altitude.
2. Blister kits or plasters.
3. Immodium for severe diahorrea.
4. Malaria tablets. Malaria is obviously not a problem on high mountains but all mountain trips begin and end in malarial areas.
5. Knee support if you have any sort of knee problems; the descents are steep and sustained on all mountain climbs.

Guidelines on tipping

Although tips are optional, and should depend on the level of service provided, we would like to point out that tipping is customary in Kenya and Tanzania. Our detailed pre-trip briefing advises you on tipping for your particular trek but, as a rough outline, you should allow between $5 and $10 per day on the mountain.

Gifts are very much appreciated, but they are not seen as substitute for tips, and are sometimes sold for cash. If you want to donate something to the porters, we suggest that warm clothes, T-shirts, and shoes are always useful.
You might want to bring some pens (rather than sweets) for the children you meet at the foot of the mountains.

Our staff are carefully briefed not to pressure anyone for tips or equipment and are salaried at a level that does not make them dependent on receiving tips or gifts.

Info courtesy of the climbs’ operator The African Walking Co.
P.O. Box 1433, Arusha, Tanzania,
Tel.: 255 (0)27 254 4461, 255 (0) 8742 400005,
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
27, Leasowe Road, Rubery, Birmingham B459TB, England,
Tel.: 44 (0) 121 453 0028, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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