Climbing & Trekking
"Mountaineers and adventurers dreams come true in Africa"
"Mountaineers and adventurers dreams come true in Africa"
There is something intensely powerful about standing at the foot of a mountain and peering up at its peak, knowing that an enormous challenge awaits – one which cannot wait to begin.
It’s difficult to say why we climb mountains – why we choose to push ourselves to the brink in the pursuit of the highest points on Earth. Logically, it makes little sense. Time spent at the summit is absurdly short when compared to the length of the climb, and yet, there is definitely something to it that continues to drive us skywards.
If you’re looking for a safari holiday with a large dollop of adventure, strenuous exercise, and spectacular rewards that you won’t find on traditional wildlife safaris at sea level, then you’ve come to the right place.
Here at SAFARI FRANK, we know that there isn’t just one safari that fits all. Some yearn for the laid-back approach in the back of a vehicle searching for game animals, while others might choose to take to the water looking for the ideal African safari.
Then we come to the group that likes to take things one step further – or should we say a few steps higher. For those who crave adventure and demand the extremities that this world has to offer, a climbing or trekking safari in some of Africa’s most iconic spots has the potential to be a truly life-changing experience.
Today, more and more people are looking for holidays that push and challenge them – physically and mentally. For those people, sitting on a beach with a cocktail, or even sitting in the back of a safari vehicle simply won’t do – which is where our climbing and hiking safaris come in.
Whether climbing to the summit of the ‘Roof of Africa’ on Mt Kilimanjaro is at the top of your bucket list, or you are just seeking to be more active on your next holiday, Africa has it all and a lot more. We offer everything from single-day hikes with a fairly mellow excursion level, to expeditions of up to 10 days long that will challenge and thrill the very best.
Below is a selection of our favourite and most highly recommended adventures for mountain climbers and hikers alike.
The best part about these adventures is that they can easily be combined with a traditional safari before or after – meaning that you can book your entire holiday with only us, leaving you to focus on the excitement that awaits.
The second highest mountain in Africa may not have the same star appeal as another mountain on our list – which we’re coming to shortly – but trekking up Mt Kenya, even if it’s not all the way to the top, is an unmissable experience.
At 5,199 metres, Mt Kenya is a formidable extinct volcano any way you look at it and many consider the higher sections equal, if not harder, than Mt Kilimanjaro. We offer three options:
There are also options for climbers to harness up and attempt some of the technical climbs closer to the summit but we should stress that these climbs require a moderate to high-level climbing ability and are not necessarily suitable for beginners.
Chances are you’ve never heard of the Rwenzori Mountains National Park and might therefore be surprised to hear that it’s widely regarded as one of Africa’s most beautiful hikes.
The Rwenzori Mountains, a mountain range straddling both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a true show-stopper of a location, which, because of its relative remoteness, has so far avoided the crowds. Cheaper than climbing Mt Kilimanjaro – and arguably more picturesque – the Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a hikers’ dream and with its three metres plus of rainfall every year, simply overflowing with lush vegetation.
We offer several options to hike in the area, including a 1-day walk through the forest and along the Nyamwamba River, the most popular 5-day option up to Weismann’s Peak and a 10-day extravaganza that will see you tick off a blizzard of notable summits, including Margherita peak, Mt Speke, Mt Baker, and Weismann’s Peak.
Due to its locations, treks in the Rwenzori Mountains region can be easily combined with other safari activities nearby, including visiting the mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, or the Virunga National Park in the DRC.
For those looking to walk in the footsteps of our earliest known ancestors that stretches well back before known prehistoric times, the Great Rift Valley offers the perfect mix of history, African wilderness, nature walks, herds of animals, active volcanoes and breathtaking views.
Trekking here typically begins at the Empakai Crater in the Ngorongoro highlands and finishes at Lake Natron Camp (Ngare Sero) in Olduvai Gorge – commonly referred to as the ‘cradle of humanity’ thanks to its astonishing 2 million years worth of human history.
When compared to the other hikes here, this is certainly on the milder side, but if you’re looking for a good hiking activity in one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world, you can’t go wrong. The Great Rift Valley is simply stunning and allows you to dive back to the very beginning of humanity and lets you say you’ve truly walked in the footsteps of those who started it all.
There can be few images quite as iconic as the dormant volcano rising above the Tanzanian plains that is Mt Kilimanjaro. Not simply the highest mountain on the African continent with breathtaking views in all directions, this exquisite East African volcanic mountain has come to define adventure itself with thousands making the trek up its fabled slopes every year.
For many, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro remains a true bucket list endeavour, a chance to test themselves on the Queen of African mountains which rises to 5,896 metres above sea level.
The good news is that the climb up this beautiful volcano is relatively easygoing and doesn’t require a superhuman level of fitness. Several mountain trails wind up Mount Kilimanjaro passing through forests teeming with wild animals and endemic bird species until you break free and are greeted by staggering views spreading out in all directions. If you look closely, you might even be able to see herds of animals far below as you approach the roof of Africa.
The Marangu route is the oldest and most well-established route up Mt. Kilimanjaro offering the only dormitory-style accommodation instead of camping and is generally considered one of the easier routes up the mountain. The Machame Route is another popular option and one which takes walkers up and down constantly which helps with acclimatisation. Both routes are usually done over 4 or 5 days but there are plenty of options when it comes to length and budget level.
One point that we do have to stress is that climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is not the kind of expedition that you want to be scrimping and saving on. Safety and the experience of your guides should be your highest priority and although there are some bargain basement deals when it comes to finding the right operator, spending a little more money usually means better quality, higher standards of safety, and often a slightly longer accent period which again can dramatically help with acclimatisation and lowers the risk of altitude sickness.
We recommend the Summit Kilimanjaro – Lemosho Route, one of the mountain’s major routes spread over 9 nights.
Climbing this fabled mountain is more often than not a hugely rewarding experience for those who conquer it and its proximity to other big-hitting Tanzanian names, such as the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, means that it can be easily combined with other safari options.
Hiking safaris, whether through sea-level national parks or scaling a difficult route up one of Africa’s tallest mountains, is sure to be an amazing experience that lets you see this glorious continent from a very different perspective.
There are usually trekking options to suit most fitness grades, but needless to say, many do require a reasonable level of fitness. The higher mountains in particular come with a risk of altitude sickness and we should highlight that only 60% of people make it to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro because of this. This is not one of those easy-going day hikes and we always urge people to listen to their guides and heed their call to take it ‘pole pole’ (slowly slowly in Swahili). Trekking safaris are not always easy, but they offer spectacular rewards for those who choose to undertake them.
When it comes to the ‘perfect time’ for a trekking safari, unfortunately, we are often at the mercy of the weather and the trade-off for picking the best times, usually the driest and warmest periods, often means higher numbers, especially on Mt. Kilimanjaro. We’ll be happy to go through your options with you when it comes to choosing when to do your climbing or trekking safari, but the weather can change quickly in this part of the world and sadly we cannot guarantee a picture-perfect hiking experience.
But who said perfection was the way forward anyway? Trekking and climbing are meant to push us and a little adverse weather won’t hurt anybody. If anything, it might simply add to that dazzling tale of adventure with you summiting Mount Rwenzori, exploring the awe-inspiring Great Rift Valley, or conquering the greatest dame of them all, Mount Kilimanjaro.
Contact SAFARI FRANK to get started on your safari of a lifetime!