The School of St Jude. Kilimanjaro Challenge

Transcription

1 The School of St Jude Kilimanjaro Challenge

2 Are you ready for the challenge of a lifetime? St Jude s Kilimanjaro Challenge is your chance to fight poverty through education at the peak of Africa! This information kit is your guide to the Kilimanjaro Challenge. In this kit you will find: About The School of St Jude p 2-3 Mt Kilimanjaro p 4 Dates and Cost p 5 Who can enter p 6 Draft itinerary p7 Frequently Asked Questions p 8-9 Before you travel p 10 Health p 11 Other information p Testimonials p 14 Next steps p 15 Contact p 15 Remember if you have any questions along the way we re only an away, Visitor@schoolofstjude.co.tz Contents

3 About St Jude s The School of St Jude is a charity funded school that provides a free, high-quality primary and secondary education to over 1,800 of the poorest and brightest children of Arusha region, Tanzania. We are located across three campuses, provide boarding for 1,200 students and employ over 450 Tanzanians. Education should be a right not a privileged - Gemma Sisia, Founder This is your chance to fight poverty through education. Go on challenge yourself!

4 Mt Kilimanjaro Mt Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. It s the adventure of a lifetime. Attempting to summit Mt Kilimanjaro isn t so much a test of your physical strength and stamina, but about your mental capacity to endure what the mountain may throw at you rain, snow, slippery terrain or brutal cold. But climb for long enough and you ll find yourself standing 5,895m above Africa and civilization, hopefully watching the sun rise from Uhuru Peak. It s a moment of such bliss, of such exhilaration and exhaustion, that you ll want to cry. Kili is such an iconic mountain, a monumental challenge for anyone. Now it s your turn to see if you can reach the top. It s a moment of such bliss, of such exhilaration and exhaustion, that you ll want to cry.

5 Dates and Cost Date: Participants: Price: Fundraising: You choose the dates that suits your group As long as there is a minimum of 4 people in your group we can organize the rest for you! $2,500AUD per entrant All participants are asked to raise a minimum of $1,000AUD to support The School of St Jude.

6 Who Can Enter? Anyone! People of all ages and fitness levels take on the Kilimanjaro Challenge. If you think that you have the determination to take on Mt Kilimanjaro and the fight against poverty then we d love to hear from you. To register your interest or find out more information, see the contact details on page 15. Be sure to check out the testimonials on page 14! Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing - Barry Finlay, Kilimanjaro and Beyond

7 Draft Itinerary: Machame Route Day Activity 1 Arrive Kilimanjaro Airport, transfer to St Jude s School by school bus Relaxation time Dinner at the School of St Jude 2 St Jude s School Visit Tour of Moshono Lower and Upper Primary Campus Lunch with the Lower Primary students and teachers Class visits Assembly (on certain days) Home visit and / or school bus ride Dinner at the School of St Jude 3 St Jude s School Visit Tour of the Smith Secondary Campus Traditional African dance and drumming lesson Lunch with Secondary students and teachers Extra Curricular activities Kilimanjaro Mountain Briefing Dinner at the School of St Jude 4 Transfer from St Jude s to Machame Gate. Machame Gate to Machame Huts (highest altitude 3000 metres) Trekking time 4 6 Hours 5 Machame Hut to Shira Hut (highest altitude 3800 metres) Trekking time 5 7 hours 6 Shira Hut to Barranco Hut via Lava Tower (highest altitude 4600 metres) Trekking time 6 8 hours 7 Barranco Hut to Karanga Camp, night spent at Karanga Camp (highest altitude 4400 metres) Trekking time 3-4 hours 8 Karanga Camp to Barafu Hut (highest altitude 4600 metres) Trekking time 3-4 hours 9 Barafu Hut to Uhuru Peak to Millennium Camp (highest altitude 5895 metres) Trekking time hours Transfer to the School of St Jude s for a celebratory BBQ! 10 Transfer from St Jude s to Kilimanjaro Airport or stay on to go on safari!

8 Frequently Asked Questions What items and services are included: Return airport transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to The School of St Jude s area. All the sleeping tents are 2 4 man in size and we place two people in each unless solo accommodation is requested. Who will meet me at the airport? A friendly face will be there to meet you on your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport. The same face will be there to wave you goodbye when you depart. What support will I have in Arusha? On your arrival in Arusha you will receive a briefing from the Visitor team and your lead guide. You will be given a phone number on your arrival and we offer 24hr support during you time with us in Tanzania. Where will I be staying when I m not climbing Kilimanjaro? You will have four nights bed and breakfast hotel accommodation. Your accommodation will be at The School of St Jude s. How do I get from St Jude s to the mountain? Return transfer from the School of St Jude s to the Kilimanjaro park gate. We will arrange a transfer from The School of St Jude s and drop you back off. What food is included during the climb? Expedition food to include a hot breakfast, a packed lunch, a hot evening meal and snack foods, The mountain cooks cater for all palates and are able to cater for vegetarians and those with food allergies. Staying nourished is very important at altitude and the cooks are experienced in preparing meals suited to the western palate. Can I use the water? Boiled water for drinking and washing. All the water is taken from the glacier fed streams on Kilimanjaro. The water is boiled and sieved before being served. What kind of equipment is used during the climb? On the climb you will be using high quality mountain equipment. There are large communal dining tents that are fitted with tables and chairs and act as a social Who climbs with the group? The mountain teams are made up of guides, cooks and porters. All the guides are bilingual with English being there most common second language. Food is supplied and tented accommodation for the porters during the expedition. Are the park entry and camping permits included? Yes. The guides will take care of all the permits needed to access and camp on Kilimanjaro. What happens if there is an emergency on the mountain? In the event of an emergency, there is helicopter evacuation from Kilimanjaro in case of severe medical emergencies through AMREF s flying doctor service. For less serious ailments the guides can arrange for transport to meet you at the nearest trail head and injured parties can be evacuated from the mountain in this way. What safety equipment will be available? The guides promote and encourage a strong culture of safety. They carry out risk assessments and are always looking at ways to eliminate risk and create a safer environment for the guides to work in and our visitors to climb in. The guides carry shortwave radios for communication within the group and they carry a satellite phone for emergency use. Every expedition is equipped with a large first aid kit and on every expedition the guides carry a cylinder of medical oxygen for emergency use. The team also work to strict staff to visitor ratio meaning there is always an abundance of staff to cope with any situation. Do I receive a certificate of achievement? Everyone who makes it to Uhuru Peak or Stella point will receive an official Kilimanjaro certificate.

9 Items and services not included: Expedition kit list: Flights: The nearest airport is Kilimanjaro International airport. Climbing: Trekking poles, Head torch (spare batteries) Tanzanian entry visas: Visas can be purchased on your arrival in Tanzania; alternatively they can be purchased prior to departure from the Tanzania consulate in your home country. Tips for mountain staff: Mountain staff are paid a good wage compared too many local and international operators and the mountain crews do not rely on tips as their wage. Tips are still greatly appreciated by the mountain crew and are very ingrained in the culture of Kilimanjaro. The question we are always asked by our visitors is how much should they tip. The standard tipping amount is around US $150 to $250 per visitor which equates to $40 - $60 per member of the expedition crew. Please take this as a guideline only as tipping is a personal choice and should represent your enjoyment of the expedition. Drinks and food when not on the mountain: Breakfast, lunch and dinner is included at the School of St Jude s. All transport out with the Items and Services Included section: We will transport you to and from the airport and to and from the mountain but any additional taxi journeys around Arusha will be your responsibility. All personal climbing equipment: Please see the next section of items we advise you take with you on the expedition. The more items from the list you are able to bring the more comfortable and enjoyable your expedition will be. Footwear: Trainers or light weight shoes, Trekking boots 2 4 season, Gaiters, Wool or synthetics socks 4 pairs minimum Hand wear: Light synthetic gloves 1 2 Pairs, Mitts with Gore-Tex shells or ski gloves1 pair Technical clothing: Gore-Tex jacket with hood or water proof jacket, Gore-Tex trousers or water proof trousers, Down or synthetic jacket - medium to heavy weight fill, Fleece or soft shell jacket, Mid weight thermal underwear top & bottoms 2 Pairs. Head wear: Woollen hat, Balaclava, Sun hat or baseball cap, Sunglasses or glacier glasses. Personal equipment: Down or synthetic sleeping bag, -10 to -15 degrees centigrade cold rating, Foam sleeping mat or self inflating mattress, Kit bag or back pack with rain cover (to take to mountain), Small kit bag (to leave at Hotel), Day rucksack litres with rain cover (to take to mountain), Water bottles or water bladder, 2 4 litres of total capacity. Medical & toiletries: Small First Aid Kit (aspirin, blister kits, medical tape, personal medication, Sunscreen SPF 30 or better - 2 small tubes, Lipscreen SPF 40 or better at least 2 sticks, Toiletries bag (toothbrush, toothpaste, wet wipes, ear plugs), travel towel. Miscellaneous items: Compression sacks, Resealable small plastic bags, Camera, Small multi tool or knife, Snack foods to include sweets, chocolate or energy bars. Documentation: Passport, Yellow Fever certificate (if travelling via Kenya), Travel insurance documents, US Dollars for porter and guide tips & for buying items on the mountain, Useful telephone numbers.

10 Before You Travel Passport: Everyone requires a passport to gain entry into Tanzania and you will need two free pages in your passport and 6 months validity on your return date. Insurance: It is important to have the correct insurance for the expedition you will be undertaking. Some of the key inclusions you will require in your insurance policy are the following: Make sure your policy covers you for the altitude you will be visiting. The policy should cover you for evacuation by helicopter in case of emergency. There should be adequate medical cover and cover for loss of equipment. Entry Visas: The information below is supplied as a guide only and. It is important to check visa requirements with the Tanzania High Commission (THC) in your country of residence. It is a mandatory requirement to have an entry visa when entering Tanzania. There are three options for obtaining a Tanzania Entry Visa: 1. Apply in Person: Visas can be obtained from the THC in your country of residence. For most countries if applying in person you will be required to have two free pages in your pass port and 6 months validity on your return date. You will also require a visa application form. 2. Apply by Post: Visas can be obtained by post from the THC in your country of residence. To apply you will need to download a visa application form from the THC website and post this along with your passport. You will be required to have two free pages in your passport and 6 months validity on your return date. When applying by post you will also need to send two passport size photos and a special delivery pre-paid self-addressed envelope for the return of your passport. 3. Apply on Arrival: When you arrive in Tanzania it is also possible to purchase a visa from the port of entry. If arriving via Kilimanjaro International Airport on the KLM flight the visa queues can be very long and if you are near the back waiting time can be over 1 hour. Airline staff will distribute visa application forms during the flight but you will be required to have two free pages in your passport and 6 months validity on your return date. The cost of a visa for UK citizens is US $50.00 & $ for US citizens.

11 Health Vaccinations & Anti-Malarial Prophylaxis Drugs: Vaccination requirements for Tanzania change and it is important you visit your GP or local travel clinic to discuss which vaccinations and drugs you require. There is also a risk of contracting Malaria while visiting Tanzania and precautions should be taken. Fitness: Climbing Kilimanjaro requires a level of fitness and to properly enjoy the experience it is important to reach this level. Everyone is different and for this reason we don t have a specific training programme. The most important aspect of your training should be getting experience in the mountains wearing the boots you will be using on Kilimanjaro and carrying a day pack. This will get your body accustomed to what it will be experiencing on a day to day basis while on the Kilimanjaro expedition. It is also important to incorporate aerobic, anaerobic, strength and flexibility exercises into your training programme. Hygiene: Due to the large volume of people who visit Kilimanjaro it can be a breeding ground for germs and it is important to keep as clean as possible during the expedition. Before meals hot water and soap for washing will be supplied but it can also be advantageous to carry baby wipes and alcohol gels so you have some protection after visiting the toilet.

12 Other Information Altitude: Important factors to consider when climbing or trekking are the effects that altitude may have on your body. All the guides are trained in first aid at altitude and all have experience in dealing with the different forms of altitude sickness. On all expeditions the guides carry a pulse-oximeter which helps determine how your body is adapting to the higher altitude. The guides also carry bottled oxygen which can be used in emergencies. One of the most important things to help lessen the effect of altitude on your body is to stay hydrated while ascending the mountain. We recommend you drink between 3 and 4 litres of water every day. If you do suffer from a severe form of altitude sickness the only real cure is descent to a lower level. If you are unlucky enough to suffer from a severe form of altitude sickness while on one of our expeditions you will be escorted to a lower level by a member of staff with medical training. The mountain guides are often asked about Diamox (Acetazolamide). This is a preventive drug that can help with many of the symptoms related to altitude sickness. Diamox can also be used to treat the effects of altitude sickness but it is not a cure. If you are planning to take Diamox consult your doctor first and please let your mountain guide know that you are taking the drug. Weather: Until recently the weather system on Kilimanjaro was very predictable but like everywhere else in the world the weather system has been changing. Over the last few years the rainy season seems to have been arriving early. It is hard to say whether this will last but it has been noted over the last few seasons. The rainy season shouldn t put you off visiting Kilimanjaro. It is not always as wet as you may expect and there are some advantages. The mountain is very quiet during the raining season and for those hoping for snow on the summit it can usually be guaranteed during the rainy season. The temperature on Kilimanjaro can vary from one extreme to another during your expedition and you need to be prepared for everything. Temperatures during the day can be as high as 30 degrees centigrade but can plummet into the minuses once the sun disappears. Higher on the mountain and on summit night the temperature can plummet to around -15 degrees centigrade and with wind chill this can seem as cold as -25 degrees centigrade. The seasons explained (Please note this is not an exact science and as mentioned earlier seasons may vary). Mid January to Mid March: This is a good time to climb Kilimanjaro. The weather is quite stable with clear skies and the occasional shower.

13 Other Information The temperatures are reasonably warm and the mountain is fairly quiet. Mid March to Mid June: The rains increase during March until April where the mountain becomes very wet and warm. The mountain is very quiet during this period. This period is known as the long rains and is the wettest period Kilimanjaro experiences. Mid June to Mid August: The rain decreases into June and the weather turns very dry and clear as the months go on. Night time temperatures can be very cold at this time of year. June is a quiet time on the mountain but it gradually becomes busier as the year moves along. Mid August to End of October: This is considered peak climbing season on Kilimanjaro and the mountain can be very busy. The weather is warm and the skies are clear. Rain can still linger around the rain forest zones on Kilimanjaro but once above this the chances of rain are slim. The rains increase towards the end of October. November/December: The short rains begin at the start of November and carry on until mid December. The temperature drops and the clouds close in around Kilimanjaro. The mountain is usually quite quiet around this time. During December the mountain becomes busier again and the weather changes for the better. The 6 weeks around New Year are very busy on the mountain and the weather is quite stable with occasional showers.

14 Testimonials I climbed Mt Kili in November 12. It s a challenge that tested and pushed me to limits I ve never thought possible. I ve stood at 5,895m on Uhuru Peak and watched the sun rise while representing The School of St Jude. To be able to accomplish such a challenge to promote St Jude s makes it one of the best experiences of my life. Matt Lawyue Combining Mt Kilimanjaro with a trip to the wonderful School of St Judes sounded like a trip of a lifetime. It was. My memory is now deeply etched with the sound of the children s laughter arriving by bus in the morning, meeting the happy staff, students and volunteers at the school, the nervous trepidation before the climb, hearing the porters songs as we arrived at camp each night, the taste of millet porridge, the ever changing view to Mt Meru, the final ascent at midnight and the exhilaration of dawn atop Kili. The feeling of when our whole group reached the top is indescribable and absolutely worth it. I was overwhelmed by a sense of wonder, achievement and the realisation that I was standing on the roof of Africa! I had achieved my own goal of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and also raised money for a worthy cause. Grace Coard Afterwards cracking a Kilimanjaro beer with the crew and fellow trekkers is about as satisfying a moment as you will ever savour. Iit will be one of the great experiences of your life. Sign up and do it. - Dennis Ward

15 Take The Next Step All Kilimanjaro Challenge participants are asked to raise a minimum of $1,000AUD to support The School of St Jude. This money will ensure that we can continue to provide free, high-quality education to the poorest and brightest children within the Arusha district of Tanzania. You re not alone! So, are you ready? We have a team on the ground at St Jude s to support your Kilimanjaro Challenge. Any questions? Just us at Visitor@schoolofstjude.co.tz What about fundraising support? If you are ready for the challenge of your lifetime and want to join the fight against poverty in one of the most unique and exhilarating ways, then get in touch with us today. Submit your interest for the St Jude s Kilimanjaro Challenge by ing the team at: Visitor@schoolofstjude.co.tz We ve got that covered too! We have a dedicated team member who will be your main point of contact for your fundraising activities. We will be available to answer your fundraising enquiries, send you support material like DVDs and brochures. Once you sign up, we ll send you these contact details and more.