The marathon route leaves Moshi stadium and heads down towards the town, and then along the main road to Dar-Es-Salaam for approximately 8-9km. This section of the route is relatively flat, and there are plenty of well-wishers along the road. We turn around and head back to the town of Moshi, tracking down into the actual town itself before turning toward the mountain and heading up a long, steady ascent towards Mweka. The uphill climb is gradual, but with Kilimanjaro towering above and all the local villagers out to cheer you on, the time passes quickly. The turnaround point marks approximately 32km and the last section is a fast downhill run back toward the stadium. Regular water tables as well as 'sponging points' and the odd 'shower' keep the runners refreshed and cool along the entire route. The route passes through many small holder farms, villages, parts of town, banana and coffee plantations and patches of forest, providing great excitement to the residents who give ample vocal support.

For those running the half marathon, the route also starts at the Moshi stadium and after a short section on the flat, it follows the gradual uphill route to Mweka as per the full marathon - before turning around at approx 10km to return to the stadium again. The atmosphere in the stadium is electric with local bands playing, entertainment, crowds of local enthusiasts to cheer the runners, and lots of food and drink for sale.

The logistics of the operation are run by the Kilimanjaro Marathon Club and the members of both the Tanzania Amateur Athletics Association (TAAA) and the local Kilimanjaro Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA).

Travel arrangements and packages to access the race are being provided by Wild Frontiers, the official tour operator, a South African, Tanzanian and Ugandan based tour operator, who are experienced in Tanzania travel and logistics and who are members of the South African Tour Operators Association and ASATA, and who is the largest tour operator into Tanzania from South Africa.

The race is completely backed up, with twelve water points being provided and manned by local organisations. Crowd control and traffic control are provided for, as is medical assistance and communications. Official timekeeping is arranged, as is an official prize giving and function attended by local dignitaries.

Includes: Airfare Johannesburg/Dar es Salaam/Kilimanjaro/Dar es Salaam/Johannesburg on Air Tanzania, transfers, marathon entry package: guaranteed bib number, t-shirt, medal, goody bag, Wild Frontiers hospitality tent facility at finish, return transfers to/from stadium, Marathon carbo-loading supper on Saturday, 4 nights accommodation at hotel in Moshi on a bed and continental breakfast basis, 5 night Machame Route climb including all meals, guide & porters, park and camping fees, mountain rescue while doing the climb, information pack - medical list, equipment list, etc.

Excludes: Visas, travel insurance, health requirements, equipment rental, tips (compulsory tip on climb = budget approx. USD100 per person), drinks, all items of a personal nature and any other service not specified.

If you would like to make further travel arrangements after your climb we can organize lodge safaris, luxury and budget camping safaris, as well as excursions to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

Please note: The single room supplement price covers hotel accommodation only. Should you wish to be accommodated in a single tent on the climb, an additional supplement will apply.

Prices are subject to change due any other unforeseen circumstance.

Health Requirements - Please note you will need a Yellow Fever inoculation. This must be done no later than 10 days prior to departure. If you have had any previous history of liver disorders you must consult your physician first. Malaria prophylactics are a must. Please enquire for details of travel clinics operating in your area.

Travel Insurance - Please ensure you have sufficient medical cover for the duration of your trip and in particular to cover you while doing the Kilimanjaro Climb.

Phone Home / Let the world know you made it - Vodacom has coverage on certain parts Kilimanjaro and in Tanzania, so remember to organise an international roaming facility.

Visas - Should you be travelling on a South African passport you will need a visa for Tanzania. This takes approximately 3 working days and can be done at the Tanzania High Commission in Pretoria. We can make the necessary arrangements on your behalf, alternatively they can be contacted on telephone: or at 822 George Avenue, Arcadia, Pretoria. You will need a valid passport (your passport must have at least 3 blank pages), 2 passport photographs and 2 completed forms. Other nationalities - please check with our office or the Tanzania High Commission. It is also possible to obtain a visa on arrival.

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Friday - When travelling (flying) we strongly suggest you wear / carry on you, your climbing boots and running shoes, wet weather gear and cameras - these are crucial for your climb/race, and you do not want to risk losing them in the hold. Make sure you have your yellow fever certificate with you - whilst it probably won't be asked for on arrival in Tanzania, when you return home it may be requested. Check in at the Air Tanzania counter, Johannesburg International Airport at 12h50 latest. Depart on flight TC 7909 at 14h50, arriving Dar es Salaam at 19h20. Connect your flight 20h00 (local time) to Kilimanjaro International Airport, arrive 20h55 (local time). As it is YOUR responsibility to reconfirm your onward/return flights, make sure you have the correct contact details with you to do this locally. We suggest that this be done as soon as you arrive in Tanzania. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Moshi (+- 1 hour/1 hour 30 minutes drive). Stay here for 3 nights on a bed and continental breakfast basis.

Day 2 - Saturday - Spend the day relaxing at the pool or you may opt to go into Moshi, where you can buy curios and have some lunch at one of the local restaurants. Day trips can be arranged at an additional cost. The Marathon Course bus will be available today on a scheduled basis for all Wild Frontiers clients to view the route. This evening we include a special carbo-loading supper for you to build up stamina for the race. Tonight there will be a Marathon briefing.

Day 3 - Sunday - Mt Kilimanjaro Marathon 2007 - RACE DAY. Transfers to and from the stadium will be provided for all Wild Frontiers clients. The Wild Frontiers Hospitality tent with shade and drinks will be provided exclusively to all Wild Frontiers clients at the finish. Climb briefing tonight. If you need to hire any extra gear, advise the hotel this evening. Leave any excess clothing and valuables at the hotel - they will lock them up for you. Pack your bag carefully for the climb - remember the weight limit of 12kg. Leave some 'bin bags' in an outer pocket of your bag, and show the porters where they are so that in case of rain they can quickly cover your bag. Keep one out for your personal back pack too! Overnight at the hotel in Moshi on a bed and continental breakfast basis.

Day 4 - Monday - Driven to Park Gate (approx one hour) where you will meet your guide and porters. The guide has an amount of paperwork to do at the gate, as well as organising the porters - these things take time (African time!) - please relax, sit down and enjoy the scenery - don't get anxious about starting off - it will only get you stressed out!! The larger the group, the longer it will take - be prepared to wait for anything from 1 - 2 hours. Discuss with your guide, in detail, the route and each day's activity. A five-hour walk through the spectacular forest will bring you to Machame Hut at 3000m. This day wear your hiking boots and ensure you keep your wet weather gear with you. Shorts and t-shirt will be sufficient. There are patches on the route where it is VERY wet and muddy, and you may end up with pretty wet boots this evening. Ensure your boots are waterproofed, and that you have spare lightweight shoes to wear in camp this evening. ALWAYS keep your boots and water bottles INSIDE the tent at night - otherwise they will freeze. Fill up your water bottle at night, and purify it - allowing some of the chlorine fumes to dissipate. Take it SLOWLY today; you will encounter some steep parts on the climb - but generally its not too strenuous. The porters walk ahead and sometimes with you - make sure every day, that you have all your personal gear needed with you, as you will not have access to your bag. The porters will set up Camp and the guide will prepare your meals. Conditions are difficult on this route, and your guide / porters will do everything they can to make your climb pleasant and as comfortable as possible. Eat well - at higher levels your appetite will diminish.

Day 5 - Tuesday - Ascend to Shira Hut, 3 800m. A short descent from Machame Hut followed by an hour or so of hard uphill to the top of the forest, then 2 hours at a more gentle angle through the lower moorlands brings one to the top of a rocky bluff. Lunch is normally taken here. From here, descend 50ft then start traversing westwards, up towards Shira Cathedral. The last sections of this route is relatively flat and easy - but once again, take it very slowly. Take a jersey with you today, as it cools down considerably during and after lunch. Again, keep your wet weather gear handy, and some snacks for the route. Drink plenty of water. Today you should take Diamox (if planning to) - in the morning. You may experience tingling fingers, toes and nose from this drug. As it is a diuretic, it is most important to keep your fluid intake high. Camp at Shira - it's a pretty cold campsite, you may get rain or sleet, and in the morning the ground and tents will be frozen over. Tonight you may experience headaches and breathing problems.

Day 6 - Wednesday - From Shira you will set off to Barranco (3 900m), skirting just below Lava Tower - you are now walking at approx altitude of 4 000 m, around the southern side of the mountain. A few steep sections and valleys, a small section of scree and rock, some sand 'dunes' - it's a long and fairly tiring day. This is part of your acclimatisation - walking in height from 3 800m up to 4 600m, and then overnighting at 3 900m. Once again, pace yourself to graduate slowly. Tonight you may experience further headaches, nausea and breathing problems. Night temperature - again cold (night frosts).

Day 7 - Thursday - Continue from Barranco across and up towards Barafu Hut (4 600m). Today you will cross the Barranco Wall - it's a climb over rock - not technical, but tiring and hard/long - ending up in the Karanga valley for lunch. After lunch you start to ascend - to Barafu - again you will probably get more headaches / nausea, some sections of sand/scree. It's a long day - your guide will set the pace. Learn to pace yourself with your breathing - do not try to rush to catch up with anyone, go at your own, most comfortable speed and you will arrive at base camp relatively comfortably. Listen to your guide/s, they will help you. It will be very cold today - especially when you stop for lunch and rest - dress warmly, again you may expect some sleet on this day. You will be walking through the cloud. After supper, drink as much tea as possible; settle down (option with a sleeping pill**) for an early night. You are likely to have a pretty bad headache at this stage. If you are vomiting, or hallucinating, talk to your guide. He will make the decision as to whether you are able to continue. If you plan to take Decadron, do so before going to bed. Drink plenty of fluids, as you are in a 'desert' area - albeit cold, and tomorrow will be a long hard day.

Day 8 - Friday - Today is a very long and strenuous day. Drink lots of fluid before you start, you will be very thirsty by the end of the day - if you manage, carry 3 litres of fluid with you today. You will be woken at about 00h30 or 01h00 with tea and a biscuit. Put on all your clothing ready for the final ascent. You will be climbing up scree for approximately 4-5 hours. The guide will stop frequently to rest and check on his group. It is very important to listen to your body and breathing and try to get into a rhythm. Because of the slowness of your walk, your fingers and toes are likely to get extremely cold - three pairs of socks should be considered for today and two pairs of gloves (inner and warm outer). The views from the mountain (on the way up) are spectacular - you gain incredible height over a short distance. You arrive at Stella Point (5 750m), just at the top of the crater, have a rest - the sun should be shining! From here continue on a relatively easy path up to Uhuru peak (5 895m), the highest point in Africa. Your water bottle is probably frozen at this stage, and on reaching the summit there will be a certain relief amongst the group. You will descend from Stella to Barafu. Depending on the timing of your summit, you will be able to have a short rest here (maybe a short sleep) and something to eat, before continuing down the Mweka Route. You will travel down quickly on the scree gasping in more oxygen, step by step. This is a long descent, and Mweka always seems to be on the 'next hill' - never arriving. It is likely you may experience seizure of joints - particularly knees today - keep a support bandage with you for this descent, and perhaps some anti-inflammatory pills/cream. Arrive Mweka (3 100m), late afternoon, on the edge of the rainforest, overnight camping. Time to reflect on the day's achievements.

Day 9 - Saturday - A three to four hour pretty descent through the rainforest to the Park Gate at Mweka, where the vehicle will meet you. There are generally beers and cokes for sale at the park gate. Transfer by vehicle to the hotel (approximately 45 minutes drive) ready for an evening of celebration by the swimming pool. Your certificates are generally handed out by the guides (either at the gate or on occasion they may join you for a celebratory drink at the hotel). Overnight Keys hotel, with bed & continental breakfast included. Liaise with your head guide regarding tips - we recommend approximately USD 90-100 per climber, which the guide will apportion out amongst the group. Any old clothes, shoes, etc. would also be most appreciated. If you feel at any stage, any pressure regarding tips, please make sure you report this on your return to the hotel to the management and it will be taken up accordingly. Whilst tips are compulsory, and the above figure is 'expected' - anything above that is totally at your discretion. Check with receptionist that flights are all ok, and your departure time for the following morning.

Day 10 - Sunday - You will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight on Air Tanzania to Dar es Salaam, departing Kilimanjaro 09h00, arriving in Dar at 09h55. Connect flight TC7908 departing at 11h00 to Johannesburg, arriving at 13h40.