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 and ample vocal supporters.

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, 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: Shuttle bus transfers Nairobi-Moshi and Arusha-Nairobi, Marathon entry package: guaranteed bib number, t-shirt, medal, goody bag, Wild Frontiers hospitality tent facility at finish, return transfers to/from stadium, 3 nights accommodation at hotel in Moshi on meal basis as specified in below itinerary, Marathon carbo-loading supper on Saturday, 03 March 2007, 5 night camping safari including all meals and equipment, road transportation on safari by 4 wheel drive vehicle, services of a driver/guide and assistant/cook, game drives and sightseeing as specified.

Excludes: airfare to/from Nairobi, visas, travel insurance, health requirements, gratuities, drinks, all items of a personal nature and any service not specified.

Prices are subject to change due to any unforeseen circumstance.

NB. On safari pillows and towels are NOT provided. If you bring a pillow, please ensure it is a small lightweight one (like the airline pillows) as space is at an optimum on a camping safari.

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.

Travel Insurance - Please ensure you have sufficient medical cover for the duration of your trip.

Visas - Except for exempted countries all visitors require a visa to enter Tanzania. It is possible to obtain this on arrival.

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Friday - Depart Nairobi, Kenya on the 07h00 shuttle bus for Moshi, Tanzania. You will arrive in Moshi at 15h00. Stay at your Moshi hotel 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. Overnight at the at your Moshi hotel on a bed and continental breakfast basis.

Day 4 - Monday - You'll be collected from the hotel early this morning and transferred to Arusha (+- 1 hour 30 minutes drive) for the start of your safari. Depart at 09h30 with your driver/guide on the safari. On your camping safari you will be travelling in a comfortable, 4x4 safari vehicle driven by a guide and accompanied by his assistant. Insect proof 3m x 3m walk-in canvas dome tents (VERY spacious), mattresses, bedding and all camping equipment are provided. We make use of National park's facilities at the campsites. Meals usually consist of a cooked breakfast, light lunch and a three-course dinner. We regret we are unable to provide drinking water and/or other beverages but your guide will show you where best to purchase these prior to departure and at convenient points along the way. We request that clients erect their own tents on arrival at camp and dismantle their tents on departure - this is very simple and takes about 5 minutes. The cook/assistant takes care of the balance of the chores. It is important to note that we offer a quality camping product and not a luxury mobile camp. Please refer to our information sheet when booking for a suggested list of items to bring on safari. On the way out of town your crew will stop to assist you in purchasing water, other beverages or items of a personal nature and help you, if necessary, to exchange money at a bureau de change. We depart Arusha around 10h00 and make our way directly to Manyara National Park where we will stop for lunch at a pleasant picnic area inside the park before embarking on an afternoon game-drive. We depart from Manyara at around 16h00 and wind our way upwards into the densely forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, pausing to admire the splendid view of the crater floor 600m below at Heroes Point, before driving on to our campsite on the rim of the Ngorongoro caldera where we will overnight after a hearty bush dinner under the stars. Overnight at the campsite on the crater rim.

Day 5 - Tuesday - A full day game drive inside Ngorongoro crater with picnic lunch. Overnight on the crater rim camping. The crater rim can be very cold at night and cloaked in mist in the early mornings. It can also be quite bleak and windy (July and August). You may need a heavy jumper or warm jacket here.

Day 6 - Wednesday - Today we break camp and embark on a game drive into the great Serengeti plains. Before crossing from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area into the Serengeti National Park we should take the opportunity to visit the Olduvai Gorge Museum where we may attend a short talk on the archaeological importance of Olduvai and the work of Mary and Louis Leakey in excavating the area and discovering some of Africa's most important hominid fossils. An optional extra this morning, on our way to Olduvai, would be the chance to visit a Maasai village boma and spend some time learning about the culture, traditions and beliefs of this ancient, noble warrior tribe. This is at an additional cost, and should be discussed with the guide, and paid directly to the guide. Overnight Serengeti camping

Day 7 - Thursday - Morning and afternoon game-drives in the Serengeti National Park. Overnight Seronera camping. Africa's most famous game reserve covers an area of almost 15,000km2 and is world-renowned for its dense predator population and the annual wildebeest migration. The park is part of the much larger Serengeti eco-system, which includes Kenya's Masai Mara Game Reserve, and encompasses more than double this area. The greater part of the park is open grassland, patches of acacia woodland and isolated areas of granite rock outcrops called koppies. Animal migration is linked to the annual rainfall patterns and its effect on their feeding habitats. Formerly the home of the Maasai tribe who displaced the Datoga pastoralists in the 17th century, the name Serengeti is derived from the Maasai word Serengit, meaning 'endless plain'. The national park was created by the Tanzanian government in 1951 and became famous through the work of Professor Bernard Grzimek (in particular his book 'Serengeti Shall Not Die').

Day 8 - Friday - An early morning game drive in the Serengeti before departing back towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Then, late afternoon, we return to the Lake Manyara area near to the bustling little town of Mto wa Mbu (pronounced as one word mtowambu) for our last night of safari. After many hot and dusty days of travel encountering quite basic facilities within the parks, here we find hot showers and cold drinks in abundance for our last night on safari. There may be cultural entertainment such as tribal dancing or acrobats at the campsite or neighbouring establishments should you wish to attend. This village is said to be the only place in Tanzania where representatives of 120 Tanzanian tribes can be found. In the morning (depending on flight timetables and/or onward transfer arrangements for your party or others in the group) there may be time for a *tribal/cultural walk to the Miwaleni waterfalls and on to a papyrus lake where the Rangi tribes-people collect basket and mat-weaving raw materials, and also to the homesteads of the Sandawe hunter-gatherers. Another walk takes you up Balaa Hill with superb views over the village and lake and over the Chagga farms and Maasai bomas of the surrounding areas. *Please note that this Cultural Walk is not included in your tour price and should be paid directly to the cultural guide; budget around USD5-10 per person.

Day 9 - Saturday - After our (optional) morning walk we break camp and head back to Arusha, arriving around lunchtime in time for the 14h00 shuttle bus to Nairobi, arriving at +- 18h00.