Local Info

The Town 102 Kids Trust have recruited a team to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

The trip is October this year, and we'll be keeping you up to date right here on Town 102.

Unfortunately we aren't taking anymore applications for this project - but you can sponsor someone who is taking part!

Mark Lloyd
Luke Harvey
Melissa Campbell
Jenny Line

About Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania borders Kenya and Uganda to the North, Rwanda, Burundi and The Democratic Republic of Congo to the West and Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique to the South and is 4 ½ times the size of Britain.  The population of Tanzania is about 39 million and there are estimated to be 120 linguistic groups. In April 1964 Tanganyika joined Zanzibar and the Republic of Tanzania was formed.  Julius Nyerere became president and for the next 20 years he ruled Tanzania on socialist principles.  In 1985 Nyerere resigned and voluntarily handed over (almost unheard of in Africa) to Ali Hassan Mwinyi. This marked a time of moving towards private enterprise and an abandonment of socialism. Recently Tanzania became one of the first countries in the world to be given Highly Indebted Poor Country Status (HICS) and thus qualified for massive debt relief. However, Tanzania remains one of the world's 25 poorest countries with the vast majority of Tanzanians having a subsistence lifestyle. Tanzania's major exports are coffee, cotton, cashew nuts, sisal, tobacco, tea and diamonds.  

Kiswahili and English are the official languages and the unit of currency is the Shilling or ‘shillingi'.  Mostly Tanzania's climate is tropical, but due to the size of the country there are regional variations. The coast and Lakes are hot and humid, the interior is hot and dry and the highlands such as Kilimanjaro are generally warm and dry during the day and cold at night.  Tanzania's main rainy season is between November and May (short rains Nov - Dec and long rains March - May). 

Trek Info

The ‘Kilimanjaro Challenge' trek can be undertaken by anyone of any age as long as you have a very good level of fitness and you are healthy.  The ascent does not require climbing skills and is followed by a fairly quick descent. That said, adequate preparation, planning and training are absolutely essential.  The ‘Kilimanjaro Challenge' will take the Marungu Route, which is one of the shorter, and therefore more achievable, routes. Please also note that due to the high altitude, a very good level of fitness is recommended for this tour. DTC has the right to refuse anyone who they feel is not fit enough for the challenge. We require a medical form to be filled in prior to departure, and any pre-existing conditions must be noted and signed by your GP.

Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro is located in the North East of Tanzania on the border with Kenya. Kilimanjaro is actually an extinct volcano geologically associated with the creation of the Great Rift Valley 100km to the west.  It is the highest mountain in the world that can be climbed without climbing equipment. The Bantu speaking group called the Chagga are the main residents. The first European to set foot on the highest point of Africa was Meyer in 1889. Since then the snow capped mountain has become a popular destination for those wishing to experience the most spectacular challenge of their lives.

Project Details

There are many schools for disadvantaged children, including orphans, situated at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.  This is an ideal place to acclimatise to the altitude prior to your climb - and the schools are in desperate need of assistance.   The exact details will be confirmed in due course, however it is planned that the group will work alongside the pupils and teachers to repaint classrooms and undertake essential repairs, such as mending fences and fixing broken walks to ensure the environment is safe and pleasant.  There will also be the opportunity to engage in some English teaching and skills sharing with the children.

Many of the children who attend the schools are the children of our trek porters and guides. As such it has real ‘meaning' to the participants, because not only are we helping the children by improving their school facilities, but we are supporting the economy of the area by employing the fathers as guides and porters.

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