T R A N S F OR M AT I V E JOU R N E YS A N D DE S T I NAT ION S
It could occur in the form of an expedition,
like summiting the snowcapped peak of
Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, where you’ll
experience the majesty of the land and the scope
of your endurance. This transformation may
happen during a pilgrimage on the Camino
de Santiago, in Santiago de Compostela, in
Northwestern Spain, where miles of walking to
the tomb of an ancient saint permits time for
existential assessment and spiritual renewal.
Or the healing may take place on a quest to
Machu Picchu, the ancient seasonal retreat of
the Inca, in Cusco, Peru. Here are the ways these
destinations can awaken your spirit and expand
your world.
EXPEDITION TO
MOUNT KILIMANJARO
At 19,341 feet, Kilimanjaro is the tallest
mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing
mountain in the world, meaning it’s not part of
a range. From the pages of Ernest Hemingway
to the dog-eared African maps of adolescent
explorers, Kilimanjaro beckons travelers to
climb. Not as perilous or high as Mount Everest,
Kilimanjaro has many routes up the mountain,
but the most popular is the Machame Route,
taking six days. Incidentally, it also has the most
foot traffic.
With the assistance of experienced guides,
diligent porters and a chef, travelers ascend
the mountain through the rainforests of
Kilimanjaro National Park. The terrain is broad
on the lower end, deceptively hiding the fact that
you’re walking up a mountain. Next you’ll reach
the heather zone, defined by lower vegetation
and sunshine at about 10,000 feet. At 11,000,
you begin to grasp the full size and height of
the mountain, and at 13,600, you’ll enter the
moorland zone, with desert-like shrubbery and
short, stout bushes.
Reaching the snowcapped summit is both a
moment of elation and exhaustion. Of the
expedition, different travelers tend to have
reactions comparable to finishing a marathon
or traversing the entire Appalachian Trail. One
female climber said about Kilimanjaro, “Most
definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience and
one that earns huge bragging rights.”
30 ·
escape
· SPRING 2020
BOOK IT NOW
Mount Kilimanjaro: Ntaba African Safaris
Climbing Kilimanjaro — Africa’s highest mountain — is one of
the world’s greatest adventures. Our agency, along with Ntaba
African Safaris, can set up your epic hike, as well as include
additional Tanzanian highlights such as Ngorongoro and
Serengeti National Parks.