Climb, Connect, Empower: A Transformative Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar Journey
15 days
English
All year
16+
3260 EUR
Adventure Tour
A Transformative Journey to Tanzania and Zanzibar
Your adventure begins with the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. You’ll take the scenic and less crowded Lemosho Route, together with a small group of like-minded hikers, our experienced mountain guide, and the porters.
You don’t need any mountaineering experience or extreme athletic abilities – a basic level of fitness and a love for hiking is enough. Step by step, you’ll make your way towards the summit over the course of seven days, with daily stages of three to six hours. You’ll camp amidst ever-changing landscapes: from tropical rainforest to gently rolling moorland, rocky high alpine terrain, and finally the ice- and snow-covered peak.
Your efforts will be rewarded with breathtaking views, unforgettable sunrises, and the overwhelming pride of reaching the highest point of the continent with your own strength.
But the journey doesn’t end there. Afterwards, you’ll explore inspiring projects in Tanzania and on the paradise island of Zanzibar, where you’ll meet people who create meaningful change through teamwork, determination, and joy – and you’ll become part of it.
This program is for anyone who wants to grow personally, make a positive impact, and collect unforgettable memories — perfect for women and for all those ready to embark on a journey filled with adventure, awareness, and empowerment.
Program Itinerary
Day 1: Airport Pickup and Arrival in Moshi
You will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and brought to your accommodation in Moshi. During dinner, you not only meet the other participants of the Kilimanjaro climb but also your Kilimanjaro guide, who will provide a briefing on the ascent of Africa’s highest mountain starting the following day.
Day 2: From Moshi to Mti Mkubwa Camp
- Distance: 7 km
- Hiking Time: 3 hours
The day begins with breakfast followed by a three-hour drive from Moshi to Lemosho Gate (2100 m), the entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park on the west side of the mountain. After lunch, the ascent begins. You will hike for about three hours through a dense, mystical rainforest to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2650 m), also known as "The Big Tree Camp." Here, you will sleep in a tent under the African stars for the first time—a feeling you'll never forget. During the following days on the mountain, the accompanying cooks will serve you breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 3: From Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp
- Distance: 7 km
- Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
The next day, you will hike for 4 to 5 hours through wide, open moorland and cross the Shira Ridge until you reach Shira 1 Camp. It is located near a small stream on the majestic Shira Plateau. After lunch, you can relax or take a short exploratory tour of the plateau. Dinner and overnight stay are at the camp.
Day 4: From Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp
- Distance: 10 km
- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
This day is dedicated to acclimatization—a crucial step for your success. You will hike on a gentle ascent eastward, with the glacier-covered Kibo summit always in sight. After 4 to 6 hours, you will reach Shira 2 Camp (3850 m), which is located on moorland meadows. In the evening, you will take a short acclimatization walk before having dinner at the camp and resting for the next day.
Day 5: Over Lava Tower to Barranco
- Distance: 10 km
- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
You will hike for about four hours to Lava Tower (4600 m), where you will take a lunch break. Afterward, you will follow the Western Breach to Barranco Camp (3900 m). For most of the day, you will stay at an altitude of about 3900 meters, which helps your body acclimate to the height. You will also have fantastic views and can take great photos of the Barranco Wall, one of the most famous cliffs on Kilimanjaro. Dinner and overnight stay are at Barranco Camp.
Day 6: From Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
- Distance: 6 km
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
After breakfast, the impressive Barranco Wall awaits you. Your guide will safely lead you to the top. Afterward, you will descend into the Karanga Valley to Karanga Camp (3995 m). Here you can relax with a cup of tea and look forward to a nice evening. At Karanga Camp, you will likely experience one of the most spectacular sunsets of your trip with a breathtaking view of Moshi and the East African Rift Valley.
Day 7: From Karanga Camp to Barafu
- Distance: 4 km
- Hiking Time: 3 hours
The summit is getting closer! You will hike for about three hours through an alpine desert landscape. This is a stage where you will have to show willpower. After a short break at 4400 m, you will begin the final ascent to Barafu Base Camp (4673 m). Here you can relax and enjoy an early dinner between 5 and 6 PM. The night is short, but it is the moment you have been working toward!
Day 8: Summit Day - Barafu to Uhuru Peak and to Millenium Camp and Mweka Hut
- Distance: 17 to 19 km
- Hiking Time: Barafu to Uhuru Peak: 7-9 hours | Descent to Millenium Camp & Mweka Hut: 4-6 hours
Around 1 or 2 AM, you will begin the 7- to 8-hour ascent in a northwesterly direction. The climb goes through scree in complete darkness, with only the light of your headlamp lighting the way. This section is the biggest mental and physical challenge. But every step brings you closer to your goal. When the sun rises, you will be at Stella Point (5756 m) on the crater rim—an unforgettable moment. From Stella Point, it's a moderate 40-minute to 1-hour climb to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. If your group is fast enough, you can even experience the sunrise directly from the summit.
Afterward, you will descend for 4 to 6 hours to either Millennium Camp (3790 m) or Mweka Hut. You will take a short break at Barafu Camp to have lunch. The goal is to descend as far as possible, as sleeping at a lower altitude promotes faster recovery. In the evening, you will enjoy your last dinner on the mountain—you have more than earned it.
Day 9: From Mweka Hut to Mweka Gate
- Distance: 10 km
- Time: 3-4 hours
After breakfast, the descent continues for 3 to 4 hours until you reach the Mweka Park Gate and Mweka Village. Those who successfully summited will be presented with a certificate, and the successful climb will be celebrated with the team. Afterward, you will return to your accommodation in Moshi Town, where you will also have dinner.
Day 10: Exploring the "Land of the Chagga"
After a restful night in a real bed and breakfast at the hotel, we head later in the morning to a village at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. This land is the “Land of the Chagga”, the local tribe of the Kilimanjaro region, known for growing bananas and coffee. You will learn about village life, visit a tree nursery that cultivates native trees for reforestation, find out how climate change affects local farmers, and visit a small coffee farm and a coffee cooperative. You will learn how the fair trade system works from the perspective of a small farmer. Lunch is included. In the evening, back in Moshi Town, you can relax with the other participants at a barbecue (a vegetarian option is also available) and review your experiences.
Day 11: Farewell to Moshi and Flight to Zanzibar
In the morning, after breakfast, you have the opportunity to buy souvenirs in Moshi. Afterwards, we take you to the airport and you fly to Zanzibar. You will receive a packed lunch. In Zanzibar, we will pick you up at the airport again and take you to your accommodation. The tropical breeze of the Indian Ocean is the best place to let your soul unwind after the summit. Dinner is provided at your accommodation in Zanzibar.
Day 12: Seaweed-Farming Women and English Club
After breakfast in your accommodation, you will meet in the morning a women’s group who cultivate seaweed in the ocean. You will help them with their work together with international volunteers. Seaweed cultivation offers rural women in Zanzibar a sustainable way to earn their own income and thus supports their financial independence. After lunch at the Mother Nature Camp, you have about four hours of free time and can go to the beach or stroll through the coastal village of Matemwe. Later in the afternoon, women, children and youth from the village come to our Mother Nature Camp for the “English Club”, where you will not only teach them English, but also learn about their lives and pick up a few Swahili words from them. Dinner is again provided at the Mother Nature Camp.
Day 13: Eco-Snorkeling and Women's Cooperative
On the thirteenth day, accompanied by our marine biologists, you can snorkel at the Mnemba coral reef. This activity will be a combination of fun and nature conservation. You will learn environmentally friendly snorkeling techniques and a lot about the reef and the creatures that live there. You will also remove marine debris such as abandoned fishing nets that are dangerous for marine animals. After lunch at the Mother Nature Camp, you will visit the women’s group “Mama Bahari”, founded by World Unite!, which supports women from the village. They produce fashion accessories and clothing, including from plastic found on the beach. Breakfast is provided this day in your accommodation; lunch and dinner at the Mother Nature Camp.
Day 14: Stone Town
During your time in Zanzibar, you should by no means miss Stone Town, the historic old town of Zanzibar. After breakfast, you drive there and take part in a guided tour. You will stroll through the narrow, winding labyrinth of alleys, which is a unique oriental-African dream from 1001 Nights. Among other things, you will visit the Old Fort, the former Sultan’s Palace, the Forodhani Garden promenade along the sea, the Darajini market and the historic Persian bath. You will also visit the Cultural Arts Center, a non-profit organization that helps rural artists and artisans offer their products on the souvenir market for tourists. With the guide, you will have lunch at a local restaurant (included in the price), where you will find Zanzibar specialties such as biryani and pilau. The guided tour through Stone Town lasts about five hours. In the afternoon, you have free time in Stone Town. Dinner is together with our guide at the Forodhani night market. You will then spend the night in your booked accommodation in Zanzibar Town.
Day 15: Departure
On the day of your departure, we will take you to the airport.
On this journey, you will not only get to know aspects of Tanzania and Zanzibar, but the trip is also intended to inspire you to rediscover yourself. It is an invitation to leave your comfort zone, connect with new cultures and realize that you can achieve and make a difference. Are you ready to take this step?
Want more?
If you want to spend more time in Zanzibar or Tanzania, you can add more programs after this one, such as:
- Environmental volunteering on the beach of Matemwe or in the Jozani rainforest (from 1 week)
- Volunteer work with children in Zanzibar Town
- Volunteer work in women's empowerment in Tanzania
- English lessons in Zanzibar
We would be happy to advise you.
Program details
FAQs
Program Rates
Who can join
Program start
Getting there
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Accommodation Options
Accommodations During the Kilimanjaro Climb
During the Kilimanjaro climb on the Marangu route, you'll stay overnight at various camps on the mountain, including Mti Mkubwa Camp, Shira 1 Camp, Shira 2 Camp, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, Millenium Camp, or Mweka Hut. You will be sleeping in a tent. The camps are very basic and are shared with other hikers. Due to the limited water supply on Kilimanjaro, there are usually no traditional toilets, but rather latrines.
Accommodations in Moshi and Zanzibar
In Moshi Town and Zanzibar, you can choose between a budget-friendly, simple accommodation option and a mid-range, upgraded standard option.
Simple Standard:
- Moshi Town (Nights 1, 9, and 10)
Single room accommodation or double room accommodation (for 2 people booking together) in Siarick Cottage or accommodation of similar standard.
Siarick Cottages is a new and well-maintained guesthouse, designed in Tanzanian style and operated by a local family in the Kiboroloni area of Moshi Town. The 16 rooms, available for single, double, or triple occupancy, all come with private bathrooms featuring hot showers and toilets. Siarick also uses solar lighting, which is very useful in case of electricity cuts at night. The premises are fenced and there is 24-hour security.
You can choose between 3-share room accommodation (three single beds) and double rooms with other participants of the same gender or single room accommodation.
- In Matemwe/Zanzibar (Nights 11-13)
Accommodation in a 4-person tent (fully furnished) in the “Mother Nature Camp Matemwe”, together with other participants.
The camp is located only a 3-minute walk from one of the most beautiful beaches in Zanzibar, where sea turtles also lay their eggs. The grounds of our camp were designed according to the principles of permaculture and sustainable construction to maintain and restore biodiversity on the site.
There are eight permanent tents, each equipped with two bunk beds. The tents can be booked for double or 4-share occupancy. Each tent has wardrobes with a lockable compartment for each participant, a small refrigerator, a fan, electric light and sockets, including USB ports. All tents are located under a fixed thatched roof covered with palm fronds on an elevated wooden platform, designed in a rustic African style. Mosquito nets are provided.
Sanitary facilities are located in a building between the tents and are shared by the participants. They include six showers with solar-heated hot and cold water and six environmentally friendly evapotranspiration toilets. Our solar collector is supplemented by an electric heater during the rainy season, so hot water is available year-round.
The roof terrace of our main building and the covered terrace in front of it are used as communal areas for meals, project work and leisure. Meals are prepared by our two chefs in a fully equipped restaurant kitchen and meet international hygiene standards. Chilled drinking water is available from a water filter device. Volunteers can use our office space for work that requires a computer. Free, unlimited Wi-Fi and a washing machine are provided, and there is 24-hour security personnel. Valuables can be stored in a safe.
In collaboration with our permaculture expert, we have developed a system to optimize water consumption as much as possible. We collect rainwater from the roofs, which is used, for example, as a backup for the showers. The gray water is filtered and used for our plants. We use an evaporation toilet system, which is a simple but effective solution for the biological treatment and reuse of black water as fertilizer for our banana garden. We also have an aquaponics system on the premises.
- In Zanzibar Town (Night 14)
Accommodation in a 4-share dorm room at our volunteer house, sharing with other participants.
The spacious apartment in Migombani is located on the 2nd upper floor with views of the blue ocean. It has its own kitchen, toilets, bathrooms, and a communal living room. There is also a spacious garden. You can choose between 4-share rooms (each with 2 bunk beds), double rooms, and single rooms. The 4-share rooms have their own en-suite bathrooms, while the double/single rooms share a bathroom and toilet with other residents. The beds/bedrooms are equipped with mosquito nets, a wardrobe or chest of drawers, and a fan. Bed linen is provided, but please bring your own towels. The bathrooms have western flush toilets and cold showers, which can be refreshing given the temperatures in Zanzibar. The shared kitchens are equipped with electric or gas stoves and a basic set of kitchen utensils for cooking and eating. The shared living room has a sofa and dining table. There is also a communal washing machine in the house. For security purposes, the windows are barred, and a night watchman is present at night. Shopping and dining options are within easy walking distance.
Upgraded Mid-Range Standard:
- Moshi Town (Nights 1, 9, and 10)
Single room accommodation or double room accommodation (for 2 people booking together) in the “Ameg Lodge” hotel, or a hotel of comparable standard.
AMEG Lodge is one of the best accommodations in Moshi, with a pool, a bar, a restaurant, and a fitness center. The clean and well-furnished rooms are air-conditioned, have mosquito nets, and all have a private bathroom. From the lodge grounds, you can already see the peak of Kilimanjaro. The quiet location of the lodge gives the feeling of being in nature, although the city center of Moshi is only a few minutes' drive away.
- In Matemwe/Zanzibar (Nights 11-13)
Single room accommodation or double room accommodation (for 2 people booking together) in the “Salama & Mbuyuni” hotel, or a hotel of comparable standard.
The Salama & Mbuyuni Bungalows are the perfect place to relax in a calm atmosphere. You can expect an outdoor pool, a bar, a restaurant, and a private garden. If you seek peace and relaxation, you will find it in the wellness and spa area or in the yoga classes offered. The restaurant offers a varied cuisine and can also prepare meals according to special requests such as vegetarian, vegan, or dairy-free. The comfortably furnished rooms with mosquito nets, air conditioning, and private bathrooms ensure a pleasant stay.
- In Zanzibar Town (Night 14)
Single room accommodation or double room accommodation (for 2 people booking together) in the “Zanzibar Coffee House” hotel, or a hotel of comparable standard
The Zanzibar Coffee House is centrally located in Stone Town and combines historical charm with modern comfort. The individually designed rooms are air-conditioned and feature traditional four-poster beds with mosquito nets and a private bathroom. A special highlight is the in-house café, which sources its coffee from its sister company Utengule Estate. In the morning, breakfast is served on the rooftop terrace, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view over Stone Town. If the Zanzibar Coffee House is not available at the time of your booking, we will book you an equivalent accommodation in a similar location and with comparable comfort.
Extras
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What is included?
- All accommodations as described
- Full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner on program days; dinner only on arrival day and breakfast only on departure day).
- All activities and excursions as described in Tanzania and Zanzibar
- On the Kilimanjaro ascent: national park fees, professional, experienced mountain guides, cook and porters, rescue fees, all meals during the stay on the mountain, national park fees for guides, porters and cook, clean and treated drinking water, good tents, sleeping mats, all other camping equipment, including folding tables and chairs
- All transfers in Tanzania and Zanzibar as described
- Domestic flight from Tanzania to Zanzibar
- Local contact person
- Access to the World Unite! Knowledge Base with preparation materials tailored to your location and activity, including intercultural preparation
- For CO2 compensation of your long-haul flights: coverage of the cost for 10 seedlings of native trees that we plant on Kilimanjaro
Not included?
- Outbound flight to Tanzania and return flight from Zanzibar (you book yourself, we will give you tips)
- Activities, services etc. not mentioned in the program schedule
- Insurances (travel health insurance, travel cancellation insurance)
- Personal expenses, souvenirs etc.
- Vaccinations
- Tips, other donations etc.
- Visa costs
- Costs for the mandatory Zanzibar health insurance (44 USD)
INSIGHT
this program
Physically and mentally challenging ascent of Africa’s highest mountain
The Lemosho Route is the most scenic and a lesser-traveled route
Make local connections and gain insights off the tourist hotspots
Be inspired by women’s empowerment projects
Experience a journey that strengthens and transforms you sustainably
Questions?
your consultant for this program is
Chris Engler
(he/his)
- PHONE numberView our international phone numbers
- Email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Whatsapp+81-90-4702-1361
- INQUIRYSend an inquiry
- Video callBook a video call
Did you know that you can earn academic credits by joining any of our volunteering abroad programs? Read more.
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