Kilimanjaro

Putney follows the least traveled and most scenic route up Mt. Kilimanjaro, beginning in rainforest on the mountain’s west side and then trekking across the Shira Plateau, a stunning expanse of ancient lava flows now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our approach passes Lava Tower, an impressive 300-foot-high volcanic plug jutting out from the mountainside, then traverses 180 degrees around Kilimanjaro’s south-facing glaciers en route to Uhuru Peak.

Mountaineering, Ecology, & Safari

• Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, at 19,340 feet • Watch the sun rise over glaciers on Kilimanjaro’s summit • Trek across the stunning moorland of the Shira Plateau • Explore the 10-mile-wide Ngorongoro Crater big game park

Destination • Tackle Putney’s most challenging outdoor adventure—climbing Africa’s highest peak—then go on safari in two world-renowned wildlife preserves. With professional guides, follow in the footsteps of the first Putney group to climb Kilimanjaro in 1972. Take the magnificent, unspoiled Lemosho and Southern Circuit route, an eight-day trek that offers ample time to acclimate, as well as a high summit success rate.

Themes • Get to know the people, cultures, and history of the Kilimanjaro region. Explore climate change’s effect on the alpine environment, meet with farmers reliant on Kilimanjaro’s watershed, learn how advocacy groups promote the rights of guides and porters, and trace the history of mountaineering in East Africa.

Activities • Traverse five distinct climate zones en route to the Kilimanjaro summit. On safari, search for lions on the banks of the Tarangire River and spot elephants wading in Silale Swamp. Drop into Ngorongoro Crater to view wildlife in this 10-mile-wide caldera, home to cheetahs, rhinos, and other rare megafauna.

Detailed itineraries and more at goputney.com

June 29–July 15

Completing Grades: 9–12 • 17 days • $8,190 + airfare Group Flight: Departs from New York