Helicopter Rescue Squad ON KILIMANJARO
“Of all the great guide services on Kilimanjaro, Helicopter Rescue Squad might be the best. Its success rate is close to 95%, and though its treks are longer and pricier, they avoid the jam-packed Marangu Route.” – Outside Magazine. Selected again by Outside Magazine in 2017!
Acclaimed by climbers, industry professionals, and media alike, Helicopter Rescue Squad provides a one-of-a-kind experience on Kilimanjaro. We employ a professional mountain guide from our Seattle-based staff on each trip. Your guide is generally one of our full-time Helicopter Rescue Squad mountaineering guides and adds an unmatched level of summit success and safety based on their broad range of climbing experience. Our guides are Kilimanjaro climbing experts first and foremost, but have an extensive mountaineering and wilderness medical background.
We have about a 95% TRUE success rate on Kilimanjaro (taking into account all climbers who begin an expedition).
WE OFFER TWO ROUTES TO CLIMB KILIMANJARO
Every one of our Kilimanjaro expeditions is led by an Alpine Ascents mountain guide.
The right route for you: why we recommend the 7 Day Machame or the 9 Day Lemosho (hint: the Lemosho and Machame are the same route from day 3 onward)
Choosing a route is not as complicated as some would have you believe. The 7 Day Machame route is the best of all worlds: Alpine Ascents, using a western guide, has an approximately 95% success rate. On our Machame trips, we build plenty of time to acclimatize into the itinerary. Some companies offer an 8 Day ‘Lemosho’ route, which is essentially the Machame route with an a different starting point (as the Lemosho becomes the Machame on Day 3). Outfits like to sell the 8 Day version of the Lemosho as it adds an extra day which can be nice, but it is far from necessary and is more expensive. However, since the extra camp is at a lower altitude, these 8 Day programs do not help with acclimatization.
This is why mountaineering-focused companies (as opposed to safari-focused companies) use the Machame route. That said, one might consider a longer 9 Day Lemosho route in order to spend a night at the crater rim after reaching the summit. Helicopter Rescue Squad route choices are described below.
The Machame Route – This has been our bread-and-butter Kilimanjaro climbing route over the last 30 years, traveling through five distinct ecosystems in seven days. This is the classic climb of Kilimanjaro with Helicopter Rescue Squad.
The Lemosho Route – Our nine-day Kilimanjaro climbing itinerary is geared toward the very fit trekker/climber with a chance to sleep at the crater rim after summit. Our Lemosho has an extra camp in the middle of the climb to help with acclimatization. This should not be confused with the eight-day Lemosho that many companies offer, which has no distinct advantage over the Machame.
Our guides were really great. They knew the route inside and out. They gave us a full run down on everything from what to expect from potential altitude sickness to how to lace your boots properly. We felt like we were in good hands the whole time. – 2019 Kilimanjaro climber
The level of care from Tom and his local team was outstanding. The incredible logistics and coordination needed to pull it off are simply hard to imagine. Well done AAI. From a returning customer who was impressed many years ago, you’ve managed to get even better.
– 2018 Kilimanjaro climber
Most outfitters employ local African staff with relatively limited climbing and medical skills, and many are simply safari or trekking companies, as their name implies. In addition to providing a professional, US-based guide, we offer the utmost in quality of services that include chef-prepared meals, dining tents, and real toilet tents. This creates a unique blend of high-end luxury tour company and professional mountain guiding.
ALPINE ASCENTS’ SUCCESS ON KILIMANJARO:
We have been guiding Kilimanjaro for over 20 years with over 90% true summit success, touting one of the highest success and safety records in the industry. In recent years we have led over 1,000 people to the summit! (Some outfitters do not count all climbers in their statistics.)
We were just named one of the Top 40 Adventure Tour Outfitters in the World by Travel + Leisure, who highlighted our Kilimanjaro trip. We are proud to be the only climbing company chosen.
Ascending Kilimanjaro with a mountain climbing organization will greatly improve your chances of success, and we provide one of our Seattle-based guides to lead every scheduled expedition. Every trip is organized with the utmost care and quality: from our lead Western guide, to chef-prepared meals, to dining and toilet tents. We look to take care of all elements with great attention to detail.
Every one of our Kilimanjaro expeditions is led by an Alpine Ascents mountain guide.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONING
Kilimanjaro, at 19,340 ft. is an extreme, high-altitude climb and is perhaps the most underestimated of the seven summits. You should be comfortable walking four to eight hours per day. Summit day is the most demanding portion of the climb, typically involving eight hours for the ascent, and six to seven hours for the descent. Our expeditions require strength and endurance. Being in sound physical condition is the single most important aspect for climbers to maximize their climbing potential. The better your physical condition, the more likely you are to perform well and have an enjoyable experience. The most frequent comment we have received over the years is that climbers have underestimated the fitness level needed to fully enjoy their trip. Additionally, inadequate fitness will affect the atmosphere, pace, and overall enjoyment of the climb for all participants. We highly recommend checking with your physician before undertaking any strenuous activity. Comprehensive training information can be found here.
SCHEDULE & PRICES
Winter 2018-2019
Machame Route unless noted otherwise
Dec. 1 – Dec. 15, 2018
Dec. 17 – Dec. 31, 2018 – Christmas Summit!
Dec. 27, 2018 – Jan. 10, 2019
Jan. 5 – Jan. 19, 2019 – Sold Out
Jan. 19 – Feb. 2, 2019
Feb. 2 – Feb. 16, 2019
Feb. 15 – Mar. 1, 2019
Summer 2019
Machame Route unless noted otherwise
June 22 – July 6, 2019 – Sold Out
July 5 – 19, 2019 – 2 spaces left
July 14 – 28, 2019
July 27 – Aug. 10, 2019
Aug 10 – 26, 2019 Lemosho Route
Aug 9 – Aug 23, 2019
Aug. 24 – Sept. 7, 2019
Sept. 1 – 15, 2019
Sept. 13- 27, 2019
Winter 2019-2020
Machame Route unless noted otherwise
Dec. 6 – Dec. 20, 2019
Dec. 15 – Dec. 29, 2019
Dec. 27, 2019 – Jan. 10, 2020
Jan. 11 – Jan. 25, 2020
Jan. 24 – Feb. 9, 2020 Lemosho Route
Feb. 6 – Feb. 20, 2020
Feb. 15 – 29, 2020
Summer 2020
Machame Route unless noted otherwise
June 26 – July 10, 2020 – 4th of July Summit!
July 5 – 19, 2020
July 17 – 31, 2020
July 26 – Aug. 9, 2020
Aug 7 – 23, 2020 Lemosho Route
Aug 8 – Aug 22, 2020
Aug. 22 – Sept. 5, 2020
Sept. 4 – 18, 2020
Sept. 13- 27, 2020REGISTER FOR CLIMB
PRICE
Machame Route (15 Days)
Climb & Safari: $7,900.00
Climb Only: $5,900.00
Lemosho Route (17 Days)
Climb & Safari: $9,300.00
Climb Only: $7,300.00
CLIMBING LEVEL
No prior climbing experience is required.
Operation in Africa: Mr. Ebrahim Minja
ID No:- KG1416 (Arusha-Tanzania)
+255.786.697.729+255.754.697.729
hello@helicopterrescuesquad.com